Kingmaker is delighted to announce the publication of Genesis: 1975 To 2025 – The Phil Collins Years by Mario Giammetti on April 17, 2025.
Originally published in 2021 as Genesis: 1975 to 2021 – The Phil Collins Years and out of print since late 2022, Genesis: 1975 To 2025 – The Phil Collins Years features fully revised text, new interview content and two additional chapters to bring the Genesis story completely up to date. As well as providing a detailed appraisal of The Last Domino? tour, the book also covers other recent events in the world of Genesis, including the sad loss of Richard Macphail and the forthcoming reissue of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.
Genesis: 1975 To 2025 – The Phil Collins Years is the definitive biography of one of the world’s greatest rock bands following the departure of Peter Gabriel. It contains numerous exclusive interviews with band members and all of the important personalities who were part of the story of Genesis from 1975 onwards, including Ray Wilson who fronted the band for 1997’s Calling All Stations album and subsequent tour before the return of Phil Collins in 2007.
The book provides a detailed account of Genesis post Peter Gabriel, taking readers through each album and tour. Genesis: 1975 To 2025 – The Phil Collins Years contains a wealth of information about Genesis’s career, much of which may well be unknown even to the most ardent fans of the band.
Genesis: 1975 To 2025 – The Phil Collins Years also serves as a sequel to Giammetti’s highly acclaimed book Genesis: 1967 to 1975 – The Peter Gabriel Years, which is also published by Kingmaker and remains available.
Mario Giammetti is an Italian music journalist with over 35 years’ experience. He has written for numerous Italian music magazines (including Classic Rock, Rockstar and Jam). In 1991 he founded Dusk, the only printed magazine in the world dedicated to Genesis. He has written 15 books related to the world of Genesis.
Genesis: 1975 To 2025 – The Phil Collins Years is available for pre-order now from Burning Shed (UK/Europe) here, and from The Band Wagon USA (North America) here.
Jerry Cantrell’s recently released album, I Want Blood, is being reimagined as a spoken-word series, with new versions of the album tracks debuting every Thursday, and featuring video animations by Boy Tillekens.
Cantrell introduces the new video, stating: “Official video for ‘Off The Rails’ (Spoken Word) – exclusively available on vinyl editions of my new album, I Want Blood.”
The first spoken word video, for “Vilified”, can be viewed below.
In a recent episode of the Lipps Service podcast, Cantrell shared how the spoken-word pieces came to be: “I wanted to do something special, try to do something cool, and I’ve never done a spoken word recitation of the lyrics, and I thought it might be kind of cool to have it on the B-side of ‘Vilified.’ I recorded it, and it sounded cool. I thought maybe it needs some music or something, and I was sitting there with Maxwell Urasky, my demo partner. He’s a really talented musician, and he said ‘Let me mess around with it for a night.’ He came back the next day with that piece of music, and it sounded killer. I brought it in to Joe Barresi and he said, ‘Man, you should do this with all of them.’
“So I sent it out to my friends, and they hadn’t heard the songs, which I thought was really cool. I got this creative stew going of sending the lyrics out to people, having them come up with the music, and sending it back. We ended up with nine pieces of really interesting takes on the lyrics, but the music is done by creative partners of mine, and it has nothing to do with the real music, so it is truly a standalone piece.”
Additional collaborators on the project include Barresi, Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, The Black Queen), Roy Mayorga (Ministry), Gil Sharone (Stolen Babies, Team Sleep), Rani Sharone (Stolen Babies), George Adrian (The Maybirds), composer Vincent Jones, and producer Michael Rozon.
I Want Blood, co-produced by Cantrell and Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Melvins), was recorded at Barresi’s JHOC Studio in Pasadena, Calif. The album also features contributions from bass heavyweights Duff McKagan (Guns N’Roses) and Robert Trujillo (Metallica), drummers Gil Sharone (Team Sleep, Stolen Babies) and Mike Bordin (Faith No More), and backing vocals from Lola Colette and Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, ex-Dillinger Escape Plan).
Album orders, which include CD, digital and multiple 2LP variants are available here.
I Want Blood tracklisting:
“Vilified” “Off The Rails” “Afterglow” “I Want Blood” “Echoes Of Laughter” “Throw Me A Line” “Let It Lie” “Held Your Tongue” “It Comes”
“Vilified” visualizer:
“Off The Rails” visualizer:
“Afterglow” video:
“I Want Blood” visualizer:
“Echoes Of Laughter” visualizer:
“Throw Me A Line” visualizer:
“Let It Lie” visualizer:
“Held Your Tongue” visualizer:
“It Comes” visualizer:
As mentioned above, Cantrell has announced a North American tour in support of I Want Blood. The trek kicks off on January 31 in Niagara Falls and makes its way across the country, concluding in Cantrell’s home state of Washington. For ticket information, visit jerrycantrell.com/tour. Filter supports on all dates.
North American tour dates:
January 31 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort
February 1 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom 2 – Portland, ME – Aura 4 – Boston, MA – Citizens House of Blues Boston 5 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza 7 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore – Silver Spring 8 – Bensalem, PA – Parx Xcite Center 11 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount 12 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa 14 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz 15 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre 16 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom 18 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone 19 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Egyptian Room at Old National Centre 22 – St. Louis, MO – The Hawthorn 23 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre 25 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater 26 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston 27 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theatre
March 1 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater 2 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Las Vegas 4 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco 5 – Ventura, CA – The Majestic Ventura Theater 7 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory – Spokane 8 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom 9 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre
Jerry Cantrell is an iconic American troubadour, celebrated for his distinctive guitar playing, soulful vocals and profound songwriting. Known for his work in both Alice In Chains and as a solo artist, the Grammy-nominated musician has sold in excess of 30 million albums, has been named one of the greatest guitar players of all time by both Guitar World and Rolling Stone, and has been instrumental in shaping the sound of modern rock music. Over his career, he has released six studio albums with Alice In Chains, three solo full-lengths, has had his music featured in films from Cameron Crowe, Judd Apatow and Ben Stiller and made cameos in “Deadwood” and “Jerry Maguire.”
Finnish hard rock and metal legends, Lordi are set to release their 19th studio album, Limited Deadition, on March 21 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The album is spearheaded by the electrifying lead single, “Syntax Terror”, a track that thrusts listeners into a game-like world with spacy melodies, thunderous riffs, and irresistibly catchy hooks.
Mr Lordi comments: “The writing of this song started out with its main keyboard riff. I played around with those mono sounds, trying to come up with something with a very 80s action movie opening score feel. ‘Syntax Terror’ actually almost became the album title, but then it was discovered that other people have had the same idea way before I did. On the verses I was thinking of Judas Priest, on the chorus of Manowar and – as icing on the cake – Udo Dirkschneider-type of screams to belch out the title. Don’t ask what the lyrics are about. ‘Syntax Terror’ is a very 80s heavy metal style song, painting abstract pictures with every line!”
Check back here at 6 PM, EST to watch the “Syntax Terror” lyric video. Pre-save the single here.
“SCG XIX The Hexecutioners” “Legends Are Made Of Clichés” “Syntax Terror” “Skelephant In The Room” “SCGTV Saturday Night Main Event” “Killharmonic Orchestra” “Collectable” “SCGTV Monstersquad Action Figures” “Fangoria” “Hellizabeth” “SCGTV The Hexecutioners Seasion” “Retropolis” “Frighteousness” “SCGTV Crazee Ralph Promo” “Limited Deadition” “You Might Be Deceased”
“Syntax Terror” lyric video:
Known for their theatrical style and unique blend of 80s-inspired rock and heavy metal, Lordi’s latest creation is a nostalgic celebration of retro 80s toys, infused with a fresh and powerful energy. Building on the success of their 2023 album Screem Writers Guild, Limited Deadition ventures into heavier riffs and faster tempos, creating a soundscape that is both familiar and invigorating.
Recorded at IluSound Studio and Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Limited Deadition was produced by Mr Lordi, mixed by Ilkka Herkman, and mastered by Pauli Saastamoinen. As always, Mr Lordi took charge of the album’s striking artwork and layout, channeling his passion for 80s memorabilia into every detail. “It’s some kind of sibling album to its predecessor,” Mr Lordi explains. “We’re still walking the path of AOR-inspired music, but this time, with a more metal touch in terms of riffs and tempo. We’ve always written what felt right and natural, and this album is no exception.”
The thematic heart of Limited Deadition lies in Mr Lordi’s lifelong obsession with collecting, inspired by the action figures and toys of his childhood. “The album topic of 80s toys is actually just a loose theme, but it’s been accompanying me since I was little. I’ve always been a collector of various stuff, and I’m even some kind of a hoarder. I can’t even remember which my first own toy was, but my obsession basically started with “Muppet Show” dolls, followed by “Star Wars” and “E.T.” figures, with the latter actually being my favourite movie of all time.”
The album opens with “SCG XIX The Hexecutioners”, setting the stage for an exciting blend of cinematic and melodic heavy rock. Tracks like “Legends Are Made Of Clichés” and “Skelephant In The Room: highlight Lordi’s knack for creating larger-than-life anthems. Meanwhile, the poignant ballad “Collectable” reflects on the fleeting value of physical objects in a digital world, while the title track, “Limited Deadition”, makes a bold statement celebrating collectors and their passion.
To support the release, Lordi will embark on a global “Limited Deadition” tour, beginning in Finland and expanding internationally. Fans can expect a monstrous spectacle, complete with new tricks and surprises.
Limited Deadition will be available on all major streaming platforms and in physical formats on March 21. Pre-orders for the album and tour tickets are now live. With the explosive single “Syntax Terror” already setting the tone, fans can prepare for an unforgettable addition to the Lordiverse.
Professor Of Rock has released the new video below, along with this introduction:
“I try to keep it positive here guys, but every now and then I have to look at songs and artists from a different perspective. And the truth is even the greatest artists can write a stinker. So today we venture into the age-old conundrum… When bad songs happen to great artists. And you’re going to have a heyday here. Including a Paul McCartney song that is so annoying that it causes angry convulsions. Another by Heart that they erased from their history. One that was written for Celine Dion and then given to Aerosmith and it became their biggest hit ever. And another that tries so hard to be deep it’s boring. We’re gonna push the envelope a bit on this episode, with a thought-provoking list of ‘5 Bad Songs By Great Artists’, next on Professor Of Rock.”
While Metallica’s All Within My Hands concert is still three days away, event festivities start are now live. More than 80 incredible items are open for bidding through All Within My Hands’ Givergy auction site. The proceeds will support workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services through our charitable foundation.
Metallica is not just auctioning off their own memorabilia — but don’t worry, there’s plenty of that — they have live music VIP experiences, sports memorabilia, fine art, gifts from fellow musicians, and so much more.
The auction closes on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 12 PM PT.
Metallica recently issued the following update in regards to their Helping Hands Concert & Auction, taking place in Los Angeles on December 13:
“Helping Hands 2024 is just one short week away. We’re psyched to announce that our friends Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Kenny Aronoff will take the stage in support of All Within My Hands this year! Also lending their incredible talent to the event is SistaStrings, the sisters turned classically-trained duo named 2023’s “best instrumentalist” by the Americana Music Association!
“If you’re coming to the show, you won’t want to miss a minute, so don’t be late. The show starts at 6 PM, PT SHARP. See you next Friday at YouTube Theater.”
Metallica adds: “AWMH’s latest sweepstakes with our friends at Fandiem will give one winner a trip to Los Angeles and priority tickets to a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Also included is green room access, a behind-the-scenes tour of the set, a meet-and-greet with Jimmy, and a chance to sit at his desk on stage. You won’t need to worry about travel or lodging; the prize includes round-trip travel and a two-night hotel stay for two. The lucky winner will also receive a five-piece luggage package by BÉIS, the ultimate travel gear and accessories for the modern traveler!
“Donation options start as low as $10, plus a free entry method. All donations support AWMH’s mission to create sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services.
“Sweepstakes ends Friday, December 20, at 11:59 PM, PT. Open to legal residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico only. Must be 18 or older to win.”
Hypocrisy is helping to make the festive season a little more metal with their Christmas Edition wallpapers for your desktop or phone, available for free right here. Enjoy!
In the video below, Peter Tägtgren, Mikael Hedlund, Lars Szöke (drums 1990-2004) and Silenoz look back and share memories of Hypocrisy’s ninth album, The Arrival.
On Chapter 3, Hypocrisy and Nuclear Blast Records continue their series of high class reissues that started last year and invites you to revisit the stunning and vast discography of Sweden’s melodic death metal titans.
The third round of CD and LP re-releases covers the period 2002 to 2004 consisting of a double disc edition of Catch 22 (including its revamped version Catch 22 (V2.0.08)) and the legendary The Arrival album, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2024.
Some of the vinyl is very limited, so don’t miss out. Also, limited edition Chapter 3 T-shirts available on Hypocrisy website. Album purchases also available at shop.nuclearblast.com.
Today, rock titans Coheed and Cambria and Mastodon have announced The Infinite Arc Tour. Coheed and Cambria are gearing up for their brand-new album The Father of Make Believe releasing March 14, 2025. This year, Mastodon celebrated the 15th anniversary of Crack the Skye with a deluxe box set reissue, marked 20 years of Leviathan with special full album performances, and released a new track “Floods Of Triton”.
Produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, the 20-city tour kicks off on May 10 at Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA making stops across the U.S.in Raleigh, Charleston, Lexington, Syracuse and more before wrapping up in Waukee, IA at Vibrant Music Hall on June 8.
Tickets will be available starting with artist presale beginning on Wednesday, December 11. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning on Friday, December 13 at 10 AM local time at livenation.com.
Dates:
May 10 – Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center 11 – Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Coliseum 13 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater 15 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park 16 – Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery 17 – Augusta, GA – William B. Bell Auditorium* 19 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena 21 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater 22 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena 24 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome 25 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater 26 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC 28 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena 30 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview 31 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
June 1 – Youngstown, OH – Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre 3 – Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 4 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Arena 6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena 7 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center 8 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
Polish black metal icons Patriarkh (formerly Batushka), centered around singer/mastermind Bartłomiej Krysiuk, continue their conceptual album with the release of their new single “Вершалин II” (Lat. Wierszalin II). Accompanied by an audio visualizer video, the official video will be released shortly after. The song perfectly blends heavy doom metal with black metal, seamlessly merging folk instruments and captivating choirs’ merges with beautiful, arranged string instruments, building an eerie tension accentuated by engaging growls.
Taken from the upcoming studio album Пророк Илия (Lat. Prorok Ilja), out on January 3, 2025 via Napalm Records, Patriarkh returns with a clear and fresh vision! The album, spanning eight brand-new tracks delves into the true story of Eliasz Klimowicz, the enigmatic Prophet Ilja. Set against the dramatic historical backdrop of the 1930s and ’40s, Patriarkh masterfully transforms these events into dark yet mesmerizing atmospheres, interwoven with their deeply rooted Eastern Orthodox traditions. Building on the critical success of Hospodi (2019) and relentless global touring, Patriarkh shows no signs of slowing down, with countless live shows lined up for this and the coming year.
Patriarkh about the new single “Вершалин II”: “‘Wierszalin II’ explores the theme of revelation, highlighting the significant role of the Mother of God as a symbolic sign within the piece. It reflects an anointing that accompanies the prophet’s message, functioning as a prayer imbued with purpose. This hymn is associated with the Prophet Ilya, encapsulating his expressions of worship, praise, and gratitude for the opportunity to serve and glorify heaven through his work. Ultimately, the song emphasizes the connection between divine revelation and the prophet’s mission, which ends in failure.”
ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ details a true story that happened in the band’s home area of Podlasie, in the village of Grzybowszczyzna, in the 1930s and 40s. The album takes the listener into the world of Eliasz Klimowicz, the titular Prophet Ilja, an illiterate peasant who was the leader of the Orthodox Grzybowska Sect, active until the 1960s, cultivating and transmitting the history of the self-proclaimed prophet. Patriarkh spread their gospel by using an arsenal of folk instruments, such as tagelharpa, mandolin, mandocello, hurdy gurdy and stringed dulcimer, and worked with a symphony orchestra and choirs to give their new creations the most organic and vivid feeling possible. As is trademark with Patriarkh’s music, Orthodox sacredness is mixed with black and doom metal, now largely enriched with folk music, neo dark folk, and even film music. The band utilizes the entire palette of Orthodox music, venturing into the areas of Byzantine monody, liturgical chant and Russian polyphony, neatly adapting folk and liturgical melodies to their own style.
Patriarkh on the new album: “With this new release, we are starting a new chapter in our history – not only is our name changing, but our music is also undergoing a natural evolution. The story on the album encouraged us to get out of our comfort zone, we reached for means that we had not used before in our music. Many of you will wonder if this is still black metal? Or is it even metal? Radio play, audiobook, theater, film soundtrack, folk music, performance… All these terms will fit here. Some will hate, others will love…”
The lyrical side of ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ is an interesting mix of theater and pastoralism. Patriarkh uses fragments of texts from the theater play “Prorok Ilja” and draws from the messages contained in the works of Włodzimierz Pawluczuk, combining it with folk and liturgical texts. On ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ, listeners can hear various languages – and Polish for the first time ever! The album was recorded in January and May 2024 at Tall Pine Records (Behemoth, Zalewski, Afromental), Heinrich House (Behemoth, Vesania, Hate), Wem Studio (Kasa Chorych, Lukasyno, Cira) and Radio Białystok studio. Mixing and mastering was handled by Wojciech Wiesławski at Hertz Studio (Vader, Behemoth, Decapitated), and production was helmed by band mastermind and leading vocalist Bartłomiej “Варфоломей” Krysiuk. “ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ is an album full of emotions, sentimentalism and folklore. It’s pastoral, lyrical, epic, multidimensional and multicolored, just like my Podlasie is multicolored,” says Варфоломей. Dive into the deepest of all shadows with this black metal masterpiece and join Patriarkh on this intriguing ride!
ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ will be available in the following formats:
– Wooden Box (Digipak, bonus CD, pendant, flag & patch) – 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder and Patriarkh Shop exclusive) – Deluxe 2LP GATEFOLD GOLD Vinyl (Alternative album cover artwork, bonus vinyl, & 24pp vinyl booklet) – 300 copies (Napalm – Records Mailorder and Patriarkh Shop exclusive) – 1LP GATEFOLD SILVER Vinyl – 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive) – 1LP GATEFOLD MARBLED ORANGE RED BLACK Vinyl – 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive) – 1LP Gatefold in Black Vinyl – 6 Page Digipak – Digital Album
“WIERSZALIN I (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН I (Cyrillic)” “WIERSZALIN II (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН II (Cyrillic)” “WIERSZALIN III (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН III (Cyrillic)” “WIERSZALIN IV (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН IV (Cyrillic)” “WIERSZALIN V (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН V (Cyrillic)” “WIERSZALIN VI (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VI (Cyrillic)” “WIERSZALIN VII (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VII (Cyrillic)” “WIERSZALIN VIII (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VIII (Cyrillic)”
Chris Jericho: “Our 25th anniversary tour is this year and next year we got another leg coming up I believe in April in the States, and we’ll probably do another one in September. We’re gonna hit Canada again, which we haven’t been in a while and of course, we always do very, very well in the UK, so we’ll be heading back there, so yeah. Man, 25 years since I first saw you with Mitzi at some bar where you were coming, where you were hanging out and she brought me over and we became lifelong friends ever since.”
Eddie Trunk: “Yeah, man, that’s crazy. The amount of time that has gone by since that first record on Megaforce all that time ago and like I said, man, you put a lot of work into that. You’ve really built it and it’s awesome to see that it’s still going strong after all this time.”
PJ Farley on Kuarantine shows:
PJ Farley: “We did a quarantine set, but Charlie Parra, our guitar player wasn’t available, so we had Bruce Kulick sit in with us and for KISS nerds, if you want to talk about some obscure trivia, we do ‘Silver Spoon’ from the Hot In The Shade record and Bruce joined us on that. It was the first time he’s ever played it live ever. There were a lot of firsts that weekend.
“I mean, it’s a three-day festival that Neil Davis puts on down in Florida, and so the Friday was a whole bunch of bands and like, Todd Kerns and Zach Throne and Joey Casada, they played, like they did The Elder all the way through and like I said, we did the Unmasked, Dynasty stuff where I sang, Ryan sang and Jeremy sang, but Zach and Kerns as you know, I mean they played all weekend long and they just killed it, but then Kuarantine played on Saturday. We did our show. Like Chris said, Charlie, our guitar player was on tour, so we couldn’t make it, so we’re like, ‘Who could we get to fill in? Who do you think knows who could handle these tunes? Let’s call Bruce.’”
Eddie Trunk: “That’s awesome. Yeah, I knew about that. That was in Sarasota, right?”
PJ Farley: “Yeah. It was in Sarasota and they do it every year and it’s for a good cause, but it’s just great ’cause once again, I mean, we talk about this all the time and there’s plenty of things to discuss, but I’ve found with Kuarantine and you know, these types of festivals, now that KISS isn’t officially playing anymore, there’s still a big market for KISS fans to see that music live and we’ve really seen with Kuarantine a lot of growth over the last couple years.
“As you know, we started this during lockdown, quarantine, get it, and we’ve actually started going on the road to do shows, and the shows have been great, and people are showing up whether they know the non-makeup songs or not. Some people are showing up in Full KISS regalia with the makeup and everything because it’s a place to go and celebrate this band that we’ve all known and loved for so long and now that they don’t do it, bands like us being the only eighties non-makeup KISS tribute band, along with all the makeup tribute bands are a cool place to go for people looking for a rock and roll party that only KISS can provide.”
(Credit: SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk)
Thunder frontman Danny Bowes has lined up a solo spoken word tour of the UK for next summer. Billed as Maximum Chat, its eight shows mark a long-awaited comeback for the much-loved singer, who suffered a stroke back in August 2022. Bowes had unknowingly developed a bleed on his brain that caused him to fall down a long flight of stairs while attending a party, landing on his head and fracturing his skull, followed by the stroke.
After being rushed to hospital by air ambulance, where his shocked wife learned he might not survive the surgery to correct a bleed in his brain, Bowes has rebuilt his life. This involved learning to walk again via countless hours of physiotherapy.
On February 5, 2023, six months after the accident, Danny resumed his duties at Planet Rock Radio where he presents a regular show. Though Bowes is thrilled by the prospect of returning to the road, he also admits it fills him with dread.
“If you want the truth, Dave, I’m absolutely shitting myself,” admits the normally chirpy voice from down the other end of the phone. “But I have come a very long way in the last two-and-a-bit years.”
Save for the occasional miniscule pause, Bowes speaks with complete confidence, sounding just like the Danny your correspondent has known since the 1980s as a member of Terraplane, though inevitably this conversation about going ‘back to work’ has a deep emotional undercurrent.
‘Maximum Chat’ is something you’ve always excelled at. The tour’s advert says you will be “sharing stories and behind-the-scenes-tales”, followed by an openfloor Q&A session. It’s a chance to “scratch an itch” that has long bothered you.
I’m thrilled to get out there and do my thing again, albeit in a different manner, but it’s also quite terrifying.
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As most people know, I’m never lost for words. But up there all alone to fill an evening without singing, which I can’t do at the moment, or playing guitar – if I tried to do that the audience would demand its money back – well, it brings a pressure I’ve never known before.
A spoken word tour seems like the next logical stepping stone towards the resumption of singing again with Thunder.
Getting back on stage one day with my four bandmates is something I’m busting to achieve. I’m working on it and I’m very hopeful that one day the situation will change, but right now it’s not possible.
18 months ago, your Thunder bandmate, guitarist Luke Morley told Classic Rock, “Danny’s motivation levels have always been very, very high. It’s just going to take some time.”
That’s a good synopsis. When the doctors told me that brain injuries take time to heal, my belief was: ‘Don’t worry about that. It’s about mind over matter’. That’s how I’ve always been. If there’s a problem I will find a solution. But I soon discovered that the doctors were right and I was absolutely wrong.
The physio has paid off, you sound great.
Thanks a lot, that’s really good to hear. It helps that I’m sitting down. I still walk a bit like the drunk bloke you’d cross the street to avoid, but I’m getting there. It’s a long journey and progress is painfully slow; slower that I’d like as I’m not known for my patience.
Danny Bowes onstage with Thunder in Berlin, 2019 (Image credit: Frank Hoensch/Redferns)
In less than 48 hours, Thunder’s fans smashed a target of £30,000 towards a neuro-rehabilitation centre. But what also impressed was the folks who donated a fiver or a tenner – whatever they could spare.
At the beginning I was against it [the JustGiving page]. It didn’t feel right but my wife and the band nagged, saying: ‘If the fans knew what was wrong with you, they’d want to help’. I’m glad I gave in because [the money] improved the kind of physio that I received, and I was able to make a big donation to the air ambulance.
Back in July, Thunder visited the Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance Centre at Redhill, the service that undoubtedly saved your life.
Them and the NHS guys, yeah they did. The guy that runs the place in Redhill showed us around and I’ll tell you what, how they do what they do is very humbling.
How does it feel to see Luke touring and recording with the Quireboys – is it a bit like seeing your wife go on holiday with another bloke?
No, not at all. We as a band have worked very hard for a reputation that allows us to earn decent money. I don’t want to be the guy who makes those opportunities disappear for the others. I even told them [Thunder] that if they wanted to try to try to find a replacement for me, I was fine with that.
Thunder pay homage to Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Air Ambulance in Redhill (Image credit: Jason Joyce)
The point was, does it feel strange? Having depped for the Quireboys, another Thunder-ite, Harry James, now takes over the drum stool for their November dates.
Sorry, I misunderstood the question. But look, they’re professionals, they know what they’re doing. It’s a bit odd that they’re out there with Spike, mind you, he’s not the most reliable geezer in the world. I would imagine it’s absolute chaos. If they’re earning any money from that then they deserve it! [He guffaws].
What has the whole experience of your accident and ongoing recovery taught you?
It’s that we never really know how lucky we are. Only when something like this happens, something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, does the importance of family, friends and bandmates become obvious. Be grateful for what you’ve got and enjoy what’s happening today as nobody knows what tomorrow has in store.
