Eddie & The Hot Rods

Although often categorised as one of the founding fathers of the Punk era, they were simply interested in playing loud, fast, in your face Rock ‘n’ Roll, rather than bad mouthing the Queen or fermenting anarchy. The energy and attitude certainly endeared them to the Punks, but the hard and fast style that made Eddie & The Hot Rods one of the most exciting bands of the era has never really dated or gone out of style.

Unfortunately, in October 2019 came the awful news that founder member Barrie Masters had passed away at the age of only 63, after a legendary career at the sharp end of the band. Decisions about the Band’s future hung in the balance but with huge support from their fans and a never failing desire to get out there and make some noise, the band decided to continue.

Now fronted on Vocals by Ian ‘Dipster’ Dean with Simon Bowley on Drums and Richard Holgarth on Guitar, this line up has been the core of Eddie and the Hot Rods for the last 23 years. Joined by Bassist Mic Stoner, (ex Chords UK ) they decided to write tracks for a new album and in 2022 the band signed a world wide record deal with US label Renaissance Records to release the album titled “Guardians Of The Legacy”. Two of the three singles from that album reached numbers 1 and 2 on the Official Legacy Chart .

Whether it’s in an arena, theatre, club or at a festival, Eddie & The Hot Rods always deliver a blisteringly energetic blast of proper Rock ‘n’ Roll.

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Department S

Department S are a band with a long and interesting history. They are most famous for their 1981 UK hit single “Is Vic There?” but also achieved success on mainland Europe with follow up singles “Going Left Right” (an early Punk/Funk/mutant Disco anthem!) and the final single from the original line-up “I Want”, on which singer Vaughn Toulouse brilliantly both prophesied and satirised the coming age of greed and rampant capitalism that was the 1980s.

Unfortunately, although the original band recorded a debut album, they did not last long enough to see it released. Due to problems with the record company and between themselves they split and the album, “Sub-Stance”, was shelved. In terms of missed opportunities, this is up there with the best. The album had been produced by Dave Tickle who had previously worked on Blondie’s “Parallel Lines” and subsequently went on to great success with such acts as The Police, Prince and U2. The eventual release of “Sub-Stance” some 15 years later revealed (too late!) that Tickle had coaxed something of a Post-Punk/New-Wave Pop crossover classic from the band with strong songs and muscular performances. Such is life.

Department S reformed in 2007, a surprising decision to many as original vocalist, lyricist and charismatic frontman Vaughn Toulouse had died in the early 1990s. Band members came and went, Department S had releases in the noughties and guest appearances from a catalogue of UK Punk and post-Punk alumni such as Marco Pirroni (Adam and the Ants), Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols), John Keeble (Spandau Ballet), Mark Bedford (Madness) and Pete Jones (Public Image Limited.)

A studio album of new material was eventually released in 2016, the critically acclaimed “When All Is Said and All Is Done” which was described by Vive Le Rock magazine as being “an album that modern new wave bands such as Franz Ferdinand would kill to have made.” The old-stagers were still in the game.

Recording of the forthcoming studio album “Burn Down Tomorrow” started in late 2019 before the pandemic response stopped the world in its tracks. The album illustrates the high regard in which Department S are still held by their peers, featuring guest appearances from Baz Warne (The Stranglers), Leigh Heggarty (Ruts DC) and Stephen Rice (The Chameleons.)

The Scissors

Psych/Punk quartet from Cambridgeshire. Warped guitars, DIY keyboards, b-movie style.

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