Issue 9
Issue 9 has already raised the bar with its many new features, so its with some delight that we find Armed & Ready in its familiar format, but we also have ‘More then…..Armed & Ready’ on page 10 featuring Tytan and Stampede!
Armed & Ready in Issue 9 is interesting, not only is it co-written by Howard Johnson and Nick Kemp, but it also features a Canadian band, which is a slight diversion from form (most bands to date have been British). All bar one of this issue’s inclusions have left very little trace of their past (which creates an obstacle when researching) but as a collection, they are a little lame and even include an ex-Bay City Roller amongst them. We’ll tackle the first 3 as a bit of an overview – partly down to the fact that they didn’t leave enough of an imprint on the world of metal to provide much information.
Deadly Embrace
Deadly Embrace are first up and we are reliably informed by Howard Johnson, that they are a mere 5 months old and are enjoying a buoyant time on the Manchester / Liverpool scene. Their demo (available for £1) is the result of one days recording and, according to their guitarist Stu Greene, is not good enough. It’s getting them some decent gigs though, including one supporting a Reggae band called Weapon Of Peace. Johnson is pretty enthusiastic about the tracks on their tape and has some hope for them (‘they’re not great yet’), but seen as they have absolutely no existence online, I guess that greatness never landed.
Red Rider
Now, we love Armed & Ready and everything it stands for, so to find a Canadian band that were formed in 1976 is a bit of a surprise. Perhaps Nick Kemp didn’t get the memo. Anyway, they are here and we shall investigate. Nick Kemp finds Red Rider having just released their album ‘As Far As Siam’ on Capitol Records (Armed & Ready? hmmm.). With the recent addition of Tom Cochrane, Red Rider were beginning to see some wider interest. It was their manager at the time who was contacted by Capitol Records with the idea of Tom Cochrane joining the band, after he found himself without a band, but with a good amount of interest in his own recent releases. It would turn out to be a clever move and Red Rider recorded an album that finally saw them attract the attention of the wider rock market. ‘Lunatic Fringe’ from the album was their biggest hit and enjoyed some heavy rotation on MTV as well as featuring in Miami Vice! They would go on to release another album and then inevitably change their name to Tom Cochrane and Red Rider – Capitol new what the plan was – eventually breaking up in 1990.
The band reformed in 2002 and are still active to date. ‘Lunatic Fringe’ still remains their biggest hit.
La Rox
La Rox is a band put together by Ian Mitchell of Bay City Rollers fame, albeit very briefly at the end of their existence – he still has the trademark hairdo and boyish looks. Bizarrely, most of the feature is based on an interview with Mitchell where he talks about how hard he is and how he ‘lets fans have it’ if they give him a hard time. Clearly determined to cast off his clean cut image, Mitchell insists the band have legs, even though they are currently only a two piece, relying on session players when they appear live. Either 50% of the band left or Ian got duffed up, because no trace of the band exists……Shang a lang.
Rox
The band who do have a little bit of history from this Issue are Rox. Formed in 1981 in Manchester and part of the city’s ‘Glam Clan’, Rox are familiar to readers of our blog, not because they have featured in their current form, but because they were originally known as Venom…..not that one! Having realised that Venom….yes that one…were never going to be removed from their satanic pedestal, Venom….not that one…..decided to have a rethink and reformed under the current moniker, with a new line up and a bunch of new songs. Howard Johnson recalls seeing their previous incarnation perform probably ‘one of the worst gigs I’ve ever had the misfortune to attend (classless and corny)’, but he’s now blown away by them and likens them to US glam kings / queens KISS. Rox would go on to release a single, an album and an EP before splitting in 1985.
Safe to say, you are going to be hearing more from these guys over coming issues of our blog.
WLL picks from ‘More Armed & Ready’