First Strike 'Just Another Night'

Was it really 30 years ago when UK rock band First Strike hit the UK music scene in a blaze of glory?

Many of you may know I started of playing bass guitar and singing backing vocal. Having a strong voice that could hit the high notes with power and clarity was an absolute boon on stage 

I had formed my own band which did pretty good actually, only our 3^rd gig was at the famous Marquee Club in Wardour Street and soon we were offered the opening slot for Ozzy Osbourne on his ‘No Rest for the Wicked’ tour. With Zak Wilde, Geezer Butler and the late, great Randy Castillo.

Ozzy was great, he invited me into his dressing room on the opening night of the tour to welcome the band, he was sitting there stark naked! He didn’t stand up to greet me thank God!! But always listened to our sound check when he could. Zakk and Randy were cool, really nice guys and full of helpful advice, Zak was always looking to slip away after a show to grab a beer. I had no choice, he would grab me by my collar and just tell me ‘You are coming for a beer man!’  and that was it we were on a bender all night. Sharon had banned any form of alcohol backstage, any crew of band members with booze would be thrown off the tour!

So we would head out on the town after the shows. Geezer kept much to himself and had his own entourage he would hang with, I didn’t speak with him much after the opening night.

One night, at Nottingham Rock City, we finished a blinding set, Ozzy’s set was delayed and finally cancelled due to ill health. It all kicked off big time, the crown went wild and trashed the place, I had stayed behind to see Ozzy’ show and was barricaded backstage as the mob tried to break in, it was like the Alamo. The crew barricaded the hallways from all angles and fought of the angry mob with any piece of equipment they could. finally the cavalry arrived in the form of riot Police, but even they had trouble subduing the angry mob. 

It was actually Ozzy who suggested I put down the bass guitar and take up lead vocal after hearing me sing at sound check one day. Maybe he just thought I was a crap bass player, but I prefer to think he spotted the vocal talent that lay within.

Anyway, after the Ozzy tour I was looking for a new challenge, considering I didn’t actually like any of my previous band members! I had become good friends with Mick White, who had just left NWOBHM band Samson after they supported iron Maiden on their ‘Somewhere in Time’ Tour.

Mick had a great voice and real ear formelody and harmonies. his songwriting  was moving away from the Samson style and he too was looking for something fresh to get his teeth into.

So First Strike was formed with the Geordie duo of Dee Dowling on guitar/vocal and the extravagant drummer Dave ‘Stan’ Anderson. Later we were joined by the guitar talents of Dave Senczak.

The band was tight and the songs good. We hit the ground running with our first Marquee show supporting Dare, when the roof came off! I remember ending the first set of songs and the roar of the crowd was phenomenal, we all stood on stage looking at each other, frozen in time.

There was no looking back, more Marquee shows,we were the ‘go to’ opening band for the likes of Saraya and Slaughter, Nationwide tours with Uriah Heep and Giant.

With Radio 1 airplay and our video for ‘Girls of the World’ and ‘Nasty’ being aired on ITV. Great reviews in Classic Rock and Kerrang! Magazine.

Jerry Ewing of Classic Rock magazine stating: ‘First Strike: First class material, first class band’

Dave Ling in Raw reports: ‘First Strike have the ability to take on the big boys’

With major record companies now knocking at the door and the world at their feet, the future looked bright for the band. So, what happened? Why are they not the household name they were destined to be? The answer is simply…. Nevermind.

Nirvana realised their album entitled Nevermind, with the worldwide hit ‘Smells like Teen Spirit’ and the whole music scene changed overnight, the Seattle grunge sound now dominated and band like First Strike where no longer being signed.

First Strike were gone, but not forgotten, 30 years later Steelheart Records have hunted the band down to sign the rights to this previously unreleased album.

Sounding as fresh today as when they were recorded, full of confidence, ability and charm. Sit back, turn the volume up and listen to what might have been.

As part of the 'Lost UK Jewels Collection', the remastered ‘First Strike - Just Another Night’ features twelve tracks recorded in 1989-1991, Which contains a 16-page colour booklet.

So here it is, the ‘lost’ album. You can hear for the very first time. Yet there achievements in that short time is something to be proud of, and so is the album.

https://www.ska-music-ltd.com/product-page/just-another-night

Stairway to Heaven.

Well, June 1^st saw us perform the last show of the opening leg of our 2019. After 46 shows to over 60,000 people, in 9 countries, including two new territories. Sadly The Borderline is closing down after many years of being one of London’s top music venues, hosting gigs performed by the world’s most famous musicians. Blondie’s Debbie Harry performed several shows in the venue later than year. The 1990s saw the alternative Brit-Pop boom as Blur made an appearance as well as a legendary performance by late, great Jeff Buckley.

It is of course the venue in which Letz Zep played there first ever show, in front of members of Iron Maiden, Janick Gers speaking of the band that night said:

"If you want to get the 'Led out' and Page and Plant are otherwise engaged, then the only real option you've got is Letz Zep! Billy Plant and the boyz will take you through a roller coaster ride of all the classics you are unlikely to ever hear again if Robert and Jimmy don't start talking to each other soon, but that's another story. If you can't get the real brew, then this is the closest to the real thing that you are ever likely to see and hear, the playing is impeccable and the Band rocks just like the real thing. Brilliant!"

                                   Janick Gers - Iron Maiden

Many glitterazzi filled the packed house that night, including past and present England Cricket players and the odd Premier League footballer. Half the London music scene turned up from Kerrang! Also Classic Rock Magazine, and a damn fine show we pit on even if I say so myself. Hard Roxxx magazine remarked:  ‘‘Simply more Robert than Robert’’ is the tag line from that publication.  As well as legendary producer Chris Thomas, who worked with the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Roxy Music, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Pulp and the Pretenders. He has also produced the breakthrough albums for the Sex Pistols and INXS.

Of course the next time we performed at The Borderline was in front of none other than Jimmy Page Himself. Jimmy was kind enough to invite us to his private table after the show and commented:

‘’That was ambitious, but you pulled it off, I've been hearing a lot of good things about your band, we have a lot of mutual friends so stay in touch'' Jimmy continued ''You have captured the spirit of Led Zeppelin concerts, you really are very, very good''.

Jimmy was then kind enough to personally invite Letz Zep to perform at the prestigious official launch party for the Led Zeppelin 'Mothership' release, and also the launch party for the remastered 'The Song Remains The Same' DVD.

Letz Zep were invited to the 02 reunion show and also to the premiere for the DVD 'Celebration Day' with Led Zeppelin in Hammersmith, London. Where we spoke had the opportunity tospeak with the members of Led Zeppelin, and congratualted them on their new release. JPJ was kind enough to take his photo with me. 

As was fellow guest living legend ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris who said 'You do a great job keeping the music live, it's amazing'.

                                    Whispering Bob Harris

But that was then and this is now, as with last year the end of tour gig falls on the same night as the Champions League Final, and also like last year, Liverpool are playing in the biggest club game in club football. This time Liverpool got the victory needed to secure the 6^th win of this major trophy. Well done Liverpool! There was some concern that the game featuring a London team may harm attendance, but it was a packed house for our farewell to the famous venue.

Letz Zep started 2019 with 21 shows in 29 days as part of the Rock Legends Tour. Put on by the most handsome of chaps Monsieur Richard Walter, always nice to see him and his charming wife Janine, when they met us up in the beautiful French Capitol of Paris.

Taking in major venues in France, Belgium and Switzerland. Including two Sold Out nights at the prestigious Paris Olympia Theatre, an unprecedented achievement for a tribute show. The bill couldn’t be better, like a time machine, starting in the 60’s with the fantastic Doors Alive, tribute to Jim Morrison and The Doors.

Onto the 70’s and Led Zeppelin, by us of course, and finally into the 80’s with Gary Mullen and the Works performing One Night of Queen.

Every man, woman and child were keenly in their seats for when The Doors Alive began their exceptional performance, and not a single soul left until the very last note rang out from One Night of Queen. A fantastic tour. If you get a chance go see these amazing bands do not hesitate! Great guys and great shows!

THe whole production has an entourage of 40 people, including catering, backline, PA, Lights, Tour manager, Stage manager and techs.

We do return to the prestigious Paris Olympia on October 23 with Randy Hansen's tribute to Jimi Hendrix!

After France we have just one day off before our 2 week tour of Spain begins. Where we will be reunited with our regualr driver El Gremlino. Onto Germany then before Holland, UK, Malta and Sweden, The band giving great performances every night, and rightfully  receiving great reviews:

'’It is literally the stairway to heaven...a perfect performance’' reports Regina Buddeke of Maz-Online, Germany.

We have a couple of festivals over the summer in Luxembourg and Germany before the second leg of the tour kicks off in September at Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks and The Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells. 

Full details here: www.letzzep.com.

Well!!  it is here at last…. the second book in the Backstage series. Entitled ‘Stairway to Heaven’ it tells the story of the bands continued rise in the past 2 years, having established ourselves as the number one tribute to Led Zeppelin by Ticketmaster, we now drive our ship to new lands. Each chapter title is that of a Zeppelin song and the strapline a lyric from the same song which relates to the topic of the chapter. Touching on all things Led Zeppelin, including Pages obsession on the occult and Aleister Crowley, the man known as The Beast! As always the names may have changed to protect the guilty but as always, The Song…… Remains…… The Same!

Available on paperback and kindle at amazon and also from New World Music, thanks to Silvia Perett at Volcanika for the artwork.

https://newworldmusic.com/uk/shop/bk744-stairway-to-heaven-book/

We have some very exciting news to be announced very soon, watch this space people!!!!!