Tag: War & Peace

My name is Teddy Heavens and I’m bringing you the latest Sleaze/Glam/Punk and Trash rock and roll news from the Golden State and the streets (and gutters) of Hollywood, California! From the Valleys to the alleys, I’ll find the coolest bands to report on and let you know what’s up from the Rock and Roll capital of the world!

A lot of rock and roll has been going on in Los Angeles since last I wrote!! Live gigs galore: Prima Donna, Crash Diet, Tsar, Glamour Punks, Iggy and the Stooges, The Damned, Flag/Black Flag, the International Swingers (Punk Rock Super group www.internationalswingers.com), Michael Des Bares, The Horrors, Kyle Vincent (house concert-ex Candy Singer playing solo material), Johnny Thunders tribute show with Walter Lure, Rebel Rebel, L.A. Death Dolls, Punk Rock Museum party, Alice Cooper and M. Manson, Etc.

Check out my new Glam Punk website at www.ftwrecords.com and check out the band Wyldlife, good garage glam punk in the vein of Iggy, Sweet, Slade and Prima Donna!!!! http://wyldlife.bandcamp.com/ Also check out Rocky Shades from Wrathchild new band, Wildside Riot at http://www.wildsideriot.com/

This show was the first by Tsar in Los Angeles in a long time, and the place was jammed with people singing along. This band is polished on record but very raw and powerful live and I gotta see them when they play, which is very rare, usually every 5 years. They played all the good shit from their first 2 records: Calling All Destroyers, Silver Shifter, Kathy Fong, Band-Girls-Money, and stuff off the latest CD The Dark Stuff like the catchy Police Station. Great pop band with catchy songs, you can get all their stuff off ITunes!!!

This is the new release from the band that was playing out as Thin Lizzy and have now released some original songs. This is some good 70’s style hard rock, with catchy vocals, harmony guitar lines and a surprisingly good singer in Ricky Warwick. The vocals are very Phil L., thick and full, and the production is great. This band is made up of hard rock legends and their experience shows. Fans of Lizzy will love this as well as all other hard rock fans.

Blast from the past, this was a hard rock super group from back in the late 80’s featuring Jeff Pilson, Vinnie Appice, Randy Hansen and Michael Diamond. I’ve always loved Hansen’s guitar playing from back in the day with Champagne & Cocaine/Take You Higher, and Appice’s drumming is always great. Another calling card for this release is Michael Diamond from Legs Diamond, seeing he did not really do anything after this project. This material was recorded at the famous Sound City Recording Studio in the late 80’s and Thanks to Deadline Records and Tim Yasui for putting out Gems like this from hard rock and punk legends. The CD has some good hard rock songs and playing, check out “Kill for the Love of God” and “I Don’t Want To Be Lonely”, worth checking out.

Michael self released this new batch of songs and the production is clean, clear and smooth, and the playing is great. The drums/guitar/bass and singing is spot on and this band is a must see if in Los Angeles or Austin, where they usually play. A play by play of each song goes like this:

You’re my Pain Killer-bluesy and laid back

Carnaby St.-cool glam trash track reliving the wild ass days in late 60’s London. Killer bass playing and singing/screaming, Michael going off at the end like a punky Rod Stewart.

Forgive Me– 70’s hard pop rock

Sugar-mellow Bo Diddly “I want Candy” riff with A+ bass playing and cool wah wah guitar.

Route 69– another bluesy/boozy number (70’s movie reference from Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry).

Please Stay-Michael brings us back to church! Minimal instruments, flawless performance on vocals.

Little Latin Lover– hard rocking song advocating for immigrant rights.

Hot and Sticky– The best song the Stones haven’t written in 30 years.

From Cloud 9 to Heartache-another cool pop song with a Culture Club vibe.

My Baby Saved My Ass– “from my wicked past” Michael is the rock and roll man!!! I once saw him at the Melrose swap meet in full face makeup and nail polish.

The Key of Love– cool ballad

Overall Michael has provided us with some good trashy rock and roll over the years and he still rocks better than most who are in their 20’s. I loved the Chequered Past record, and still think an artist or band could have a hit with “NO KNIFE” from that record (along with Frankie’s THE POWER OF LOVE), so support the man and get his music and go see the shows!!!!

If you want me to review your music or write about your event, send it all to:

Teddy Heavens

27750 Firebrand Dr.

Castaic, Ca. 91384

ftwrecords@aol.com