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Five Quick Q’s with…ROBIN GEORGE courtesy of
http://stokieboy.wordpress.com/
Robin George will
be known to many for his hit single ‘Heartline’
but he has worked with David Byron (Uriah Heep),
Roy Wood, Magnum, Asia and his most recent band
are Damage Control whose line-up
features UFO’s Pete Way, Spike from
the Quireboys and drummer
Chris Slade (AC/DC,Asia/Uriah Heep). He
is also doing an EP around Xmas, and will be donating copies
and royalties to various charities including the
Donna Louise Trust & the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. It
includes Nick Tart (DIAMOND HEAD/NOTORIOUS),
Andy Pike, Vix, Ruby Turner, Pete Way (UFO) and
of course Robin himself.
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What are you
currently up to? (e.g. recording, gigs etc.)We’ve
just released RAW, which is the original inspiration of the
Damage Control album.
Pete and I are singing, so it’s a very different sounding
album than Spike’s version. We always intended to release
‘Raw’ as our original inspiration for the songs on the
album, and this is it.
I’m In
the studio working on Damage Control 2 demos at the moment.
Thanks to the internet we’re writing across the world, (I’m
in Spain, Pete’s in Brum and Chris is in California) but
we’re coming together in Spain to record and gig later this
year.
I’ve also
helped form a record label, Damage Control Music. After so
many years of being ripped off and badly marketed, we’ve
decided to fight back by being open and honest with our
artists, which is working really well for all concerned.
2. What have been the best five gigs you have been to or
involved in?
0ne of the best as in the audience was the Reading Festival
when Slade blew the roof off. Not bad at an open air
festival!
Also playing in the band at Reading with Magnum was a great
gig. Madrid with The Byron Band was great as well. My first
visit to Spain, I live here now.
Touring with Dangerous Music was also a great experience.
The charity gigs with Asia were really memorable as
well…there’s talk of a release of the Marquee nights soon.
3. Have you been pleased with how the Damage Control CD was
received by fans and reviewers? Will there be a second album
from the band and if so would Spike be on vocals again?
Very pleased. As I said, we’re working on album 2 right now,
and input from fans and reviewers was really positive, so we
have a strong commitment to deliver more of the same.
Spike
came in as a friend of Pete’s to do some backing vocals on
Damage Control ‘Damage Control’. Spike added a level of
Spikeness we really liked, so we decided to do a version of
the album with him singing lead vocals. Unfortunately, when
the time came to tour, Spike had previous commitments with
his own band, which left us unable to fulfil commitments as
the original Damage Control band.
We’re still in touch and we’ll probably do more together in
the future.
4. Any recent music/books/films you would recommend?
I read so much I forget most books as soon as I finish them,
which means I can re-read them!
I really rate a book I’ve just read called The Alchemist by
Paulo Coelho, maybe ‘cause it’s set partly in Andalusia.
I spend
most of my time making music, so I don’t really listen apart
from in bars…We’re about to sign a couple of great bands to
Damage Control Music, one Spanish and a great young British
rock band. We’re also releasing a re-mastered version of the
David Byron Band One Minute More, and an album spanning 20
years of Vix , who was lead singer with Fuzzbox. We’ve also
signed Marshall Law, Nick Tart from Diamond Head in Life,
and an album of my history, so obviously I would recommend
those. Check out www.damagecontrolmusic.com for more info.
I don’t
really watch many films either…there’s not enough time these
days, which is good…
I did like Saving Grace as a gentle English comedy.
Mr Brooks is a great American thriller; also Wild Hogs is a
good daft road movie.
5.
Message for your fans…
As always, thanks for all your support. It’s priceless to
me.
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Damage Control
- RAW
Pete Way
Robin George
Chris Slade |
Reviewed for RockFann by Vivienne Lennard
If you can only buy 1 record this year then let this be the
one because it’s got it all.
Raw is an album bursting
with Savage Songs protesting against injustice and corruption, attacking
mediocrity and complacency with the sheer driving force of the music and the
razor sharp wit of the lyrics. These are songs ripped straight from the hearts
of guys who seem to have been to hell and back, all fused together by the power
trio’s incandescent rocking and raging.
Nothing and no-one who deserves it escapes criticism here;
the individual (Raw and Selfish), society (Alice) or governments (Spy). There
ain’t no love songs here except Victim, Pete Way’s Ode to the drug which becomes
a heartfelt lament for victims of drug abuse with the heart rending words Robin
George sings ‘straight from the heart’, originally inspired by Phil Lynott, with
whom he was writing for the re-formed Thin Lizzy,just before Phil’s untimely
death . The track Damage Control seems to be Way’s cry for help, rasped out with
raw emotion by a damaged man and answered by George’s controlled, melodic
sensibilities.
Not that these songs lack a sense of humour; check out
bluesy numbers like Slaughtered and Bitchin’ Blues while One Step Closer is a
fabulous cry for freedom and then there’s Seven Golden Daffodils, a captivating
song you’d never expect to hear on an album this dark .
Throughout, the outrageously catchy riffs are
powered along by the rock-solid yet melodic drumming of Chris Slade, Way’s
throbbing bass and George’s dramatic ,innovative guitar playing. The
combination of George’s Lennon/Bolan-esque, bluesy vocals and Way’s emotion
fuelled rocking are a powerful cocktail sure to send your head reeling. Turn it
up real loud and roar!
Raw review courtesy of
'Dmitry M. Epstein'
http://dmme.net
The unholy trinity of
hard rock geezers try to reign in their inner animal and gloriously
fail.
To call it a power trio
would be an underestimation of these veterans' synergy. In their free
time the UFO's bassist Pete, drummer Chris Slade mostly recognisable
from his AC/DC stint and
Robin George who played
guitar for Phil Lynott and David Byron pooled their talents to have fun
and get away with it. The abusive self-criticism peaking in the "Damage
Control" boogie groove, there's no mercy in their deliciously rough
music where the subtlety is well hidden behind the stringers' voices and
the dark humor, with the "There ain't no Alice here, this ain't no
wonderland" line to sum it all up. Well, some more adventurousness
spiced up with the "Nightingales And Bombers" kind of drumming would be
welcome, but the acoustic texture of grungey "Savage Song" brings about
enough buzz, and "Selfish" is one of the most tremulous ballads out
there with an exquisite, almost flamenco lace woven into its blues
fabric. More so, "Slaughtered" is shaped as a fine slab of country
blues, while "Spy" comes as an excercise of cramming as much initialisms
in a song as possible - talk about all things lyrical and dirty, then.
Somewhat purer takes on
some of these tracks have found their way onto the "Radio 1" EP - now
added to "Raw" - with the almost chamber "Spy" sitting snugly alongside
"Damage Control", funked-up and shot through with an acoustic thread,
and some new songs which are too good to have been omitted yet not so
bright to go to the second album that may see the threesome managing
their anger ever effectively.
****4/5
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The David Byron
Band
featuring David Byron
and Robin George |
excerpts from a
David Byron review courtesy of Kevin Julie
http://www.travellersintime.com/UniversalWheels/RobinGeorge08.html
Congratulations and thank you
on the new Byron Band release. Now you just had the previous release a few
years ago - the demos and the live stuff, so how did this one come up again,
somewhat quickly?
RB- It doesn't really seem
that quickly to me, but I know what you're saying. Basically, because of my
move to Spain, I was trying to sort all my archives over here and as we were
unpacking, literally - a couple of tapes fell out in front of me, and they
happened to be 3 tracks that I'd completely forgotten about, plus the
interview. And I just thought that there was such a great reaction, a very
warm reaction to the last David album we did; I thought people deserved to
hear this. And I think I was right, it's getting a lovely response from
people who loved David, still love David. And I actually think that his
vocals on these other 3 tracks are great.
It's good, it completes - the full second album that
never got out.
RB- Exactly! Yeah.
Were those exactly the tracks that would've been on the
album?
RB- This was the demos for the start of album 2. So
everything here you hear would've been album 2, definitely, plus another
couple of tracks. But this is it. It would've been a great album. The band
had progressed and obviously we'd toured quite a bit, so we were really
tight as I think you can hear because these are live demos. Not to be,
unfortunately, desperately unfortunately. But at least we got this, because
personally I think the songs are absolutely great and David loved them as
well.
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The David Byron
Band
featuring David Byron
and Robin George |
David Byron review courtesy of
Jake Webb - RockFann Magazine
In these days of
banal rock music ‘One Minute More’ from The Byron Band demonstrates what good
rock should sound like.
From the beautifully arranged "Bad Girl" and the driving sound of "Safety in
Numbers" to the melodic "Angelsong" it has it all.
The superb singing of David Byron and Inspirational guitar playing by Robin
George make this a must have album for any fan of the genre.
One of the greatest rock vocalists of our time; if only David were around today.
Classic rock at its best. Play it loud!
Jake Webb
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LovePower and
Peace
by ViX
and Robin George |
ViX LovePower and Peace review courtesy of
Tristram Valentine - RockFann Magazine
‘LovePower
and Peace’ by Vix (x Fuzzbox).
Is this the rebirth of Vix under the wing of veteran rocker/producer Robin
George?
Under Robin’s guidance the full vocal scope of Vix has been exposed at long
last, with rock guitar and up-tempo riffs this album delivers from the title
track, ‘LovePower and Peace’ all the way through to the final track, ‘World’
A great collaboration between two cool artists. Keep it coming, guys! Pop Rock
at its best.
Review by Tristram Valentine, Sub-Editor for Rock Fann
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Damage Control
- RAW
Pete Way
Robin George
Chris Slade |
Is this a
master class in Rock n’ Roll? In poker 3 Aces are a winning hand but in the
world of Rock 3 Aces are Damage Control.
3 Grand Masters plying their
trade as only they know how. For people who enjoy their Rock in all styles,
this is a must have album!
Review by Tristram Valentine
Sub-Editor for RockFann.
what the
rest are saying..........................
Robin George
is that
rare thing amongst rock musicians – jack of all trades and remarkably adept at
all of them.... His latest album, ‘Crying Diamonds’, is a finely crafted
collection of modern hard rock songs that perfectly highlights Robin’s ability
as a songsmith. The title track itself is of particular interest, having been
written with
Thin Lizzy’s
frontman
Phillip
Lynott
just prior to his untimely
death
Geoff
Gillespie - Majestic Rock Records
Stories about
Pete
are legion and legend. This is a man who once toured Europe with
Waysted
sans
a passport - in the days before the borders were opened up. All he had was a
Waysted
album sleeve and a tour itinerary. Did he get away with it?
This is
Pete Way...of
course he did. And that's just the tip of the mythic iceberg. The difference
between these tall tales and those told about other rock icons is that, in
Pete's case, they're all true. Yet, there's more to
Pete Way
than a chortle, chuckle and a chianti or three (well, any booze will do). He's
also found time to record some of the most essential music in rock history, with
UFO
and
Waysted. Malcolm
Dome - radio broadcaster, author and journalist
One of the greatest drummers in rock history
Greg Douglas - guitarist and vocalist with The Steve Miller Band
Bluesongs
- superb compositions, beautifully arranged and very well produced. It’s good
music for Christ’s sakes. One of the best things that I have heard so far this
year, it will probably take something really earth stopping to top this off my
list. One of the finest AOR releases by a true veteran.
Bluesongs Review - Metal Invader
Pete is without doubt one of the most influential musicians to come out of the
British rock scene in the 1970s and his distinctive style of bass-playing has
inspired many rockstars. Bands including
Twisted
Sister, Quiet Riot
and Def Leppard
cite
him as an influence. Steve Harris of
Iron Maiden
practically worships him!
Garry Bushell - journalist, author and television
presenter
Slade was the best musician in AC/DC
Angus Young of AC/DC no less
George’s writing and vocal styles are easily recognised, and the album includes
‘Crying Diamonds’, a song George wrote late on with Phil Lynott. The lyrics –
“Secret handshake, old school tie brigade/Behind the scenery, I’ve read the
book/I saw the film, but now I see reality” – may even reflect the way the
industry slammed the door so prematurely shut on Lynott’s career. Fascinating
stuff.
Dave Ling's
review of Crying Diamonds - Classic Rock Magazine
Robin has a refined and witty sensibility, similar to that of
John Wetton.
This
album, however, is very different to his usual output. Blues, country and boogie
rock n' roll are all in complete harmony, and he skillfully takes in a duet with
a female vocalist on "World". The record has a number of light pop tunes, and
what really impresses me about this album is the warm and friendly nature of the
recording.
Yasuhito Kitai - Burrn Magazine
An Earth Band without Chris Slade would be like a bird without wings
Barry Winton - journalist for Record Collector magazine
'Bluesongs' is business as usual for the man who almost single handedly ushered in the age
of techno AOR with 1985's seminal
'Dangerous Music'.
It's a wickedly fine set of mature pop-rock songs, well crafted, superbly played
and extremely well produced. In 2004, melodic rock doesn't get a whole lot
better than this! Times may change, but Robin George is still a force to be reckoned with…and
'Bluesongs'
is the proof of that!
Keep that man away from my husband! He's a bad influence on Ozzy!
First of all I got to say this features some great production
work. Crystal clear, nice bass and every track rings true Brit quality.
Get this cd and play it loud this summer.
Kerrang
The veteran rockers have pulled together an incredibly bluesy
rock workout that doesn’t stop growing on you until the lyric booklet has become
one with your skin.
Rock Something
Robin George
ditches his more polished guitar sound of his
solo work for some mean, dirty riffing and a great piece of guitar on ‘Bitching
Blues’. Chris Slade’s
drumming is worthy of a special mention as well as he really power along the
songs and seems to get more free reign for powerhouse drumming then in his
Asia
days.
Jason Richie
Damage Control is the brainchild of a couple of stalwarts of the British rock
music scene – Pete Way
and
Robin George,
who
have both been banging out top quality albums since way back when. For this
latest excursion, they have added ex- AC/DC
drummer
Chris Slade.
The songs are an eclectic mix of rockers, bluesy numbers and
high-quality slower tracks. The quality of song writing and lyrics is absolutely
superb throughout.
“Raw” and “One Step Closer” show the quality and variety in
Robin George’s song writing in particular, the first an up-tempo rocker and the
second a laid-back bluesy number. Both excellent, but completely different in
style.
“Redundant” is the track that is still going round in my head
after two plays and may well be my favourite of the whole album. It’s just
beautifully written, catchy as hell
Damage Control is British rock at its finest. Intelligent
lyrics, superbly crafted songs, great performances by every musician…
Paul Williams
