DENIGH

 

From Folkestone, Kent, England, comes Denigh, formed in 1978 and having recorded 3 demo-tapes (two in 1979 and one in 82), the successful single "No Way" in 1980 and the album Fire from the Sky in 1984, besides the compilation of 1997. We had a chat with Jon (Bass, vocals) and Ian (Guitars, keyboards, vocals) the remaining members of the original line-up and the core of this great band.

Q. - Hello guys! How and when did it all start? Who were the first members of the band? Please tell us a bit about the origins of Denigh.

Jon: DENIGH was formed in 1978 in the coastal town of Folkestone, Kent in South East England.

As individuals we had served our apprenticeship in 'covers bands' on the local pub and club circuit and I guess the time was right to go our own way.

It's fair to say that me and Ian in particular wanted to write at least some of our own songs.

I had only provided backing vocals in other bands up to this time, so initially we were keen to recruit a lead singer but this proved extremely dificult. I recall we tried three guys at our rehearsals and, having decided they and we were wasting our time I eventually stepped up to the lead mic.

Combining Bass and lead vox didn't come easy and the learning process continued throughout our early gigs - we had to plan each set to help my voice!

Ian: Phil Allchin was with us at early rehearsals on lead guitar, but during the long delay in finding a lead vocalist, he was offered a place with another band. I'd known Phill for a while, we lived in the same street, Nos. 8 & 12 and our first encounter was a back garden stone throwing battle where he accused me of killing his rabbit. We started out fighting, but ended up good mates with our mutual interest in making music.

So I was sorry to see him leave us and it should have been a major setback, but we found Steve Maddock to take the lead guitar slot and Jon stepped up to the lead mic.

The original performing line up was:

Steve Maddock – Lead Guitar

Ian Devlin – Keyboards / Guitar / vox

Jon Everett – Bass Guitar / Lead vox

John Regan – Drums

Q. - How did your interest in Rock / Metal music start? Who are your main influences?

Jon: Making music is in my family, my taste is very broad, across most genres including classical.

However, I have early memories in the 1960's singing along to the Pirate Radio stations that my older brother and couzins were tuned to.

So that would have been The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys in particular. Later at school in my teens I didn't hang around with the 'pop crowd' - although I liked Slade, Elton John, Quo and a few others - but mostly for me it was Genesis, James Taylor, John Lennon, Santana with a little bit of John Mayall, Lou Reed, Uriah Heep …

Ian: My story is much the same as Jons. I grew up in a musical family where downstairs would be Mum & Dads Perry Como, Cilla Black & Sandy Shaw, but upstairs my two older sisters were playing The Beatles, The Who and The Move. In my teens I was into Led Zep, Quo etc.

 

Q. - Do you remember how did the band name came up?

Jon: Band names are so difficult to choose, especially when trying to think of one.

Our story is that after rehearsals in a hall near Folkestone we would pop into the village pub 'The Chequers' before going home.

The landlord knew us well, due to the fearful racket we made in the village hall and one day he set us a riddle “there's only one four letter word in the dictionary ending in ENY, what is it?”.

None of us could guess it, so he told us – DENY.

Ian: I reckon this is the first time anyone has asked this question!

We had been searching for a unique name for our new band and after thinking it over with a few beers in the pub, we changed the spelling and by the next rehearsal we had adopted it.

Q. - Do you recall the songs you were playing at the beginning? Did you play any covers too?

Ian: We had written eight songs ready for our first gig:

The Star / Falling Snow / Bed Of Nails / Stay On Top / Three Sparows / Burn The Sky / Echo Of An Echo / Missing You.

I don't remember the covers except 'Dont Believe a Word' by Thin Lizzy, coz I got to use my WahWah pedal!

Jon: And these covers, Rain - Quo, Strange Kinda Woman - Deep Purple … the two I remember!

 

Q. - How was the Kent Rock / Metal scene like? Did you play regularly there or even in the rest of the UK? Did you share the stage with other well-known bands?

Jon: In 1978 there was SAMSON in north Kent for us to look up to, but in our area on the south coast of Kent, there weren't many Rock Bands and of those, very few were writing their own material.

Generally a local band would get more gigs and therefore more money by playing covers, so thats what most did.

Ian: Yeah, and in those early days of DENIGH we had no money and limited transport, so getting further afield was difficult. But before long we got a reliable van, so were able to travel all over Kent, into London, Essex and to Birmingham. We also crossed the channel to do a mini tour of French coastal towns.

In 1979 DENIGH were proud of the opportunity to support SAMSON and that was the first of many including: SAXON, BUDGIE, RAGE, GIRLSCHOOL and TORME.

Q. - Was the 1979 "Denigh" demo tape your first experience at studio? What memories do you keep from these recording sessions?

Ian: This was my first experience in a proper studio although I don't remember anything about it. But I recall a time much earlier when me and a mate Clive had used a couple of stereo tape recorders, bouncing tracks between them to build the recording – with hopeless results!

Jon: My first studio experience was with a band 'Talisman'. (Incidentaly, Phil Allchin was the lead guitarist in this band and Phil took over the lead guitar in DENIGH after Steve left mid 1979).

The first DENIGH demo was recorded at the same studio, in the basement of the engineers house in Folkestone. The sound proofing was really thick and made your ears 'strain' for sound!

I don't remember much else though. But I still have the tapes, they sound dated and on a budget but they're fine.

 

Q. – And how was the single "No Way'" received by the fans? Did it have airplay on radio stations?

Jon: The single was a success and such a shame that we couldn't follow it up sooner with another release.  We simply had no money and although we didn't realise it at the time, we also needed proper management guidance.

We sold the single mainly at gigs and through local record shops but a number were sold through a national distributor and it was these sales that led to a 'number 97' position in the official UK singles chart.

Ian: And on top of that, the single had airplay on the BBC Radio Kent show 'Kent Rocks ' hosted by Mike Brill and ultimately on the BBC 'Friday Night Rock Show' hosted by Tommy Vance.

Q. - After the release of "No Way", it took two years since you recorded new songs, the demo tape "Lean on 'em Hard". Did you try to approach a record deal at that time?

Jon: I have to give this question some thought.

We always had the idea that we could be completely independent and in control of everything about DENIGH.

After all, we had a successful single release, we had a decent fan-base, we had local and national radio airplay and last but not least, we produced good material.

We were certain that DENIGH was gathering momentum. And it was.

In addition to gigs on the usual circuit we were organising 'showcase' gigs in larger local venues that involved hiring PA equipment, lighting, roadcrew, support bands, advertising, tickets, posters – the list is endless.

On top of this we produced quality merchandise for fans, trying to maximise exposure of the band.

Looking back, the approach we adopted was misguided because it was too idealistic. We took on too much ourselves and seeking a record deal took a back seat.

Ian: I agree with Jon but there was also one fundamental thing missing. DENIGH didn't have a decent & up to date demo tape, likely through lack of funds, but also lack of focus.

Certainly the early demo wouldn't have convinced a record company.

 

Q. - What do you think that lacked to "Denigh" to have a successful career?

Jon & Ian: Paulo, we know we were successful, thinking back to all that DENIGH achieved, but we should have been more successful.

What we lacked was proper management and focus ....

….and maybe a bit of luck?

Q. - Did you stay in touch with the other former members of the band over the years?

Jon & Ian: Yes, of course though we all went our own ways with different bands and musicians.

Although Steve has stayed very much to himself with very little contact and sadly Phil Allchin died in 2019.

Q. - What other projects did you have after the end of "Denigh"? Tell us a bit about it please.

Jon: I fronted a couple of local bands through the eighties into the nineties, none with the same ambitions as DENIGH, but that suited me at the time. And I was also happy to provide my Bass and backing Vox for other bands recording projects. Later I coached and recorded a couple of local contempory folk artists / vocalists.

And of course, Ian and I have more than once got together, but there's often been other distractions that have broken the bond. That is, until now of course.

Ian: I also played in a couple of local bands and from one of those the bassist (Paul) and his brother formed a new band called Immaculate Fools - who later signed a deal with A&M.

Three years and two albums later Paul contacted, asking me to join the band for a tour of Spain and Portugal. After a week rehearsing in London I did the tour and joined the band officially. I worked with Immaculate Fools for about five years and in this time we recorded the album 'Another Mans World' with CBS that went 'Gold' in Spain and 'Silver' in a couple of other European countries – plus there were a couple of hit singles off that album.

And, for your interest Paulo I did numerous gigs and tours in Spain and Portugal, so you and me may have already crossed paths at some time?

After I left that band I did get an audition with Jethro Tull for a planned world tour - but sadly I didn't get the gig.

 

Q. - Denigh self-produced several different promo materials (like badges, stickers, posters) and even albums. Have you ever thought about the reissue of Fire from the Sky or the 1997 compilation on Cd?

Jon: As a result of recent appearances and exposure on Voodoo Radio we have been contacted by a specialist label, 'Obscure NWOBHM Releases', regarding the re-issue the 1997 Compilation CD.

Negotiations are complete and the project is underway with an expected release in the 1^st quarter of 2023.

A similar plan for “Fire From The Sky” will be considered after the completion of the initial project.

As for promotional products / merchandise we're all for it, but now we don't offer it for the revenue it generates. Instead we have made our artwork / graphics available free via download from our Social Media pages and our 'Linktree' page.

Anyone can take the artwork to their local printer and get a shirt, mug, stickers etc.

Q. - How did you see the whole N.W.O.B.H.M. movement, back then, and how do you see the interest around those bands and recordings nowadays?

Ian: To be honest Paulo, we didn't know we were doing anything special.

As DENIGH we described ourselves as British Rock, taking our inspiration from the (mostly British) bands that preceeded us in the early 1970's. Such as Deep Purple, Led Zep, UFO etc.

So, DENIGH and other bands of that time just took this inspiration forward and it was much later on that 'NWOBHM' tagged this particular Rock era.

DENIGH never described their music as HM, something all of us in the band would agree right from day one in 1978.

Jon: As for the recordings, I recall speaking with Matt Mader at Iron Pages prior to their re-issue of “Fire From The Sky”. He was insistent that we didn't apply any modern studio tricks to the sound, because it had to be of the time.

And this is what he meant.

Nowadays, 'anyone' can make a good recording at home with easily available and low cost equipment, but back then the bands didn't have any money and relied on small independent basement studios to record their sound.

The time and cost restraints usually dictated a 'live take' of the band with some 'tracked' vox afterwards. And that was that.

Those hurried, low budget recordings have captured the essence of the times.

Ian: Its great that fans still review the bands and their recordings from those days and though there will be some that are lost, there must still be some that no one has heard yet.

Obviously we're glad that we still have our early recordings as they offer a tangible insight into what DENIGH was about.

Q. - In your opinion what are the main differences between the eighties and the reality of today?

Jon: I'm not sure how to answer this, except – that was then and today the music business is totally different.

Are there any regrets? Sure but we have to face up to the choices we make.

Could DENIGH have 'made it'? Yes, I believe there was every chance.

Ian: One big difference is the technology now available that enables musicians / artists to create and showcase their material to a high standard and within a reasonable budget.

DENIGH is taking advantage of this right now.

Thinking back, I remember my first 'guitar amp' involved pulling the stylus unit out of a record player, cutting off and stripping back the wires on one end of a guitar lead and joining them to the wires now hanging out of the tone arm. Plug in yer axe and crank up the volume – usually an impressive 4 watts …!

Those days are long gone.

Q. - What's the current status of "Denigh", still alive and kicking?

Jon: Me and Ian are active as DENIGH in a songwriting partnership.

Its important to add that we enjoy what we're doing with no constraints set on the material we produce.

DENIGH at last has a Manager …!  He is Carl Penfold.

Carl takes resposibility for our online and social media presence and is the single point of contact for DENIGH.

Carl also creates our Promo Videos that can be viewed on the DENIGH YouTube channel.

DENIGH material is released on our own label “Drawn Horse Records” and supported by proffesional publishing and distribution of our works.

Ian: This year we have released two new singles (BEVIN BOYS and BLACKSHEEP) that are available for download from all the usual online stores and a new album is due early 2023 titled “Back In The Game”.

The album will be for download / streaming initially, with a CD format expected to follow.

So, me, Jon and Carl are able to fully embrace our 'ideal' and maintain control of everything DENIGH.

 

Q. - Anything more you want to say, to end this interview?

Jon & Ian: Thanks Paulo, for inviting DENIGH to interview.

We look back with pride on what we achieved in the past and now look to the future as our music is evolving. The response has been fantastic, not only in the UK but globally too and its great to know that along with our original followers our music is attracting a new audience.

And if you will permit Paulo, anyone interested in what DENIGH is doing now please use this link to access all our Social Media / online platforms.  DENIGH

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!

Thanks Paulo, you too mate. Jon, Ian and Carl

Tranzzam (Andy Orme)

 

From Oxford, England, came Tranzzam, formed in 1979 and having recorded two demo tapes, Lionheart in 1982 and Hypnotized in 1984. We had a chat with drummer Andy Orme, to know a bit more about this underrated band.

Q. - Hello Andy, how did your interest in heavy metal music start?

Andy - Hey Paulo, earliest ever thoughts were probably at Marc Bolan & Osmonds (Phase 3 album) when I was really young (6 or 7). Then an afternoon round a friends with Quo Live & a Focus album. Later – first proper gig was Sabbath with Van Halen supporting – how can you not like metal after seeing Eddie at an early age?

Q. - What about Tranzzam? How did it all start?

Andy - I was always going to be a drummer from small child (setting ‘drum’ kits of books on my bed and playing with paint brushes). By age of 13 I had a pieced together a kit of various parts, learning to play via school orchestra classical percussion playing and kit playing Queen, Rush, Yes, Genesis etc with the stereo up really loud and just playing along. My sister was dating a guy in a band. They booted their singer, the drummer (Tiff) became the singer and they needed a drummer. I was (and still am) 2 – 3 years younger than the others.

Q. - And how did the band name came up?

Andy - That would have been Pete’s idea. He did all graphics, posters and logos. I always liked the car, plus it rings a bell that there was already a Trans-Am band (in Wales maybe?) so the necessary adjustments were made (ZZ).

Q. - Who were your principal influences at the beginning of the band?

Andy - Everyone brought their own into it, but classic rock/metal like Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Sabbath, Scorpions, along with NWOBHM bands of the time – Maiden, Judas Priest etc. but then I liked Van Halen a lot so I brought a bit more swing into it. Tiff (singer) was into Discharge and Alien Sex Fiend, so it was the throwing it all together and we were what came out.

Q. - At this time did you play some covers, or was it only your own songs?

Andy - Pretty much throughout our gigs, we’ve only included 2 or 3 covers at most in a set (except when we played American Airbases who demanded 4 x 45minute sets). I do remember that I never heard the originals of lots of the covers we did, so they seemed like our songs anyway to me.

Q. - The "Lionheart" demo tape came around 1982, and was very well received by the metalheads in the UK, did you try to approach a record deal back then?

Andy - We certainly talked either on the phone or via letters. Labels were never keen on

us weirdly. I think it’s about how we sounded on demo compared to live.

Live – we are very loud, very heavy and as tight as we can possibly be. This can be hard to get across on a demo tape done in a weekend.

In 2000 we released a CD ‘Pest’ – band name now High N Mighty (same line up). That has been the only time (in my opinion) where studio sounded anywhere close to live.

Q. - Do you have any special memories from the shows you played back then?

Andy - 1st gig, for local bikers chapter aged 14 (how scared?)

1st Oxford Pennyfarthing gig, 200 plus people aged 15

1st Marquee in London gig aged 16

We started counting them up a while ago and stopped at about 275 shows we could remember, so lots of funny (and bad) ones along the way.

Q. - Around 1984 comes the second Tranzzam demo tape, Hypnotized, what do you recall from these recording seasons?

Andy - I think that’s from the only demo I don’t have a copy of! I can’t even remember which studio we were at. It may have been Spaceward Studios in Cambridge. If so, it was the weekend after a Friday night All-England Bikers Chapter gig where they wouldn’t let us off stage until about 2am.

Q. - With the great talent and potential you guys had, what do you think has failed to achieve a real success?

Andy - We’ve never been very pushy or shouted for our own glory which certainly gets a lot of musicians their contracts (hassling labels, getting Managers etc.). We just got on with making the music and playing gigs because that’s what we enjoyed doing. The fact that other people seemed to like it too was a lucky bonus!

Q. - Did you stay in touch with each other’s all over the years?

Andy - We are all very much in touch. As I mentioned earlier, the band morphed into High N Mighty with many more gigs, still mainly London and Oxford, still demoing and as I said releasing a CD in 2000. We actually played together in 2019 at a friends garden party and were planning a 20 year CD celebration gig until Covid kind of ruined the idea.

Q. - Have you ever thought about doing a compilation with all the recordings that you have done with Tranzzam?

Andy - It’s a distinct possibility. I am the technical/studio boffin of the band, so I have nearly all recordings digitised and backed up. I have started my Youtube channel as a place where people can get to see/hear Tranzzam and High N Mighty tracks and videos (if they care) and I’m hoping to upload lots more in the future.

Q. - What other projects did you have after "Tranzzam", tell us a bit about it too.

Andy - I’ve constantly been in bands throughout my life. Session studio and live work whenever people wanted it, a singer/songwriter friends band for a few years (kind of jazz rock), a band with a Paul McCartney relative singing, a disco band with a full brass section and currently a proper ‘musicians band’ full of weird timings and clever chords.

Also, my work has always been in installation of technical wiring at Studios, Radio Stations, Theatres etc, so I’ve been around music, technicians and musicians almost constantly.

Q. - Do you still keep an eye to the heavy metal or hard rock scene? Is there any band that you still like to listen?

Andy - I don’t keep up with all developments of metal, but I do pick up on stuff throughout the years. Became a big System of a Down fan and a friend has just introduced me (very late) to Tool. Never liked Linkin Park then saw them at Reading Festival and they blew me away (have seen since and not as good). Still dip into Van Halen now and again.

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say?

Andy - Just thanks for your interest. It’s really gratifying to know that people around the world have picked up on this stuff and are getting pleasure out of listening to it, which is why we wrote and recorded it in the first place. Keep watching out for the Youtube channel (I’ll try to get the CD album on there soon). If you need any more info from me, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!

Dreamcatcher - Whitechapel 1888 (Video)

Whitechapel 1888, is the new video of the band Dreamcatcher. This music belongs to the album "The Road So Far", released about one year ago and is based on the myth of Jack The Ripper, but in this case not in the streets of London but "À Paris".

At the middle of the video, there is a small reference to "Rue Morgue" and the album "Killers".

Overall a very interesting and well-made video. You can watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TDZ5kXAdXM&ab_channel=DreamcatcherFrance

Linda Kelsey-Foster (Dogwatch, Airrace)

 

Linda Kelsey-Foster is a rock keyboardist who in recent years has worked with Airrace and Reuben Archer's Personal Sin, having started her career playing with Heavy Water and Dogwatch. Here's a little interview about the bands she went through.

Q. - Hello Linda, tell us a little bit about your beginnings in rock'n'roll music, who were your main influences, what lead you to be a keyboard player?

Linda - My grandfather was an amazing pianist and accordionist and I loved to hear him play. He played by ear. So, I started studying classical piano at a very young age and completed all my exams. However, when I hit 16, I started listening to pop and rock records – early Zep, Purple, Floyd etc – and when I turned 18, I got the opportunity to start messing around in rock bands and the love of listening and playing rock music escalated from there.

Q. - Before joining "Dogwatch" you were part of "Heavy Water", what memories do you keep from the "Heavy Water" days?

Linda - The singer was a guy called Danny Morgan – who later formed a business partnership with Simon Napier Bell of Nomis Studios in London. Danny had quite a few contacts in those early days and gigs were easy to come by – we toured consistently in and around London.

Q. - Are there any recordings from the "Heavy Water"?

Linda - Sadly not. The band disbanded before we got a record deal.  But I think I have a cassette of a live show somewhere.

Q. - And what about "Dogwatch", how and when did it all start?

Linda - I answered an ad in Melody Maker for a keyboard player. Dogwatch was a kind of early Genesis concept type of band and I loved Genesis– each song had a story and the singer Roy Weard was well known for his many stage outfits and changed almost ever song and was very visual; acting out the sing as well as singing.

Q. - Did you play regularly in the UK back then? Did you share stage with other well-known bands?

Linda - In Dogwatch we had a residency every Sunday at the Ruskin Arms at East Ham – where Iron Maiden used to also play (they had their gear stolen once and we lent them our backline). We also played frequently at the Bridge House in Canning Town where we also recorded our live album – Penfriend – using Ronnie Lane’s mobile unit. We started – as every band did – by playing on a Monday night at the Bridge House and if a band continued to increase their following, you’d eventually get the coveted Saturday night spot. Which we did! The guy who ran that venue – Terry Murphy - wrote a book about the venue and its got some amazing history of some of the name bands he put on there, who then grew and went on to much bigger venues. Its a great read. We supported Nutz at the Round House but mainly we did our own shows – not support slots.

Q. - Do you remember how did the name Dogwatch came up?

Linda – No.

Q. - How did the idea of recording "Penfriends" came up?

Linda - We did a showcase at the Music Machine in Camden and as a result, were offered a record deal by Bridge House Records.

Q. - Are there any other recordings by "Dogwatch" besides the live album? Did you record any demos too?

Linda - No.

Q. - What do you think that lacked to "Dogwatch" to have a successful career?

Linda - Wrong time, wrong place, friction amongst band members – the usual stuff.

Q. - Did you stay in touch with each-others all over the years?

Linda - On the odd occasion.  I still speak to Tony Morley and Roy Weard. I was very friendly with Roger Glynn – who I always thought was such a gifted guitarist – and we all did a bit of a reunion gig at Roy Weard’s book launch in 2015. Sadly, Roger died a few years back of lunch cancer.

Q. - What memories do you keep from those days in Dogwatch?

Linda - Very fond memories. I listen back to some of the material and its pretty complex. We played consistently and had a great following. My best memory was Valentines Day where we play the Ruskin Arms and some of the fans presented me with a Valentines Day card which they had all signed – it was about 6 feet tall!

Q. - What other bands did you play after "Dogwatch"? Tell us a bit about it please.

Linda - I then joined a northern melodic rock band called Presence. The 2 main songwriters and drivers of the band were Mark Parkin and Gavin Lewis. John Trelawney (formerly of Dogwatch) was managing them with his colleague Mike Stockdale. Presence had just won the Radio Hallam rock contest and had got a publishing deal with DJM.  John and Mike had set up a private showcase for them for at Terminal Studios and had invited me down to get my feedback. They had no keyboard player at the time. Presence were picking up some good traction and then got the Gary Glitter support slot for all the Christmas university shows. They decided they needed a keyboard player and asked me to join. The rest is history. We toured in France with Wishbone Ash and again, did a number of other shows across the UK including twice at the Marquee in Wardour Street. But again, band politics got in the way and the band dissolved in the late 80’s.  Such a shame – the material was brilliant.

Q. - How did you end up join Airrace on keyboards? 

Linda - After Presence, I kind of fell out of love with playing. I wanted to buy a house so needed a mortgage and to do that, I needed a career. Stupid really. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I never kept up my playing – didn’t touch a keyboard for several years, and my skills started to wane. Laurie Mansworth used to come and watch Dogwatch and loved watching Roger Glynn play. And through Facebook, he contacted me. He had been successfully managing his sone’s band The Treatment for several years, but Laurie is an immense talent as a songwriter and guitarist, and after having toured the world with More and Airrace, I think he was getting itchy feet and missed playing. He had written some new material and asked me to become involved. We started off doing a project called Ludovic Potts but especially at the time, it was almost impossible to launch a new unknown band on to the circuit – things had become so competitive by then; many venues had closed down and there was no money really to be had. Laurie had always felt that Airrace was unfinished business so he decided to re-launch the band and also got Rocky Newton (ex Schenker/ Lionheart) in on bass to work with his son DHani Mansworth \nd singer Adam Payne. We started rehearsing in earnest I had an incredibly busy job at the time and was flying round the world, rushing home from the airport, driving to band rehearsals at the weekend as well as rehearsing on my own in the evenings at home where possible. I was knackered – but I loved it! The Airrace material stretched me and Laurie was a very tough taskmaster and demanded perfection.

Q. - What memories do you keep from the Untold Stories recording times? 

Linda - All the driving I had to do, to rehearse and record! But it was all incredibly exciting and we had amazing fun at the same time.

Q. - Being you living in Spain, is it difficult for you to stay active with Airrace for rehearsals and shows?  

Linda - Just before Covid, we had decided to disband Airrace – or at least put it on the back burner for a couple of years to enable Laurie to continue with his other commitments and we had our final show booked in London, which was going to a really special show at which Keith Murrell, the previous singer, would also have shared the stage with us. But Covid ruined that and we had cancelled the show twice. So, there are no immediate plans to do anything – but I would never say never! Living in Spain especially with flights and also technology, make it very easy to continue to be a member of a predominantly UK based band. I know many band members who lived elsewhere in Europe and still manage to rehearse, record and tour with their UK band members.

Q. - Are there any plans to record a new album with Airrace?

Linda - No.

Q. - Before recording with Airrace you were part of Reuben Archer' s Personal Sin - Petrolhead, how did that happen?

Linda - I had known Rueben for many years and he had already done one Personal Sin album, using well know musicians to guest on it. Again – as a project – Reuben asked me if I would come down and help with the new album. I joined the band and we did a few shows – again, great fun and I really enjoyed it.

Q. - Do you know if Reuben Archer' s Personal Sin project will continue? 

Linda - Rueben has a blues band that he has pulled together right now, so there are no more plans for Personal Sin at this time.

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say? 

Linda - When I look back at my music career, I’ve had an amazing time – met some wonderful people both fans and fellow musicians – played some brilliant over the years and I miss it like crazy! One of my best friends is Tracey Lamb from Girlschool who also lives in Spain. We are talking about an all girl project band which we will probably call Snow Queen. We hope to pull something together later next year as Tracey is crazy busy right now, playing all the Covid cancelled and rebooked shows across Europe with Girlschool.  So, I have no intention of hanging up my hats just yet!

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!