Ok playmates - in a nutshell, this is how it happened!
As mutual members of the SAS* and former members of those jolly reprobates The Damned (altho' not at the same time) Alan and I were bound to meet at some point. In fact, other mutual friends had been nudging us about plugging our axes in for some time, reckoning our respective playing styles might produce some interesting results.
So Alan hopped down to my gaff in Wales one weekend, and as the empties piled up so did the tunes - we did indeed appear to have that thing called playing empathy going on. Roping in my old drumming pal from UFO to admirably interpret my six-armed drum programming we set to in the Stir Studios with a damn fine engineer by the name of Paul Durant, ostensibly for a one - off project (altho' of course you never know!)
And the result, which we are delighted with dear chaps and chappesses, is now available for all, courtsey of our friends at Voiceprint. And of course - blatant plug time - we'd like you to buy it!
LABEL BLURB...
A unique "one off" album project from the band of the same name, and one that has a most interesting pedigree....
WICKED GRAVITY features Paul Gray, the guy who played amazing bass lines in EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS in the late 70`s (including the seminal summer anthem "Do Anything You Wanna Do") before moving on to spend lengthy spells with both THE DAMNED ("The Black Album" and "Strawberries" both feature his sublime bassplaying) and stadium rockers UFO. He even played on former New York Doll JOHNNY THUNDERS solo album, So Alone, and with legendary MC5 singer ROB TYNER - but that's another story...
And there's more - WICKED GRAVITY also features another DAMNED alumni, Alan Lee Shaw, on guitar and lead vocals, and former MAGNUM / UFO megadrummer Jim Simpson. And it's a pedigree that works a treat; the sound on WICKED GRAVITY manages to perfectly unite darkly mischievous themes with a raw seismic power, combined with a plethora of richly menacing riffing. Paul Gray`s penchant for superior melodies has proven the perfect complement to Alan Lee Shaw`s chunky, aggressive guitar playing. As the dozen tunes on WICKED GRAVITY prove, the result is truly unique, and devilishly enjoyable good fun...
Check out the clips above - and you can download"Horsewhipped" from the album for free!!!
And if you have a few hours (or maybe weeks!) to spare you can also go to www.paulgraybass.co.uk to access a vast amount of images, stories, diaries and anecdotes from Pauls time on the road with all the above bands, plus plenty more!
OK Paul. Just bumped into this gem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weQ4oNk7Pqc Any info you can give us on Marc Bolan? What was he like? You may have told me on our nights out but it was the 80s, and all I can remember is Scabies wafting past us in The Ship before a Damned three-nighter at The Marquee commenting, "So is this hippy night?" ("I met a guy called Mik and he had hair down to his bum..."), 'Cloudy' and a mad car ride after a Damned gig in Brixton and the look on a doorman's face as left The Dorchester Hotel after a night on your bathroom floor before you met up with UFO.
Just stopping by to say hi and give you some news. The new album 'Welcome To Murraysville' from Phil Murray and the Boys From Bury is now available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
Paul, Not sure if you were aware. You were on RockworldTv last night for an whole hour. It was Eddy & the Hotrods live at The Bottom Line, London. One of those Cherryred live presentations.
Hope all is well and a special hello to Jim if he remembers Pete ,anager of Target UK, friend of JT. Jim came to visit with us a few times in Kidderminster, we had a daughter Sarah who was around 12, she is now the singer in ANUBIS
Hiya Paul. Just wondering if you were responsible for this on the Time Out website: Posted by Paul Gray on 20 Jun 2006 18:41 Ramones June 1977 - fantastic, best live band ever. "Stop that f**kin' spittin' " riled Dee Dee at the incessant gobbing while Johnny Ramone battered someone with a torch snatched from security. A blistering set. Also recall Jesus the hippy at many gigs - bit out of place in the punk era but added to the quirkyness of the venue. Actually wondering whatever happened to 'Jesus'. I attended many a gig in the late 70s and he was always there. He even showed up when I was playing with TV Smith's Cheap at the Greyhound, Fulham Palace Road in the late 80's with obligatory tambourine. I'm sure his real name was Willie Jellet but Google searches have brought up nothing. Do you or anyone reading this know what happened to this legend of the London scene?
Luvvly scram and a nice drop 'o splosh! It was good to see you on the weekend. I have decided to adopt the Sage of Southend's creed and live my life acording to the legend... "It's all about the violence... innit!" Chin! Chin! Craig "The Axe" Addecott
Many thanks for the ad and if Paul Gray decided to up sticks to Edinburgh, our bassist's jacket would certainly be on a shuggly nail! All the best, Jimson Trance.
Hi Paul, Please excuse the gratuitous plugging and all that but other bloomin' bands are always leaving them on MY page.... and if you can't beat 'em join 'em - and all that old twaddle playmates.
Anyway, The Damned ARE heading out on tour in a few days and are taking with us three internationally renowned (and saucy) burlesque / musical support acts so if you are going to attend one of these gigs come early.... PLEASE don't miss the likes of Mimi Le Meaux, Kitten on the Keys and Missy Malone - especially seeing as how your old mates The Damned have imported them from the US at great expense for your delight and delectation!
I am including at the end of this massage some links for the promo flyers we have created to publicize these gigs so if you're feeling that way inclined or are just bored could you maybe post one or 2 on your (or someone else's) website so that an unsuspecting public out there can receive the wondrous news that... THE DAMNED ARE BACK. And quite right as well!
Why not come down to a show and play a bass solo???
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