Recived a very welcome email from Solider’s Ian Dick to let me know about a rather welcome offering from the still active NWOBHM originals. An “as it was” live recording from all the way back in 1983 capturing a performance at the Heathery in Wishaw. All being well a review copy will be on the way soon which will results in a review here. In the meantime, here’s a bit of a teaser.
Where were you when you first heard SHERALEE by NWOBHM band SOLDIER? For some people it was in Scotland during SOLDIER’s winter tour there in 1983. Eight gigs in nine days, sleeping on the bus in blizzard conditions!
As Garry Phillips recalls it was a “….ma-hoo-sive white out………I’d never seen so much snow.” The tour was full of the usual rock ‘n’ roll escapades. From car crashes “….. they ditched the Capri and “obtained” another vehicle…..”, to girls getting on the bands bus in one town and getting off in another “……… the young lady who got on the bus in Glasgow and was removed by her Dad………..3 days later!”, to roadies getting electric shocks “…… Bob the lighting roadie was literally blown across the stage……”, to stages collapsing as the band start the first song “….. the stage infill collapsed sending me, both Nick’s and Garry crashing to the dance floor!”
It was at the gig at The Heathery in Wishaw that sound man Ed Barlow plugged in a cassette recorder into the mixing desk and recorded several songs from the set. Now those songs have been remastered by Ian Dick from the original recording and have now been released on STARHAVEN RECORDS.
This recording shows the band in full flight and contains SOLDIER classics like SHERALEE and INFANTRYCIDE. Along with memories from band members, Live @ The Heathery 1983 is a must for lovers of original NWOBHM.
It’s due out on Friday (May 23rd) I understand either proper CD or download. Links to check out:
Soldier webstore:
http://soldiernwobhm.com/store-categories/
Download from Bandcamp:
https://soldiernwobhm.bandcamp.com/album/live-the-heathery-scotland-1983-2
Next up should be a review once it’s arrived and my ears have had the pleasure.