So how was it?

Not sure whether to start on reviews of the bands I actually got to watch, or waffle about being a DJ!

Can't say much for the Pontin's beds, sadly, as a creaky Krissy Stixx they didn't help much... but the company was good, Stu Lopez made toast in the chalet... all very domestic! Food at the restaurant was passable, sadly no special arrangements were in place for us on the staff food side, meaning more expense than we'd bargained for - and we could have taken stuff along to cook ourselves! Note to self - put pasta in bag in future or you will end up hating the Italians for having better chalet food than you do!

Wanted to enjoy Saturday slightly more but DJ nerves set in. I know people don't really care that much what gets played between bands, but you know damn well they care if it's CRAP! Yeah, right, put Glam chick in Thrash room with limIted hard drive and zero technical knowledge! I didn't die. For that I am eternally grateful. :)  Was good to see Onslaught in there again, been many years and they are as loud and heavy as ever... can't quite understand about Goatwhore - is that a cloven hooved prostitute or a goat fancier? Either I'm getting old or these band names are getting RIDICULOUS!!!!

I stuck around after my job was done, celebrating my survival, and thought Toxic Holocaust were pretty good. I'm reliably informed this was because their musical style is old-school thrash. Gosh. How times change. But then, I played bands like Nuclear Assault, early Metallica and Anthrax. It was a baptism of fire...
And so, to the bands...

At events such as this, by the time everone at Komodo has finished running around shmoozing, interviewing, having beery kisses from DJ Krusher (or was that just me, maybe???) it always seems that there's very little time left to actually see a band. This time was a smidge different, I made it in to photograph the Glitterati and watch them too! My, they have come on in leaps and bounds, such a tight act, a proper Rock 'n' Roll band, from "up North" near where I used to live. Great interview, even greater show. I think their time has finally come.

I got in the Pit for Girlschool too... growing up with a generation of blokey-blokes who always made lewd comments about these ladies, I did wonder somewhat if they would live up to  what I'd heard. I know, I know, I should have seen them years ago. Their metal is sexy and hard-edged, not soft and formulaic like forgotten 80's bands who return for a final encore. Proper Rock, I'd call it, loud, dirty, but melodic with it. Later in the day, after having a cracking crazy interview with Jackie and Enid, I met them in the bar and they are CRAZY MADWOMEN!!!!! By the time Kim had explained her appearance onstage in shades (she didn't have time to get her mascara on, poked herself in the eye, looked like a panda, gave up, accepted sunglasses as viable alternative to sight) I was helpless with laughter and hobbled in hysterics to play 3 loud and nasty songs to a half empty second stage. Great show, but really good people. That's one of the best bits at events like HRH, the chance to mingle and chat with bands, not on any particular schedule. You don't have to be mad to be a Rock Star, but it helps! And it makes for great company.

A brief juggle with computers in the press room and Mike and I made it in to see Tigertailz. Shame on me. 20 years and this was my first time. God, I so loved Kim Hooker back in the day.... Sadly, he's looking his age (aren't we all?) but that voice is still there. This time they played the entirety of the Beserk album... we walked in to the opening bars of "Heaven". Instantly the lump was in my throat, remembering that I'd missed the band in its former glory with the late, great Pepsi Tate on bass, remembering all the people I'd loved, drank with, fought with, forgotten, at the time that song used to be played at the end of a weekly Rock night in my home town. Mike didn't seem to mind that I ignored him and sang my heart out to the remainder of the set, like hundreds in the room right there with me. Jay Pepper is still a superb guitarist, but nowadays looks like some kind of mad Santa with floury white in his black beard and eyeliner in his eye creases. I didn't care. I was 19 again. Recommended. Especially for Kim's very Welsh interludes - the Cardiff accent combined with the oriental features is very unique but also a little bit crazy...

Lots of running/hopping/hobbling around over tea time, chaotic Girlschool interview in the press room, DJ nerves, oh my God, help!!!!!! Then...Not sure about Rogue Male in the main hall, not another heavy metal band .com... I was in it for WASP. I had my slots covered in the 2nd stage booth by the eminently capable and completely RIDICULOUS Tazz Trailer-Trash. Camera in hand, the aim was to get as many shots of Blackie Lawless' crotch as was conceivably possible...

Not having seen them on tour, I felt a bit gutted when they delivered an average set of the same old songs. Blackie's lost weight and got his buns back (yum!), Mike Duda has gained weight and is looking his age... and what's all the spinning around with horizontal bass all about? Well, I guess it all goes along with the skipping back and forth on stage that from the side looks a lot like a scene from a Monty Python movie involving a guy called Brian and an ex-leper. I'm sure it's not that amusing from out front! Can't decide if it added to the fun or not really...

After the chaos surrounding cancellation of their recent Cardiff show due to inadequate venue spec (and the Glitterati, as support, were gutted because they couldn't play either) I was delighted to see the team play to perfection. And even better to see Blackie looking much healthier than in recent times. Sadly, no press was offered, so no interview to report. Maybe another time, eh. Still love that band, anyway.

I caught the end of co-headliners Queensryche. Never really been my cup of tea, a bit serious and bit too near power metal for my  taste. Geoff Tate does have an amazing voice, I watched him warming it up backstage. A true professional. The show looked perfect and sounded superb. "Silent Lucidity" took my breath away. Beautiful.

I gave up and fell asleep on the sofa at the side of the stage when Spit Like This were on. Nuff. Tired. Great show all round, good balance of genres and styles, well-organised apart from minor niggles.
SEE YOU ALL IN IBIZA FOR THE HARD ROCK HELL ROADTRIP IN JUNE!!!