March/April 2012

LOS started live rehearsals of the songs that will appear on the Cross & Claw follow up.

Dave: A great 2 days of solid rehearsals at the rather splendid Room 2 studios (see our links page). 3 songs nailed. Working titles, they may or may not stay the same!

Dreamcatcher
All Fall Down
Jerusalem Man

We enjoyed it immensely, the atmosphere was great. It was fun and that's what it's all about. I think having Wiz (Chris Wing) on board from the start will be a real benefit to the band and the end product. There are some great ideas being thrown into the mix (Pats mix). I think the songs on this release may be a little stronger than last time.  All the boys are playing well and on top form. 

Still got to finalise Trinity with Mr Purser, we'll keep you posted.  Its all good!

February 2012

Work has started on the follow up to Cross & Claw, live rehearsals in the splendid Room 2 studios are planned.

Plan is to record late August and have a December release. (If Trinity and Fred Purser are available, this may change depending on Mr Pursers work schedule).

We all want to go back to Trinity as the recording of C&C was such a positive experience and working with Mr Purser is always a real pleasure.

The only indication I can give of the contents of the new CD is, Quote from Pat "it won't be Cross and Claw 2"  so there you have it! 

My personal view so far after listening to Pats early ideas, is that it's still got its darker elements, some suprises, but we never really know where the songs are going to end up until we all get together in a live rehearsal and thats what makes working with this LOS so interesting!

December 2011 Four Winds Bar

Ok! I know!  the news page has been a bit neglected, I was reminded of this last weekend by a very close friend. This isn't because we don't do anything we do lots of stuff, like go on holidays, have parties, get togethers to see bands, we have a pretty busy/fun time.  

We have had the release of the double gatefold sleeve Axis album on High Roller Records, not LOS I know but sort of related in a very important way.  Pat has been working on new songs and they sound splendid, rehearsals are due to start end of January.  We aim to get back to Trinity Studios with Fred Purser if he is available around August 2012.  There will be a follow up to Cross & Claw, hopefully with the same lineup and this should be completed at the end of 2012.  Our friendships are still strong and I think there is a real will to do it again.

Cross & Claw continues to sell steadily, get great reviews and we are very pleased with the whole package.

There are no plans to take it live or go to Chicago :) 

I just flew in from the windy city
the windy city is mighty pretty
but they aint got what we got
nosiree

They've got those minstrel shows
purdy ladys in the big chapos
private lawns
public parks
for the sake of civic virtue
they've got fountains there that squirt you!

Personally I am only really interested in the creating side and I think Pat feels the same. Tony has Jump the Gun to get his live kicks from and they are a truly great band, they love doing it and they are great people as well as great musicians.

We do it because we can and we like doing it, no other reason, just that its fun.

I can probably say now with some certainty that Mick Tucker will play on the new CD, this was discussed literally a week ago.  There should be some guest slots from other friends.  This will all be decided when I talk to Pat and Tony.

To all the people who email me and ask for paid downloads of single tracks from the site, I appreciate the contact and your opinions but, it isn't going to happen. Cross & Claw is a whole project, it needs to be listened to in its entirety not in small pieces and certainly not as an MP3.  If I had painted a beautiful landscape I wouldn't just sell you the top right hand corner with the nice tree with a bird sat in it..........would I?  And if I did it wouldn't be a photocopy of the top right hand corner........would it? 

Many thanks for the support from everyone who has commented or bought Cross & Claw, we appreciate the fact that you like our work and we look forward to giving you something else to listen to relatively soon!  We wish you well!

Dave

March 2011 The Eagle Nebulae
Is it March already!  Seems like two seconds ago we were opening our Christmas presents!

All quiet on the LOS front, CD is selling steadily, helped by LOS inclusion on the Tank site (Thanks Mick) and our appearance in Classic Rocks legendary Dave Lings top 20 CDs.  Were we happy, well of course!  News is, Mr Wing has disappeared off the face of the planet, probably in a bar in Spain is our guess!  Pat is writing as we speak, Tony is preparing to guest on a couple of songs by Mr Jim Durkin our friend and guitar player from the good old US!  Will LOS go live, well thats a difficult one, there is talk of a one off in November of this year, watch this space!  Thanks to Jessica (writer/journalist) for the rather splendid review, a true LA girl! And MetalHawk Radio for their review of our CD!  More reviews to follow.  Thanks again to everyone who has bought the CD, there will be another, will it be the same line up! That depends, if we can find Mr Wing! 

December 2010 Web Team Cafe Diem

Its out and available from this site!  It will be available from Amazon in around a weeks time. So Christmas week no less.  Our team at Digital Disk Duplication have done a great job of the packaging, some delays due to the severe weather.  Its a great package and the inclusion of our very own Mr Tucker, makes it very special indeed. 

As we come to the end of a very busy year for the band and all of the people who made this happen, its a time to reflect! Pat is already writing, so who knows where the wild wind blows! We will add more samples over the next few days. 

November 2019 Web Team Just off the shoulder of Orion

Samples, samples, samples, how do these young guns of heavy rock get decent samples on their sites!  MP3s are dire, and we have gone against all our good judgement and put a sample on the web site player!  it doesn't do justice to the work and expertise that Sir Fred Purser put in to get our boys the ultimate heavy metal sound! it just doesn't, sample rates, sample times, bit rates, to give you a mediocre sounding soundbite! 

Davy:  This is exactly the problem, we are asked to put samples up, we have to drop the bit rate so they play on every computer and all the hardwork and technology we have used, plus the expertise of a top producer is out of the window. I am damned if I am doing downloads, (you're all already damned, Web team) the CD sounds a million times better, and if you don't agree and you buy it, you can have your money back, its absolute bollocks that MP3's sound the same as a CD absolute bollocks!  Its a piece of shit that we have been sold so we can cart tons of it round on an MP3 player, play it on cheap headphones and expect a mega sound!  At best a quick fix. 

Hey but it's about learning, all through life it never stops and I have discovered many things on this journey that are truisms, here we go:

MP3's are not as good as CD in quality fact!

Epiphone Guitars are only good for firewood don't ever buy one and Gibson should hold their heads in shame for putting their names to chinese lumps of wood and selling them to kids who think they are going to learn on one (hey sue me). I have seen these pieces of shit up close, they can't spell luthier!

Avenged Sevenfold are a joke!  they need a producer like Sir Fred Purser, someone recommended their CD, I bought it, not one, but two, not a download and yep, its MP3 quality! I want my money back!  Thats not heavy metal, they are, from this day forward the "eunuchs of heavy metal" .

If Carlsberg made metal bands then it would  always be Tank and Accept! and LOS of course!

If Carlsberg made guitar players, then it would always be Mr. Tucker, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Durkin and sometimes , Wolf Hoffman, Mr. Jabs, KK and Mr Tipton, oh and Schenker when he can stand up!

If Carlsberg made singers, then it would be Mr Lande, Mr Thurlow, Mr Dio,  Mr White, Mr Gillan but not necessarily in that order!

If Carlsberg made crazy off the wall, musical genius, chuck in unpredictable, then it would be Mozart or Wagner or Wizz!

If Carlsberg made drummers who can actually hit drums and not ponce about, then it would be Mr Naylor, Mr Bonham, Mr Moon and of course Mr Paice!

Oh and all record companies are run by crooks and Ne're do wells!

This is why we only let him out sometimes! (Web team)

November 2010 Web Team Tannhauser Gate
We detect an element of excitement in the L.O.S. camp.  10 days and it will be available!  HOT rails to hell no less!

We have the cover and its spectacular!  Tony Hodsall (design) and the whole team at digitaldiskduplication have done a tremendous job! Our photography team from Imaging Essentials, John Devlin and Brian Jobson have also done an outstanding job in very short time, and a major, major thank you to the very lovely Chris Hall from Imaging Essentials for saving our lives and ensuring a 2010 release, we couldn't have done it without these people, true professionals!

November 2010 FWB

Our disc replication company have the master and the artwork!  So a 2010 release is still on the cards!

Davy: Pulling this together has been like pulling teeth! 

We've had delays, disagreements, let downs, (My) bad planning, a run over on mixing and studio time, and this is what happens when musicians don't have someone kicking their arse or is it when I don't have someone kicking my arse. Yes you would think I would learn from experience, but hey............ The journey is almost at an end and we should see a 2010 release.  If there is ever going to be another one, then someone else has got to manage it and manage every detail from beginning to end.  As it happens its a great product and everyone should be very pleased with it.  Its been worth the pain...............

October 2010 Four Wind Bar/Trinity Heights    

Mix finished!  Pat, Chris & Keith have spent a long 4 days mixing at Mr Pursers, Trinity Heights.  We can say the results are truly rocking!  Mr Purser is in fact a genius and from this day forward in these hallowed pages and within the Four Winds Bar be named, Sir Fred Purser, and he shall be a member of said Four Winds Bar and that don't come easy, trust us!

Final touches and then off to be pressed, running order of tracks "still" not sorted! But we have Mr O'Neills and Mr Wings word that it shall be on Monday 25th Oct.  Art work is still being worked on.  Full track listing and CD title to be announced soon!

Mr Tucker "Guests" on "Fallen", well it's more a perpetual burn rather than a guest appearance, my how he blazes and dazzles. Oh what a deal we made on those dark unholy nights, where dusters dust became the sale, and Lucifer the light!  This track is a metal maelstrom and thats just the start of the story............


September 2010 Four Winds Bar

You get to see things first on the LOS site.   Tanks new art work for CD revealed, we think its rather splendid!  All Praise the WAR MACHINE!





September 2010 Four Winds Bar

CD is recorded and only mixing to take place.  Unfortunately this will not take place until late October.  Mr Purser is on a well deserved vacation as is Mr Wing, so plans are put back a little. 

Davy: Its not as planned and not as fast as Mr O'Neill or the boys would like it out, but, it has to be right.  I need all the boys at Trinity for the Mix. We knew that this situation could arise.  I don't see it as a problem.  Mr Tucker has been busy with the release of Tanks new CD, (I can confirm that this will melt your ears and then your eyes), I think he has either finished his guitar solo for Fallen or is in the process of getting it to Trinity. So a slight delay to the release, it also gives me time to sort artwork for the cover.

Aug 2010 Cafe Diem

Mr O'Neill is a man of few words, enigmatic, but Trinity is a special place and Mr O'Neill is a special guitar player, so from Pat.............

Pat:  What a time we had!

In 25 years of playing I can honestly say this was the most fun I've had making music, so it's probably no coincidence that this is the best material I've ever been associated with.

A big thanks to all involved...the boys in the band, Tony, Keith and Wiz, who all did a sterling job, and also a big thank you to the one and only Mr Fred Purser who made the button pressing (or was it mouse clicking) look easy, and kept us all well entertained (ya the man Fred)

Two final BIG thank you's, firstly to clan O'Neill, who put up with everything that was needed to enable me to get this done (Spar,Loz & Mel x x) and finally to Davy, without who, I would still be sat on my arse in the house, writing songs no one would hear ( cheers mate ! )

It was sad when we finished......... But it makes you look forward to doing it again !

Now....Where did I put me slide ?

Aug 2010 Trinity Heights/Four Winds Bar

Thats it! Only Mr Tuckers solo to sort out and thats on its way. There will be a delay on release, as mixing will not take place until last week in September, this is due to other commitments that Chris Wing has and also fits in with Mr Pursers work schedule.  So it will be an end of October release date. Time is a line liquid and fine..............as is usually proven in studios and recording schedules! The boys see 18 month of work realised, its been a journey we could write a book about! But aren't all rock n roll journeys like that!

Davy: What a ride, what an absolute experience, we have laughed so much and had such a good time. I really think everyone involved was a little sad as we left Trinity...........I know I was...The boys seemed to enjoy themselves and they played out of their skin.

The cast in no particular order of course!

The indomitable Mr Lancaster, who kept me focused and was always there when I lost my nerve!

Terri my partner,  her total unconditional support and belief that we could pull this off after all the set backs, made it all possible.  Its been a long journey my love!

Mr Thurlow: I really believe that Tony's performance on this CD is the best he has ever done! and it truly ranks up there with the great vocalists that we have produced in this country and any other. Everyone says he is good, but do they know he is this good!

Mr O'Neill, Something wicked this way comes, well we always knew this was coming, he has made this CD a face melter. I have worked with Mick and Pat now and it is a great experience to sit and see guitar players of this calibre do what they do best...burn.  Pat has worked so hard on these songs. (Lets get the job done and get it done right)!
 
Chris "Wizz" Wing, there is only one! and he's ours! his musical knowledge and his input, performance & humour have lifted this project to greater (Trinity) heights, one of my dearest friends. Chris came in so late after we were in a difficult position, nothing phazes this boy at all!  (He's not the Messiah, he's just a very very naughty boy).

Mr Naylor as always a rock, grace with power, always a kind word or supportive gesture, a true gentleman in an ungentlemanly business! there are but a few!

Mr Purser, is a legend, his humour, warmth, patience and expertise have made this such a pleasurable experience! and if you're in a band, you need to record at Trinity Heights, its an uplifting experience!

Mr Tucker: Two year ago at a friends funeral in London, I told Mick Tucker I was not carrying on with the LOS project, he encouraged me to keep it going with Tony, with Pat his nephew and you are soon to see the result, so I have Mick to thank not only for having some forsight but his enduring friendship and support, and of course he is playing on the CD. How happy can I be!

And of course all the friends and families of us all who have supported us without question! Thank you so much for letting this happen!

As for me......well its not for me to say what I brought to the project, thats for others to comment on, however I will recite a story that I always think sums it up.  I was playing a gig with the Pauline Gillan Band, many years ago, and all the would be rockstars and guitar players were stood at the bar with, as is mandatory, arms folded and feigned uninterested expressions on their little faces.  After the gig a guitar player came up to me at the bar and said "I'm a better guitar player than you, I could do that"  I replied "your all probably better guitar players than me, but I've got the f*cking job"! 

I dream a dream of Gods and Angels..............so you don't have to!

Tired, wired, vodka'd but happy!

Aug 2010 Trinity Heights

Happy days, Mick Tucker (TANK) has confirmed he will be playing on the Lies of Smiles CD.  Mick will play on a track called Fallen, now this is an out and out stormer, epic.  Fallen, Tower of Angels, Warhound (The Battle) make up a trilogy of songs that refer to the war amongst the Angels. 

Pat: Mick is the reason I picked up the guitar and he has always "set the standard".  So its is both and honour and a privilege to have him involved.

Davy:  Its great news and I could not be any happier.  I loved working with Mick in Axis and our friendship has lasted a long time, since Mick was instrumental in putting this line up together and encouraging me to carry on, it seems fitting we should unleash him on Fallen. However when Mick agreed to play we doubled the length of the outro he solos on.  Hey its easy for him!

Aug 2010 Trinity Heights

Recording is into 4th day and going amazingly well.  Tony Thurlow. LOS vocalist has just put the vocal performance in of a lifetime, boys sounding soooooo good! And as Mr Purser pointed out, that Mr O'Neill could chugg for doom!

July 202 bc Carthage

Final rehearsals complete! The boys said a sad farewell to Mike and Jules from Room 2.  But they will return before the end of the year as they will continue to write for a speedy follow up to the new CD. 

We will keep you posted on the progress of the CD as it happens, watch this space.  Recording starts 3rd August 2010! Are we ready for this.  Damn right we are! Let the storm blow hard and the wolves howl on!

April 2010 Four Winds Bar

GOOD NEWS............ Sometimes in life things happen for a reason, we are great believers in this axiom!  Just when we were denegrating musicians for lack of commitment,  up to the line steps one of our favourite patrons of the Four Winds Bar and saves the day.  Chris Wing, long time member of the FWB and long time friend of Davy can now be confirmed as Bass/Keyboard player with LOS.  Happy days! 

Davy: We all have a tale to recite concerning the notorious Mr Wing! Its a fine day having him back on board.  I did ask Chris to get involved when we met in London at Cralls funeral, but he was heavily committed.  When he found out we were in a very very difficult position, I got a call and he just said "I suppose I'm going to have to take f*cking holidays in August then".  Done deal, he is a great musician, and one of my dearest friends.  We are all happy with his involvement, he has worked with Mr Purser before, it should be a great time in the studio.  Chris's musicianship is legendary it can only be good for the LOS project having him involved, I am so happy, hey If things get any better, I may have to hire someone to help me enjoy it.”

April 2010 Four Winds Bar

BAD NEWS...............having just booked the studio, our boys are now down to four!  We have LOSt our bass player Dave Morgan. Sometimes only the F*CK word will suffice.  Through an incredible.....mix up in communications, we think? Dave Morgan is out of the country when recording takes place. We can't change dates but we can change bass players! So now we have to rehearse a new bass player, its the ultimate oxymoron, like deafening silence, like military intelligence and the new one is musos commitment. Mr O'Neill is furious, Mr Thurlow is angry, Davy is, well we haven't got a word for it............Mr Lancaster is calm and will come up with a solution, thats why we have him! If you are a bass player and your reading this and you have commitment and you can rock, and you have some studio experience then contact us through the email address

   

 

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July 2009

My how time flies, well for you in your universe, but here at the Four Winds Bar time is..................a line, liquid and fine, time is a game, a rope and a chain.........for most people but not us...... Eternity stretches before us, and drags ever on!  Just like Tank and Mr Tuckers war

Talking about eternity, its taken us an eternity to sort the LOS rythmn section. My my my............we have finally tracked Dave Morgan down, we lost sight of him after the Tribute to Crash Crallan, and he soooo impressed us, that we had to have him, and now we have, plus we have Davys long time friend Keith Naylor on drums.  This line up rocked the Studio at the Bash for Crash.

Davy: It felt right on the night, it was a great night, but this line up felt good, it was good to have Keith up there with me, just to know you had this solid, reliable, powerhouse drummer keeping it together...and Dave Morgan, well what can I say, no rehearsal, one night to learn the songs and he was brilliant, an outstanding musician and he is made of the right stuff, stepped up to the line and delivered.  I think both guys will bring a lot to the LOS project. 

So thats it, the line up:

Tony Thurlow - Vocals/Guitar
Pat O'Neil - Guitars
Dave Morgan - Bass Guitar
Keeth Naylor - Drums
Davy Little - Guitars

Plan is two rehearsals, then in to record 4 tracks, we'll keep you posted!

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May 2009
Oh we are very angry! Those bad bandzoogle boys have lost our news page! Hey no news is good new right! Well no actually. We are far from amused. LOSt news indeed!

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May 2009
Whoops, Tank are now unable to play the warm up gig at the Ironopolis club.  The club statement as follows "ere we can't put a bluddy heavy metal band on as we are double booked with our whippet club meeting.  Cant 'ave those noisy buggers upsetting ur whippets".

We are never suprised, really, tickets, posters, flyers printed and its double booked with a whippet meeting. Now here at the Four Winds Bar we are open to learning new things, so can someone please tell us what a whippet is!! 

Two other dates were offered by the Marton Country Club, now thats a nicer place, certainly more upmarket and a fine gig. Unfortunately Tank are not available on those dates.  So for all you doubting Thomas's, or whatever your names are, Tank were booked.  Mick has stated he will try to bring the boys up later in the year.

Look on the bright side, if your a would be guitar player and hey there are a few in the locality, it would only have depressed you watching Mr Tucker play and realising that he is still light years better than you and yes its back to the bedroom, searching guitar101 for a friend.  You know who you are!