Breaking News

Some footage of Johnny's Wingsbanned is now up on You Tube. This was from the Fountain Stage at the Abbey Road On The River Festival, Louisville, Kentucky. The soundman seems to have given Johnny a "lisp" that isn't there in real life but it was a good gig, the Sixth of the Seven they did.

Burn actually added a new song to the set and when we say "new", we mean, of course, one that is closer to 40 years old. Namely Whole Lotta Love which was squeezed onto the beginning of Rock & Roll as there really is only 2 minutes of "song" before it goes all phsycadelic, man on the original Zeppelin recording.

Burn doesn't do Phsycadelic so it stuck to the bones of a rock song and everyone congratulated them for it.

Now if Rob can be persuaded to learn another, the set will take on a whole new meaning.

Burn have been invited to play a bikers bash this Summer in Chinnor. It's the Chinnor Bike Dayz XIII, held on the 4th July 2009 and Burn will be strutting their stuff from 12pm onwards. That's midday-ish if you're not sure. It's a great event and a fabulous day out. Check out the web site on www.wycombemag.co.uk/chinnor

Johnny Heywood is playing with Guitarist/Vocalist Ed Hamilton in a new duo Bookham & Riskit which plays The White Bear, Church Street, Rickmansworth on Saturday 25th February. Ed & Johnny played in the blues rock band The Fire Dogs and rock-a-billy band The Copy Cats and we can expect some great vocal harmonies from these two over a wide range of material. Some people (Ed's Mum) have compared the two voices to The Everly Brothers ("Yes- compared to the Everlies, these two are crap!" - Editor) and Ed has had great success as a songwriter (Night Games by Graham Bonnet) and guitar player.

Some new music can be found on Johnny's own web site www.johnnyheywood.com/music Tracks are from Johnny's solo albums which he records all by himself with no interference from other muso's. Mostly, these songs are radically different from Burn.

Part 2 of the Burn story finishes the first year, 1993 and has pix from this Mark 1 era. Biography

The gods of rock frowned on Burn this week as Friday's gig at The Coach & Horses, Isleworth was cancelled due to a double booking! Of course, this could simply have been incompetent pub management but it meant that possibly thousands of fans turned up only to be disappointed that Burn didn't appear. Maybe.

Next weekends gig at The Surbiton Flyer has also been double booked or cocked up as we musicians say, so there must be a conspiracy. We shall investigate.

It's called Day Of The Eagle by Robin Trower and you can read about it in the reviews section, Dec 26th 2008.

With great sadness we report the death of Big Burn Pal "Lechlade" Pete, the only man Johnny Heywood ever head banged with. Pete has battled with epilepsy for many years and appeared to have won as he recently started driving again. Though we are waiting for the official word, it seems he suffered an attack and succumbed in his sleep.

Pete, along with Natasha, attended many Burn gigs out "their way" and proved themselves to be great mates. He was as generous a soul as you could ever meet and loved his music with a passion. He and Nat made their own way to Crewe to support the band at a convention and actually slept in the band van thus doing away with the need for an alarm! Pete immediately offered his assistance in changing Johnny's flat tyre after a gig once, doing it a quarter of the time the bassist would have taken and saved his poor delicate fingers from getting dirty. Quel homme!

Pete is somewhere sitting in a bar listening to a crack band made up of Jimi, Moonie, Lennon with Janis on vocals and having a ball.

Johnny Heywood returned from Liverpool last week where his McCartney Tribute Band WINGSBANNED played to over 5000 people at The Mathews Street Festival, part of the week long Liverpool Beatles Festival held annually. See pix

Hi Guys,

I can’t thank you guys enough for making my birthday bash the success it turned out to be. Everybody I spoke to on the night and since have said what a great gig it was and your musical skills will be remembered for a very long time. I think you even managed to convert some to listen to more 70’s rock!

Thanks also for allowing me my 3 minutes of fame doing “Wishing Well” I shall treasure that one for the rest of my life, as for the rotten tomatoes they were throwing at me I apologise for that! It was great to have Colin & Sue and Joe there also, what a night! Keep rocking guys as I want to pre book you for my 60^th!

Thanks again,

Bob & Tina. see pix

Burn have been invited to play a bikers bash next month in Chinnor. It's the Chinnor Bike Dayz XII, held on the 5th July 2008 and Burn will be strutting their stuff at 2pm. It's a great event and a fabulous day out. Check out the web site on www.wycombemag.co.uk/chinnor

The 40th Anniversary of Deep Purple was celebrated on Saturday 3rd May in great fashion at Esquires Club, Bedford.

As well as doing a set of Purple classics, Burn was joined by ex Rainbow and Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist, Dougie (Doogie) White for Highway Star and Burn which sent everyone home happy.

Saturday's Deep Purple Convention sees Burn playing after an acoustic set from Glenn Hughes. Singing Bassist Johnny Heywood is very pleased to be following his all time hero who is acclaimed "The Voice of Rock."

"Yes, it will be great to go on after the greatest living rock vocalist of all time in the world, not to mention a fantastic bass player too. The fans will be really looking forward to my version of Purple stuff after Sir Glenn has finished," he nodded knowingly. "Bet they can't wait."

Johnny has replaced other famous sing bassists in the past. He took over John Gustaffson's role in the reformed Quatermass (2) line up after original Purple bassist Nick Simper had formed the band with drummer Mick Underwood before moving on to The Good Old Boys. He played with Status Quo's John Coghlan recreating Alan Lancaster's bass lines so is no stranger to being second best.

Guitarist Rob Sas is not bothered by accusations of being a Blackmore Clone.

"Not at all," he quipped whilst adjusting his pixie cap. "Ricardo is no longer playing rock 'n' roll so I am in my own sphere of excellence. The fans will want a mighty Strat Sound on Saturday and I will be there to give them it in a totally original way, albeit a slavish facsimile."

Drummer Ross Elder is unworried about being called an Ian Paice rip off merchant.

Burn - the band, the sights, the sounds, the tantrums will be hitting the stage around 10pm.

Burn have started rehearsals to actually include a couple of new songs into their set. needless to say, with the upcoming Deep Purple Convention gig taking place on May 3rd, the songs are by Deep Purple! Lucky for Rob as he doesn't know any others anyway.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the forming of Deep Purple, Jerry Bloom and his More Black Than Purple Organisation have arranged a convention at Esquires Club in Bedford on May 4th. This will be some 12 hours of talks, music, video, interviews and trade stalls plus Burn will be playing a set of classic Purple numbers - exciting enough, but......

Glenn Hughes has agreed to sing some acoustic numbers, do a Q & A session and maybe sing with Burn later on.

In the absence of much Burn-ular news over the last few weeks, it is with great pleasure that we have decided to bring back the story of the man they call Reckless Rob! Why is this we hear you ask? Because he has mutilated himself again.

We thought the days of broken bones and abuse were all over with but.... no! He's smashed himself up again and thus we will enjoy weeks of painful playing as Rob attempts to keep the flag flying. This time it's his collar bone that is being knitted together by medical means. This means that slinging a heavy Fender guitar over the shoulder must surely be agony.

Well, we can only hope so. Ha ha. Rob - we salute you. Here is RECKLESS ROB to enjoy once again.

Not too much to report on the Burn front. The festive season is over and most came through avoiding the dreaded "lurgy" that has claimed so many. The odd head cold not withstanding, the band are still on their feet.

With just one gig at the White Lion on the 26th of this month, Johnny has been completing the Dream Stealer album which began over a year ago. It wasn't that he was putting in all these hours in the studio - it was just finding the time, usually when Master John Ronald Heywood was asleep. Now 7 months, his screaming can be heard all over the backing vocals in the background.

Using bootlegged downloading gear, we have managed to put some new footage up on the music/video page. this is from the Ley Hill Festival, August 2007 and features Stormbringer. We will be working to bring more from this gig as it is good quality - at least before it all gets condensed to fit the website. Thanks to John Martin for this.

Twenty four hours after playing to thousands of bikers in the Austrian Alps, Raw Glory were back in Blighty - Essex to be precise, playing to more bikers. However, the US Custom Bikers Show at Lennards Free House, Essex was on a slightly smaller scale.

"All the better for it," smoothed Johnny Heywood. "Just cos there were 50 bikes there instead of 100,000 doesn't mean it was smaller."

"That's what I meant," he corrected. "In fact, it was the better musically speaking. I was great tonight but yesterday I was shite."

Mick Underwood, drummer and driver of both bands and all types of vehicles, agreed. "Yes, I agree," he affirmed. "Yesterday may have the edge in terms of audience and scenery but tonight was tighter and I could get a nice cup of tea."

Rock God, Cosmo Guitar was unconvinced. "Last night's gig will lead to festivals abroad, a higher profile and more money. Tonight on the other hand, did have the better tea."

Well, there you go. You can take a Brit Boy out the country but you can't take the Country out of a teapot... or something like that. One of the main differences was the Raw Glory PA system which is so clear that the band sounds fabulous just tuning up. It is a real set up and take down though. None of this 10 minute stuff that Johnny gets away with in Burn and the Self Righteous Bros. Fortunately, tonight saw young John Cosmo, a cousin by relation, helping out with all things roadie.

The band played just over an hour and it was a steaming, rocking set. The band sounded as tight as a band on tour should and even the other bands on the bill stood in front and gawped.

The bikers loved the band and threatened to book them again and in particular, The Bulldog Bash is a possibility.

September saw Rag Glory flying out to Faacher in Austria to play the Harley Davidson European Rally to an estimated 100,000 serious biker types. This reporter doubts that they were all actually in attendance at the gig but it's good copy. The band were due to play one hour but sounded so good at the sound check that they were trusted to do another thirty minutes. See gallery

"Yes, I think it was my warming up with the Bobby Darin Classic - Beyond The Sea (actually Charlie Trenet) that convinced them we were really serious rockers," laughed a smiling Johnny Heywood, clearly jovial and with a humorous intent. "I usually choose that number as it appeals to Mums, Dads and Rockers alike."

Yes, indeedy. Humour plays a large part in the success of this band. Many of the audience can be found laughing aloud as the Raw Boys get on down.

Mick Underwood was on drums as he often is and though it was a borrowed kit, he made it his own. Well, he handed it back at the end but for 90 minutes he was leading the band through dexterity, power and a cheeky smile whilst guitarist Cosmo, Les Paul-verised his Marshall 900 stack into submission. Still, not without an Italian/Scottish grin, he was able to win over hardened rocker types who had seen it all and still emerge to accolades such "the best guitarist I ever heard."

The boys played almost their whole repertoire before leaving the stage exhausted. Mick and Johnny were slightly disappointed with the overall gig but after being wined and dined by the promoter who was so happy she booked them immediately for more continental festivals next summer. The general word on the streets was that Raw Glory were the best thing happening here so the two moaning musicians were happy. Or tipsy, sometimes it's a narrow call.

Back at the brand new Holiday Inn, the band drank into the night with some of the other acts until the thought of and early morning call sent them packing. Within 20 hours, incredibly, they would be at another Harley Davidson meeting but this was in Essex!

Burn have been invited to be Special Guests on top Deep Purple tribute band, 24 CARAT PURPLE at the Elgiva Theatre, Chesham on November 9th 2007. One of the best tribute bands around, 24 Carat Purple perform the music from all Deep Purple's era's in the most accurate and exciting way possible.

Singer Ian Grant, top bloke and possessor of a scream that outshines even Ian Gillan at his peak, attended Burn's gig at The Swiss Chalet and the band got on so well with him that they almost bought him a drink - which led to the foolish boy making the offer. Burn will obviously not feature any Deep Purple numbers in their set (though a smattering of Catch The Rainbow is bound to appear) but will play everything else and then, after a swift change, will run to the stage wings and hurl abuse at the Carat Boys. It promises to be a great night.

Everyone is devastated to hear of the passing of Big Jim Russell, who was a real lover of live music and friend to the band. Although he had suffered ill health for a number of years, he regularly attended gigs and often assisted in humping gear or mending bust equipment, especially Rob's, who was saved a fortune when Jim mended his footboard which seemed fit for the dustbin.

Jim seldom drank alcohol but could be found sipping coffee and cracking gags at the bands expense. He was generous and kind and the World is much the poorer for his passing.

Raw Glory, featuring Johnny Heywood, Mick Underwood & Cosmo played the Globe at Brentford on Friday 6th July. It was a great night though not without it's problems-mainly a new PA which needed a bit more work to reproduce the multi-textured Heywood voice.

Burn friend Jerry Bloom, who runs the Ritchie Blackmore magazine, More Black Than Purple and wrote the fantastic book, Black Knight, has covered the gig for his website. Check it out on http://moreblackthanpurple.co.uk/Gigs_1.htm#glory

Rainbow Spirit Enlightenment Fayre Music and Arts Festival 2007, the premier Welsh Music and Arts Festival. A genuine new festival in Wales which cannot be rivalled for location, line-up and ambience.

The festival also boasts Fairground Attractions, Balloon Rides, Music Workshops, Healers, Mediums, Fortune Tellers, Face-painting, Fireworks Display, Clowns, Belly Dancers, Masseurs, Full Traders Market, Beer Tents, Food Courts, Secure Campsite with ample Parking.

Five Stages. Acoustic Marquee till 01.00 hrs. Dance Tent till 01.00 hrs.

26/6/07
New Recruit:
Burn vocalist Johnny Heywood revealed that there were serious plans afoot to bring in a last minute addition to the bands' line-up ahead of some big gigs.
"Yes," laughed the jovial bassist in an attractive manner. "Little John Ronald Heywood, who appeared on the planet last week is a cert if I can get his grip a little better on the guitar."
Can he be ready? Surely a little more time is needed......
"Not at all. I was giving him ear training in the womb by singing "Speed Bonny Boat" and I think he's grasped the basics. It'll be great and I won't need to pay him much - just a little powdered Cow & Gates milk. He can use my own vast array of guitars as soon as he stops trying to eat them and I believe it'll be great."

Studio Finished:
Johnny Heywood's new recording studio has opened and will shortly be used for recording Johnny's new album, Dreamstealer. Built at the bottom of the garden, it means that he can roll out of bed and start work whilst still in his pyjamas and, more importantly, not have to pay studio time. The studios will be known as St Johns Studios, named after the patron saint of bass guitars and will also house the mighty Hammond Organ which came so close to be sold or scrapped a few months ago. Although the studio is not totally sound proofed, the neighbours expressed great interest and claimed to be looking forward to hearing the results soon. (Editors Note: Hmmm, that sounds rather unlikely. We had better check the sources of that one.)

WINGSPAN ON THE BBC:
BBC Radio Gloucestershire are airing a live interview with Johnny Heywood on the Richard Atkins Show on Saturday April 21 around 12-30 lunchtime. Richard has a part of his show called "My Bedroom Wall", celebrating the bands and singers who were poster heroes during the 60's and 70's. Johnny will be talking about Macca, Wings and Wingspan to Richard who is a big Beatles fan and will be asking the searching questions. Should be fun!

In February 2006, Johnny was interviewed on WCPZ 102.7 Cleveland Radio in the States, playing and singing Blackbird live on the air. See News April 18th 2006 and the previous October, three of Wingspan performed on Radio Wiltshire.

Johnny's mighty organ has been saved from the scrap heap! An excited Johnny revealed, "Hoorah, yes it's going in my new studio being built at the bottom of my garden. It will be up and running by June and is big enough for the Hammond organ, Colin the double bass and the 16 track gear. It's a dream come true for this working class lad."

The existing St Johns studio will be closed at the same time and converted into a bedroom for Little John Ronald, who is booked to appear on this planet mid June and has no chance of ever setting foot anywhere near his Dad's expensive gear.

Johnny's rock band Raw Glory, featuring drummer Mick Underwood and guitarist Cosmo, has now got it's own web site under construction. See the links page for the address or click here: www.rawglory.co.uk The site is once again designed by Carol Hynson, who does Mick's site and will keep everyone up to date about what's what and that and that.

The band is to record five or six original songs this month to replace the cover songs on the album City Life. It will be available for sale in it's new form or see the Music page for how it looks/sounds with the cover versions.

Sad news indeed but not altogether unexpected. That was the feeling when it was announced that Bassist Johnny Heywood's organ is officially too big! Too big for what? Well, anything really. It needs at least two hands to work properly and is more easily carried around by pushing a wheel barrow.

Yes, it's no wonder Hammond Electric Organs were replaced with more portable, if poorer sounding instruments. Johnny reports deep sadness that he can't get the blasted thing in his house.

"Even worse," he bleated. "It's not worth half what I paid for it 15 years ago. Guess I'll stick to my Casio."

Johnny's heroes has had an addition! Scroll to the bottom of the heroes page to see the newest acquistion.

RAW GLORY: Johnny's band RAW GLORY have their own web site starting very soon so we will only report any interesting news articles when they happen. The band played at Filthy's in Twickenham on Sunday 28th and there is a report in the Reviews page.

There has been a lot interest generated by this combo recently which features drummer Mick Underwood and guitarist Cosmo and an album, City Life has just been mixed and mastered. Sound clips are on the Music page now.

RAW GLORY: Raw Glory are playing Filthy's at The Red Lion, Twickenham on Sunday 28th January around 5pm. The power trio debuted there a month ago and despite that, have been asked back to do it again! This is good news as the boys have practised some new songs and have been in Delta Studios in Canterbury "waxing a hot one" to produce their first album "City Life".

Some of these tracks will appear on the Sounds Page soon, unless, of course, they are crap in which case you'll never know.

Meanwhile, Sunday 21st sees the band back at The Oaks for a very loud, full blooded, manly sort of affair which will commence around 6pm if the football is finished. This gig will see several original numbers performed for the first time.

Johnny Heywood, bassist and genial singingist person with Top Rock Band Burn announced that he had sung himself into oblivion over the Christmas period and was looking forward to a couple of weeks off to recharge his batteries.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks off to recharge my batteries," he explained, "but just because I'm not doing music but doesn't mean I can't record my new album in my new studio in my new house."

Actually, a break from music would, indeed, preclude working on such a project but that is the dichotomy of the man. What's the album about, Johnny?

"It's about 12cm diameter - just the usual CD size but I will have several new songs on it, songs that will be played live if I can find any suckers to work cheaply. I have the very guys in mind."

The rock world waits with baited breath as it is almost 3 years since his last album, Firestorm. Will he be playing all the instruments himself again? "Of course! Saves a fortune and I can have my own way entirely. It's very satisfying!"

Arguments were reported from the Burn camp this week as possible new material was being discussed. It seemed that tolerance was not the order of the day as guitarist Rob "Flash Boy" Sas, no stranger to these pages, demanded that the band honours his hero and mentor, Sir Ritchie Blackmore by playing some numbers from the maestro's new CD, Sing-a-long-a-Xmas-Time-A-Hey-Nonny-Nonny.

"Just because he's playing some old Xmas Carol's, I don't think we should miss this chance to cover some incredible material by Sir Richard," Rob announced. "Great guitar, great songs, great words - what more is there? I especially like Away In A Manger which gets the really heavy treatment. Why sing about Burn & Stormbringer & Highway To Hell when we could send out the message - let's all live together and love one another? I'm sure the boys will agree and I'll get my own way."

Drummer Ross Elder had his doubts and reported, "Well, ok but I think we could select some better material than some crummy old hymn just because Blackers played it! I favour getting back to our roots with some heavy 3-piece stuff like Trapeze and I'm going to use blackmail as a means of getting my own way."

Johnny Heywood, the voice of Burn was not surprised by Rob's choice of tune. "No, I can see where he's coming from and those old carols do lend themselves to the Burn treatment. However, I'm going to suggest we abandon the electric guitars and go "acoustic" for authenticity. Rob's a killer folk player, you know? However, I'm pushing for a bass guitar oriented piece of instrumental jazz simply because bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius once played it. I'm going to play it in the middle of Rob's solo in Blind Man so that I'll be sure to get my own way."

RAW GLORY: Sunday 3rd December sees the debut performance of a brand new band made up of really old guys. On drums is the very fabulous Mick Underwood, ex Quatermass, Gillan, a severe beater of all things percussive and goes all the way back to the dawn of time when Elvis wiggled his hips and didn't wobble and who once looked after Gene Vincent so that he was fit enough to play the gig that night. Mick will be using his very loud and very old drum set if it doesn't fall to bits first.

Guitarist for this hard rocking combo is Cosmo Verrico, formerly of the Heavy Metal Kids and The Pete Harrison Band and, like Johnny, is a Glasgow boy but that's no reason to hate either of them. He brings a very loud and very old Gibson guitar to the band and credits himself with their musical direction. How brave of him!

Johnny Heywood sings and plays bass guitar & has been forced to learn some new songs instead of regurgitating the same old tunes once again. Johnny favours a very loud and very old Fender bass guitar and claims this combo is the best band he's been in this week.

Raw Glory will try out a set at The Red Lion, Twickenham this Sunday 3rd Dec between 4.30 and 7pm before their first full gig at The Oaks on Friday 8th Dec.

There are a couple of new links on the links page for your amusement. Both are connected to Rob & Johnny's past when they were in Quatermass II a few years ago with Nick Simper (ex Deep Purple, Warhorse, & currently The Good Old Boys) & Mick Underwood (ex Outlaws, Gillan, Strapps, Quatermass and currently with a new band featuring Cosmo & Johnny!).

Johnny has also recently joined vocalist/drummer Drew Murphy's new Paul Rodgers Tribute Band as bassist as he found Thursday afternoon's free and was anxious to fill it.

July 17th saw the closure of Wylands Studios, home of Johnny's recording studio since 1987.

Johnny reports: In those days, it was a 4-track cassette machine, an acoustic guitar and a cheap bass which made up the facilities although access to TV and coffee was always easy which is essential during long bouts of recording. Over the years, improvements saw first a 6-track cassette (which was a big leap, I can tell you!) then 8 track and finally 24 track digital, 35 guitars/basses, synths, Hammond Organ and a fine collection of music DVD's. Many recordings were made here - The Self-Righteous Bros album was the first, the Burn album was mostly recorded in the little room with only the drums being laid down (in one day) by Ross in a studio in Windsor. Rob's guitars, my bass and vocals were all done at Wylands. Savage Eye and Firestorm were recorded entirely without leaving my comfortable red stool, The New Mud album was 80% recorded there, Wingspan's album has been played on the radio in the States and almost all of it was "made in Wylands". Most recently, one third the Fire In The Hole recordings were completed there before Cliff weaved his magic at his own plush studios in Watford.

However, this all ended when the whole caboodle was shifted to a new and much larger venue - Saint Johns Studios, not named because I believe I should be canonised but titled after the area. Re-mastering will take place on some of the above albums but also new recordings too! Hoorah! Just the ticket as the winter nights draw in.

Johnny's Educational Rant (How not to go deaf):
I wear ear plugs, you know. Not when I'm having breakfast or driving in the car, I mean, but onstage. I have been doing this for over 10 years and I am happy to report no loss of hearing in either ear or tinnitus. This is not the case for many of my musical compatriots who almost all are sporting the collective results of years of destructive volume and damaging frequencies.

Unlike ear plugs usually used by musicians which are vented to allow some frequencies through whilst cutting out the nasty high end ones that cause the most problems, my plugs are total block out. This is like putting your fingers in your ears. You can still hear something but not a lot. So, why use them?

It started when I realised I was playing or rehearsing 4-5 times a week and it dawned on me that if I kept this up I would go deaf. I tried some little yellow plugs in rehearsal one day and it was a revelation. All of a sudden I sang quieter because I could hear myself easily through my skull bones! Try it with your fingers - you can still hear yourself. No more struggling over a noisy band with crappy monitors. Ha! I don't even need monitors. I leave the sound out front to the sound man. He will turn me up (I hope) if it's needed. Not my worry.

Sadly, no-one believes me and those that try these types of plugs quickly give up with incredulous looks. I got rid of the yellow ones and use the types made for pneumatic drill users which gives total protection. Everyone who has attempted using them gives up after a few minutes because it takes a lot of getting used to. You totally lose the power of the band for a start and you must concentrate on your pitching like mad. If the mike cuts out you will not know it and that has happened a couple of times! You have to wait till someone points out that you seem to be miming. Also, if the plug works loose and becomes half in/out, the resulting sound is worse than no plug at all. The sound tries to squeeze through the narrow gap and can really be unpleasant and will cause damage. You must poke the plug back in carefully and quickly.

The worst loss is the feeling of isolation. You can learn to hear the band quietly but you can also hear yourself breathing over the top of it. You never enjoy your own guitar or bass sound cos it sounds like wasp in a jam jar and so the "power of rock" is severely lessened.

Still, on the priceless side of the equation, you have your hearing when others are enjoying the "hissing of damage" or the buzzing of permanent tinnitus. I have a better voice than 10 years ago with a wider range and more clarity. Best of all, I can still easily hear the voices in my head when they tell me to do things like "kill the drummer" or "take a bass solo".

Sas replaces Blackmore: Shock news from the Burn camp this week reveal that, in a completely unexpected twist, guitarist Rob Sas (31) has replaced Deep Purple supremo, Ritchie Blackmore!

Fans of Rockin' Robbie swamped the telephone lines with the news which many have waited their whole lives to hear. Gossip mongers spread tales of world tours, albums, orgies and drugs although official spokes-persons in the Sas camp refuted these as wicked and sordid tales.

"It's total nonsense," claimed Purple management man Willy Wontee (72). "He's far too young and has his own hair, for a start!"

Deep Purple themselves have rubbished the story yet evidence in the form of recordings do seem to support the fact that Sas has been playing with Paice, Gillan, Glover and Lord.

However, recently, Big pal Johnny Heywood (24) has ventured his opinion of the current situation.

"Nah, it's a bloody competition on the Purple website to record yourself playing or singing along with Smoke On The Water. The prize is you get to meet the band. He's put his guitar on the backing tape and sent it in. Really cheesy - you wouldn't catch me doing that. Now, excuse me, I must get to a post box."

Castrato Fatso: After viewing a documentary on Italian Male Soprano (Castrato) singers on BBC4, singing legend, Johnny Heywood (18) has been thinking of following their example.

"Yes, apparently young boy sopranos had their goolies chopped to prevent puberty and the voice dropping so that they could sing into the female range but with the power of a man's lungs and voice box," he waxed enthusiastically. "I'd love to get those notes - just think how easily I'd do the young Robert Plant (Led Zep) or Brian Johnstone of AC/DC. Then, I'd cover the upper end with my voice and the lower end with my mighty, yet subtle bass guitar. It's a great idea!"

It has been pointed out to the rocking man that the ensuing lack of testosterone would leave him with no facial hair ("I hate shaving!"), with a tendency to grow in height ("Well, I'm short for my weight") and a certain loss of sex drive & inablity to get a stiffy ("............Umm, of course, I could always just use helium").

It has also been observed that Heywood has already passed puberty many years ago though he seems unaware of this.

Fire in America: In an effort to promote the band in the States and to firm up relations with America, singing, bass-isting dude, Johnny Heywood formed a new version of Fire In The Hole whilst on tour with Wingspan and had them support the headline act. He denies that this was also a cost cutting excercise.

"No, no, no, not at all," pleaded the jet slagged hombre, fresh off a big plane at Gatwick. "It was to let our American cousins experience the sound of classic rock as performed by some bar band limeys. It seemed they loved it!"

Joining JH was the infamous Lee "Kit Killer" Herbert who's on stage antics are now legendary or at least they would be if more people knew about them. He drummed and sang and the state of Ohio was all the better for hearing his rendition of Sweet Home Chicago.

Guitarist John Shearer played a variety of axes and styles through some tasty gear, courtesy of Dan Griffin of Sandusky band Mr Daddy who kitted the band out from his personal stash of fab musical instruments. He played guitar with Fire and also the headliners too, such was his talent. Shearer, as he is known in France, or Little Johnny Foreigner, as he is known in Wingspan, chose Do You Wanna Dance as his vocal number, and you could tell the American crowd loved his interpretation of the Cliff & The Shadows classic in 3-part harmony. Such was the reaction that Club Owner Charlie Tuna grabbed some shakers and joined the band onstage in a flurry of percussive brilliance.

Johnny sang the usual classics like Rock 'n' Roll and he & Lee were singled out for special praise for the vocal blend. British pub rock at it's best! See Gallery pix

New Band - Same old Songs: Exclusive news reaches us from The Critic, the mysterious reporter who seems to attend every gig on this web site. Seemingly present at a gig on Saturday 13th May at The Black Bull, Iver Heath, he witnessed the explosive birth of a new band.

Using the name Night Cap, which is normally Bassist/Vocalist Lee Herbert and Guitarist Gary Dangerous' working duo, this line up was expanded by guitarist Little Johnny Foreigner from Wingspan and bassist/vocalist Johnny Heywood from any band that will pay him.

Cunningly mixing songs from the heavy rock end of the spectrum with some pop-a-long 60's classics, this was definitely 4 men on a mission. That mission was to play enough songs to fill out the evening, and by gum, they did.

Johnny rasped his way through several rock classics and Lee was featured sing-ist bloke on numbers like Sweet Home Chicago and Take It Easy. LJF, favouring his full Marshall set up was chief chanter on Wings' Medicine Jar and a bluesy Red House, complete with original lyrics. There were some who thought LJF's version superior to Hendrix's but they were completely smashed by that point and it's as well not to believe what a drunkard says to you after 10-30 in a British pub.

Best of all was Gary & Johnny dipping into their secret band The Silver Searchers' song book to run through When You Walk In The Room which was more Mersey Beat than the Beatles and which prompted LJF to lead the boys through Sir Cliff's Do You Wanna Dance? The audience responded with a mighty, "No!" However, there were some who thought it was a gag so they got away with it.

Some Night Cap fans were not used to seeing Lee behind a drum kit, let alone playing it, and were worried that he might do himself a mischief. No such danger for the Heavy Hitter for he is known internationally as "Kit Killer" Herbert and there are many around who will no longer lend him a pair of sticks. He drummed hard but fair and made the evening go with a swing without injury, much to the relief of the fans of whom there were some.

What's more, the landlord was happy enough to pay them and re-book them so look out on the gig list for more of the same.

Fire Over America: Exciting plans are being made to have Fire In The Hole play in the States this Summer. Singer Bloke Johnny Heywood (21) is, even now, preparing his other band WINGSPAN to play in the Cleveland area and promoters are suggesting he do some gigs in one or two of the larger clubs whilst there.

"Yes," he admitted, "in between my famous McCartney impersonation gigs which should take America by storm, it was suggested that I take out Cliff or Gary and play some 70's, guitar based rock classics. At first I said "no way , man!" I don't just take any old gig offered to me and leave out important band members and let it interfere with the main reason I am out there. Then they said they would pay me cash and I said, "OK!" I'm yours."

Last time Heywood was in the States, he cleverly avoided paying the Holiday Inn for a week by simply playing a gig at the Hotel. Incredibly, takings for the night doubled (!) and so the same deal has been offered on this return visit. Using some local musicians to back him, Johnny performed the same old stuff that he does here and got the same reaction which proves that alcohol works wonders anywhere in the world. Backed by drummer Eric Pasley, Dennis Keys and percussionist Jason Skins, they worked a cosy couple of hours up of standards. Johnny is keen to work with these guys again if they are willing to work cheap or for free.

Johnny's New Interview: Johnny has been interviewed again for the reformed Burn band. Have a peek on the Interviews Page! It's an honest and accurate insight into the man they call "Bass Boy". Well, he calls himself that anyway. No-one else does. Interviews

Burn Gig: Read the review of the reformed Burn gig at the Black Horse, Kidlington on the reviews page.

There will be fewer gigs for the Fire in the Hole Band as Ross and Johnny concentrate on Burn plus other projects on the LINKS page.

The Boys Are Back: In a surprise move caused by a last-minute, unavoidable cancellation of Cliff Brown, guitarist Rob Sas (23), stepped in to help Fire In The Hole out, thus re-uniting the Burn line up for the first time since last May.

The band were in fabulous form and played like it had been a matter of days since they were last together. This will almost certainly lead to more gigs as they described the evening as "we've all come home"!

No Handed Roll: Inspired by last Friday's drum clinic by Deep Purple percussionist, Ian Paice, Fire In The Hole drummer, Ross "Flam-Boy" Elder (40) announced that he had acquired a whole new range of skills based on some of Mr Paice's tricks of the trade.

His famous one handed snare drum roll, a technique normally requiring the alternate hitting of two drum sticks - one in each hand, is one of the highlights of the clinic and never ceases to impress the audience. In this case, 1000 drummers were in the audience, regularly applauding each breath taking bash of the sticks. However, Ross feels he can go one better and is working up his new trick - A NO-HANDED DRUM ROLL!!

Yes, it's true. Mr Paice refuses to reveal how he does his one handed roll and Mr Elder is also keeping quiet about his seemingly impossible task. Whether he is going to use some artificial attachment or will simply use another part of his anatomy, we just can't say. Bear in mind Ross is no stranger to strap on equipment of various types, according to his wife but, rest assured, The Critic will find out all and might have some pictures too.

Christmas Song: Drummer Ross Elder has been working on a new Christmas song this year and wants the band to learn it in time for their next gig. The percussive player revealed: "Yes, it's long been a dream of mine to take the best of really classic Xmas songs like Merry Xmas Everybody, I Wish It Could Be Xmas Every Day and write one enormo-hit which will help unite the whole world in these troubled times. Something that sums up the true Christmas spirit, goodwill and peace to all men, the Christian ethic to everyone and lashings of festive pudding. I am calling it Oh, Thank Christ It's Christmas. I hope the other lads love it as much as I do.

Bassist/vocalist Johnny Heywood, full of Christmas spirit himself, announced that he truly believed in Ross's dream for bringing the people of the World together but felt the song was maybe not the thing to do it. "No," he explained. "...cos it's shite."

Demo Finished: Cliff Brown stayed up well late and beyond his bedtime to finish guitar and keyboard parts for the Fire Demo this week. He also mixed, mastered and e-mailed the finished product to the other band members. This seems a little "greedy" to this writer but he made such a good job of it, they'll probably forgive him. Click here to hear the trax. Demo If it doesn't play, then right-click each song it and download it yourself!

Wishing Well: Click here to hear Fire In The Hole's recording of Wishing Well. If it doesn't play, then right-click it and download it yourself! Cliff is playing all the guitars and actually has had the audacity to spice up the song with Hammond Organ which he claims to be able to play all the parts simultaneously, at the same time with both hands. Ross is using his Roland electronic kit with an over the top reverb and Johnny favours his old Fender Precision Bass and his old Johnny voice.

Tense Up Studio: Fire in the Hole have gone into the studios this week with a view to record an mini-albums worth of material based on the current set. On Friday, drummie Guy, Ross 'Boy' Elder faked his way through 6 tracks which bassist/vocalist Johnny Heywood added his mighty bass and distinctive voice in Wyland Studios where previous solo and band albums were cut.

"I always like to do the vocals on my own cos if anyone was to hear them without the band as camouflage, well, they'd sound really crap."

Finally, Cliff Brown, a man who owns his own studio is chomping at the bit to lay down his earth-shattering axework over the top but admits concern regarding the space allocated to him.

"I'm used to getting my own way. Johnny uses 16 track when he records but I'd use that just tuning up. I'll have to transfer his tracks to my massive computer which will give me an unlimited number of tracks and even then I'll probably fill them all up! I' m tempted to erase Ross's drums and replace them with a rather nice drum machine I have and the bass can be more accurately re-done via my synthesiser..... or I'll ask a mate to play it better. As for vocals, I may leave in Johnny's "oos" and "aahs" but I can easily blow over the verse and chorus's with my unique brand of heavy metal rock-funk-reggae-punk-jazz playing, done in my usual over-the-top-subtle way."

Instant Drums: Drum supremo and all round top nice guy Ross Elder (41), has come up with an amazing idea which is set to revolutionize the drum kit as we know it today. Ross takes up the story.

"I was late for a gig because I stopped to help one of our fans, Teeny Weeny aka Queen Bitch, whose car had stopped working. I used my famous mechanical ability to diagnose that the car was clapped out and took her onto the gig, despite her really wanting to go home. Well, we need all the fans we can get. I was now so late in setting up my enormous drum kit, I mis-heard the old Jim Reeves song "I Hear The Sound of Instant Drums" on the jukebox and I wondered about the possibility of a new kind of kit - inflatable drums!

I could turn up with them all in a little case and simply inflate as many drums and cymbals I need depending on how large the venue was. I could use a little compressor to save my lungs and I wouldn't need a drum key for adjustment anymore - just a puncture repair kit. It's a dream come true."

The Critic asked the question, "Do inflatable drums make any sound?" and Ross agreed that "at the moment they make no sound at all save a little tippity tap but I'm working on that too. I may have to put them inside real wooden drums to get them to work properly."

Bigger Than Jesus!: Controversy raged supreme this week following bassist/vocalist impersonator Johnny Heywood's (39) shocking revelation that Fire In The Hole were now "bigger than Jesus." Clerics throughout mounted objections and criticised Heywood for his comments and for single-handledly causing the decline in popularity in religion all over the World but mainly Chipping Norton. Gigs are being boycotted by angry people and CD's are being burned in the streets.

"It's comments like Heywood's that prove he's getting too big for his boots. 'Fire' are setting a bad example to the young people today and he really should know better." said a really annoyed minister yesterday. "After all, he's old enough!"

Johnny was unavailable for comment but that didn't stop him talking. "No, no," he gushed. "I simply meant that according to the bible, Jesus was about 5' 6" and weighed 10 stone. All the guys in the band are far taller and heavier than that and any one of us would easily have whipped his ass in a brawl, especially as he's been dead 2000 years."

Cliff's Tribute Band: Feisty guitarist, Cliff Brown (29), announced plans to form a new band, playing tribute to one of his favourite artists, Westlife. Cliff, no stranger to controversy, admitted he was smitten with the boy band's Christmas album of last year that covered old pop standards from the 40's and 50's and plans a similar idea.

"Yes," laughed the excited Fender Fanatic. "I plan to do the exact same thing, only in a completely different way. I don't want any of that old rubbish in my band. I want to cover 70's guitar based rock tunes that I grew up loving. Songs with stature and power like All Right Now, Jailbreak, Smoke On The Water, Purple Haze and Shang-a-Lang. However, unlike Westlife, I don't want any vocals. I want guitar, guitar and more guitar. None of that girly harmony singing for me. I think it's a great idea and it's a dream come true!"

Fellow band members Johnny Heywood and Ross Elder admitted disappointment with the guitarist's plan. "I've already bought a nice white dinner jacket and bow-tie for the lounge type songs" cried Johnny, "& I know Ross has a new cravat. I wanted to sing Beyond The Sea backed by a powerful, yet emotive rock backing but it seems like it'll be the same old stuff we already do - just without me singing. Bastard!"

New Sound System: Fire In The Hole spokesman Johnny Heywood announced yesterday that the band had a new Sound System - the first in 16 years! What prompted Johnny to splash out in this reckless fashion?

"It's the fans, Man!" gushed Johnny (25). "We owe our loyal fans the best sound we can give and with our new, complex and multi-influential music, only a PA 4 times louder than the old one can possibly cope. My delicate yet emotion soaked vocals can cause young girls to cry if given the right blend of angst and woe and it's essential that it is reproduced onstage.... plus that Cliff is a right loud bastard and Ross keeps amplifying his drums. I'll get louder than them yet, or die in the attempt!"

Drummer Ross "Boy" Elder (31) takes up the story: "It's really great, isn't it? Our new PA is so loud that I don't need to carry my combo for enhancing my drums. I just plug straight in and turn it full up. Nothing to dismantle at the end - I can be back home for top TV show Casualty and my horlicks before dawn. It's a dream come true."

Gunslinger Guitarist Lee Van Cliff had his own reasons for getting excited about the new Sound System. "I don't have to carry my bloody Marshall amp which weighs a ton. I can just plug into the new Fire In The Hole PA via my pedal board and sound like the bronzed rock God that I am. At my age, my back will be grateful!"

Subsequent reports claim that Johnny is handing back the new PA as he fears band members may get "lazy".

Return To Eden: Crisis time again for bassist Johnny Heywood (112) as reports of the demise of his famous Eden Traveller bass amplifier reached The Critic today. Johnny has suffered a poorly amp since the first ever Fire In The Hole gig which was also their debut and the amp was rushed into intensive care courtesy of Guitarist Cliff Brown (16), who doubles as an electrician in his spare time (special home wiring rates - give him a call!)

Cliff reports: "I've checked with the other boffins here and there is a unanimous verdict of 'guilty of spouting bullshit' from the Eden camp. This kind of thing does proliferate in the technical side of the MI industry though, so no surprises. There is only one case where there may be an ounce of truth and that is if the output transistors are Mosfets. I'm waiting to here back on that one.

On the other hand, your volcanically proportioned bass playing technique may have broken the laws of physics. Maybe you have gone where no other mortal has been (and I don't mean Slough). I had a word with a respected nuclear physicist friend of mine, Dr Octopus and he said 'Possibly that thunderous playing of his has literally knocked electrons out of orbit and we are seeing some kind of anti-matter transform lattice which causes secondary breakdown of the mucron bonding layers thus perpetuating a biostrophic failure mode - in other words it's buggered".

Our thanks to Dr Octopus and Cliff Brown B.F. for taking time out to discuss this extremely upsetting catastrophe. We on the News page are praying for a miracle - that Johnny might fork out for a new amp.

Not A Jazzer: Grave concerns abounded in the Fire in the Hole camp this week when guitarist Cliff Brown (36) revealed another side of his personality. Despite being heavily influenced initially by ex Deep Purple/James Gang guitarist Tommy Bolin, it was the jazzier side of Bolin's playing on Billy Cobham's Spectrum album that the youthful Clifford began to copy. From there he moved to Allan Holdsworth and Steely Dan and his playing took on a more mature style.

This "jazz sophistication" image and cultured playing was what initially attracted drummer Ross Elder (25) and bassist Johnny Heywood (24) to the new band. "Yes," agreed Johnny in an affirmative way. "Cliff's got sophistication coming out of his arse and that was what we wanted. Our delicate yet powerful brand of rockular music needs subtlety and he's f***ing subtle, let me tell you."

However, at his 40th birthday celebration bash in Watford on Saturday night, delicate Cliff (41) revealed a hitherto unseen side.

Drummy Boy Elder takes up the sad and worrying story. "Well, he's a Party Dude, isn't he? He was knocking back the drink and playing with various musical guests all night and kept going till 5am! Some of the drink was alcoholic too! He could turn out to be an unstable influence on Johnny and me who like nothing more than bed, hot milk and a good book.

"Twenty-four hours after the drunken birthday revels, he was playing at The Black Horse propped up on Red Bull and adrenalin. It was remarkable. I guess he's not just a jazzer."

Tommy Bolin Replaces Blackmore (again): Yet again the Deep Purple/Burn parallel lives came together recently when it was announced that guitarist/vocalist Cliff Brown (28) would join drummer Ross Elder and singer/bassist Johnny Heywood in a brand new band working under the name, 'Fire In The Hole'. The Critic has discovered that handsome, virtuoso Cliff was originally inspired by Tommy Bolin's playing on Billy Cobham's 1973 Spectrum album which led to Bolin being asked to join Deep Purple in 1975, replacing Ritchie Blackmore.

Heywood was pleased to report, "Yes, it's a weird and spooky co-incidence of epic proportions that this Blackmore/Bolin parallel should occur as Rob is such a Blacker's devotee. You know, I've always thought that it was 1973 all my life but now it seems it's moved on to 1975 and we've replaced Blackmore with Bolin!"

Ross Elder was happy too. "It's a dream come true to be playing with Cliff," he smiled in a jovial yet attractive way. "The only worry I have is that Bolin was dead within 18 months of joining Purple and that would be a real inconvenience if the same happened to Cliff. I wish he had been inspired by Blackmore's next replacement, Steve Morse and then he'd be safe for at least 12 years."