‘Seven Deadly’, an atmospherically dense fabric, consisting of exceptionally classy guitars, tight rock grooves and mesmerizing vocals, has won numerous rave reviews in the UK rock press. Classic Rock Magazine’s Geoff Barton awarded the album 8/10 in his lead review in the February issue, stating that “UFO’s first studio album since 2009’s ‘The Visitor’ is bursting with creativity and athleticism…It’s positively febrile. Mogg, in particular, is at the top of his game. He carries the record with his passion. His singing has all the vim and vigour it had on ‘Strangers In The Night’, their legendary 1979 live album; maybe even more. His lyrics remain as erudite and evocative as anything Mellencamp, say, has ever written. ‘Seven Deadly’ begins in frantic fashion before settling into a groove that’s powerful and reflective, complex and involving. ‘Mojo Town’, the third track, is a gigantic jangling blues monster that brings guitarist Vinnie Moore to the fore; you won’t believe this so-called ‘technical musician’ can play so raw. ‘Burn Your House Down’ is packed full of loping menace; ‘Angel Station’ builds from a gentle balled into something sprawling and magnificent, complete with the added frisson of female backing vocals…In an album of numerous high spots, and tons of twists and turns, the best is left to last. ‘Waving Goodbye’, enhanced by Tommy Newton’s massive production job, is as mournful as it is monumental.” Next week the UFO live juggernaut will set off on the road to play the following UK tour dates:-

15th March – Cambridge – The Junction
16th March – Edinburgh – MV Picture House
17th March – Newcastle – O2 Academy
18th March – Leeds – O2 Academy
20th March – Dublin – Academy
21st March – Belfast – Spring & Airbrake
23rd March – Milton Keynes – The Stables
24th March – Tavistock – The Wharf
25th March – Bristol – O2 Academy
27th March – Nottingham – Rock City
28th March – Norwich – Waterfront
30th March – Manchester – HMV Ritz
31st March – Wolverhampton – Wulfrun Hall
1st April – Southampton – The Brook (Sold Out)
3rd April – Brighton – Concorde 2
4th April – London – Forum

History

There are even more stories about UFO than they’ve composed songs. Any band who have been in the music business for over 40 years are bound to have experienced difficult times, but also massive highs and spectacular events. UFO’s success story began in London way back in 1969, when vocalist Phil Mogg, drummer Andy Parker, guitarist Mick Bolton and bassist Pete Way formed the group, borrowing the band name from a legendary London music club. Even in the early Seventies, the band distinguished themselves with their very own, unmistakable style, touching a nerve among their growing following with rock numbers like ‘Prince Kajuku’, ‘Follow You Home’ and ‘C’mon Everybody’ from their albums UFO 1, Flying and UFO Live.

The global breakthrough arrived when German guitarist, Michael Schenker, joined the fold in 1973, who left the Scorpions to take up an offer by Phil Mogg and Pete Way. This line-up of UFO broke through into rock’s big time with their Phenomenon album in 1974, closely followed by Force It in 1975 and No Heavy Pettin’ in 1976, featuring classics such as ‘Doctor Doctor’, ‘Shoot, Shoot’, and ‘Rock Bottom’.

Following the arrival of keyboarder/rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond in 1976, UFO released two more studio albums Lights Out (1977) and Obsession (1978), including the hit singles ‘Too Hot To Handle’, ‘Lights Out’ and ‘Only You Can Rock Me’. Their double live album Strangers In The Night came out in 1979 and is regarded to this day as one of the best live releases of all time, while also signalling the ‘end’ of the Mogg, Way, Schenker, Parker & Raymond line-up.

The reorganised band underwent fifteen years marked by various eras and numerous line-up changes. To everyone’s surprise, autumn 1993 saw the return of the classic UFO line-up, which brought out Walk On Water, their first joint effort after one and a half decades, and embarked on a world tour. However, Schenker left UFO during the Walk On Water tour again to continue working with his own group, MSG, while Mogg & Way went on to release their second album, Chocolate Box. The UFO albums Covenant and Sharks, recorded by Mogg, Way and Schenker, arrived in the stores in 2000 and 2002. With Schenker returning to MSG yet again, Vinnie Moore joined the UFO family, and the album You Are Here was recorded with Jason Bonham on drums in 2004. During the subsequent world tour, UFO cut a show in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, which was later released as a double live album, Showtime, along with a DVD of the same name which featured additional bonus material. Later, Bonham made his farewells to join Foreigner and was replaced by UFO’s original drummer, Andy Parker, who rejoined to play on The Monkey Puzzle studio album (2006), 2009’s much acclaimed The Visitor album, and now the new opus Seven Deadly.

Seven Deadly, a compact collection of 10 very special, soaring, instantly recognisable UFO hard rock anthems, marks yet another major milestone on the illustrious path of this celebrated band’s history.

Lethal – Roland Hyams – roland@workhardpr.com / 020 8677 8466 / 07768 156392.
www.ufo-music.info
www.spv.de

X-UFO is the ultimate, does what it says on the tin band – all four members having played a part in the history of UFO. Danny Peyronel (vocals and keyboards), Laurence Archer (guitar) and Clive Edwards (drums) have all been in UFO over the years (Rocky Newton (bass) although not in UFO did play in the Michael Schenker Group) and are now touring with a mission to to promote the whole saga. Their website says “we do it because we love it….” and they’re not kidding. They don’t mimic, playing in their own unique style – bringing a new, alternative energy. They describe themselves as a UFO spin-off and that is what they are.

The guys hit the stage of The Railway with an intensity that was quite immense. Playing a selection of songs from across the UFO back catalogue it was clear to the audience that this was going to be a special night. They say that age and experience will always win over youthful cockiness and X-UFO delivered that in spades. Although the night belonged to the songs of UFO, the history that each band member brings to the party is clear to see in the tightness and slick delivery – between them the guys have worked with Phil Lynott, Meatloaf, Def Leppard, Saxon, Michael Schenker…………..

I have to admit that UFO had kind of passed me by over the years. Sure I know “Doctor, Doctor” and “Lights Out” but other than that, tonight was going to be a new part of my rock ‘n’ roll education. Wrong, I knew loads of the songs (Only You Can Rock Me, Love to Love, Highway Lady and more) - I just didn’t know they were originally by UFO. In the words of the great philosopher Homer……DOH!

The band rocked their set which featured some amazing guitar work from Laurence Archer – who made it very easy to see why Phil Lynott got Archer into his post-Thin Lizzy band, Grand Slam ) The flamboyant Danny Peyronel was out front with mic in hand, clearly enjoying himself, doing this purely for the sheer fun of it all. The rhythm section of Clive and Rocky were also clearly enjoying themselves and were so tight that you would have thought this band had played together for decades.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and far too soon, X-UFO were announcing the last song. Fortunately for us in the crowd they did have another one for us – Shoot, Shoot. The only downside being that the following night would see Pete Way join them on stage for that number.

Then, all too soon the show was over – but not quite. The band took time to talk to the audience, answerifn questions and having photographs taken with the very appreciative crowd – to quote one of the audience, X-UFO  ” blew my socks off ”

For more info: xufo.co.uk

By David Wilson

Photographs by John McGibbon

Robbie France, who played with both UFO and Diamond Head, died on Saturday, January 14.

In a lengthy career, drummer France played on Diamond Heads 1983 albumCanterbury and spent a year with UFO from 1984. France was also a member of Wishbone Ash, recording the 1991 albumStrange Affair. He was a founder-member of Skunk Anansie, playing on their 1995 debut albumParanoid And Sunburnt.

Last year, France (who was also a respected drum tutor) had first novel published. This wascalled Six Degrees South.