DELUXE EDITION DREAMLAND: Quireboys – Live ’89-’90

In February 2011, approximately twenty one years after its original release, The Quireboys’ much-loved debut album ‘A Bit of What You Fancy’ was given an expanded reissue, adding a selection of unheard demo recordings.  While the release of these demos was most welcome – and indeed, the competitively priced reissue should have warranted a purchase for most curious listeners – at Real Gone, we feel this was an opportunity wasted.

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REAL GONE GOES OUT: Iron Maiden – O2, London 04/08/2013

When Iron Maiden headlined the UK leg of the Sonisphere Festival in 2011, it was a distinctly underwhelming experience.  Not only were the band too quiet, but since they had a new product to promote (that year’s workmanlike ‘Final Frontier’ album), the setlist represented the rest of the ‘Final Frontier’ tour in that most of their near two hour set was culled from material from the band’s three most current releases.  For those who’d never seen the band before, or the more casual admirer who’d have liked to hear a few more classics, the set was a colossal misfire.  Sure, when you’re a band headlining your own ticketed gig at a large venue, the audience is your audience, they’ll go along for the ride no matter what; but a festival audience is an entirely different beast – much more demanding.  From halfway through Maiden’s set on that particular occasion, people were leaving in droves, wandering off with casual indifference.

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Ugly Kid Joe: UK autumn tour dates

After being available as an import for a year, Ugly Kid Joe’s 2012 comeback release ‘Stairway To Hell’ is finally getting a UK release in October 2013. The new version of the release will also include a full-length DVD featuring a making of segment, two previously unavailable video clips and footage from the band’s appearance at the 2012 Download Festival.

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BLACK SABBATH – 13

Black-Sabbath-13As any metal fan knows, the first four Black Sabbath albums defined an entire musical genre.  Four slabs of vinyl with monolithic riffs that inspired future generations; riffs which many emulated, but few matched – especially in terms of superb tone.  From 1973 onward, Sabbath continued to make good music, but it didn’t always match the impact of their earliest work.

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