Black Rose (UK Band)
Encyclopedia
BLACK ROSE are a British Heavy Metal Rock band from Teesside
in the North East of England
. They formed in 1976 under the name ICE but changed it to Black Rose in 1980 and were one of many British bands considered part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
movement. The original line up was Steve Bardsley (lead vocals/guitar), Kenny Nicholson (guitar), Marty Rajn (bass) and Mark Eason (drums). Over the next nine years the band went through various line up changes and released quite a few records including two albums: BOYS WILL BE BOYS (1984) and WALK IT HOW YOU TALK IT (1986) before splitting up in 1989. The band then reformed in 2006 and released their newest album CURE FOR YOUR DISEASE in 2010.
As this line up they recorded their first demo tape at Impulse Studios in Wallsend Newcastle
, the home of independent record label Neat Records
, which consisted of 5 songs : Alright On The Night, Biker, Killer, Loveshock and Raising Hell.
The demo was picked up by various Rock Disco play-lists and featured in the local charts section of UK Rock magazine KERRANG!
.
Kenny and Charlie both left the band to pursue others ventures, Charlie joined EMERSON and then ended up in SAMSON
and Kenny went on to form both HOLLAND and FAST KUTZ.
New Guitarist Chris ' wahwah ' Watson and Drummer Mal Smith then joined the band and they released their first single on the Teesbeat label called NO POINT RUNNIN' and this was the record that started getting people talking about this unknown little UK band. Unfortunately Marty fell out with the rest of the band over various issues and departed, making way for young Bass player Mick Thompson to step in.
This went on to be probably the most stable line up of the band, recording and releasing an array of songs including their début album BOYS WILL BE BOYS and featuring on a variety of compilation records. The band toured all over the UK and Europe playing alongside some great bands including RAVEN, TERRAPLANE (later to become Thunder), BUDGIE, TRUST, VARDIS, ATOMIC ROOSTER, PRETTY MAIDS and SPIDER to name just a few, and gathered a worldwide fan-base having fan-clubs in Europe, Japan and the United States.
By the mid eighties they were also joined by Guitar/Keyboard player Gary Todd and a couple of major record labels Atlantic records
and Bronze records
both showed some interest in the band but neither signed them up to any deal so Chris got a bit disillusioned and left, making way for young Guitarist Pat O'Neil.
This line up recorded the bands second album WALK IT HOW YOU TALK IT released by Neat records
which saw them recording slightly more melodic songs which ultimately gained them some new fans but lost them some of the old.
This album was also picked up by AJK a subsidiary of K-Tel
records in the USA where it was repackaged and ready to be released independently, but unfortunately never did because of a dispute over copyrights with a US band of the same name.
This was to be the beginning of the end for the band and although they recorded some more material nothing was released and they split up in 1989.
Fast forward to 2006 and Steve, after speaking to Chris, decided to write some new material together and Black Rose were born again.UK indie rock label MAJESTIC ROCK records released a CD of the band's songs from 1980-89 called BRIGHT LIGHTS BURNIN' and then in 2010 the band released their third album CURE FOR YOUR DISEASE as an independent release available by download only through various music sites like amazon
, iTunes
and from the Reverbnation.com webpage link at the bottom.
A new line up has been put together and the band are hoping to do some gigs in the UK in 2011.
Teesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
in the North East of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They formed in 1976 under the name ICE but changed it to Black Rose in 1980 and were one of many British bands considered part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
movement. The original line up was Steve Bardsley (lead vocals/guitar), Kenny Nicholson (guitar), Marty Rajn (bass) and Mark Eason (drums). Over the next nine years the band went through various line up changes and released quite a few records including two albums: BOYS WILL BE BOYS (1984) and WALK IT HOW YOU TALK IT (1986) before splitting up in 1989. The band then reformed in 2006 and released their newest album CURE FOR YOUR DISEASE in 2010.
History
Black Rose started out as ICE back in 1978 when three friends from a School in Saltburn by the Sea decided to form a rock band.The three guys were Steve Bardsley, Marty Rajn and Mark Eason who soon became a four piece after they saw guitarist Kenny Nicholson playing in a local pub and asked him if he wanted to join up with them. Mark left the band citing musical differences and local drummer Charlie Mack was drafted in.As this line up they recorded their first demo tape at Impulse Studios in Wallsend Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, the home of independent record label Neat Records
Neat Records
Neat Records was a record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. The establishment of Neat coincided with the arrival at Impulse of Songwriter/Producer Steve Thompson who guided...
, which consisted of 5 songs : Alright On The Night, Biker, Killer, Loveshock and Raising Hell.
The demo was picked up by various Rock Disco play-lists and featured in the local charts section of UK Rock magazine KERRANG!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
.
Kenny and Charlie both left the band to pursue others ventures, Charlie joined EMERSON and then ended up in SAMSON
Samson (band)
Samson was a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick , who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a...
and Kenny went on to form both HOLLAND and FAST KUTZ.
New Guitarist Chris ' wahwah ' Watson and Drummer Mal Smith then joined the band and they released their first single on the Teesbeat label called NO POINT RUNNIN' and this was the record that started getting people talking about this unknown little UK band. Unfortunately Marty fell out with the rest of the band over various issues and departed, making way for young Bass player Mick Thompson to step in.
This went on to be probably the most stable line up of the band, recording and releasing an array of songs including their début album BOYS WILL BE BOYS and featuring on a variety of compilation records. The band toured all over the UK and Europe playing alongside some great bands including RAVEN, TERRAPLANE (later to become Thunder), BUDGIE, TRUST, VARDIS, ATOMIC ROOSTER, PRETTY MAIDS and SPIDER to name just a few, and gathered a worldwide fan-base having fan-clubs in Europe, Japan and the United States.
By the mid eighties they were also joined by Guitar/Keyboard player Gary Todd and a couple of major record labels Atlantic records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and Bronze records
Bronze Records
Bronze Records is an independent English record label set up in 1971 by record producer Gerry Bron, and based in Chalk Farm, London.Bron had been producing Uriah Heep for Vertigo Records, and he set up this new label for future Uriah Heep releases, along with Juicy Lucy, Richard Barnes and Colosseum...
both showed some interest in the band but neither signed them up to any deal so Chris got a bit disillusioned and left, making way for young Guitarist Pat O'Neil.
This line up recorded the bands second album WALK IT HOW YOU TALK IT released by Neat records
Neat Records
Neat Records was a record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. The establishment of Neat coincided with the arrival at Impulse of Songwriter/Producer Steve Thompson who guided...
which saw them recording slightly more melodic songs which ultimately gained them some new fans but lost them some of the old.
This album was also picked up by AJK a subsidiary of K-Tel
K-tel
K-tel International is an "As-Seen-On-TV" company, which is most noted for its compilation music albums, such as "The Super Hits" series, "The Dynamic Hits" series and "The Number One Hits" series...
records in the USA where it was repackaged and ready to be released independently, but unfortunately never did because of a dispute over copyrights with a US band of the same name.
This was to be the beginning of the end for the band and although they recorded some more material nothing was released and they split up in 1989.
Fast forward to 2006 and Steve, after speaking to Chris, decided to write some new material together and Black Rose were born again.UK indie rock label MAJESTIC ROCK records released a CD of the band's songs from 1980-89 called BRIGHT LIGHTS BURNIN' and then in 2010 the band released their third album CURE FOR YOUR DISEASE as an independent release available by download only through various music sites like amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and from the Reverbnation.com webpage link at the bottom.
A new line up has been put together and the band are hoping to do some gigs in the UK in 2011.
Studio Albums and Singles
- No Point Runnin'/Sucker For Your Love (Teesbeat 1982)
- Black Rose EP (Bullet records 1984)
- Boys Will Be Boys (Bullet records 1984)
- Boys will Be Boys/Liar (Bullet records 1984)
- Nightmare EP (Neat records 1985)
- Walk It How You Talk It (Neat records 1986)
- Bright Lights Burnin' (Majestic Rock records 2006)
- Cure For Your Disease (Independent release 2010)
Compilation Albums and EPs
- One Take No Dubs (Neat records 1982)
- Roxcalibur (Guardian records 1982)
- Metal Masters (Castle records 1994)
- The Flame Burns On (Neat records 2002)
- The Singles Collection Volumes 2 and 3 (Neat records 2002)
- Total Metal Attack (Old School records 2004)
1st Line Up
- Steve Bardsley - Lead Vocals / Guitar
- Kenny Nicholson - Guitar
- Marty Rajn - Bass
- Mark Eason - Drums
2nd Line Up
- Steve Bardsley - Lead Vocals / Guitar
- Kenny Nicholson - Guitar
- Marty Rajn - Bass
- Charlie Mack - Drums
3rd Line Up
- Steve Bardsley - Lead Vocals / Guitar
- Chris Watson - Guitar
- Marty Rajn - Bass
- Mal Smith - Drums
4th Line Up
- Steve Bardsley - Lead Vocals / Guitar
- Chris Watson - Guitar
- Mick Thompson - Bass
- Mal Smith - Drums
5th Line Up
- Steve Bardsley - Lead Vocals
- Chris Watson - Guitar
- Gary Todd - Guitar / Keyboards
- Mick Thompson - Bass
- Mal Smith - Drums
6th Line Up
- Steve Bardsley - Lead Vocals
- Gary Todd - Guitar / Keyboards
- Pat O'Neil - Guitar
- Mick Thompson - Bass
- Barry Youll - Drums
7th Line Up
- Steve Bardsley - Lead Vocals
- Gary Todd - Guitar / Keyboards
- Davey Patterson - Guitar
- Mick Thompson - Bass
- Paul Fowler - Drums
Current Line Up
- Steve Bardsley - Lead Vocals / Guitar
- Kenny Nicholson - Guitar
- Kiko Rivers - Bass
- Barry Youll - Drums