Slander UK / Against The Grain / Fluorescent - Network. Sheffield 23/11/24

Slander UK:

Slander UK was formed in 1990, following a last-minute request from the Blackpool Gazette newspaper to make up the numbers for a local Rock Battle, in Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom. Andy Saxon-Lamb and Steve Slater were given 24-hours’ notice to recruit musicians and rehearse their set. After rehearsing through most of the previous night, they hammered out a 30-minute set to an unsuspecting crowd. From the positive audience reaction, it was clear that their brand of heavy metal was a winning formula.

The band played gigs all over North West England. During the first 6-months of the band being together, they recorded their first demo tape Initial Penetration, which sold all 300 copies in a matter of months and was well received not only in the UK, but also in Europe and the USA.

In late 1990 Slander UK’s ‘Fighting Talk’ appeared on Radio 1’s Friday Rock Show’s ’Rock Wars’. The show showcased the talents of unsigned bands and was hosted by the late Tommy Vance. Unfortunately, they were runners up, but this only spurred the band on to return to the studio for two more sessions.

The best 12 tracks from all the previous demo sessions were released on their self-financed debut album ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ in late 1991. The album received airplay on many radio stations around the world; most notably Alan Freeman who played five different songs from the album on his Radio 1 rock show. Paul Mills reviewed the album for Kerrang magazine and gave it a favourable ‘KKK’ rating saying “Cry of the Wolf is quite likely to leave you breathless and nursing an aching neck”. ‘Careless Talk Costs Live sold out in less than 6-months and is still regarded as a very rare and collectable title by record collectors worldwide.

Following the release of ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’, Slander UK found themselves further in demand as a live act with the band performing shows all over the UK, in pubs, clubs and the university circuit. 

Slander UK toured constantly throughout 1993 and received regular mentions in Kerrang magazine. They Joined the Headbangers Ball Tour that featured notable bands like Saxon, Killers and Samson and found the tour very successful. Towards the end of 1993 the band were becoming increasingly aware of the changes in musical taste and that their brand of heavy metal was becoming less popular due to the increasing popularity of Grunge. They decided to go their separate ways at the end of 1993.

Andy and Eddie always kept in touch and in November 2008 they talked about a Slander UK reunion. Following a chance meeting in a pub in St. Annes, Andy’s brother met Joe Tyerman and asked him how he felt about a reunion. He said yes without hesitation and the band were back!

Skip a few years and the odd line-up changes we quickly arrive at 2023 where work on a third Slander UK album commenced in late-2023 with plans to record a double A-side in spring 2024 followed by the full album in summer/autumn 2024. With a run of UK gigs between April-June 2024 booked, and following positive feedback from our recent shows, Slander UK are primed and ready to continue unleashing their brand of traditional Heavy Metal to audiences across the UK and beyond. 

Supports:

Against The Grain:

An Energetic Full-On, Hard Rocking band from the Steel City!! They were formed at the start of 2010 with Johnny Manchester (Guitar) after a few years jamming with close friends John Hackett & Nathan Pearce writing some high energy sick riffs.

Then began the look for a frontman. They tried out a few singers until finding ex-Existend Vocalist, Anthony Leathwood who has played on bills with some awesome bands including as Saxon & the very missed, Rise to Addiction to name a few.

With the line-up solid they went about writing new material and started playing their first shows around the Yorkshire area with an astounding turn out for all shows playing with the likes of The Dogs D'Amour, Darke Horse, Silverjet, Order of Voices, New Generation, Superstars, Cheating Blues, Nightvision, G.U. Medicine, Steel Trees, Paint The Sky & NG26.

A band who over the years have gone from strength to strength and earned a fabulous reputation in South Yorkshire & Beyond.

This will be their final ever show with current Drummer, Chloe Whitworth (now of JoanOvArk (Drums) & Jack-Knife (Lead Vocalist).

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Fluorescent:

Sheffield based band, Fluorescent are a 3 piece dirty punk meets old & new wave psychedelic grunge outfit with a few other syles thrown in. Fronted by Tom Jackson, these guys are loud and have a great presence.