Gonzo Web Radio

CURLY'S AIRSHIPS is an epic work of words and music about the R.101 airship disaster of 1930, written in a new form of narrative rock music called songstory.

This double CD involves eighteen featured performers, among whom are four of the original members of Van der Graaf Generator, including respected solo artist Peter Hammill and the composer of Curly’s Airships, Judge Smith. Also participating are singer Arthur Brown (of The Crazy World), Pete Brown (of Battered Ornaments and Piblokto), Paul Roberts (of The Stranglers), John Ellis, (formerly of The Vibrators and The Stranglers), plus a 1920’s dance band, a classical Tenor, an Indian music ensemble and several cathedral organs.

Six years in the making, Curly’s Airships is probably one of the largest and most ambitious single pieces of rock music ever recorded.

Judge Smith talks to Jon Kirkman about the concept behind Curly's Airships and the reason for taking on such a mammoth project

Judge Smith was a founder member of Van Der Graaf Generator in 1967 along with Peter Hammill. Judge however left before the band’s first album.  Judge went on to front his own band before opting for a solo career which has continued today. He has also maintained links with Van Der Graaf Generator and some of his co written songs have appeared on both Van Der Graaf Generator albums and also albums by Peter Hammill.

Strangely in the late seventies and early eighties Judge was co writer of songs on the British TV comedy programme Not The Nine O’ Clock News something that actually earned Judge a Gold Disc and at one point the Not The Nine O' Clock News album was outselling ABBA In the British Charts.

Continuing his solo career Judge came up with the concept of the “Songstory” which is in effect a concept album which includes a narrative and music.

Judge's most recent Songstory" is Orfeas and up to date re telling of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. In this exclusive Podcast Judge talks to Jon Kirkman about the album and some of the special guests such as Lena Lovich who appear on the album

Night was a band that originally came together under the name Filthy McNasty in 1979. The band was a loose aggregation that performed at the Bridge House a live venue in London. The band was originally pulled together by former Manfred Mann’s Earthband vocalist Chris Thompson following his split from the Earthband in 1979 following the recording of the album Angel Station.

Another key member of the band was vocalist Stevie Lange who was an in demand session vocalist and had sang on sessions for the Earthband. Another member of the band was guitarist Robbie McIntosh who had previously been a member of the Foster Brothers a band that released one album for Elton John’s Rocket Records label. The other members of the band were bassist Billy Kristian and keyboardist Derek Austin. At the point of the band becoming Night Nicky Hopkins was probably one of the most famous members having played with The Rolling Stones on many albums not to mention albums from John Lennon and George Harrison amongst many others. He was also a member of the Jeff Beck Group and Quicksilver Messenger Service.

The band was initially a covers band or what would be described as a “Bar Band” in America. The band managed however to secure a recording deal with Planet Records in America the label owned by record producer Richard Perry.

The self titled album was recorded in Los Angeles and the perception of many was that Night was an American Band when in fact the band was almost a “United nations” with Lange coming from South Africa and Thompson, Hopkins and McIntosh being English. This probably arose due to the fact that band were actually based in Los Angeles.

Chris Thompson spoke exclusively to Jon Kirkman in early 2011 about the forthcoming reissue of the two Night albums

Rupert Hine is one of the world’s leading producers having worked with the likes of Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Rush. In 1990 he got involved in a project called One World One Voice which was a multi media project including film and recorded pieces filmed around the world by a diverse group of musicians including Lou Reed, Dave Stewart, The Gypsy Kings, Peter Gabriel, Steve Van Zant and many more. Rupert produced the various recordings and talks to Jon Kirkman about the project which has recently been reissued.

Atkins/May Project is the current project led by Al Atkins and Paul may. Al Atkins is a vocalist of rare talent and of course will be known by many as the founder member and original singer with British heavy metal legends Judas Priest. Over the years Al has released a number of solid well received rock albums and some of his earlier songs appear on the first Judas Priest albums. Serpents Kiss is the first album top come from the duo and is a mix of traditional heavy metal and a somewhat new direction for Al ;Progressive Metal. The album was recorded in early 2011 and features eleven tracks with ten of the tracks being original compositions and the final track a cover of the Kiss song Cold Gin.

Jon Kirkman spoke to Al Atkins and Paul May ahead of the release of the album

Wally are a Harrogate based band who recorded two albums for Atlantic in the mid seventies. The albums were the self titled debut produced by Rick Wakman and Bob Harris and the second album Valley Gardens was produced by Bob Harris
In 2009 the band re formed and played a hometown concert which was filmed and released as a DVD; the following year the band performed another concert  which was recorded and released as a double live album (To The Urban Man). The band also recorded a new studio album entitled Montpelier.
In this feature Jon Kirkman talks to founder member Roy Webber and newer members Will Jackson and Frank Mizen.

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Trevor Rabin, Anthony Phillips, Matt Berry, Asia Ft. John Payne, Barbara Dickson and Snowy White

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Leslie West, 21^st Century Schizoid Band, Karnataka, Graham Bonnet, Renaissant, Steve Hillage and Jefferson Starship

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Leslie West, Troy Donockley, Karnataka, Anthony Phillips, Dave Brock and Galahad

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Gentle Giant, Troy Donockley, Bruford, Charlie, John Payne, Gong and Hawkwind

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Panic Room, Van Der Graaf Generator, Keith Christmas, Matthews Southern Comfort, Giles Giles and Fripp and Randy Meisner

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Yes Family and friends including Yes, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Bruford, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman and Patrick Moraz

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Asia ft John Payne, Wakeman and Giltrap, T’Pau, Snowy White, Keith Christmas, Panic Room and Jefferson Starship

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Patrick Moraz, Yes, Astralasia, Magic Mushroom Band, Nic Potter and Guy Evans, World of Oz ft David Kubinec and Maggie Reilley

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Yes and Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe Special featuring tracks from the Live yes Union Package the Deluxe edition of the ABWH album and tracks from the forthcoming Live ABWH album Live In Birmingham

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Gong, 21^st Century Schizoid Band, Barbara Dickson, Yes, Reniassant, Anderson and Wakeman, Random Hold and Gran Torino

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include:  Annie Haslam, Jefferson Starship, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Graham Bonnet and Atto IV

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Napoleon Murphy Brock, Don Preston, Patrick Moraz, All About Eve, Fish and Maggie Reilley

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Yes, Magic Mushroom Band, C.C.C.P, Randy Meisner, Daedalus, Hawkwind and Michael Bruce

Jon Kirkman plays a selection of tracks from the Gonzo catalogue artists featured in this show include: Steve Hillage, Fish, 21^st Century Schizoid Band, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Spirits Burning ft. Bridget Wishart and Refugee