by Mott the Dog
re-mastered by Ella Crew
5 Stars *****
Widowmaker
is the nickname shared by a hurricane wind, a jetfighter plane, and a
high-powered drill, all of which are renowned for mayhem, destruction, havoc and
literally blowing you away. Well as it happens it is also the name of one of the
most devastating rock ‘n’ roll bands to emerge from the musical cauldron
that was around in the mid-seventies. Comprised of five of the most inflammable
and provocative artists around at the time.
After a year as lead guitarist with Mott the Hoople, Ariel
Bender (also known by his real name of Luther Grovesner, when he started out on
rock ‘n’ rolls long and winding path with early British progressive rock
legends Spooky Tooth, but for the purposes of this review we will stick to the
Ariel Bender pseudonym by which he was known at this time) left the band at the
height of their commercial successes looking to find his own way rather than on
the tailcoats of an already big name act.
First
he found Paul Nicholls, a young powerful drummer, who had thumped the tubs in a
reformed “Lindisfarne’’, but was looking for something a little more
powerful to bend his wrists to rather than the Geordies folk/rock. Next to be
pulled into the ranks was talented New Zealander Bob Daisley, who had already
built up a solid reputation in such bands as “Chicken Shack” and “Broken
Glass” as an excellent bass player, a talented songsmith, with a reputation
for enjoying the wild side of the rock ‘n’ roll Lifestyle. After Widowmaker
Bob Daisley went on to leave his mark with “Rainbow”, ‘’Ozzy Osbourne”,
“ Uriah Heep”, and “Gary Moore” to name but a few.
Obviously a singer had to be found to front this lot, Ariel
Bender had always been a great admirer of the singer from “Love Affair” (who
had had a massive hit with the fabulous ‘EverLastin’ Love’); that man was
Steve Ellis who was lazing around in London after the collapse of his own
band” Ellis”. When he was first approached Ellis was not keen to join this
venture as he was jaded by the whole rock ‘n’ roll business, but once they
persuaded him to come to one rehearsal, magic bonds were formed and the band was
complete.
Their debut album, recorded in 1976 and released under the
band’s own name, was a classic collection of hard rockers, stadium power
ballads, and some remarkable singing, with Ariel Bender living up to his
reputation as the greatest rock ‘n’ roll guitarist of his era - now we’re
not talking technical ability here, there are probably hundreds of better
guitarists, but Ariel Bender brought with him that priceless commodity,
excitement.
Album opener ‘Such a Shame’ is very much in the same
mould as ‘Black Dog’ that opened up “Led Zeppelin’s” fourth album
allowing the band to put their collective wears on show. After which comes the
beautiful ‘Pin a Rose on me’ the sort of song that Jon Bon Jovi would kill
to write.
Next up was rocker ‘On the Road’ which live used to be
held back as the final encore, then the track that this collection is named
after, another slower song but not exactly what you would call a ballad.
The next two songs, which closed side one and opened side two
when this album was released on vinyl, are rightly the centerpiece of both their
debut album and their Stage show. ‘Ain’t telling you Nothing’ starts off
as a slow burner before building to a frantic climax where Ariel Bender’s
guitar takes the song by the scruff of the neck and rings every ounce of
excitement from it. ‘When I met you’ had originally been released on Luther
Grovesner’s solo album “Under Open Skies” but was dusted down and given
the rock ‘n’ rolls by the band, the album closes with two more rockers and
two more ballads including the heart felt ‘Leave the Kids Alone’.
You may now being thinking “But I thought this stupid dog
said they were a five piece” well thereby hangs a tale: after recording the
album whilst they were rehearsing to take the music to the streets, Ariel Bender
liked moving and giving the audience a show so much it was impossible for him to
hold down all the guitar parts at the same time, so Huw Lloyd-Langton, the
original space daze guitarist from Hawkwind was drafted in to give
‘Widowmaker’ a two pronged lead guitar attack.
Now, twenty-five years after their demise, Castle Music have
put out this two CD collection under the title of ‘Straight Faced Fighters’.
What you get is, on CD One the whole of their debut album then on CD Two you get
a B.B.C. Radio One Live session recorded a couple of weeks after the release of
the first album, at the Paris Studios, London introduced by Whisperin’ Bob
Harris, which really shows the band at their best with the twin lead guitars
really fired up, then the best of the second album, which had been titled ‘Too
Late to Cry’ - very apt.
This collection has greatness stamped all the way through it,
catch it on the rebound.
Musicians
Ariel Bender / Guitars
Huw Lloyd-Langton / Guitars
Paul Nichols / Drums
Bob Daisley /Bass
Steve Ellis / Vocals on 1st album and the Live set
John Butler / Vocals on Too Late to Cry
Songs
Such a Shame
Pin a Rose on Me
On The Road
Straight Faced Fighter
Ain’t Telling You Nothing
When I Met You
Leave The Kids Alone
Shine a Light on Me
Running Free
Got A Dream
Come On Up’ (live)
Such A Shame (live)
Too Late (live)
El Doomo (live)
Ain’t Telling You Nothing (live)
When I met You (live)
From “Too Late To Cry”:
Too Late To Cry
The Hustler
Here Comes The Queen
Something I Can Do Without
Sign The Papers
Pushin’ And Pulling
To contact Mott the Dog email: mottthedog@chiangmai-mail.com
The
Thailand Travel Directory 2003-2004 (ISBN 974-87834-0-5) is out, published by
Info Media and Publication Company. Since Thailand partially exists on tourism,
this looked as if it were a book that would be filling an important niche,
especially for the incoming tourists.