Coming Soon…
Licenced To Rock: The Battleaxe Story
100 page CD-sized with free dvd of archive footage of the band in concert.
Written by the author of the acclaimed biography, In The Court of King Crimson, Sid Smith tells the story of one the great underdogs of the British heavy metal scene.
Based on many hours of interview with lead singer Dave King, Licensed To Rock is a no holds barred account of the band from there early days rocking out in church halls to their travelling the country in the Battleaxe bus playing on bills with bands such as Saxon.
Covering the inside story of Burn This Town and Power From the Universe, and beyond, the book talks frankly about:
How an unlikely combination of Bon Scott and Roger Whitaker both helped the band get started
Fear and loathing in Spennymoor
What they said to Metallica after being asked to share the stage with the US thrash merchants
How the band secured their record deal
Why the band sacked original drummer, Ian Thompson
Recording for Tommy Vance’s Friday Night Rock Show
The story of how their two albums were recorded with track by track assessments and comments from Dave King
Recording their third unreleased album, Metal Edge
Sex, drugs, rock n’ roll and baked beans – the true story of what really went on in the mighty Battleaxe Battle Bus.
And much, much more.
With fresh interview and commentary from Dave King as well as using archive material, some of it published for the first time, Licensed To Rock is a must-have for any true fan of this legendary heavy metal band.
The 100 page, CD sized book (designed to fit neatly next to your Battleaxe CDs) will also feature a free pc compatible dvd of the band playing an open air gig that the police couldn’t stop!
Dave King (left) and Sid Smith (right).
Sid Smith is a freelance writer providing sleeve notes for artists such as King Crimson, Keith Tippett, Talk Talk, Centrozoon as well as an acclaimed biography of King Crimson. Sid has also written a series of articles on north eastern musicians such as Sting, David Coverdale, Bryan Ferry and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson to be published in 2005.
You can read about his progress on the Battleaxe project by checking
out his on-line diary
http://www.krimson-news.com/kcnndiaries/SidSmith.shtml
Press comments for Sid Smith’s In The Court of King Crimson.
“…the King Crimson story deserves to be told, and Smith has done a thorough job." Uncut
“Fans of King Crimson will love the obsessive detail within the book . . . The result is an intriguing, respectful, fact-full tome.” Classic Rock
“Smith has done the job definitively and made it highly readable.” The Wire
“Sid Smith's King Crimson history grips from beginning to end.” Record Buyer
“In The Court Of King Crimson is an excellent read. Smith has managed
to prevent his obvious fandom from stepping in the way of distance and
objectivity.” Record Collector