In a rare break from his day job as the bass player with Status Quo, John Rhino'Edwards releases his second solo album, Rhino's Revenge II, on October 30. Rhino's Revenge II (Molano Music), is an energetic and diverse album that celebrates music and comes 15 years after the band's debut album. 'By any standards, that's a long time between albums' says Rhino, 'but when you're fortunate enough to be in a band like Quo, you don't get too much spare time!'Having previously been a member of acts including The Climax Blues Band, Space and Dexy's Midnight Runners, Rhino was invited to join Quo in 1987 and has been permanent in the line-up ever since.
Rhino's Revenge lI was recorded in '11 days of pure magic'at The Chapel studios near Louth in Lincolnshire with his sons Max on drums and Freddie on guitar, and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Starritt. 'We went flat out, so we didn't have time to get precious about anything,' Rhino explains. "I play Rhino Rock, Thug Rock, Animal Rock, Heavy Rock, Pop Rock, but with the main focus on the lyrics and the songs. It's rabble-rousing rock n roll.' Production duties were carried out by Mike Paxman (Judie Tzuke, Status Quo, Uriah Heep, Asia).
Rhino's Revenge II is an aural treat, no calculated image or reliance on nostalgia: instead Rhino and the band have created an atmosphere based around strong material and succeed in immersing listeners into the ambiance they have made. The album is the perfect manifestation of John Rhino'Edwards'immutable wit, sadness, quiet anger and charm.
The cathartic Tomorrow Is Today', which opens Rhino's Revenge II, was written about giving up drugs. A brace of keenly observed songs about the vacuous aspects of modern life follow; Famous'is a damning indictment 'about people who think that that's all there really is to life', while New New New'lambasts our obsession with consumerism.
Rhino Edwards'articulate and wickedly humorous lyrics permeate throughout the album on the ironic 'All The Girls Love A Bastard' along with powerful rockers like Secretary'and Cougar and the whimsical ode to man's best friend Stan. While One Note Blues creates a 'new dance craze.'
This quintessentially English album closes with the powerful pairing of Black Widows and Take Em Down. The sociopolitical Black Widows about Chechen suicide bombers contains the prophetic line "what's over there is coming over here' and the bass driven Take Em Down, is a very serious song with B-movie overtones.
There's something indefinable but very special about Rhino's Revenge I. Something that makes it irresistible. Rhino Edwards, a confessed musicoholic, has created a truly honest album which kicks like a mule', a rare commodity in today's world.
Rhino's Revenge will be playing their own shows to promote the album and also supporting Hayseed Dixie on 5 of their tour dates this October:
UK Tour Dates, 2015:
October 20 - Tuesday - Bury St. Edmunds, England - The Apex
October 22 - Thursday - Southampton, England - The Brook
October 23 - Friday - London, England - O2 Brooklyn Bowl
October 24 - Saturday - Frome, England - The Cheese & Grain
October 25 - Sunday - Tunbridge Wells, England - Assembly Hall
Rhino's Revenge UK Tour, February 2016:
February 11 - Thursday - London, England - 229 Venue**
February 12 - Friday - Southampton - 1865*
February 13 - Saturday - Bristol - The Tunnels**
February 14 - Sunday - Cardiff - The Globe**
February 16 - Tuesday - York - Fibbers**
February 17 - Wednesday - Manchester - Academy 3**
February 18 - Thursday - Kendal - Bootleggers Bar**
February 19 - Friday - Liverpool - O2 Academy 2
February 20 - Saturday - Wolverhampton - Slade Rooms*
(Supported by Eddie & The Hot Rods** and Nine Below Zero*).
Rhino's Revenge European Tour, February 2016:
February 26 - Friday - Duisburg, Germany - Das Parkhaus
February 27 - Saturday - Frieschepalen, Netherlands - Ma Kelly's
Rhino's Revenge is:John 'Rhino' Edwards: Vocals, Bass / Freddie Edwards: Lead Guitar / Max Edwards: Drums / Matthew Starritt: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Harp
Tracklisting:
Tomorrow Is Today
Famous; New New New
All the Girls Love A Bastard
Powerplay
Secretary
Cougar
My Name Is Stan
Busy Doing Nothin'
One Note Blues
Black Widows
Take Em Down
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