On 1st December 2017 this blog has a full interview with Glenn where he talks about his early years as a musician in the North East.
Guitarist for Tyneside metal band’s Avenger, Blitzkreig, Fist, Tygers of Pan Tang and playing European festivals like Headbangers Open Air, Heavy Metal Night and Keep It True.
As I’m in the process of tracking down former members of the Tygers I got back in touch with Glenn, and we arranged to meet and talk about his time in the band….
In ‘97 I re-joined Blitzkrieg. They were already heavily involved with Jess Cox (former Tygers vocalist) through the Neat Metal record label in Wallsend.
Jess was co-managing the band and arranged for Blitzkrieg to appear on the ‘99 March Metal Meltdown festival at Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA. Excellent bands like Sweet Savage, Vicious Rumours, Sepultura, Overkill, Biohazard and Anvil were on the bill.
On the flight over to Philadelphia I was talking to Jess, and he mentioned that he had been trying to organise getting the original Tygers back together. He also wanted John Sykes involved. Robb Weir was in but in the end, Sykes turned it down.
Also, the original drummer and bassist didn’t want to do it. I seem to remember they had genuine personal reasons not to join.
Jess just said to me Do you fancy having a go? I was to take on John Sykes role. I said yes! He also persuaded the then Blitzkrieg bassist Gav Gray to take on the bass role. Gav brought his good friend Chris Percy in on drum’s.
When we got back from the USA. I got a call from Robb asking for us to get together for a jam. Essentially checking me out (laughs). I tried to impress him with a few Eddie Van Halen licks (laughs). It went well. Rob said ‘yes it’ll work let’s go for it’. Thank you, Mr Halen.
I loved the Wildcat album back in the day and still think it was one of the best NWOBHM albums. In those days the Tygers were held in high regard and were tipped to be huge.
I was so happy and excited to be doing this. So much so I served my notice with Blitzkrieg in ’99 and left them to concentrate on the Tygers that same year.
Where did you rehearse?
We started rehearsing in a place under the Byker Bridge near Newcastle. We were booked on the bill for The Wacken Festival in Germany in August ’99, so rehearsals were for that gig during the Summer. I have good memories of those rehearsals.
We then found out we were playing the Friday night but were surprised that not only was it a headlining slot, but above Saxon! I still don’t know why that happened it must have been a mistake or Saxon must have wanted to get away earlier.
What are your memories from that gig?
They used a rotating stage mainly to get the drum kit’s ready for the next band. We were ready at the back watching Saxon who were mind blowing. I was thinking we have to follow that!
To say my bowels were loose would be an understatement (laughs). But it was a great gig, we went down well and got a lot of favourable reviews for our set.
I remember the intro that Jess wanted to play I think it was The Planets by Holst. We went on, played a few bars but the lights weren’t on. The lighting guy was fast asleep. Snoring his bracket off.
Now this was a major festival with Saxon and Dokken on the bill. We were told the audience was nearly 20,000. There was certainly a sea of faces that’s for sure. Robb Weir just ran straight over to the lighting guy and kicked him in the bollocks. Bang, wake up (laughs).
For stage clothes Me, Robb, Gav and Chris were wearing nothing flash just like jeans and t-shirt you know. But Jess decided to wear a cheese cloth suit! I asked him why and he said he liked to change the rules. It made him look like Jesus. It wasn’t an ironic piss take either. Just weird.
I’ve done thousands of gigs in different countries. Small and massive crowds but that was one of the highlights of my career. Headlining, getting that kind of attention, it can be mind blowing. Then you get back home and back to reality.
Your mates say ‘Have you had a canny weekend then? Me: Aye just played in front of 20,000 people with the Tygers of Pan Tang in one of the biggest festivals in Europe’. Not everyone actually believed me. (laughs).
You weren’t a rockstar then?
No (laughs) there’s a whole myth around that in my opinion. There’s an expectation to be throwing a TV out the window, shagging groupies and snorting ants or other stuff up your nose.
But the truth is that is only a small minority of bands who do that and get away with it. To be a musician in a rock band is more me.
When I’ve played Festivals which ever country I am in and your meeting, talking to fans who bring cd’s and your signing stuff for them, that is the best part. They are showing their love and respect for the songs you wrote and recorded. It’s amazing.
I’ve seen people doing the rock star thing. Maybe that’s just their extreme personalities or it’s done for sensationalism. That’s up to them and I don’t criticize them for it. I like socialising and having a really good time, but I’ve never snorted ants or thrown a tv out of a window (laughs).
I’ve just watched The Dirt movie about Motley Crue, was it all true? Did it give a musical background? and who were Mick Mars guitarist influences etc? No one really knows. There was no depth to it.
As I’ve said a lot of this type of thing is done for sensationalism and to perpetuate the rock star myth. It sells.
Did you record with the Tygers?
The Wacken show was recorded. Jess took the tapes back to Neat studio and we redone just a few bits. Jess arranged all of that via his label. That was licensed out to Spitfire Records and released in 2001. Basically the full set from Wacken gig.
We did have a few new song ideas for a new album, but nothing materialised from those sessions. I would have liked to have put some new stuff out.
But it wasn’t long after that Robb decided not to take this version of the Tygers forward and leave behind the Jess Cox version. Much like he did when Deverill took over I suppose.
How long were you in the Tygers?
Not long (laughs). About a year, I think. The initial discussion between Robb and Jess was for there to be another album like the Wildcat era but it didn’t pan out.
Looking back there wasn’t anything negative around the band and certainly no animosity that I was aware of.
My only thinking is it just didn’t feel right for Robb. Maybe he would have liked the original members in the band. I’m not sure, better to ask him. I always got on well with Robb and for me he always had the right vision for the Tygers and I respect that.
I think Jess worked on a few other projects after that. He contacted me and talked about another Wildcat type project but by that point I wasn’t interested as had other projects on the go and it all seemed a bit late.
What do you think of the Tygers now?
Since Robb created that new line up, I think he has done a cracking job. They have been solid with some great musicians in the band.
Before they went from the Wildcat era into the Deverill and Sykes period, Robb talked of needing something special to move the Tygers on and he was honest with that.
Sykes and Deverill certainly added that extra ingredient. Deverill was a great vocalist and frontman. I think Robb did the same the second time around post Jess Cox. They have brought out some impressive albums.
I joined other NWOBHM heroes Fist as frontman/guitarist in 2013 and I stayed with them for over four years. We played a show with the Tygers and Avenger at The Cluny in Newcastle. I stopped and watched the initial part of their set and was gobsmacked at how great they are. An amazing band.
Looking back can you walk through that Wacken Festival Day?
I can pick out the whole Tygers period. Good memories of rehearsing together then travelling over to Germany. The night before the gig me Gav and Chris went out on the town and were drinking with the locals, they were amazing and found them really friendly.
We got a taxi back to the hotel and Gav and Chris went to bed and I stayed up for a tab (cigarette) as I smoked in those days. I sat outside the hotel and a guy got out of a taxi who I recognised but wasn’t sure as it was around midnight and dark.
He walked up to me and said in an American accent ‘Hey man do you mind if I sit down, are you going to the festival?’
I then realised he was one of my heroes, Don Dokken. We sat and chatted for hours. We talked about everything. Family, where we lived. We talked about music, guitars etc. He was a really cool guy.
Next day we bumped into each other backstage ‘How ya’ doin’ Glenn’. You know it was another highlight from the gig meeting him. Me, Gav and Chris were really happy to do it. Jess had his spotlight. Robb done his thing. Yes happy times. Fantastic memories.
Interview by Gary Alikivi April 2019.
Recommended:
Steve Lamb March 25th 2019.
Jon Deverill Jan 22nd 2019.
Micky McCrystal Mar 17th 2017 & Jan 3rd 2019.
Fred Purser Dec 30th 2018.
Robb Weir Nov 5th 2017 & Dec 19th 2019.
Richard ‘Rocky’ Laws Aug 24th 2017.
Tygers of Pan Tang in Gaurdian Studio May 3rd 2018.
Steve Thompson June 27th 2017.
ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE 