Girlschool are a British rock band that formed in the new wave of British heavy metal scene in 1970s and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after almost 40 years.

Originally formed in 1975 from a school band called Painted Lady, Girlschool enjoyed strong media exposure and commercial success in the UK in the early 1980s with three albums of “punk-tinged metal” and a few singles.

During their career, Girlschool travelled the world, playing in many rock and metal festivals and co-headlining with important hard rock and heavy metal bands. They maintain a worldwide cult following and are an inspiration for many female rock musicians. Despite frequent changes, original members Kim McAuliffe, Denise Dufort, and long-tenured member Tracey Lamb are still in the band. 

Girlschool are releasing a career spanning anthology in 2022 and working on a new album for release in 2023.

 

The History of Alcatrazz
1983 - 2025
Alcatrazz is a heavy metal band that was formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by Jimmy Waldo, Gary Shea (both formerly of melodic rock band New England) and Graham Bonnet (formerly of Rainbow and Michael Schenker Group). The initial line-up was completed by the addition of young Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, who had recently left American metal band Steeler, and former Iron Butterfly drummer Jan Uvena, who had just recently departed Alice Cooper's backing band. It was Shea that named the band "Alcatrazz"; the misspelling of the famous prison's name deliberate.

The band's debut album, 'No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll' was released in late 1983 on Rocshire Records, MTV providing significant air time for the video of lead single, 'Island in the Sun'. The album spent 18 weeks on the Billboard charts and peaked at No. 128. A second video released in 1984 for 'Hiroshima Mon Amour' also became popular in Japan where the band were awarded a gold record for their debut album.

Rocshire next released 'Live Sentence' in 1984; a concert recording comprising tracks recorded during two shows at the Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo on 28 January, 1984. This album peaked at No. 133 on the US Billboard charts and a live video was also produced.

During this period, the band experienced increasing internal tensions between Malmsteen and Bonnet; the latter, according to Malmsteen, unhappy with the attention drawn to his guitar playing from fans rather than to Bonnet's vocals. Matters came to a head with the two having an altercation on stage after Bonnet allegedly tampered with Malmsteen's amplifiers during a guitar solo at a show in Oklahoma. The resulting argument ended with Malmsteen assaulting Bonnet during the show, then leaving Alcatrazz to forge ahead with his own band named Rising Force, which signed with Polydor Records. In fact, this merely hastened events as Waldo remembers Malmsteen having already decided that he would soon move on to form his own band.

Waldo replaced Malmsteen with former Frank Zappa guitarist Steve Vai, despite resistance from Bonnet, and the band signed with Capitol Records after Rocshire shut down. New material was written and rehearsed with Steve Vai, before a headline tour of Japan was undertaken, which was again filmed for a concert video.

Alcatrazz released its second album 'Disturbing the Peace' in the spring of 1985, produced by Eddie Kramer who had worked with Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Triumph, among others. 'God Blessed Video' was the lead single and video, the album charting for 16 weeks. However, another line-up change was in the wind as Steve Vai left to join David Lee Roth's solo band in 1986. His departure was on excellent terms, as it was an offer that Vai could not refuse. He was replaced by guitarist Danny Johnson, who recorded what became Alcatrazz's final studio album of the 1980s, 'Dangerous Games', released in September 1986. The album included covers of the Animals' song 'It's My Life' and Marbles' song 'Only One Woman' (written by written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees), Bonnet having been a member of Marbles in 1968 when they released this song in the UK. Disheartened by the turnover in band members and a direction drifting into more commercial territory, Alcatrazz split up in 1987.

In 1998, the Renaissance Records label issued the compilation album 'The Best of Alcatrazz' and 'God Blessed Video' appeared in the 2002 videogame soundtrack for 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City', playing on fictional rock station V-Rock.

In the mid 2000's Bonnet formed a completely unsanctioned version of the band as "Alcatrazz featuring Graham Bonnet" with musicians unrelated to the original band.

Finally, in March 2017, three-fifths of the original line-up (Waldo, Shea and Bonnet) reunited for three shows in Japan, with Conrado Pesinato and Mark Benquechea on guitar and drums respectively. The performances were recorded for the live album/DVD 'Parole Denied – Tokyo 2017', which was released on 7 December, 2018. In February 2019 Alcatrazz was finally fully resurrected with guitar virtuoso Joe Stump (formerly of Holy Hell and Reign of Terror) joining to record a new album, which also included contributions from Chris Impellitteri, Bob Kulick, Dario Mollo and Steve Vai. Alcatrazz's first studio album in 34 years, 'Born Innocent', was released on 31 July, 2020, through Silver Lining Music.

Not made public at the time in June 2020 a month before "Born Innocent" was released, Graham Bonnet quit Alcatrazz after privately declaring his dissatisfaction with playing heavy metal; ironically a type of music he feels no genuine affinity for. In his place, the band recruited ex-Rainbow vocalist Doogie White (also previously of Tank and Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock). On 4 June, 2021, the first single from this new incarnation, 'Turn of the Wheel', was released. A second, 'Sword of Deliverance', followed on 23 July before the album 'V' was released on 15 October, 2021, again by Silver Lining Music. A harder-edged sound, the album also features guest contributions from drummer Nigel Glockler (Saxon), bassist Donnie Van Stavern (Riot), and a bass track from Cliff Evans (Tank). Around this time, personal issues forced Mark Benquechea to depart and drummer Larry Paterson (formerly of Chokehold and Blaze Bayley) joined the band as they made their first UK tour in support of the album at the beginning of 2022.

Following a successful European tour, the quintet recorded the band's sixth album 'Take No Prisoners' which was released on 19 May 2023 again through Silver Lining. The lead single 'Don't Get Mad Get Even', featured guest backing vocals from Girlschool and was the first of three video singles. Extensive touring followed. During this period, Gary Shea was obligated to step back from touring duties for personal reasons and was replaced on live bass by English musician Adam Sheppard.

In early 2024, after another successful UK and European tour, White decided to move on from Alcatrazz and was replaced by Giles Lavery, vocalist of power-metallers Dragonsclaw and Warlord. Lavery's Alcatrazz debut was in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 22 March where Alcatrazz began a three week North American tour with Lillian Axe and Girlschool. A second North American tour will take place in June 2024 followed by festival slots in Germany and Sweden. You can also expect another new album from Alcatrazz as soon as the dust settles.

Alcatrazz are currently writing and recording for a 2026 album release, meanwhile "Prior Convictions" an album of classic Alcatrazz songs re-worked (plus two new tracks) is set for release November 7th 2025.

ALCATRAZZ IS:
Giles Lavery - Vocals
Joe Stump - Guitars
Jimmy Waldo - Keys
Gary Shea - Bass

Since it's inception in 1989 Airforce enjoyed much local success with Chop Pitman on guitar, Doug Sampson ex-drummer of Iron Maiden, Sam "Tomcat" Sampson on vocals (formerly of Sam Apple Pie) and Tony Hatton on bass guitar.  This original classic rock band from London names various artists as it's chief influencers, such as Black Sabbath, Van Halen and Judas Priest, amongst others.  Rolf Promel took over from Sam Sampson on vocals and was responsible for a lot of writing for the band and he was also the vocalist in a live recording.  Chop is quoted as saying, “Why Has It Come To This, Fine Line and Melody In Me stick out as examples of his contribution to the band . . . He (Rolf) joined before Keith Haggis and was a big part of Airforce ... great song writer”.  Keith Haggis was added to the line-up as a second lead guitarist.  In 1999 Mick Dietz took over from Doug Sampson on drums until 2001 when the guys disbanded.

Airforce was reborn when Chop took to the stage once again after being introduced to a bass guitarist in 2008 who, due to work commitments, had been out of the music scene for a while.  The ideal mix was found in 2009 after various drummers and vocalists were considered, finally settling on Dee Dyaz for vocals and Ian Jacklin on drums who had enjoyed stints with Slade, Alvin Stardust, Bay City Rollers and had even had chart success with Fiction Factory in the early '80s.  Dee, sadly, had to be replaced after family commitments became a priority.  Sebastian Bolocan took over for a while but Freddy Ball now fronts the newly invigorated Rock band on lead vocals and bass guitar.

They may have had a stuttering re-start but this true addition to British Rock Music now works extremely well together and perform some real rocking tracks.  They are writing new songs as well as revamping old material to a higher production standard.  ALL members of Airforce play a variety of instruments and contribute to new material, musically as well as lyrically.  And as a result their melodies are instantly memorable and bass lines are punchy and driven.  Sticking to the the very core of their early influences, Airforce FLY THE FLAG for the London Rock scene.