The summer of 2016 is the time to fall in love all over again as The Quireboys rediscover their passion for quintessential British rock and roll.
Produced by The Quireboys and Martin Ekelund, the new full length "Twisted Love" lays bare a collective desire to win the hearts and minds of long-time fans and secret admirers alike. It's the sound of six musicians bound by the past and excited by the future. Unashamedly loud and justifiably proud, "Twisted Love" celebrates a legacy and adds to a legend.
The band's 10[sup]th[/sup] studio album marks a welcome return to a time when the Quireboys rocked – and rocked hard. "There are no ballads this time", confesses front-man Spike, "I approached the songwriting from a different angle and it felt good. There's a lot of passion there." A bullish reworking of crowd favourites "Gracie B" reinforces the point. More akin to the thumping live version beloved of fans far and wide, it's dominated by the driving guitars of Paul Guerin and fellow six-stringer Guy Griffin.
Title track "Twisted Love" – released as the lead single – sees Griffin, Guerin and front-man Spike join forces to deliver one of the darkest Quireboys anthems to date. Featuring the sultry backing vocals of blues-rock chanteuse Lynne Jackamann, it's a song that shimmers from start to finish. But highlights are everywhere on this bold record: "Ghost Train" takes the listener on a bluesy, Hammond-sound-tracked journey to the band's classic era, while the rock and soul of slow-brooding set closer "MidnightCollective" is simply sublime.
Once again the stark Swedish town of Klippan provided the perfect bolt hole for a band focused on following up 2015's critically acclaimed St Cecilia And The Gypsy Soul with an equally compelling – yet creatively distinct – Quireboys record. "We locked ourselves away again and worked our arses off," said Guerin. "We perform well under pressure. And I have to give immense credit to Spike – the lyrics on "Twisted Love" are some of his best ever."
Enjoying a richly deserved renaissance, The Quireboys continue to tour extensively and write records that will stand the test of time. With a line-up that's built to last – Keith Weir (keyboards), Nick Mailing (bass) and Dave McCluskey (drums) complementing Spike, Griffin and Guerin – the days of proving their critics wrong are long gone. "We used to worry about what everyone else used to say," said Griffin. "Now we don't waste time on those people who still don't get what we're all about. Our time is too precious and its time to be positive."
Twisted Love is released via Off Yer Rocka Recordings on 2[sup]nd[/sup] September 2016.
UK 2016 Tour Dates:
Thu 15[sup]th[/sup] September Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms
Fri 16[sup]th[/sup] September Swansea, The Scene
Sat 17[sup]th[/sup] September Stockton on Tees, KU
Sun 18[sup]th[/sup] September Paisley, The Bungalow
Wed 7[sup]th[/sup] December Zephyr Lounge, Leamington
Thu 8[sup]th[/sup] December Live Rooms, Chester
Fri 9[sup]th[/sup] December The Station, Cannock,
Sat 10[sup]th[/sup] December Corporation, Sheffield
Sun 11[sup]th[/sup] December Borderline, London
Tue 13[sup]th[/sup] December The Musician, Leicester
Wed 14[sup]th[/sup] December The Tolbooth, Stirling
Thu 15[sup]th[/sup] December Bannermans, Edinburgh
Fri 16[sup]th[/sup] December Think Tank, Newcastle
Sat 17[sup]th[/sup] December Rushden Athletic Club, Rushden
