11th July 2025
Heavy metal is the best music to be in to. The genre and the bands in this genre, and those surrounding the genre, have helped to formulate and mould my life, the direction of my life and the lives of the majority of my friends. Metal is a badge of honour. To live your life this way doesn’t mean you have to have your own jukebox in a famous bar on Sunset, or have a statue erected in Dublin or any of that, but you know that you are a fully paid up member to a very special and exclusive club. You live your life with a metal lens influencing your views and decisions and it doesn’t mean we have a weird handshake or any of that, but what ever genre or sub-genre of metal you like, be that black metal, death metal, viking metal, vegan death emo metal we are basically the same and when you see someone wearing a band shirt of a band you know you feel an affinity and instantly have a shared meaning. I have many metal loving friends who have serious jobs, really serious. Harvey, for instance, who was director of a very well-known worldwide anti-virus software company may have had a shirt and tie on but I know he would have been wearing AC/DC socks too.
The other thing lovers of metal have is loyalty and self-belief. We don’t care what other people think of our dress sense, we frankly don’t give a flying s**t. It is humbling to see what Paradise Lost means to our fanbase. We mean something to so many and the longevity of the band is due to that unwavering love and support. If you still want us we will come and we do. I understand we are the band that has played in Greece the most and the welcome and outpouring of love we receive when we tread that ancient land is unreal and repays the bands early efforts to get there. Simply, thank you
So, what has been going on since our video shoot for single number three? Well, we didn’t start very well as due to flight delays beyond our control we couldn’t get to our show in Finland. We tried everything we could do to get there but logistics were against us and we eventually had to admit defeat. This is such a rarity. Only my second ever no-show. So, I had a day in the office and a Saturday morning Body Pump session (amazing for my back) as a bonus. It was great to see my fellow gym buddies after 5 weeks. We are a weird but treasured community. Then we headed to Istanbul. I consider myself well-travelled but I have never had the opportunity to visit Turkey so I was particularly looking forward to going there. I used my long flight to write a diary and contract a cough and cold after a little punk coughed right in my face! It took about 10 hours for the virus to hit me and it took me down instantly like switching on a light.
Our hotel, the Hilton, in Istanbul was really nice. Marble floors, big rooms and walk in showers for us. A personal palace. I like that actually, bit of exuberant comfort while you are away. Everyone has this assumption that touring is glamorous. Planes, trains and stages. Try endless airports, waiting, sleep deprivation and wet wiping. Think on my friends! The bar shut so we found a bar 10 mins away and when we arrived Jon Bon Jovi was wailing away and we knew we were in a place of safety and comfort, one for the ‘metal passport’. Initially we were the only people there before a huge wedding party turned up and then the bands started arriving. People had either played the Headbangers Weekend that day or, like us, were set to play. First, Bleed From Within turned up. I am a big admirer of Bleed From Within’s drummer Aly Richardson. What a player and what a nice guy. One of my engineers at work once asked if I knew the band as his wife used to work with Aly’s dad. When I told him his mind was blown and he was straight on to his father to confirm the story. We chatted for ages about drums. It is great to see how level headed he is and success has not turned him. Also there was Rory, their front of house engineer, who was pretty interesting and Scott, the bands singer, who is absolutely top drawer. Again so level headed, interested in you, not just himself. We talked about families and the road. They loved that Will was out with me. I really hope our paths cross again. Both Scott and Aly put a spring in my step and I hope their deserved success continues.
I was starting to feel a bit peaky so I left for the hotel. As I left, in pops Machine Head’s Robb Flynn. We had a quick chat as he knows my bandmate Mark well from past tours and remembered when Kill II This supported Machine Head and Mark played Davidian on guitar while Robb sang. Will was also reunited with his Tequila buddy Frederick from Kreator. They seemed really pleased to see each other which was great. Fred was telling me how he remembers coming to see Kill II This when we played Biebob in Vosselaar Belgium in 1996 when we played there with Annihilator and Dearly Beheaded. Again what a nice bloke. Metal brings many things. Memories, mates and more. There was a late night for some, including me, coughing and spluttering until 6am. Cheers punk kid!
The Headbangers Weekend was a two day event in a forest – instantly wonders about mosquito devourment which is not a Norwegian metal band it is just a pet hate. Our manager Andy and Jake flew in from the UK for the show. I was on a hired kit as it was a flying show, so you just have to make it work and it did. I was feeling terrible so had a shot of the hard stuff before going on. The gig was actually great. Packed arena, good sound and lights. We were second on the bill below Opeth and during the set I could see Milly, Saso and Walt standing side stage watching. Walt was smiling and nodding which I took as approval and as soon as I left the stage I thanked him for the drum pattern in Ghosts that I had to learn…Cheers!!! We had time for some pictures and a quick chat before we had to leave. I got to say a quick hello to Mike too who I haven’t seen since Paradise Lost toured the UK and Ireland with Opeth in 2006. Mike is pretty funny and I told him how much I enjoyed his stand up comedy show in Manchester a few months earlier.
We had a really early start to our journey home but the direct flight meant we were back in Manchester for lunch time so I could really concentrate on being ill for a few days.
Then it was time to head to Greece to join up with our King Diamond friends again. King had been forced to miss three shows due to illness but he was expecting to be back for this appearance at Rockwave Festival. We arrived so late in to Athens via Paris. It must have been after 4am before we got in to the hotel.
Gig day was extremely hot. Amazing food and hospitality at the show. A huge stage, a big light show. My view from stage was amazing with towering mountains balancing over the bobbing heads of all of our amazing fans who were singing every word. Moving stuff believe you me. Sometimes you just wish you could bottle a vision. I loved meeting back up with Nick, Jari, Moller, Dan and the crew. I also got to have some proper time with Matt, King Diamond’s excellent drummer, who is so unassuming and is such a lovely guy. We worked out that Bergen gave us the opportunity to see each other one more time in July. The King was back and he sounded great!
And that is where I am at, currently flying from Athens to Amsterdam on our way home. I have a long awaited trip to London this Sunday to see ELO’s last ever live show with Rachael but I heard Jeff Lynne had to pull a show in Manchester due to illness, so I am hoping he recovers and the show goes ahead. This is a bucket list moment for me so fingers crossed.
Until next time, thanks for your lovely messages about the diaries. I am glad they are being enjoyed by so many people. It is my little way of giving back, doing something extra, as remember, I am a fan too. So when you see someone in a band logo shirt, give them a knowing nod unless they clearly got the shirt from the high street and clearly have no clue who the band are really. Back listening to my low-fat, urban, gothic doom metal right now.