Rock On! Wednesday, 11 June 2025 – May Blitz, Jade Warrior, Lucifer’s Friend, Warhorse & Cream

Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Dan’s pick of the week: May Blitz (May Blitz), Jade Warrior (Jade Warrior), Lucifer’s Friend (I’m Just A Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer), Warhorse (Warhorse) & Cream (Wheels of Fire).

De groep werd in 1969 gevormd door bassist Terry Poole en drummer Keith Baker, de ritmesectie van het bluesrocktrio Bakerloo, die beiden de groep verlieten toen gitarist Clem Clempson vertrok om zich bij Colosseum aan te sluiten. Jamie Black voegde zich bij de groep op zang en gitaar, maar zowel Poole als Baker verlieten de groep voor de opnames. Poole en Baker voegden zich respectievelijk bij Vinegar Joe en Uriah Heep. Black voegde vervolgens mede-Canadees Reid Hudson toe op bas en Tony Newman, die met Jeff Beck, The Hollies en Sounds Incorporated had gespeeld, op drums.

Prog Archives review: “May Blitz was a not-so-average 3-piece, harder-edged band, simply consisting of a marvellous Guitarist in James Black, and a solid ‘backbone’ of Bassist Reid Hudson and Drummer/Percussionist Tony Newman. All musicians display a quite adventurous zeal on their respective instruments and their creativeness holds no boundaries to their song- writing. (…)

The opening piece, the 8 min+ ‘Smoking The Day Away’ makes me wish I was (ho ho). It’s a totally blowing piece of guitar-heavy music, superb riffs, great singing (in a Jack Bruce kinda way) with the rhythm section supplying a constantly changing backdrop for Mr Black to demonstrate his chops – indeed, the middle section displays some of the finest acoustic-guitar playing I’ve heard for a long time. The album also shows off some early-morning ‘descending mood’ moments (as I recall them…..) with ‘Tomorrow May Come’ and ‘Virgin Waters’, which are great mellow-out tracks. ‘Squeet’ is very impressive, too – Reid Hudson absolutely cooks on the Bass-Guitar. I’m inclined to give this fantastic album a 5, but I’m aware that many folks will find its contents less than enthralling – so, a strong 4.5 stars feels adequate – not really a weak moment throughout. Please discover this under-rated gem.”

Wednesday, 11 June 2025 12:00 noon CET Brussels – 11 a.m. GMT London. Repeated: 16:00 & 20:00 hrs CET Brussels, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. GMT London
Ends: 12 midnight CET Brussels, 11 p.m. GMT London.