Barry band reunite for gig 30 years later

Welsh New Wave of British Heavy Metal pioneers (NWOBHM) StormQueen heroes promise to raise the roof as they reunite for Brofest.

StormQueen, whose BBC recordings, made in 1979, are credited with being amongst the earliest and finest of the genre, will line up for a full reunion at the final session of the three-day, third annual Brofest Classic Rock and Metal weekend in Newcastle.

The Welsh metal outfit, aptly cranking it up at Brofest on St David’s Day, have been away for three decades but sound to be in mighty form, promising a set designed to rock the foundations of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, even from the far reaches of the North East venue.

Guitarist Dave Morse said: “We've brought the original StormQueen back together; this is no journeyman line-up. The clamour for a reunion has gone on for 30 years - and we've never done it. Now, with interest from Germany, Japan and of course, Brofest - well, it's finally persuaded us to make the reunion a reality.”

The group formed in Barry in 1979 and split in 1985.

The gig will coincide with the release on German Metal label High Roller Records, of Raising the Roof - The Definitive StormQueen anthology, made available in a very collectable vinyl edition with a replica of the original, highly-sought-after 7" single Come Silent The World as well as CD version.

“Getting together at Cardiff's Music Box studios for rehearsals was the clincher,” said bass player Bryn Merrick, who spent six years with punk legends The Damned.

“Everybody has continued playing to a very high standard - it sounded f***ing amazing from the very first song.”

The band’s line-up features Dave Morse and Neil Baker on guitar, Boofy on drums,

Chris Glyn-Jones and Paul Burnett on vocals and Bryn Merryck on bass.

StormQueen play Brofest on Sunday, March 1 (onstage 6.20pm) at the Student’s Union of Northumbria University, in the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

The event starts on Friday, February 27, with doors opening at 5pm.