”Wardour Street” is the first QUIREBOYS album since the band split in acrimonious circumstances in 2022, and finds frontman Spike joined by fellow founder members Nigel Mogg and Chris Johnstone, with Rudy Richman – who first played with the band in the early 1990s – on drums.
The line up is completed by Thunder guitarist Luke Morley, who also produced the album, providing his unmistakable 6-string style and giving the whole album a superb, organic classic rock sound.
The album is named after Wardour Street, a prominent street in London’s Soho district known for its music venues and historic significance to the UK rock scene.
Featuring a guest vocal appearance from legendary Scottish Frankie Miller, ”Wardour Street” is classy QUIREBOYS plenty of rock’n’roll riffs, bluesy vocals and honky tonk piano. The album release will be followed by a UK tour in November.
Early 2022, frontman Spike was fired from the band, leaving Guy Griffin as lead vocalist. In May 2022, Spike announced his reunion with former Quireboys members Guy Bailey, Chris Johnstone, Rudy Richman and Nigel Mogg.
Spike still retained the Quireboys band name, with the other half of the acrimonious split announcing a name change to the Black Eyed Sons for a debut album entitled Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits. It’ll arrive via Off Yer Rocka Recordings on January 2025. The revised moniker is a nod to the 2014 Quireboys album of the same name.
On 9 December 2022, the ‘new’ Quireboys released a two-track single, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”, in support of Care After Combat, a charity for British combat veterans, while the album’s lead single, “Jeeze Louise”, was released on 31 October 2023.
The release of ”Wardour Street” was originally announced for spring coinciding with a UK tour in May 2024, with guitarist Luke Morley from Thunder performing in place of Guy Bailey, who had died in April 2023. However, the band decided to push back the release, now being available in various formats.
”Wardour Street” is the product of these turbulent, yet productive, times. To say a lot rests on the album is an understatement, Spike needing to show he may have been down but never out and with the addition of Thunder’s Luke Morley to the gang, the release isn’t short of firepower.
Boasting eleven tracks, ”Wardour Street” is exactly what you expect it to be and this raw edged rock ‘n’ roll that manages to throw in a few other elements to mix up the pot. The playing throughout is excellent, with Morley being a particularly sterling choice to replace their fallen brother and everyone participates with commitment.
The Quireboys have never made a bad record, then this is still one of their best. More than that, “Wardour Street” is one of the absolute best rock n’ roll records of 2024.
Highly Recommended
1. "Jeeze Louise"
2. "Raining Whiskey" (feat. Frankie Miller)
3. "You and I"
4. "I Think I Got It Wrong"
5. "Myrtle Beach"
6. "Happy"
7. "No Honour Amongst Thieves"
8. "Howlin' Wolf"
9. "Ain't Over Now"
10. "Like It or Not"
11. "Wardour Street"
Quireboys – Wardour Street (2024), MP3+FLAC
 |
