MR’s Best And Worst Of 2016

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The best and worst of 2016 and what to look forward to in 2017…

Compiled and collated by Paul Quinton

When we put this list together at the end of 2015, the rock world was overshadowed by the death of Lemmy, just after Christmas. The loss of such an iconic figure was bad enough, but surely none could have foreseen the wave of losses that 2016 brought us, from rock, pop, film, TV, so many people who lit the world with their talent. Even as we were putting this together over Christmas came the news of the death of Quo’s Rick Parfitt, George Michael, Liz Smith from the Royle Family, Richard Adams, who wrote ‘Watership Down’ and finally Princess Leia herself, Carrie Fisher, lost at a tragically early age.

Some of our individual writers have mentioned some of these losses in their own pieces, but as a whole, I would like to respectfully and sadly dedicate this article to all those artists, writers and performers who’ve left us this year: Bowie, Prince, Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, Rick Parfitt, Carrie Fisher, Victoria Wood, Ronnie Corbett, Leonard Cohen, Paul Daniels, Jimmy Perry, Andrew Sachs, Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Jimmy Bain, Leon Russell, Muhammed Ali, Caroline Aherne, Glenn Frey and so many others, who touched our lives in their own way, but whose legacy will live on and on.

So, who liked what in 2016?

Big Jaf (Atom Heart Mutha)

the-cult-of-dom-keller-goodbye-to-the-light5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

5 BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES

  • Hookworms – Manchester Albert Hall
  • Pixies – Birmingham Academy
  • Fat White Family – Birmingham Institute
  • Goat – Manchester Albert Hall
  • Cult of Dom Keller – Birmingham Hare and Hounds

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Blackash

3 MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

  • David Bowies Blackstar vinyl having hidden surpirises, some yet to be discovered even now
  • Asteroid return after a 6 year break
  • Anthrax announce 2017 UK tour of Among the Living in full

3 MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

  • The realisation that our heroes aren’t immortal after all… Bowie and Lemmy in particular
  • AXL / DC
  • Watching RHCP at Reading completely disregard anything Pre-BSSM… Nothing off Mothers Milk… Really?!

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • Blackash
  • Black Asteroids
  • Eradikator

Stephen Brophy

Death Angel – The Evil Divide5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

5 BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES OF 2016

  • Twisted Sister – Bloodstock, Derby – Aug 2016
  • Metallica – House OF Vans, London – Nov 2016
  • Dan Reed Network – HRH AOR, Pwllheli – Mar 2016
  • Sumer – Bloodstock, Derby – Aug 2016
  • Queensryche – Corporation, Sheffield – Aug 2016

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Stone Broken

3 MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Watching a Masterclass in stagecraft from Dee Snider and Twisted Sister at Bloodstock.
  • Still being able to appreciate worthwhile new albums from old favourite bands.
  • Although I still think some of it is fad, the resurgence in vinyl album sales has to be something to be welcomed.

3 MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2016

  • It can’t be avoided – we’ve lost a lot of legends over the last 12 months, and sadly that trend is set to continue.
  • The worry that large Festivals have run out of viable Headline Acts, announcing a yearly rotation or repeats.
  • The sheer quantity of releases leads to quality albums disappearing into the ether.

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • I may say it every year, but the 2017 Bloodstock lineup really does look like it’s been created for me, finally Possessed.
  • The emergence and progression of young talent in almost every Genre, some cracking new bands out there.
  • More great albums to listen to, we are despite being in difficult times, lucky enough to be in a really good and creative period for Rock/Metal.

Paul Castles

Cult-of-Luna-and-Julie-Christmas-Mariner5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

5 BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES OF 2016

  • Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas – Damnation Fest, Leeds University
  • OHHMS – The Rainbow, Birmingham
  • Yob – Mama Roux’s, Birmingham
  • Behemoth – Bloodstock
  • SubRosa – The Rainbow

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Kroh

3 MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • The addition of Mama Roux’s to Birmingham’s underground venue circuit
  • Surprise You’re Dead Promotions for bringing a steady stream of fantastic bands to play in Birmingham
  • Opening of Lemmy’s Bar at Bloodstock

3 MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Incredibly sad passing of the beautiful Trees of Eternity singer, Aleah Starbridge
  • The break-up of The Wounded Kings
  • Metal Hammer magazine closing

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • Seeing the new look Civic/Wulfrun in Wolverhampton
  • New album from Midlands doom legends Alunah
  • Any new material from Drudkh

Claire Frays

SIXX A.M. - Vol.2 Prayers For The Blessed5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

5 BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES OF 2016

  • Avantasia – The Forum, London
  • Machine Head – Rock City, Nottingham
  • Trivium – O2 Academy, Leicester
  • Alter Bridge – Genting Arena, Birmingham
  • Sixx:AM – Download Festival 2016, Donington Park

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Awake By Design

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Download Festival 2016 – fantastic as ever!
  • Seeing Avantasia perform for 3hrs with Michael Kiske (!) and a tonne of other guests in London – one of the greatest shows I have ever seen.

3 MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Ivan Moody leaving the 5FDP U.S Tour – hope he gets well soon. Fantastic frontman.
  • Fabio Lione leaving Rhapsody of Fire – fangirls everywhere are still crying.
  • The many rock / metal icons we have lost this year – RIP

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • Download Festival 2017 – the line-up is looking incredible so far!
  • Bloodstock Open Air 2017
  • The many tours that have already been announced – looks like it’s going to be another great year on a gig front! :-)

Jason Guest

vodun-possessed5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

5 BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES OF 2016

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Kroh

3 MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Seeing Bill Huggins stage dive at Anaal Nathrakh @ Hare & Hounds, 4 September 2016
  • News that Mike Patton joining Dead Cross (featuring Dave Lombardo, Justin Pearson, Michael Crain)
  • Dave Lombardo joining Suicidal Tendencies

3 MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2016

  • The Dillinger Escape Plan announcing they will split up in 2017
  • Wodensthrone splitting up
  • Metallica – Hardwired… To Self Destruct

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • Ghost playing Birmingham on 1 April 2017
  • Anthrax playing Birmingham on 8 February 2017
  • Dead Cross’s album

Brian McGowan

kiama3505 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

Allan Jones

Pearl Handled Revolver Front Cover5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

(and dammit, that was hard…  I started with a list of ten!)

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Doomsday Outlaw/Stone Broken – really can’t separate these two this year; they were both only *just* outside my top 5 albums of the year (but CJ Wildheart and Mortiis didn’t make it, either, so no need tofeel bad on that score!).

3 MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Taking my mother-in-law to her first ever rock gig in her sixties – Nickelback, supported by Monster Truck – and hearing her say afterward that she felt ‘welcome’ and ‘like she belonged’
  • My eldest daughter’s first steps toward playing guitar – Jingle Bells this year, Stairway next ;)
  • Resurrecting my very first proper electric guitar again – new pickups, fully rewired, set it up myself, and it now plays like a fecking demon.

3 MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Death, you’re a scumbag – but taking Lemmy at the end of the previous year just so the poor sod gets overlooked yet again really sucked.
  • The second part of Operation:Mindcrime’s three-part concept album about the international banking crisis. Musiccrime, more like.
  • Still no new album from Goldray. C’mon, guys!

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • An album from Goldray, finally. Or else.
  • Iron Maiden on tour – and I’m taking my dad to see them for his first time!
  • More new bands to discover – just like every year!

Dean Pedley

whiskey-myers-mud5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

5 BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES OF 2016

  • Rainbow @ Genting Arena
  • Whiskey Myers @ The Institute
  • The Cadillac Three @ The Academy
  • Springsteen @ The Ricoh
  • ZZ Top @ The Academy

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Broken Witt Rebels

3 MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Some positive action against secondary ticketing (although still nowhere near enough)
  • Midlands venues survive another year
  • Whiskey Myers finally played the UK

3 MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Quo carrying on without Rick Parfitt (R.I.P.)
  • Loss of so many great musicians
  • Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • More gigs from Rainbow
  • Tom Petty @ Hyde Park
  • Anderson / Rabin / Wakeman tour

Paul Quinton

delain-moonbathers5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

  • Delain – Moonbathers
  • Overland – Contagious
  • Tyketto – Reach
  • Heather Findlay Band – I Am Snow
  • Riverside – Eye Of The Soundscape

5 BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES OF 2016

  • Bruce Springsteen at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry
  • Anathema at Leamington Assembly
  • Lazuli at The Robin in Bilston
  • Danny Vaughn and Dan Reed at Yardbirds, Grimsby
  • Heart and FM at Birmingham Symphony Hall.

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Diamond Head

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • That it was so hard to cut my list of gigs down to 5. There’s been some brilliant live music this year.
  • Heart coming back to the UK for a short tour, and having the mighty FM as support. Two of the very best singers in rock on the same bill.
  • Ditto the Dan Reed/Danny Vaughn Snake Oil and Harmony tour. A different set list every night, some brilliantly sung and so many laughs

MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Ticket prices for bigger gigs have started to enter the realm of the surreal. A top price of nearly a hundred and fifty quid to see whichever version of Guns and Roses plays London next year is beyond satire.
  • The apparent opinion, seemingly becoming more common, that playing outside London will cause you to catch some kind of communicable disease. The latest culprits include Threshold, Epica, Big Big Train, and far, far too many others. Similarly those bands who don’t schedule any Midlands dates on so called UK tours. This is the Home of Metal, after all.
  • Right at the back end of the year, the announcement that the Teamrock organisation had gone into Receivership, putting so many people out of work and endangering the future of Classic Rock, Prog and Metal Hammer magazines. Whatever the faults of the individual magazines they were so important in giving bands publicity and exposure. Best wishes to all those who’ve lost their jobs, and the best possible luck to those who are seeking new backing for a relaunch.

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • That Government legislation outlawing the use of ticket buying bots and clamping down on ticket touts becomes law in 2017. Every rock fan should do their bit, write to your MP, share the many Facebook posts, and we can make this happen.
  • That the Grim Reaper takes 2017 off, and enjoys it so much, he takes several more off as well.
  • That R40 wasn’t really the end.

Ian Savage

Scott Sorry – When We Were Kings5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Skam

3 MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Reformation of the ‘classic’ Wildhearts lineup. One for the die-hards, but given how much these guys have been through it’s great to have them performing together again.
  • Independent festivals making headway into the rip-off mainstream Download / Glastonbury / Reading market. Up and down the UK I’ve heard of (rather than experienced, sadly) packed-out venues for two or three days at a time supporting self-funded bands. And that is AWESOME.
  • Scott Sorry finding his voice. I know I’ve shouted this album from the rooftops already, but it’s genuinely become my ‘go-to’ rock album when ‘Born To Run’ isn’t quite right for the mood. It’s that good.

3 MUSICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Team Rock going under – yes, ill-thought-out business model but surely nobody enjoys the last-but-one remaining mainstream hardcopy rock mags disappearing.
  • All the deaths – particularly Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Prince and Greg Lake. None typical MR fodder, but mostly active pretty much to the end and utterly inspirational.
  • I don’t retain information about negatives if I can avoid it. Except that god-awful ‘rap’ sunglasses-wearing baseball-cap-topped twat who was on one of those talent shows which somehow made it as far as Spanish news (as a ‘look at this shit from England’ piece, incidentally)…that can be set fire to in a wheelie bin.

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • That reformed Wildhearts lineup touring more (rescheduled gigs after illness on the 2016 tour)…which might even lead to an album? Here’s hoping….
  • Rock fans continuing to unite against the racism and homophobia that 2016 seems to have unleashed. We’ve always been bigger and better than this, and we’ll continue to be.
  • All of the musicians who aren’t dead yet carrying the torch and making amazing music to enhance our lives. Sepultura, Dropkick Murphys, Grave Digger, AFI, Steel Panther, Brian Eno, Black Star Riders, Marilyn Manson, Overkill…and that’s just label albums slated for release before March. Multiply by a hundred for the independent guys doing it through crowdfunding…the music’s there if you want it. Don’t EVER complain that rock ‘n’ roll is dead; we are rock ‘n’ roll, if we’re here for it.

Rich Ward

Blues Pills - Lady In Gold5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2016

BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES OF 2016

  • Richie Blackmore’s Rainbow at the Genting Arena
  • ZZ Top – Birmingham O2 Academy
  • Dave Gilmour – Royal Albert Hall
  • Diamond Head – The Robin, Bilston
  • Whiskey Myers – The O2 Institute, Birmingham

MIDLANDS BAND OF THE YEAR

  • Vicious Nature

3 MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

  • Richie Blackmore puts down his lute and picks up his Strat again for an impressive rock show at Genting Arena
  • Jeff Lynne makes a rare return to Birmingham for a superb show.
  • The rise of intimate, well-run independent venues where you can see top acts and have a great drink. I plan on spending more time in 2017 at the Iron Road in Evesham & Worleys The Swan in Stourport on Severn.

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017

  • Black Sabbath final shows
  • An unprecedented amount of gigs already lined up for both heritage acts and younger bands, 2017 looks very promising on the live front.
  • Deep Purple’s Infinite album

There you go. Agree? Disagree? Let us know below, but be nice, please…