BRIGHTON ROCK: Brighton Rock 12″ EP self-titled PROMO EP Flying Fist Records with unreleased songs. Very rare!  It’s never been released on CD, and contains an unreleased elsewhere song! Check audio

Description

BRIGHTON ROCK: S/T self-titled EP

Very rare on Flying Fist Records. Stamped (golden) Promo Brighton Rock is a self-titled EP by the Canadian A.O.R band, of the same name. The EP was released in 1985. The EP caught the attention of Bob Roper who signed the band to WEA Records in Canada. The EP sold well in Europe

Brighton Rock is a self-titled EP by the Canadian glam metal band, of the same name. The EP was released in 1985. The EP caught the attention of Bob Roper who signed the band to WEA Records in Canada. While three tracks from the EP were re-recorded on their debut album, Young, Wild and Free, the fourth track “”The Fool’s Waltz”” remains unreleased anywhere else.

Released: 1985
Genre: Hard rock, Glam metal, Heavy metal,
Length 15:50
Label: Flying Fist Records
Producer: Brighton Rock
Track listing:
“Young, Wild and Free”
“”Assault Attack””
“”Barricade””
“”The Fools Waltz””
[Brighton Rock – The Fool’s Waltz From the Brighton Rock EP (unreleased anywhere else)
Flying Fist Records, Canada, 1985]

Gerry McGhee – Vocals [On Tuesday August 25 2020 Gerry was sadly taken from us]
Greg Fraser  – Guitar
Steve Skreebs – Bass guitar
Martin Victor – Keyboards
Mark Cavarzan – Drums

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BRIGHTON ROCK – Brighton Rock (1985 Flying Fist EP)

I first turned onto this band in the 10th grade.  MuchMusic kept playing the video for “We Came to Rock”.  It had a pop rock vibe to it, but the singer erased any accusations of being pop.  The screams!  The unholy screams!  Yeah!  That was definitely hard rock territory!

The singer’s name is Gerald McGhee and the band is Brighton Rock and he was also one of two Canadian singers to audition for Motley Crue in 1992, the other being Sebastian Bach.

The selling feature of this band for me was the incredible voice of McGhee.  I’d never heard screaming like this before!  I remember my high school classmates couldn’t handle it, the screams were too much for them.  But it’s not gratuitous; McGhee throws in screams strategically at key points to blow you to the wall.

Not that McGhee is the only talent in Brighton Rock.  Also notable is guitarist Greg Fraser, who ended up in Helix in 1993, and today fronts the Frase Gang with Brighton Rock bassist Stevie Skreebs.

Before they released their excellent debut album Young, Wild and Free, Brighton Rock completed a four song EP, which is what we’re talking about today.   The EP Brighton Rock is a less-honed taster, but something I’d sought to own for a long time.  It’s never been released on CD, and contains one song (“The Fools Waltz”) that isn’t on any Brighton Rock album.

Brighton Rock and their debut album contain the same opening song:  “Young, Wild and Free”.  This early version is musically identical but betters the LP version.  Michael Wagener produced the album, and no doubt helped by his incredible work with Accept, got way more intense screams out of McGhee.  The EP however is produced by somebody named Steve Vaughan (with one track by Jack Richardson).

The second track is “Assault Attack”, which as the title implies is a combat zone of hooky guitars and thunderous toms.  Miles away from the ballady stuff like “One More Try” that the band would later become known for.  Song three is “Barricade”, which has a really cool and tricky sounding guitar solo by Greg Fraser.  It’s a heavy rocker, but the closing song “The Fools Waltz” eases up on the pace a tad.  It would be a stretch to call it a ballad.  It’s more like a Canadian radio rock song.

Of note:  the Brighton Rock EP is the only release with original keyboardist Martin Victor.

5/5 stars

“”It starts with a voice.
Piercing, loud and proud.
A call to arms.
Fists held high, slashing the air.
free to rock.
It continues with a guitar.
Soaring through the night.
Biting Hard. Unrelenting.
Unchained and wild.
Crashing down on the metal shore.
Brighton Rock.””

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Also for SALE here:

BRIGHTON ROCK: Young, Wild And Free LP with Inner Sleeve, German press 1986. Canada’s Bon Jovi. Includes “Can’t Wait For The Night”. Check videos

BRIGHTON ROCK: Take a Deep Breath LP PROMO + 7″ extra promo single, press release, press cuttings, glossy photos. Check videos

BRIGHTON ROCK: Can’t Wait For The Night 7″ Canadian single. Check video clips