Reviewers' Best of 2003

Jason Ritchie

Jason's classic rock 'Newswire' started in June 2002 and has grown rapidly. At the same time he is the major contributor to GRTR! When not writing reviews and conducting interviews he finds the time to have a normal family life. "My wife thinks I am mad, that I keep ranting on about the latest great song I've heard, but she is a star and an inspiration. She has also started her own Newswire on Yahoo, but on diabetes. My four year old daughter loves some of the music, including Styx (she loves 'Kiss Your Ass Goodbye' where I have to sing loudly 'Kiss My Past Goodbye' as if she started saying 'ass' in nursery I'd be for the high jump!).

I love music, always have, and I thought I'd follow my dream of writing about music and hopefully some other like-minded souls would enjoy it as well".

Favourite bands: Queen, ELO, Judas Priest, Magnum & Journey.

Latest review: Gene Simmons

David Randall

David's latest book was published earlier in 2003 'In And Out Of Focus - the music of Jan Akkerman and Focus'. He contributed features about Focus to 'Record Collector' magazine and coordinated two tours for Jan Akkerman. He says that life on the road left him a gibbering wreck so he started GRTR! He built on his experience gained with the online music retailer The Music Index and in web management, including various artist and label sites.

Favourite bands: Focus, Marillion, Magnum, Jethro Tull

Latest review: Jimi Hendrix CD

John Stefanis

John grew up in Kalamaki a south suburb of Athens which was famous for many things, but Heavy Metal was not one of them. During the 80's Heavy Metal was not that popular in Greece, especially amongst the Greek authorities who would do almost anything to get their hands on a person with Bullet belts and a Possessed T-shirt.

John is a veteran of the Greek underground Metal community. "I remember that the first time I saw Rotting Christ they were performing in the back yard of my high-school in front of 50 people!!" I worked for 2 years in a Radio Station. "Heavy Metal Randez-vous" was on twice a week. I also worked for 2 years in Rock City, the biggest CD store for Metal Music in Athens." John also did a spot of dee-jaying at the Metal Club "Xoris Anasa" (Breathless).

John says: "Music is my true "companion" throughout the years and one of the most important things in my life."

Favourite bands: Morbid Angel, Kreator, Pestilence, Burzum, Rush, Kansas, Saxon, Judas Priest, Queensryche, Fates Warning, Dream Theater

Latest review: Cruachan CD

Ian Pollard

Hailing originally from the home of heavy metal - the black country, and growing up there in the 70's, it is no surprise that rock music of all genres has been Ian's passion for over 25 years. His first ever gig was Led Zeppelin's last ever UK show at Knebworth in 1979, and what a way to start! Ian travels to most gigs with his wife Clare who shares his love of live music.

Ian says:"I have made a lot of good friends from people I have met at rock gigs over the years, and have recently been privileged to work with some of them in putting on a charity event with the band Magnum. A great experience that we hope to repeat."

Favourite bands: Magnum, Asia, Blue Oyster Cult, Mostly Autumn, Royal Hunt.

Latest review: Uriah Heep DVD

Charlie Farrell

Charlie began listening to music in the early 70s and was particularly taken with all the sounds that could be produced by synthesisers. It was almost inevitable, therefore, that he was listening to the prog rock heroes of the day: ELP, Yes and Genesis.

The late seventies saw Charlie switch his allegiance from prog to punk, then New Wave and NWOBHM.

Charlie became disorientated and disenchanted with the rock scene in the early nineties, old faithfuls like Rush had changed their style and magazines such as Kerrang! were no longer a reliable guide.

"Though I did discover Metallica, Savatage and Joe Satriani during this period it wasn't until there was a reliable internet connection available at work in '96 that I was able to discover via various mailing lists, the existence of many bands who were right up my street musically. First of these was Dream Theater, a band who managed to meld my love of the 'metal' side of things with my love of 'progressive' music. Since then, the internet has been an invaluable tool in my search for new music."

Favourite Bands: They change all the time, but currently Anathema, Sirenia, Symphony X, The Gathering, Within Temptation

Latest review: Steve Hackett gig

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