John Diva & The Rockets Of Love: Mama Said Rock Is Dead

OK boys and girls, it’s time to play spot the band! Let’s see how many 80s rock acts we can find as John Diva & The Rockets Of Love tells us their Mama Said Rock Is Dead. Will we start with an easy one? OK… here’s “Lolita� (which even by 80s rock standards is a questionable song title in these ever so slightly more enlightened times) where it’s A Little Ain’t Enough era David Lee Roth that you can tick off in your books. Listen out for that big synth laden chorus, fret-bustin’ flurry of notes and the little strut and pout as the song’s repeating refrain is revealed.

If it’s the mid-paced stomp and shout of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven� that you’re after, then Poison may well be your, well, poison, while the twirl on the spot of “Whiplash� combines the grit of Cinderella to the sheen of Def Leppard. And we’re not done yet, “Wild Life� aping Thin Lizzy before heading (slide it in) deep into the American, blonde highlighted era of Whitesnake. And while we’re playing with the era’s big-boys, let’s throw in Bon Jovi as “Blinded� pretends Slippery When Wet hasn’t even happened yet and instead sounds like it could have come from either of the Jovi’s first two (and now criminally ignored) records.

As soon the echoing guitars of “Dance Dirty� bounce off the walls and are joined by a big thick swish of hi-hats and gang vocals, you know we need to stave off a bout of Hysteria, so Def is this Leppard, while “Rocket Of Love� asks Brett and CC what the cat dragged in. We’re back with DLR again for the rather tasty “Get It On�, but if you ever wondered what would have happened if Little Angels had been Dave’s backing band, then this is probably your answer - although you can still hear Def Leppard knocking on the studio door begging to be allowed in! And just in case you’re getting the impression that John and his Rockets are a one trick pony (they are), “Long Legs� adds an AC/DC powerage to yet another dumb but fun chorus.

Now, I grew up with this sound and the bands MSRID is looking to, depending on your stand point, celebrate or rip off and it has to be said that once you get over just how blatantly this lot are paying homage, you have to admit that they do it well. Just like the main men back then, Diva himself will never be the best singer in the world, but he’s got bags of charisma, while his equally ridiculously named backing band - I give you Snake Rocket and JJ Love on guitar, Remmie Martin on bass and Lee Stringray Jr behind the kit - sure know how to bring the show. And if you too love the era of big videos, big arenas, big choruses, big dumb attitude and even bigger hair, then what you need to decide is whether you’re happy enough with your clutch of classic 80s albums, or you want a shot of something new - well, not ‘new’, but you get my meaning…

Track Listing
1. Whiplash
2. Lolita
3. Rock N’ Roll Heaven
4. Wild Life
5. Blinded
6. Dance Dirty
7. Just A Night Away
8. Fire Eyes
9. Get It On
10. Long Legs
11. Toxic
12. Rocket Of Love

Added: January 26th 2019
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: John Diva @ facebook
Hits: 1048
Language: english

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