Anyone for some rockabilly folk hard rock?
In 1985, Beltane Fire had a short-lived moment in the spotlight as Sony Music’s latest signing. They produced one album and toured extensively, supporting Adam and the Ants, Ian Dury, and Marillion at the height of Kayleigh fame. It must have been fun while it lasted, which wasn’t long.
The band was formed out of the Neo-Rockabilly band The Blue Cats, who as a group of south London teenagers fused their love of old 50’s classics with a modern flavour. Then came the likes of Adam Ant, Marillion and Tenpole Tudor, along with a swathe of sword and sorcery movies and TV series such as Robin of Sherwood. The Blue Cats became Beltane Fire, started wearing leather jerkins, clipped on some hair extensions and invested in a dry ice machine. The result was the album Different Breed, which builds on their rockabilly base, but added synths, military drums and loads of reverb.
The main single from the album is Fortune Favours The Brave, which is accompanied by a video featuring the obligatory fist clenching, candlelight, dangling chains and wavy flags.
The rest of the album is a journey through Arthurian legends, pirates and poachers. The record didn’t trouble the charts and the money ran out – largely because they spent a load of cash on the album artwork.
The whole thing is massively overblown and very silly, but it is bags and bags of fun.
After they were dropped by Sony, the band went back to being The Blue Cats, where they produced the excellent album The Tunnel. The guitar work on “Man on a Mission” is particularly excellent.
There was a rumour going around that lead guitarist Carlo Edwards gave The Edge a few tips back in the day. Carlo’s day job is as head baker at the Box Hill café in Surrey if you want to ask him directly.
The Blue Cats still tour to this day. Check them out.