Mark Dean
I'm a 40+ music fan. Fond mostly of rock and metal - my staple musical food delights. Originally from Northern Ireland, I am now based in the UK-Manchester. I have a hectic musical existence with regular shows and interviews. Been writing freelance for five years now with several international websites. Passionate about what I do, I have been fortunate already to interview many of my all-time musical heroes. My music passion was first created by seeing Status Quo at the tender age of 15. While I still am passionate about my rock and metal, I have found that with age my taste has diversified so that now I am actually dipping into different musical genres and styles for the first time.
Festival Review: HELLFEST OPEN AIR 2019
Hellfest
July 2, 2019
Festival Review: HELLFEST OPEN AIR 2019
Due to travel difficulties last year, I was unable to follow up my debut visit to Hellfest from 2017. However,…
Festival Review: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2019
Download
July 1, 2019
Festival Review: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2019
Having intentionally avoided returning to Download since my rain-soaked camping experience of 2016, I decided to adopt a different approach…
Interview: Ed Kowalczyk of +LIVE+
Interviews
June 2, 2019
Interview: Ed Kowalczyk of +LIVE+
The original line-up of the multi-platinum selling +LIVE+ are returning to the UK for the first time in over 13…
Interview: Keri Kelli of A NEW REVENGE
Interviews
June 1, 2019
Interview: Keri Kelli of A NEW REVENGE
The LA Based outfit, A New Revenge, featuring an all-star line up will release their debut album, Enemies & Lovers…
Interview: Fabienne Erni of ELUVEITIE
Interviews
May 22, 2019
Interview: Fabienne Erni of ELUVEITIE
Eluveitie released their 8th studio album, Ategnatos, with Nuclear Blast Records on April 5th. I managed to catch the band Live…
Interview: Reb Beach of WHITESNAKE and WINGER
Interviews
May 6, 2019
Interview: Reb Beach of WHITESNAKE and WINGER
Fresh off celebrating their 40th anniversary, rock legends Whitesnake return with their latest studio album, Flesh & Blood. This album follows 2011’s…
Interview: Rob Cavestany of DEATH ANGEL
Interviews
May 3, 2019
Interview: Rob Cavestany of DEATH ANGEL
Growing up in the eighties Death Angel were one of my first introductions to the musical genre of Thrash Metal…
DVD Review: FOREIGNER – Live At The Rainbow ‘78
Film/DVD Reviews
April 17, 2019
DVD Review: FOREIGNER – Live At The Rainbow ‘78
My first introduction to Foreigner was with their album, “4”, which seemed to break them through to the masses, helped…
Concert Review and Photos: IN FLAMES in Manchester, UK
Concert Reviews
April 11, 2019
Concert Review and Photos: IN FLAMES in Manchester, UK
Unfortunately, due to a prior work shift with some horses at the traditional Grand National races, I was running late…
DVD Review: TOTO – 40 Tours Around The Sun
Film/DVD Reviews
April 11, 2019
DVD Review: TOTO – 40 Tours Around The Sun
2018 was a banner year and the 40th Anniversary for TOTO who celebrated the occasion by embarking on their longest world tour…
Interview: Dave Rude of TESLA
Interviews
March 28, 2019
Interview: Dave Rude of TESLA
Tesla is a band that presented one of my first live experiences when they supported Def Leppard back in 1987…
Interview: Francis Rossi of STATUS QUO
Interviews
March 26, 2019
Interview: Francis Rossi of STATUS QUO
I have been into the heavier side of rock music since I went to my first concert at the age…
Interview: Sully Erna and Shannon Larkin of GODSMACK
Interviews
March 22, 2019
Interview: Sully Erna and Shannon Larkin of GODSMACK
Godsmack is a band that I have keenly followed since their inception and the release of their debut album. I…
Interview: TODD KERNS of Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Interviews
March 20, 2019
Interview: TODD KERNS of Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Todd Kerns has been around the block more than a few times musically over the years. His musical CV is…
Concert Review and Photos: UFO in Manchester, UK
Concert Reviews
March 19, 2019
Concert Review and Photos: UFO in Manchester, UK
Many rock bands don’t last, indeed many bands despite their musical genre don’t have any kind of longevity these days.…
Interview: ADELITAS WAY
Interviews
March 16, 2019
Interview: ADELITAS WAY
Adelitas Way are a band that not many in the UK are that familiar with. This hasn’t been helped by…
Interview: Doug Robb and Dan Estrin of HOOBASTANK
Interviews
March 14, 2019
Interview: Doug Robb and Dan Estrin of HOOBASTANK
Have to say that Hoobastank are a band that I wasn’t too familiar with their music outside of the song…
Interview: Josh Todd of BUCKCHERRY
Interviews
March 10, 2019
Interview: Josh Todd of BUCKCHERRY
Buckcherry are just a good old-fashioned rock band fusing all the fun elements of what I term the classic era…
Interview: HERMAN FRANK
Interviews
March 6, 2019
Interview: HERMAN FRANK
Herman Frank first came to my attention as part of the lineup of Victory, playing guitar on their great album…
Concert Review and Photos: BLUE OYSTER CULT in Manchester, UK
Concert Reviews
March 6, 2019
Concert Review and Photos: BLUE OYSTER CULT in Manchester, UK
I have only previously seen legendary rock band Blue Oyster Cult on one occasion and that was only briefly at…