We have been contacted by Decibel Magazine, America's only monthly Metal Magazine who are looking to get in touch with Witchfinder General and Satanic Rites for features in their Magazine.

If anyone can help to put us in touch with any members of either band or if anyone is in contact with either band then please contact us (Details here) and we will put you in touch with the magazine.

Flamenco Rock 'n Rollers GYPSY PISTOLEROS are delighted to unveil details of their new singer and frontman -- so it gives us great pleasure to welcome the one and only... <drumroll>  DANI PISTOLERO to the HMR family! (Dani is second from the right in the accompanying photo.)

The band have released the following statement regarding their new frontman:

The band are 100% on this guy. He's young, bright, looks great, he's got a fantastic voice, plays guitar and keys, he's really hard working and committed, and he's full of great ideas. A really valuable addition to the Gypsy Pistoleros. We're so excited and looking forward to starting the live shows and have already started work on new material for the next album.

A singer since he was a "messy baby", Stoke native Dani Pistolero started learning guitar aged 15 and was heavily influenced by a vast array of artists from all parts of the rock spectrum including The Ramones, Metallica and Iron Maiden. In addition to vox and guitars, Dani also added  Keyboards and Piano to his list of instruments whilst a  member of the Progressive Metal band Scorched Earth - citing Dream Theater as a key influence.

Dani brings a wealth of  musical experience to the band, having formerly been in numerous Rock and Metal bands including Stolen Creation, Scorched Earth, L.U.S.T. and Whiskey Whores. He even came into close contact with Kenny K. Doll who actually auditioned for the roll of Bass Player in L.U.S.T. prior to joining the Gypsy Pistoleros (it's a small world!).

On joining the Gypsy Pistoleros, and on his future with the band, Dani says:

After 3 full weeks of sweat enduring auditioning at Pistolero HQ, I was offered the chance to front what I consider to be one of the best Sleaze Rock Bands around. Just being in a room with Iggie, Jeff and Kenny proves to me that all this effort - all the blood sweat and beers - was all worth it. This outfit fucking ROCKS! I have truly enjoyed every last second of working with the guys so far and I can’t wait for the months to come. It’s all guns blazing from hereon in!

The Pistoleros recently released their debut Heavy Metal Records album back in April, titled 'FOREVER, WILD, BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED! THE GREATEST HITS VOLUME, 1' which includes numerous Pistolero fan-favourites and one awesome "glammed out" cover of Ricky Martin's 'Livin La Vida Loca'. Fans can download the album from the Heavy Metal Records Digital Store or purchase a physical copy online (Play.com, Amazon, HMV etc...) or from the online store of our sister company Revolver World.

Also, check out the band's new website at GypsyPistoleros.co.uk

Flamenco Sleaze Rockers, GYPSY PISTOLEROS, are hitting the road this Summer/Fall with numerous tour dates across the UK in support of recent album release 'Forever Wild, Beautiful And Damned! The Greatest Hits Volume.1'

Current dates confirmed are listed below;

27th May 2012
@ Rocklahoma, USA
Tickets
*Unfortunately, Gypsy Pistoleros had to pull out of the Festival.*

14th July 2012
@ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
With Dogs D'Amour
Tickets

25th August 2012
@ Roadhouse, Birmingham
Basementfest 2012
More Details

14th September 2012
@ Kidderminster Town Hall
Kidderminster Rocks

22nd September 2012
@ The Swan, Evesham
More Details

29th September 2012
@ The Royal Oak, Ipswich

19th October 2012
@ The Patriot, Crumlin, Wales
Charity Show in aid of Help For Heroes

These just arrived in the Office today. To get your hands on one of these extremely METAL tees then head on over to our sister company Revolver World's webstore; http://revolverworld.com/store/official-merchandise/hmr/hmrt1

Joe Geesin at Record Collector Magazine wrote a feature article on Eloy for the magazines May 2012 Issue. A small snippet of the article can be read here with the full article available online for subscribers of the magazine. The Magazine hits the streets today (26th April 2012)

An extract below features an interview with Heavy Metal Records and Revolver Records Managing Director, Paul Birch who talks about how the HMR deal with Eloy came about!

Paul Birch (FM Revolver)

The deal came through MIDEM in Cannes, France, the bands manager at the time was Wolfgang Rott - he came to our stand at the MIDEM around 1982. We had already signed Accept from Dieter Dirks in Cologne so we were known to the music industry there. Birgit Wiritz from EMI Electrola was in touch with me, I flew out to Cologne and watched them perform at a gig. I had an idea about how the band could be introduced here. I signed them for Planets, Time to Turn,Performance and Metromania. I would have done earlier albums but somehow the moment passed.

I was working with Rodney on other albums sleeves, he had done Predator for me by Bitches Sin, Diamond Head's Am I Evil, I felt he was exactly the right artist to work on Eloy and the band commissioned him directly to work on Metromania. There new manager after Wolfgang was Jürgen (Yogi) Dramm, who ended up running our German office.

Metromania was a CD release as well as LP and cassette. The LP releases were all specially grained by Delga Press in Bromley, who still do our print today. The one thing I felt about their existing artwork was that it let them down. They were a complex group and there album art needed to reflect that.

I loved the band then, still do. I am disappointed they didn’t come back to the label following Metromania but Frank and the band knew their own mind and probably had opportunities that came along as a consequence of the new markets they were now reaching.

EMI Electrola were about to drop the band when we signed them. EMI continued with them until Performance when the band moved to SPV. Manfred's label was located in Hannover, it was on the rise at that point and it was likely by then that the relationship at EMI would have come to a natural end.

Many thanks to Joe for this! Be sure to pick up a copy  of Record Collector Magazine to see the full feature on Eloy and much more.

www.recordcollectormag.com
www.joegeesin.com

We are aware that some fans of the GYPSY PISTOLEROS have been encountering problems with HMV's Pre-order of 'Forever Wild, Beautiful and Damned! The Greatest Hits Volume, 1'.

If you are still experiencing problems then our advice is to cancel your order and re-order from us DIRECTLY; http://revlvr.com/gpfwbdcd

We have copies of the CD at the ready and these will be sent out upon placing an order with us.

We are talking about re-pressing some of our back catalogue that we don't currently have in stock. We would like to know what albums you would buy if we did repress some golden oldies. If your choice isn't on the list below then please let us know your choice either by commenting at the bottom of this post or Facebook us. If the demand is there then we might well repress it. Let us know by casting your vote on our Facebook Poll.

FOREVER WILD, BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED is now released throughout the UK and Europe (US release in May, stay tuned Americanos!); the album's available from all good record stores (UK & Europe distribution by Plastic Head).

Following discussions, the band has parted company with their former singer and frontman. They have also issued the following statement to clarify the situation for all fans and press following the postponement of their anticipated London album launch party earlier this month:

We'd like to apologise to all fans and press who were due to attend our London launch gig earlier this month. Regrettably the timing of our lead singer's departure made it impossible for the launch party to go ahead. HOWEVER! Gypsy Pistoleros continues to go from strength to strength; fans can look forward to seeing a lot more of the band in the months to come and we've already been booking through the summer right up to the end of the year. Not only that, we're simultaneously working on new material for the next album -- 2012 is our year and we’re taking it by the throat!

The Gypsy Pistoleros' rather smashing debut album FOREVER WILD, BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED was released on April 9th on HMR to critical acclaim and rave reviews from the rock press - the band is currently in intensive rehearsals and holding auditions to find the ideal replacement in time for their sixth consecutive appearance at ROCKLAHOMA 2012, "America's Biggest Memorial Weekend Party" on Saturday the 26th of May 2012.

The only band to play at every Rocklahoma since the festival's beginning, the Pistoleros have once again been confirmed by promoters AEG to appear at the massive open air festival alongside acts like Megadeth, Chickenfoot, Queensrÿche, Slash and Creed. The group are due to hit the stage after Rob Zombie to close the night with a "Bang Bang"...

Watch this space for forthcoming updates!

Gypsy Pistoleros FOREVER WILD, BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED! GREATEST HITS VOLUME 1 is out now on Heavy Metal Records and available to purchase on iTunes, HMR Digital (320 kbps MP3, suitable for all portable devices) and Amazon. The album is released in the US and Canada on 08 May 2012, distributed by MVD Entertainment.

Some of you may have already noticed that we have been slowly making a few additions to our Facebook page, adding to our Facebook timeline our entire back catalogue of Metal releases which spans some 30 years! From the present day to the likes of Wrathchild (UK), Diamond Head, Soldier, Sleight Of Hand, The Handsome Beasts and many, many more, you're bound to enjoy this little trip inside HMR History!

We have been overwhelmed by the number of you who still own (in MINT condition too) some of our past releases. Thank you for the photographs and if you have any more then send them our way! We'd love to know which have been your favourite releases and favourite bands to have graced the HMR label throughout the years.

Oh and if you don't already like us then why on earth not?! Click here to view our snazzy Facebook and show us some love. Updates from all of the team and loads more.   \m/

One from the archives, SLEIGHT OF HAND performing 'Don't Think I Want', live in Boston 1994.