Modernized heavy metal rockers MEDUSA TOUCH have released an anthology album this past summer, with even more material set for the next album. But for the time being, the band will be playing a handful of shows this fall, promoting this current album, with more shows to follow in the next year! Find out what else was talked about below.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
The band started in 1982. Gogsy had just finished his time playing with punk Band THREATS from Edinburgh. He had started jamming guitar with his good friend Joe Gardner. Joe introduced Gogsy to MSG, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Saxon and instantly there was a keen interest in getting a band started. Twin guitars like Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy was a great fit for Joe and Gogsy and the jamming sessions were definitely centered on this style.
At the same time but separately, Mike Murray and John Allison had started jamming drums and bass together. Drummer and bass player looking for guitarists, and 2 guitarists needing drums and bass. A marriage made in heaven? Mike had placed an advert in the local music press and the 2 teams got together for a few jam sessions and it all started to gel together. Next a vocalist.
Colin was the last to join the band and the first line up was done. Next a name. Loads of options were tabled. Each member had their favorites, nobody agreed with the others, so a vote was taken. Everyone had two choices. Everyone's first choice was different but every second choice was Medusa Touch. That was it a band was born.
The band played together for about a year and a half from 1983 to end of 1984 when the first couple of changes came about. Joe found it difficult to commit his time to a band seeking success and dropped out. He was replaced by Colin Stewart who was a seasoned guitar player playing in local bands in Midlothian and around Edinburgh. The NWOBHM of the time was a lot heavier than Colin was previously used to, but he loved it. Around the same time John Allison left the band to be replaced by Lee. At the time John also played in a local band playing local clubs and weddings. They were an excellent band and had been on TV a couple of times trying to get somewhere in their field. John needed more time to do that, so was replaced by Lee. Not long after Lee joined, it was obvious that Heavy Metal was not really Lees “Thing” and he needed to be replaced.
1985 seen the entrance of Craig Robertson on Drums. A great drummer, our drummer who could use double pedals. He wsn’t only a beast of a drummer, he was quite technical when he wanted to be. He added a great variety to Medusa Touch especially as the Thrash bands had just started to make a real
appearance.
It was in late 1985 that Mike left to pursue and moved to London in search of fame. Medusa Touch tried and tried to find a replacement bass player but had no success. What do we do? ALL CHANGE. Colin moved onto bass, Gogsy took on guitar and vocals and Craig on Drums.
1986 the new look Medusa Touch hit the road. Now heavily influenced by the emergence of the Thrash bands but not a thrash band themselves. This 3 piece is probably the Medusa Touch that most people remember. This band played in this for till 1989. Still playing the rock scene around Scotland but never getting any interest from record companies of the day. The hair metal scene was in full flow at the time. Great music, but certainly not the Medusa Touch look.
Finally, Craig left to join another band and Gogsy and Colin enrolled John (Snoddy) Snodgrass and Mikey Hunter on Guitar and Drums. This line lasted another 2 years. The band never officially broke up, but just stopped playing.
2018 saw interest from George Arvanitakis, a NWOBHM maniac from Salmóni, Ilia, Greece. George asked the band if they were interested in releasing the recorded material that existed from days gone by. The answer Yes, and here it is.
The current Medusa Touch is a band that Gogsy has played with for the last 5 years, originally playing many tracks from the glory heavy metal days in the 1980’s. It was easy for these guys to fan the flames of the old Medusa Touch fire and bring out the tracks from back in the 80’s.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
Its from the film of the same Name. It starred Richard Burton. Psychological thriller about a telekinetic novelist who causes disasters simply by thinking about them.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
The band is from Edinburgh, Scotland. There is quite a descent scene in Edinburgh at the moment. There quite a lot of Metal/Thrash bands around at the moment but the ones in our 80’s Genre are few and far between. A really good 3 Piece band called Tergazzi are worth checking out.
4. How would you describe your style?
Definitely out of the 80’s scene but with a modern sound. People say they hear the Maiden, Priest, Lizzy, influences in the music. It definitely changes through the 80’s with the introduction of Thrash, Anthrax was a big influence in the late 80’s.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
ONR records has released the 13 tracks on our “The Anthology” album. That was released August 2019. I think they are all but sold out. At the last discussion with George at ONR he had less than 30 left.
The style is being really well received. We ave had a couple of superb reviews from http://scotlandrocksradio.com/ and from http://newwaveofbritishheavymetal.com/medusa-touch-terror-eyes-the-anthology. Other reviews saying the same thing about great singalong songs with no filler tracks.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Yes, we have another albums worth. We need to get out and tour the current album. This is set up for November 2019. We start with 4 gigs in Scotland then more from then on.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
See above. We have also been booked to play the 2020 Brofest UK festival in Feb 2020 in Newcastle, England. This is a 2 day NWOBHM festival that sold out within 2 days. The Managers then had to switch venue to allow a bigger gig to happen.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
We really hope to get this kicked off and get a few descent gigs under our belt, that should get us the attention that we will need for the next album.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDBzyLuXuwM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfa9H_pi1qM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxZjzxE7dzA
You can try and get the CD from ONR (If there are any left) - https://onreleases.bigcartel.com/products.
The band still has a few left so drop us an email and we will sort you out.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
That the songs are a good bunch of singalong fist pumping tracks that stick in your mind.
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