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SETTLEMENT IN LONG RUNNING SAXON CASE A settlement has finally been reached between the members of the original band Saxon over the usage of the name and logos belonging to the original partnership. Oliver/Dawson Saxon, consisting of original Saxon members Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson, (along with Nigel Durham, Haydn Conway and Wardi) have acknowledged that the band featuring Biff Byford and Paul Quinn will continue to be known as ‘Saxon’, and have use of the logo. In return Byford & Quinn acknowledge that Oliver/Dawson Saxon have a legitimate use of the name in that form. Steve Dawson said "At last we have been able to put aside the differences and now we can all continue with what’s really important – the music" Oliver/Dawson Saxon will be appearing on a new album released in October entitled "The Second Wave", which features the first new studio recordings from the band. THE SECOND WAVE 25 Years of NWOBHM In 1978, the then Sounds journalist Geoff Barton coined the tag line ‘New Wave of British Heavy Metal’ to describe the burgeoning rock scene in the UK. Three bands in particular stood out – Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Saxon. These three giants lead the assault with bands such as Girlschool, Tygers of Pan Tang and Samson acting as foot soldiers. The scene went from strength to strength and spawned some of the biggest albums of the era. 25 years on and its 2003. Amid a host of ephemeral pop bands and reality TV acts, the metal bands are still there, albeit not necessarily in the public eye as much. Iron Maiden produced one of the biggest selling albums of the last few years, and Def Leppard and members of Saxon have still been producing the goods (despite major trials and tribulations) Such a mile stone needs to be celebrated, and celebrated in style by those who started the rollercoaster – and thus, this album. What started out as a few informal phone calls between Oliver/Dawson Saxon and some of their friends quickly developed into a major project. The Tygers of Pan Tang, recently reformed after a period of inactivity, and Girlschool agreed to contribute songs to the album, which would feature the first new studio recordings from Oliver/Dawson Saxon since Saxon split in 1995. The future holds great store for the ‘Second Wave’. Oliver/Dawson Saxon and the Tygers are both recording new studio albums for release in 2003, and both are embracing new technologies with live DVDs available. Girlschool are promoting their recent ‘Not That Innocent’ album. Whether these bands will still be here in another 25 years, only time will tell … but bearing in mind what they’ve all been through in the last 25, I personally wouldn’t bet against it! The Second Wave album is released on Communiqué Records and is available now. For more information, please contact Rupert Withers at Vigilante PR on 44 1494 862770, or email rupert.withers@talk21.com |
September 24th at the Chicago Rock Cafe in Barnsley, U.K. This gig is called the Homecoming and its celebrating 25 years of the formation of Saxon by Graham & Steve, and its being held on the same site as the first Saxon gig. |
The boys have finished recording the new tracks for the "Second Wave" album and the album will hopefully be available on the tour after the first few days. There are 5 very strong songs. The titles are : "Worlds Gone Crazy", "Nursery Crimes", "Broken", "Ghost" and "Raeder Aus Stahl". |
The first leg of the tour is in the UK in June 2003, featuring Oliver/Dawson Saxon, Girlschool and Tygers of Pan Tang. They have also invited Swedish metallers Million to join them. Million were not one of the NWOBHM bands, but this is the Second Wave, and thus the bands want to encourage the next generation! The Second Wave tour will be accompanied by the release of an album (on Communiqué Records), which features tracks from Oliver/Dawson Saxon, the Tygers and Girlschool. This album will be released in time for the tour in June. The tour kicks off in Hull on June 8th, and finishes at Bristol Bierkellar on the 25th, taking in venues such as the Shepherds Bush Empire, Glasgow Barrowlands and Milton Keynes Sanctuary on the way. Oliver/Dawson Saxon features the original founding songwriters of Saxon, Graham Oliver & Steve Dawson, alongside ex Saxon drummer Nigel Durham, Haydn Conway, & Wardi. They also have a new DVD entitled ‘Rock Has Landed’ released on Angel Air Waves, as well as a Live album, ‘Its Alive’. Tygers of Pan Tang is led by founder member Robb Weir and features Ritchie Wicks, Craig Ellis, Dean Robertson and Brian West. Their eagerly anticipated new album ‘Noises From The Cathouse’ is due soon. A live album and DVD are due later in 2003. Girlschool’s current lineup is Enid Williams, Kim McAuliffe, Denise Dufort and new girl Jackie Chambers. Their recent album is ‘Not That Innocent’ Million recently released their fourth album on A2 Records. ‘Detonator’ was widely acclaimed as their best album to date. ‘Finally... The ROCK has come back to Saxon! The blood and guts of Saxon lie with Oliver/Dawson.’ is how Rock & A Hard Place in the USA described Oliver/Dawson Saxon, so you know that you are going to be in for a great time! For more information, please contact Rupert Withers at Assassination Music on 44 1494 862770 or email rupert@assassination.co.uk |
Oliver/Dawson Saxon are no longer doing the Rhode Island Remembers gig in April, but Graham Oliver will be there, performing a few songs with the Tygers of Pan Tang. |
It has been 25 years since the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal first mobilised on the world. Now prepare for the Second Wave. Oliver/Dawson Saxon, Girlschool, & The Tygers of Pan Tang have decided to get together to celebrate the anniversary of NWOBHM, and have announced that they will be releasing an album called ‘Second Wave’. It is to be released in the Summer on Communiqué Records, and features 5 tracks from each band. They have also announced that they will all tour together, and have invited their friends Million to join them. The first leg of the tour is in the UK, starting in June 2003. For more information, please contact Assassination Music on 44 1494 862770, or email amp@assassination.co.uk |
As reported elsewhere, there has been another result in the Saxon trademark case. When the case was originally heard in the trademark registry, by the registrar, he found in favour of Graham Oliver & Steve Dawson. Biff Byford appealed the decision and the case went before a High Court judge. He has disagreed with the judgement of the registrar, and therefore overturned his findings. Oliver & Dawson have maintained all along that the Saxon name was owned by all members of the Saxon partnership and as such registered the mark in the UK to protect their rights. The judge agreed with them, but stated that the name was an asset of the partnership, and therefore should not have been registered by any individual partners. This means that the Saxon trademark is no longer registered and that all partners in Saxon have rights to the name, rather than any one individual member. Contrary to Byford’s recent press release, this is hardly a "decisive victory for Saxon against Oliver-Dawson" as it quite clearly shows that they all have rights in the name, which is the position that Oliver and Dawson have been taking throughout their involvement in the Court actions. In fact, the two bands, although sharing a common ancestry, are separate entities, and Oliver/Dawson Saxon are disappointed that their proposals to Byford and Paul Quinn to sort out their differences without involving the Courts have been snubbed. |
Oliver/Dawson Saxon will feature on a new album to be released by Communiqué Records in the Summer. |
New CD - "It's Alive" will be released on 10th March 2003.
Track Listing : Angel Air Records / SJPCD130 |
| OLDER ENTRIES |
1978 saw the emergence of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), launching the careers of bands such as Iron Maiden, Def leppard, Tygers of Pan Tang, Girlschool & Saxon. 25 years later the latter three bands decided that the anniversary needed to be celebrated, so they got together and agreed to tour.