FASTWAY

FASTWAY - Bassist For Upcoming Sweden Rock Appearance Changed

As previously reported, original MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke's band FASTWAY, are confirmed for the 2007 edition of the Sweden Rock Festival, which is scheduled to take place June 6th - 9th in Sölvesborg, Sweden. There is a correction with the bassist in Clarke's lineup: ex-SWEET SAVAGE bassist Raymond Haller replaces John McManus (MAMA'S BOYS). The lineup is rounded off by John "Harv" Harbinson (STORMZONE) and Steve Strange (VISAGE).

Acts on the Sweden Rock bill currently include: AEROSMITH, AFTER FOREVER, ALL ENDS, AMON AMARTH, ANNIHILATOR, AXEL RUDI PELL, BLACK OAK ARKANSAS, BLIND GUARDIAN, CIRCUS MAXIMUS, DIMMU BORGIR, ELDRITCH, FALCONER, FASTWAY, GOV'T MULE, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, HEAVEN AND HELL, ICED EARTH, KORPIKLAANI, KREATOR, LION'S SHARE, MCQUEEN, MEATLOAF, MEMFIS, MOTÖRHEAD, NOCTURNAL RITES, NOVEMBER, RANDY PIPER'S ANIMAL, POINT BLANK, PRETTY MAIDS, QUIET RIOT, REO SPEEDWAGON, SKID ROW, SUZI QUATRO, SYMPHONY X, THE ANSWER, THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW, THUNDER, TIAMAT, TOKYO DRAGONS, TRAIL OF TEARS, TROUBLE, U.D.O., VOMITORY

Tickets for Sweden Rock Festival 2007 are now up for sale in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany and England. More details at www.swedenrock.com .

photos du sweden rock festival 2007
http://www.stargazer.it/daniele/swedenrock2007day4/index.html

FASTWAY Confirmed For Hyde Park Calling

FASTWAY frontman Toby Jepson's (ex-LITTLE ANGELS) website has been updated with the following:

"This just in... This just in... This just in...

Well, the news just keeps on flying from Toby Central this week! As you all know, Fastway, fronted by our very own Toby have been playing a number of festival dates these past few weeks. We are pleased to announce that they will be at Hyde Park Calling in London this Sunday, the 24th supporting AEROSMITH, CHRIS CORNELL and JET. Not too shabby at all!

Fastway will be on the Pepsi Stage at 17:20 - 18:00. That's 5:20 - 6 in the PM to those on a 12 hour clock.

Please visit http://www.hydeparkcalling.co.uk for information and tickets and lineups...

Speaking of tickets... Make sure you catch Toby, Dean, Dave and Andres on their September/October tour throughout the UK. With exposure of this kind, tickets will be going fast!

Thank you all ever so much for your constant messages of regards, appreciation and words of encouragement. You have no idea how much you are all helping!"

"TOBY JEPSON Playing With FASTWAY Has Been Unanimously Positive!"

FASTWAY frontman Toby Jepson's (ex-LITTLE ANGELS) website has issued the following update:

"After just three shows the response to Toby playing with Fastway has been unanimously positive! Rapturous responses from audiences and critics alike have been received from the warm-up show in London as well as festival appearances at Sweden Rocks and the Download Festival. In fact, its been rumored that organizers from both camps have already asked the band to return next year. Only on the main stage of course!

Sweden provided to be particularly exciting as the band took a private Sessner jet from Luton; rushed through the Swedish airport like true rock stars; played the gig, 5 minute break while Fast Eddie played 'Ace Of Spades' with MOTÖRHEAD, police escort back to the airport before getting a private Sessner out again. U2 eat your heart out!

Toby was interviewed backstage at Download by both Bruce Dickinson and Liz Kershaw for their radio shows on Radio 2 and Radio 6 respectively – I’ll try and find out when the interviews air and give you sufficient warning.

Also – we’re looking for any photo’s or films clips anyone might have taken at any of the recent appearances. Please email to admin@tobyjepson.com.

You’ll be pleased to know that the overwhelming response to the Fastway gig has motivated Toby even more towards his solo career….speaking of which….

Recording on the follow-up to EP1 is scheduled for the end of July in London, with mixing to be completed in sunny Scarborough. I’m told the clearer North Sea air lets Toby produce the album more effectively but I’m not sure about the actual science behind that logic.

Toby is hoping to get Fast Eddie to record a guitar solo on a track on the EP but apparently getting him to actually do such things can sometimes prove tricky! I guess we’ll see how that one turns out when the EP is released.

Ovation have mentioned the possibility of a Toby Jepson signature guitar. Which frankly can only be a good thing. Ovation are sponsoring next months acoustic radio tour which is currently being organized for July/August.

It has now being confirmed that the Chepstow DVD is being recorded for a fully-fledged DVD release! Expect the complete show along with backstage and sound check footage along with any other bits and pieces we can dig out of the archives.

Nige finally finished the first ‘Overloaded’ video. Entitled ‘Clips’ this can be seen on Toby’s MySpace page and YouTube. This video is a compilation of cool, funny and frankly embarrassing footage form the March/April tour. The second video, ‘Lip-sync’, is in the final stages now and will be debuting shortly.

There will be a big article in next months Classic Rock – an interview with Fast Eddie and Toby mainly regarding the upcoming year for Fastway. More festivals appearances and a rumor of one final album which Toby may or may not have a hand in co-writing and co-producing."

FASTWAY Frontman TOBY JEPSON Issues Blog Update

FASTWAY frontman TOBY JEPSON (ex-LITTLE ANGELS) has issued the following:

"Ok, so you wait for a bus and nothing arrives, you turn to leave and 3 arrive all at the same time! I know it is a tired cliché, but man alive!!!!..

Picture the scene; I was drowning my sorrows in crap telly and a bottle of beer when the phone goes (this was around 10pm on a non descript Monday night)

'Hello Toby this is Steve Strange…we met backstage at the Shepherds Bush Empire… I wondered if you wanted to join the new version of FASTWAY with fast Eddie Clarke, myself and John McManus????...'

Well let me tell you folks, I had the first Fastway record when I was a kid and in fact spent an entire summer listening to it whilst cleaning pool tables at Primrose Valley Holiday Village in Yorkshire… so it was a big blast from the past and an opportunity that I could not give up.

So I found myself on a train the next day heading for a meeting with the guys. I had met John Mc Manus years before when the Angels opened for MAMAS BOYS (John's band he played bass for that also featured his brothers Tommy on drums and Pat on guitar) and meeting him again after all those years was amazing as he didn't look any different and was still the sweet guy I had nervously spoken to at the shows.

Long story short; I joined the band the next weekend and commenced rehearsals for the up coming dates in Europe.

Working with Eddie has brought a new kind of gravity to my work. He exudes class and experience with every note he pours from his guitars. From the second I walked into the room with him and he turned it on, I was blown away with his maturity and passion for his music. It is one thing you cannot teach anyone: experience and he brings it in spades. I was delighted to learn that there are guys like me out there! Ed and I were cut from the same cloth and his company is a delight.

The same goes for both the other guys, Steve is not only a great drummer, but is also one of the worlds biggest Agents for bands like SNOW PATROL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and THE SCISSOR SISTERS, so his wealth of knowledge and sense of purpose is also brought to bare on the project. Steve specifically put this thing together and has not put a foot wrong, creating a great atmosphere for us all to work together. I respect him enormously and also consider him a close friend now. Johnny McManus also, all of the above. Another incredible guy who has made me feel welcome and has shown great respect for me as well as provided encouragement. I am blessed to be working with the guys and it does feel like a family.

A quick word about the previous singers (the original guy and the replacement)...

The original singer was a chap called Dave King; he remained in the band until it split and was responsible for all the early recordings and my, my, my, what vocals they were! I know I can sing high register in full voice but that guy is stratospheric! I was actually a little nervous about being able to pull it off at first, but after a few rehearsals managed to find my place within the material enough to be confident of doing the job.

Prior to me joining this version of the band another Irish lad, Harv Harbinson who fronts his own band STORMZONE was originally asked to take the vocal duties, but unfortunately scheduling didn't work for both parties and he had to bow out, but I will say this about him: he contacted me and offered his lyrics and any help he could and I salute him for that as it must have been tough for him to give up the job. Very cool.

Anyway, no point rambling on about the gigs we have done so far, suffice to say I am having a ball and beginning to rediscover the feeling of playing massive stages again as it has been a while…

Highlights? Well flying to Sweden in a private Jet, Download, meeting Ronnie Dio (like meeting God for me really - and a very sweet man) Finding out that Tim Wheeler and Mark from ASH were Angels fans and were in fact in our fan club! And along side Rick from the band are all top men who I now consider friends…

It has been a whirl wind and still promises so much more. I am having the time of my life, and having found this great new way in and having met such great people along the way, I am determined to carry on with the task of working my ass off to get back up there whether it is with Fastway, my own band or a combination of the two. Who said you should only have one string to the bow? I am over the moon at having the chance to string several on my metaphorical bow and fiddle till Rome burns or at least until my music takes me back into the place I once occupied all those years ago.

No point in looking back, I am focused on the future cause that is where we all belong, not gazing in to the past with rose tinted Raybans…

Toodle pip and see you on the ice!"

FASTWAY Play Japan's Loudpark 07 Festival; Photos Available






FASTWAY performed at the Loudpark 07 festival, which took place October 20th - 21st at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama City, Japan.

Fastway guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke's (ex-MOTÖRHEAD) site has been updated with the following:

"Eddie and the band returned home from Japan last week. Click here for some great pictures of the events..."