Speaking with Stevie J of TotalRock during this past weekend’s Maid Of Stone festival at Mote Park in Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom, GIRLSCHOOL guitarist Jackie Chambers discussed the band’s plans for the months ahead: “Well, we have a new album we’re sort of… Well, we’re supposed to be writing. [Laughs] We will get round to it, we promise. But we have got a new album coming out, well, for our 50th, ’cause obviously we’re aiming now for 50 years. So next year — what is it now? 48? 48 now, so we’ve got two more years, and it’s our 50th, so, of course, we’re planning a big tour for that, and a new album… Our record company’s here today, so we’ll be chatting to them later to see what else they’ve got lined up for us.”

Girlschool is:

Kim McAuliffe: rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals
Denise Dufort: drums
Olivia Airey: bass guitar
Jackie Chambers: lead guitar, backing vocals

Το άρθρο GIRLSCHOOL: TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN 2028 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

They were formed in Athens, in April 2024, by Avrilia Lyra (bass), under the guidance of music teacher (and Mute Tale vocalist) Annou Alexandridou. Eventually the line-up of Oopsie Daisy was complete with the entrance of Liana Iliopoulou on guitar, Evangelia Efstratiou on keyboards and vocals, and Nefeli Sofra on drums. Until now, this promising all-female pop/rock group is focused on covers and live shows. And it is not an exaggeration to say that these young musicians’ extensive musical education and artistic chemistry shine through in every performance, blending high skill with raw energy and true emotion.

The band’s repertoire is a powerhouse collection that caters to every pop/rock lover’s taste. From the haunting tunes of Billie Eilish to the gritty rock energy of Måneskin, Nirvana’s grunge anthems and the heavy metal riffs of Black Sabbath, their live setlist is an eclectic journey through decades of music.

Despite being a relatively new act, Oopsie Daisy has already performed at notable venues across Athens and the Athenian Riviera. They deliver high-energy performances, pleasing the audiences and standing tall next to well-established cover bands like Bigus Dickus, Dirty Deals, and Kings for a Day. They are a rising star in the local pop/rock scene, indeed.

Last Saturday (23/11/2024), all the people who came at HolyWood Live Stage, had the privilege to enjoy a concert of Oopsie Daisy – the girls rocked us well and gave us magical moments of sonic harmony and beauty! They showcased all their musical charisma and shared with us the catchy melodies of some really beautiful songs. Whether it was modern hits or timeless classics, Oopsie Daisy infused every song with their personal flair, captivating all of us! Their set lasted almost one hour and a half and everyone at HolyWood Stage got on our feet! Both the band and the attendants had a great time!

If you’re a fan of live music that combines exceptional musicianship with unbridled enthusiasm, Oopsie Daisy is a band you don’t want to miss. Mark your calendar and prepare for the next live dates! And I am sure that soon enough, day by day, this incredible pop/rock band will write down all their cool song ideas and will give us something 100% of their own!

Το άρθρο OOPSIE DAISY: AN ALL-FEMALE POP/ROCK SENSATION! εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Ira Bunia

photo: Chris Kissadjekian

Hello, girls, how are we?

Hello Ira, we’re all fine, and thank you very much for the invitation!

First of all, before we start with the questions, we would like you to introduce yourselves and tell us your role in the band.

We are Diamond Signs, an all-female hard rock/metal cover band since 2017, consisting of four members. My name is Maria Abatzoglou and I play the drums, Ioanna Mitsioni is on the guitar and the vocals, Kiki Karanikola is on the bass and the vocals and Argiro Igilizian is our lead vocalist.

Tell me about your band name, Diamond Signs. Which girl came up with the name and where did she get inspired from?

Many ideas were thrown on the table, but this one prevailed, because this name characterized more precisely what we do: playing “diamonds” of foreign hard rock/metal repertoire but putting our own “signature” as a band! Our own “signs”.

You are all-female band. Was it something that happened by chance or was it a team decision?

No, it didn’t happen by chance! It succeeded, hahaha! … It was an idea and a personal dream of mine that I had for a long time. To form a band, but I wanted it to be purely female, because there aren’t many in this genre in Greece. It’s quite rare. I was searching for the right members for many years who shared the same passion and love for this music, and thanks to these girls, my dream came true in the best possible way!

Since when did you start jamming together and when did you decide to start the first live shows?

The band was formed in September 2017, and we immediately started rehearsals to put together a setlist. Our first live show took place in December 2017.

Do you share common musical tastes among yourselves?

Yes, we all love hard rock sound, but each one of us has her own personal taste, so our setlist consists of selections from all the girls. We listen to many different genres of music, but mainly we focus on this genre to give the band an identity.

Watching some of your live performances, I notice that you enjoy playing not only hard rock but also classic metal, from Queensrÿche and Metallica to Iron Maiden. Tell me a bit about your influences?

Maria: My initial influence is Socrates Drank The Conium, especially with their latest lineup featuring Makis Gioulis on drums… listening to them and getting to know them, I immediately realized that I wanted to become a drummer!!! I also adore and have been greatly influenced by Cozy Powell for his style and the fire he brought to his playing! From there came my nickname Maria ‘Cozy’, and I studied extensively all the bands he played with: Whitesnake, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, etc.

Argiro: In this group, I’m the softie! I enjoy the hard rock scene, still learning about the metal scene… and I have a lot more to learn. My influences range from Janis Joplin to Deep Purple and from Joss Stone to Rival Sons, and it’s all in the mix!

Kiki: My influences vary, but most of them come from the music of the 80s up to the mid-90s, and I enjoy listening to anything related to that era of music, from Madonna and Wham to Coroner and Death.

Ioanna: My influences range from Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Metallica to Death and black metal. From very classic to grunge, metal, etc. I’ve been listening to various genres since I was little, depending on my mood.

What is each girl’s favorite band and album?

Difficult question indeed!!! There are so many bands… countless!

Maria: I really enjoy listening to hard rock bands like Toto (my favorite album is “Kingdom of Desire”), King’s X, Thunder, Thin Lizzy, FM, Mr. Big, and metal bands such as Iron Maiden (favorite album “Somewhere in Time’), Annihilator, Riot, Dio, Pink Cream 69, but my all-time favorite piece that represents me the most is “Resurrection Time” by John Norum! If I don’t listen to it once a day, it’s like missing my daily pill!

Argiro: It’s indeed a very difficult question, but I’ll tell you which are the first and the most recent albums that I loved and listened to extensively! The first one was “Cheap Thrills” by Janis Joplin, which I listened to when I was 16, and I decided that I would forever be in love with the electric sound, and the most recent one is “Burn” by Deep Purple, which I still enjoy listening to until today!

Kiki: The question is indeed very difficult, because there are so many favorite albums, I’ll just mention three without which I can’t live: Camel’s “Mirage”, Iron Maiden’s “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son”, and the first album by Mercyful Fate (“Melissa”).

Ioanna: I struggle a lot with such questions, but one album that came to mind and I love is “…And Justice for All” by Metallica! Also, “Over-Nite Sensation” by Frank Zappa. Bands are very difficult… Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Metallica, and many others!

What will be the next destination?

Our next live show will be at Rockwood on April 27th! We’ll be delighted to see you all there!

Thank you very much for the time you dedicated to me, and I wish you all to achieve your goals.

You’re very welcome.

Το άρθρο DIAMOND SIGNS – SHINING BRIGHT LIKE DIAMONDS! εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.