...is...there...anybody...out...there....? - contact Mournblade- . -contact - . - is there anybody out there?

NEW live video tracks (from Genetic Studios charity concert 1986):

Metal Archives
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New CD 'Anthology Part 1' OUT NOW on Angel Air Records

How big were Mournblade?
- by '86, their first album had sold several thousand copies (it's still available via the web…and they still haven't earnt anything from it!), they were regularly headlining major London venues like the Marquee, the 100 Club and Dingwall's. It should be remembered that prior to this, they'd slogged the London pub/club circuit for 2 years and then toured nationwide, during '85 clocking up over 250 shows. Much of this time was a blur of motorways, sleeping rough, soundchecks - and gigs! In addition, supporting major acts (as mentioned before) gave serious exposure. Most importantly, they were filling venues…by '86 and '87 filling decent-sized venues. Fans received their own newsletter, 'The Machine', and this went to various countries such as the US and Australia.

 

 

 

Mournblade…where does the name come from?
- Mournblade was the black Sword of Chaos (along with its sister, Stormbringer - but that name was already in use by another band at the time) from Mike Moorcock's science fantasy books. The band went to meet Mike at the Forbidden Planet in London, where he gave them permission to use the name. At the time, Dunken's lyrics were strongly influenced by Moorcock's themes - evident in the bands' earlier material. A search for 'Mournblade' on the web nowadays brings up many references; to Moorcock's original stories, on-line role-players, flamenco dancers (?) - and at least two other bands using the name (well, Mournblade split in 1990 so that's ok)

discography & lineup
…the Hawkwind connection?
- tenuous, although the above mentioned Moorcock-factor was an obvious link (Mike being a part-time member of Hawkwind). There's no doubt that Rich's riff-er-ama guitar style was HW/Dave Brock influenced, but also by the sounds of the punk/metal crossover - the Pink Fairies, the Pistols, Motorhead, Angel Wytch etc….but for some reason the music press went through a period of tagging Mournblade as 'Hawkwind-influenced', even 'Hawkwind rip-off'! Mournblade signed to Flicknife Records, as were Hawkwind, and later supported them on various tour dates. The association with the free festivals was also a factor.

and the fight outside the Portobello Gold?
-it never happened. At that time they were paying a press agent a handsome monthly sum to ensure they were regularly name-checked in the music press. One particular month there was nothing much happening tour-wise so he invented the story and fed it to the press, it then appeared on page 3 of Melody Maker, in NME and Kerrang! too, so - be careful what you read!
got the T-shirt?

Mournblade's MySpace page

 

More merchandise

Let's remember, and thank:-
Brian Banks (management), Android Ande (lighting), Martin 'The Operator' (and all his fans from 'The Machine!), Selene Paxton-Brooks (artwork), Mark, Craig, Jon, Scotch Egg, (roadcrew), all the people who let us sleep in their saloon bars/toilets/tin baths/gardens - and anyone anywhere who helped Mournblade all those years ago. Remember we were, as Kerrang! hailed us: 'The Future of Heavy Metal'!...more to come; do check back from time-to-time

 

Disclaimer
Those commercial websites linked here have no connection with Mournblade, who ceased to exist as a band in 1990 or thereabouts (this site being dedicated as a retrospective);- and who have never received any royalty payments from independant sellers of merchandise. Although other users of the name exist they have absolutely no connection with the subject of these pages
Some links to stuff about Mournblade:
Sidewinder
Battlezone