PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Time to grab those wayfarers, fire up the flux capacitor, jump in the DeLorean and revisit the fun and sunshine of the 1980s with White Spirit.
RUNAWAY is the first single from the new album, Right Or Wrong, and is accompanied by a lyric video that reflects the carefree, good-time vibes of 1981 when Brian Howe’s stunning vocal was originally recorded.
RUNAWAY is a time capsule. A pure slice of joyous, melodic rock layered with luscious keyboards, driving guitars, a powerhouse rhythm and a barnstorming vocal from a young Brian Howe that showed he was destined for stardom.
After their debut single, Backs To The Grind was released on the legendary NEAT Records in 1980, White Spirit was hot property and their debut album was loved by critics and the public.
After lineup changes, the new and improved White Spirit entered the studio to work on their second album, but the album was never fully completed, the band broke up and musicians went their separate ways.
Singer, Brian Howe crossed the Atlantic and became the frontman for Ted Nugent, before achieving mega-platinum success as the replacement for Paul Rodgers in Bad Company.
So White Spirit was seemingly consigned to music history, with former members proceeding to forge impressive careers built on this promising foundation. Four decades on, the location of these 2nd album sessions remained a mystery.
The day following Brian Howe’s tragic death from a heart attack in May 2020, guitarist, Mick Tucker and keysman, Mal Pearson were on the phone reflecting on those heady White Spirit days. The missing tapes were once more discussed, but still neither had any idea where to find them.
Fate stepped in, and during a house move, Mal Pearson was looking through his furniture in storage when he found a dusty old bedside cabinet. Inside were four sets of tapes. One labelled Chiswick Studios – White Spirit. This was it. The one they’d all thought was lost forever.
The tape was handed over to Conquest Music boss and Tank guitarist, Cliff Evans who arranged for the delicate process of restoring the tapes to retrieve the old recordings.
Successful as the process was, the sound quality of some elements of the tracks were just not good enough for today’s ears so Tucker & Pearson decided to replace all of the musical accompaniment with a stellar lineup of players. Neil Murray (Whitesnake) and Russell Gilbrook (Uriah Heep) made up the rhythm section, with the guitars and keyboards replaced by Mick and Mal.
Pontus Norgren (Hammerfall) was chosen to mix the album in Sweden, and the result is an incredibly fresh body of work with power, finesse, great songs, and amazing vocals.
Ten tracks with a nod to the past, but fresh and vibrant arrangements fit for 21st Century ears.
One can only wonder what may have been if the album was released as originally planned in 1981.
So the wheel of fate that saw White Spirit disband 40 years ago, turned once more, unveiling the lost tapes that finally reveal the first album recorded by Brian Howe, sounding as fine as he ever did.
The album Right Or Wrong will be released in July 2022 on Conquest Music.
Be prepared for some surprise guest stars and a body of work that, had it come out when it was originally written, could have placed White Spirit amongst the giants of melodic rock.
White Spirit is planning live shows, with Tucker & Pearson already writing the next album. We can be sure it won’t be another 40 years before that is released.
The first single, RUNAWAY features an exclusive radio edit, alongside the full, album version of RUNAWAY
Find RUNAWAY on digital services below
The stunning nostalgic lyric video is here:
