Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell Vocalist/Guitarist Johnny Redfern: 5 Albums That Changed My Life

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell might have formed in the '00s, but their musical style smacks of 1973. Named after a 17th century English naval commander, the power trio play the kind of earthy hard rock that has fellow music journalists comparing them to proto-metal groups like Budgie and Sir Lord Baltimore.

If you're not familiar with the aforementioned bands, Sweden's Ghost would be a modern act that shares the same kind of musical spirit (no pun intended) as Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell.

The folks at Metal Blade recently released Don't Hear It...Fear It!, Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's debut album, and we won't be surprised if it makes the year-end lists next month.

We know these dudes have killer record collections, so Noisecreep asked vocalist/guitarist Johnny Redfern to take part in our ongoing 'Five Albums That Changed My Life' series.

Queen, Queen (1973)

"At the tender age of 8 or 9, I used to stay home from school so I could listen to this on my brothers hi-fi while he was at work, and play his drums along with it at the same time! The fact I could play drums along with it amazes me even now! [laughs] Top notch songs and such a great variety of styles opened my eyes to the alternative to pop radio and TV, and pathed the way to Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and all them bands. If you only own one Queen LP make it this one!"

Back in the USA, MC5 (1970)

"As my record collection and tastes evolved I would occasionally see references to the MC5 and the Stooges in Kerrang and Sounds in the UK rock press. There was no Internet or digital TV so you had to read carefully! I scored a copy of Kick Out the Jams first, but this was much harder to find! I was blown away by the tightness of the tunes and the energy of the riffs and guitars – pure rock 'n' roll class, Chuck Berry never sounded so good!"

Vincebus Eruptum, Blue Cheer (1968)

"Early '80s and I was getting kind of tired of the new metal bands and disgusted by the proto hair metal scene, I needed something new! Happily this came in the form of something very old and also very heavy! A chance meeting with an old school friend led to him playing me May Blitz, Sir Lord Baltimore, Josefus, Stray and of course, Blue Cheer's Vincebus Eruptum. After one mind-blowing hearing I knew I had to own it...no.....correction... be it! Everything about this album connected with me – the raw 'fuck-you'-ness of the sound, the claustrophobic and intense mixes that make you feel like you're locked into a sweaty cellar club full of acid casualty hippies, doped up bikers, sickly marijuana smoke and ear-splitting, gut-churning malaise of horror that was Blue Cheer. Intense!"

We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll, Black Sabbath (1975)

"I think my brother or sister might have bought me this as a Christmas present back in late '70s, it's the one with the Bosch skeletons/hell cover art. I'd heard Paranoid, of course, but that was no 'Warning' as to the way songs like 'N.I.B,' 'Black Sabbath' and 'War Pigs' are gonna make you feel. I got to admit feeling more than a bit scared when I first heard the bells and rain then the evil 'Mars' style riff kicks in and (un)holy shit! I wanted to know what inspired these guys – were thay all Satanists who drank goats blood?? Or just four guys from Brum? [laughs] I've never been the same since!"

Overkill, Motorhead (1979)

"I remember the anticipation as I slipped the green vinyl limited edition of this LP onto my feeble stereo aged ...er 11...12 maybe? I'd heard a snippet of the title track on the radio, but through my stereo speakers ....this was just the most intense, hard-driving battering ram, rip off ya balls and nail 'em to ya head music I had ever heard. School friends were bigging up the Clash and the Pistols and all that new wave shit, 'Fuck you! I've got Motorhead!' I got a leather jacket, cowboy boots and I'm saving for a bullet belt – so fuck you! I'm going to see them in concert this very evening folks, so they musta had some impact on me right? [laughs] Eat it!"

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's debut album, Don't Hear It...Fear It!, is out now via Metal Blade and available for sale at this link!