Reunited U.K. Rockers SALEM To Play First Gig In 27 Years

1980s U.K. rock/metal band SALEM will play its first show in 27 years this Saturday, November 20 at The Adelphi, De Grey Street, Hull, England.

According to This Is Hull & East Riding, the band has been rehearsing feverishly in a Wincolmlee studio for the past few weeks and says it's ready to pick up where it left off.

"It was pretty surreal playing together after all this time," guitarist Paul Macnamara states.

"I wouldn't say we clicked straight away, but it didn't take us long. We've all kept our hand in musically, one way or another, down the years so we weren't particularly rusty.

"What was noticeable was how quickly we all felt like mates again. Like we hadn't really been away."

In late 1979, SALEM was formed by two former members from Hull's "Metal for Muthas" stars ETHEL THE FROG. The band quickly built a strong following, gigging in Hull and around the Northeast. They went on to make several recordings of their unique brand of heavy rock based on a thundering rhythm, soaring twin guitars and powerful vocals melodies.

SALEM released a single 1982 that sold globally, an excellent example of the contemporary New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, and is now listed in Record Collector's "Rare Record Price Guide" and considered "a highly collectable and valuable rarity." Sadly, the band split after its final, sell-out gig in Hull on May 31, 1983.

Last year, High Roller Records and Pure Steel Records approached SALEM, keen to release the 1980s NWOBHM recordings on vinyl, CD and for digital download. The result is the double-album "In The Beginning…" released in July this year. The CD has attracted a great deal of interest, so much that the band has reformed to play select gigs.

SALEM has been invited to perform at a number of festivals across Europe next year, and is already planning to record a new album.