Ep 625 Spike & Quireboys new music, touring and more in 2026!

Spike (Jonathan Gray) is the unmistakable voice and frontman of The Quireboys, one of Britain’s most enduring and characterful rock ’n’ roll bands. Formed in London in the mid-1980s, The Quireboys emerged from the same gritty pub-rock and glam-soaked scene that fed bands like Hanoi Rocks and The Dogs D’Amour, blending classic Rolling Stones swagger with blues, soul, and hard-earned street romance.Originally breaking through under the name The Queerboys, the band quickly gained a reputation for explosive live shows and raw authenticity. Their 1990 debut album A Bit of What You Fancy, produced by Mike Fraser, became a defining release of the era, spawning fan favorites such as “Hey You,” “7 O’Clock,” and “I Don’t Love You Anymore.” The album achieved international success, cementing the band’s place alongside the late-’80s hard rock movement while retaining a distinctly British identity.Spike’s voice—gravelly, soulful, and deeply expressive—has always been the band’s signature. Equal parts Rod Stewart rasp and blues shouter grit, his delivery carries both celebration and heartbreak, perfectly suited to the band’s songs of love, excess, survival, and regret. Unlike many contemporaries, The Quireboys leaned heavily into melody and storytelling, drawing as much from Faces, The Stones, and classic soul as from hard rock.Throughout multiple lineup changes and shifting musical climates, Spike has remained the constant force, guiding The Quireboys through decades of touring, recording, and reinvention. Albums such as Bitter Sweet & Twisted, This Is Rock ’n’ Roll, St. Cecilia, and White Trash Blues reaffirmed the band’s commitment to roots-driven rock with modern edge, while continued live performances across Europe and beyond have sustained a loyal global following.In addition to his work with The Quireboys, Spike has released solo material and collaborated with numerous artists, further showcasing his range as a songwriter and frontman. His career reflects longevity built not on trends, but on conviction—classic songs, lived-in performances, and a refusal to sanitize rock ’n’ roll.Today, Spike and The Quireboys stand as survivors of their generation: a band that never chased reinvention for its own sake, instead choosing to refine and deepen a sound rooted in honesty, swagger, and soul. Their legacy is one of resilience, authenticity, and an unbroken connection to the spirit of rock ’n’ roll.https://www.spikequireboys.com/