NEWS

20/04/26

Thirsty Quireboys announce 'God Bless America - Best of Thirsty'

THIRSTY QUIREBOYS ANNOUNCE GOD BLESS AMERICA – BEST OF THIRSTY: A POWERFUL NEW ALBUM HONOURING THE LEGACY OF GUY BAILEY AND REUNITING THE QUIREBOYS’ FOUNDING DUO

London, UK 2026: London-based rock project Thirsty Quireboys return with God Bless America, a striking release that celebrates the life, work and unmistakable creative spirit of the late Guy Bailey - founder of The Quireboys, songwriter, guitarist, and the architect of Thirsty’s distinctive sound. The album will be released June 5th 2026.

The title song God Bless America recounts the devastating real story of Rosemary Kennedy, sister of JFK: presented as a debutante to the Royal Family, later forcibly lobotomised on the insistence of her father, Joe Kennedy. During the operation, fully conscious, she was asked to sing God Bless America. When she stopped, so did they. Set to Irina D’s vivid, tightly focused lyrics and Guy’s haunting guitar motif, the track moves from romance to horror with stark elegance. Spike delivers one of the most emotionally charged vocal performances of his career, rising from tenderness to raw intensity as the narrative unfolds. Musically, Bailey’s use of discordant, looping E-minor phrases functions as an allegorical unravelling of the American Dream, echoing the spirit of Hendrix’s Star-Spangled Banner and the subversive grit of Springsteen’s Born in the USA.

Guy Bailey and Spike co‑founded The Quireboys, writing the songs that took the band from Monday-night pub gigs to being managed by Sharon Osborne and global tours with The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses and Aerosmith, earning gold and platinum records along the way.

Guy Bailey’s solo project “Thirsty” began early in 2014 when he began working with Russian poet and lyricist Irina D. Their collaboration fused Bailey’s song-writing genius with Irina’s passion for storytelling and literature. Favourite novels, poems and real-life histories were framed and retold in three-minute songs, each lovingly produced by Chris Kimsey. Irina D: “I loved working with Guy on these songs. He was very well-read and his home was always full of books – Master and Margarita, Last Exit To Brooklyn and Moby Dick. The first song we ever did was Donnie to Sonny. I showed him a poem I had written and, whenever the story resonated, Guy went away and set my words to music. It was beautiful.”

Thirsty absolutely embraced the discipline of the classic song format. Within that tight frame, Bailey and Irina D crafted miniature cinematic worlds: each track a distilled portrait of a life, a myth, or a moment of human truth. Between 2015 and 2018, they released three critically acclaimed albums: Thirsty, Albatross and Nomad, featuring contributions from top-tier musicians including Simon Hanson (Squeeze, Death in Vegas), Chris Johnstone (The Quireboys), Lynne Jackaman (Saint Jude), and Kristi Kimsey. Drummer Simon Hansen “I’ve known Guy for longer than I have been in Squeeze! He was a great friend - a fabulously talented musician and songwriter even though he always did his best to downplay this fact. The Thirsty thing really was unusual. Irina D would bring poems to Guy based on books and stories she had read – and Guy went away set them to music. It was a bit like Elton John and Bernie Taupin in that respect.”

Originally, the new album was the brainchild of Irina D and was conceived as a simple tribute: Spike would sing just one track, ‘10 7 and Possibly 6’. But his first take stunned everyone in the studio, Guy’s guitar and Spike’s voice locked together with the force of old chemistry reignited. What began as one song quickly became a full, emotionally charged album. Spike himself says “…to get the chance to make a record again with Guy was really special.”

More than a compilation, God Bless America is a rare and unexpected reunion: a posthumous collaboration between Guy Bailey and his longtime friend and musical partner Spike (The Quireboys), reimagining Bailey’s songs through new vocals and powerful duets. Remixed and shaped under the ear of legendary Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey, the album brings new clarity, weight and emotional depth to the music Bailey created with co-writer Irina D. As Chris says, “Spike’s voice has always complemented Guy’s guitar playing perfectly. And the addition of one of the world’s best vocalists really complements and illuminates these songs. It was a really happy accident and I was delighted to be a part of it”

In addition to the title track, the album revisits some of Thirsty’s most beloved and most ambitious storytelling pieces: “Donnie to Sonny”- the true-life bond between mobster Sonny Black and undercover FBI agent Joe Pistone (Donnie Brasco). “Flawless” - a jewel thief’s escape, inspired by To Catch a Thief and the 2013 Cannes jewellery heist. “Albatross” - a vivid reimagining of Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner. “Chaos” - Guy Bailey reciting Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress to introduce a modern allegorical wanderer. “Orlando” - a musical transformation of Virginia Woolf’s gender-shifting hero/ine. Each track has been re‑voiced, remixed and revitalised under Chris Kimsey’s direction, creating incredible versions of Thirsty’s strongest work. Chris Johnstone (bass) agrees “…This was an important record for all of us - and he (Spike) made sure that his voice was sounding as good as it has ever done. The results speak for themselves. “

God Bless America – Best Of Thirsty stands as both a celebration and an evolution: a final collaboration between two great friends and lifelong musical partners, and a new chapter in the ongoing story of Thirsty. At its heart is the enduring creative spark of Guy Bailey—his melodies, his instinctive guitar work, and the stories he helped bring to life. Through Spike’s vocals, Irina’s writing, and Chris Kimsey’s guidance, the album cements his legacy while allowing the songs to breathe in a new and powerful way.

Track Listing:
1 - 10, 7 and Possibly 6
2 - Flawless
3 - God Bless America
4 - Mercury
5 - Albatross
6 - White
7 - Libertine
8 - Donnie to Sonny
9 - Chaos
10 - Solar
11 - Orlando
12 - Even Keel
13 - Black

Listen to Spike's rendition of 'Mercury Rising'.

ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

24/03/26

Hot Knives announce new shows

Spike and Tyla's Hot Knives announce summer 2026 dates

Hot Knives will headline at this years Whitby Goth weekend, with a warm up show in Leeds the night before, and three new dates have been added in Nottingham, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Ticket info.

14/12/25

Spike announces 2026 solo dates

Tickets for Spike's acoustic songs & stories 'Off the Record' tour are onsale now

31/10/25

Spike is guest vocalist on the new Soho Dukes single

As Spike recently said 'It was such an honour to be asked to sing on the brilliant new single 'A Stones Throw' from the Soho Dukes, plus it was great to play with my old mate Dave 'Bucket' Colwell who was absolutely brilliant. Can't wait for the shows in Nov/Dec, see you all there for an evening of pure rock n roll, love Spike x'

The Soho Dukes press release (edited):

SOHO DUKES RELEASE NEW SINGLE “A STONE’S THROW” FEATURING SPIKE (QUIREBOYS) AND DAVE ‘BUCKET’ COLWELL (EX – BAD COMPANY) AND MORE

SOHO DUKES launch their second single from their upcoming new album, ‘Nighthawks, Acrobats and Everything Under The Moon’.

‘Nighthawks, Acrobats and Everything Under The Moon’ out on Duchess / Cargo Records on November 28, 2025

'A Stone’s Throw' finds the band joined by Spike (Quireboys) and Dave ‘Bucket’ Colwell (ex-Bad Company) for an unforgettable dose of barstool philosophy.

Vocabulist JOHNNY BARRACUDA comments:

“We were obviously delighted when Spike and Bucket agreed to take the starring roles. The sessions will live long in the memory! Spike was in the middle of a run of gigs when he joined us in a little studio in Sussex. I scribbled the lyrics on the back of a betting slip and away we went. He was brilliant. See you on tour, me ol' son!

"And to have the genial maestro DAVE 'BUCKET' COLWELL take the lead guitar break was the cherry on top of the icing on top of the gateau. The solo's perfect. And you should hear stuff we didn't have room for! It The song could have been a 15-minute epic! Bucks is a legend!

"And on top of all that we've got the outrageously talented SIMON WALLIS on saxophones. He's worked with so many people: Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Natalie Cole, Solomon Burke. And that's just a few of 'em! That's frightening! And there's some stunning work on those backing vocals too. JULIA (KRAJEWSKA) and LUCY (CLARKE) really went to town on this! Honestly, I could listen to them all day."

The video was superbly produced by JAMES HERON of CARRIAGE RETURN.

Listen / Buy 'A Stone’s Throw' HERE:

https://lnk.to/GViMz5

15/08/25

Spike and the Geordie Rogues

'Drink is the Ruination of Man' - the new single from Geordie Rogues, watch below.

You can also see Spike and the Geordie Rogues live this October! There will be supporting entertainment followed by the chance to hear songs live for the first time from the new album 'Spike and the Geordie Rogues'.

Tickets onsale now

11/04/25

Spike Cluny show with Willie Dowling

This is a very special evening with two Geordie rogues, Spike will be joined by Willie Dowling on piano and a few Geordie friends will be getting up to play a mix of songs old & new

Willie will be performing solo too, Spike commented that Willie has no mates so get there early to cheer him up please!

Tickets onsale now

30/03/25

Quireboys announce UK shows to celebrate 35 years of A Bit of What You Fancy

The announcement about the band headlining Thursday at Planet Rockstock was just the start - the guys then hit the road for a series of select UK shows celebrating 35 years of A Bit of What You Fancy

Tickets onsale now

30/03/25

Quireboys: Hey You! The Parlophone Years 1989-1993, 4CD Box Set

From Cherry Red Records and featuring 2 albums, B-sides, versions, demos, and concert recordings, including the live album Recorded Around The World. Sleevenotes by Spike.