May 22nd, 2026 - The Magic of Chicken TV

 

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and craft beer fanatics!  The Meista here pairing Gillan's 6th and final album, the fantastic "Magic" with a Chicken TV Premium American Lager from Home Range Brewing!  Hell yes!  Oh, and this pairing is dedicated to my friend Dustin Mitchell... cheers brother!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Gillan
• Title: "Magic"
• Recorded: July through August 1982 at Kingsway Studio in London, England
• Release date: September 1982 (6th studio album by Gillan)
• Record company: Virgin Records
• Production: Mick Glossop 
• Album cover art: Dave Dragon (illustration) and Bitter & Twisted (design) 
• Personnel: Janick Gers (guitars), Ian Gillan (lead vocals and harmonica), John McCoy (bass), Colin Towns (keyboards), and Mick Underwood (drums)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal
• Sound: As with everything Ian Gillan touches, "Magic" is a powerful musical statement filled with expressive and emotive lyrics and vocals, a powerhouse rhythm section, and soaring guitars and keys!
• Major themes: Life, joy, music, relationships, loss, love, desire, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "What's The Matter"
2. "Bluesy Blue Sea"
3. "Caught In A Trap"
4. "Long Gone"
5. "Driving Me Wild"
   
6. "Demon Driver"
7. "Living A Lie"
8. "You're So Right"
9. "Living For The City" (Stevie Wonder cover)
10. "Demon Driver (Reprise)"
11. "Breaking Chains" (bonus track)
12. "Purple Sky" (bonus track)
13. "Fiji" (bonus track)
14. "Helter Skelter" (bonus track - The Beatles cover)
15. "Smokestack Lightning" (bonus track)
16. "South Africa" (bonus track)
17. "John" (bonus track)
18. "South Africa" (bonus track - 12" extended version)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Home Range Brewing (Logan, Utah
• Website: https://www.homerangebeer.com/
• Brew: Chicken TV Premium American Lager 
• Style: American Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.5%
• Pour: The Chicken TV pours a clear, pale straw-yellow hue with a thin, bright white, bubbly head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, malty.  There are aromas of freshly cut hay, lightly toasted white bread, a hint of lemongrass, and light grassy hops.
• Taste: Following the nose, the flavor of the Chicken TV is characterized by notes of crackery biscuit, bready malt, light barley, a hint of lemon zest, and a splash of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Chicken TV is very crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Home Range Chicken TV Premium American Lager is a light and very crushable brew... a great foil to the amazing heavy rock and roll stylings of the mighty Gillan!  The soaring vocals and guitar work shines even brighter with the crips lager notes, while that biscuity malt is right in line with the lyrics and thunderous rhythm section!!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!