Free and Bad Company were both class. I've still got Free "live" in the original envelope sleeve...sure some of it was recorded at Sunderland (mecca?). I also liked these....though this is one of their later songs.
That's some crowd there. This is their opening song live in Paris, 1979...Live Wire. I prefer the Bon era AC/DC, but they've come a long way since then.
I've said that for years about the lyrics. "Pushed as far as I can go" "in the end" " doesn't matter". I'm sure numb was about his dad but so many people can relate. he was crying out for years.... but people just moshed
The "live" recordings were done at the Locarno Ballroom (Fillmore North ) 6/2/1970. It was Frees second appearance at that venue and both were 3,000 capacity sell outs, the crowds took Island Records by surprise, so the place was set up for live a recording on that second visit.,Chris Blackmore himself came up to see what the fuss was all about. Free had built up a reputation at The Bay Hotel in the previous 12 months along with many top bands of the time inc Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd , T rex etc playing there before worldwide fame. Incidently Elton John wanted to play the Bay but was turned down ..
That's where I thought It was recorded, never knew it was called the Locarno though. Was it called the Mecca at some point?....maybe before it was genevieves?
I am not certain but I think that the Locano Ballrooms were part of the larger Mecca Leisure Group. As an aside, the Mecca name is now used at the old Odean Cinema in Holmside. This venue was also used at times in the 60's as a theatre, among other top acts the original line up of Rolling Stones with Brian Jones played there just as the second album was released. Still got the album's but wish I had kept my ticket stubs from all the venues that I visited in those days, the NE was a hot bed for live music , with top acts appearing weekly at one venue or another.
Before the release of their first album Led Zepplin were booked to play the Bay hotel in April 69, but before that date arrived, the release of their first album triggered a whirlwind tour of America and the rest is history. Two years later they fulfilled their obligation to the promoter (Geoff Docherty) by playing three shows in the NE the first at the Mayfair Newcastle on the 18th March 71, Followed immediately by another mega tour of America, then later in Nov the same year they arrived at City Hall Newcastle 11 Nov and next day finally made it to Sunderland but by now at the Locarno as you say, (admission 75p). I went to the Mayfair.
Any good? Jimmy could play though couldn't he? Way before my time but only got into their stuff by working backwards from the stuff I liked.
I will never forget it , the play list would be interesting, but by the 3rd Album I had moved on, only When the Levee Breaks appealed to me, only one of them on this version page version but it appeals to me still ,
I ask because a balcony ran right round behind the stage and after seeing the fist half of the show we were lucky enough to be on it for the second half . so getting to see the band really close up with an uninterrupted view from about 10 feet , it was like being in the band . The first half was off to an ear shattering start Jimmy Pages electronics and amplification was like nothing I had ever seen or heard before but Plants voice was even better, they finished off sitting on the edge of the stage and did the Immigrant Song before telling the audience that this was the first and last rehearsal of the running order for their next America tour . The second half was a belter and at the end the band and audience were ecstatic as Peter Grant ran onto the stage, wreathed is smiles hugging the group in a genuine display of emotion, it was really heady stuff.
Absolutely superb mate. Sounds like it was an unbelievable night. That sort of thing doesn't happen these days
