I saw Duran Duran in Dec 81 at Canterbury Uni (we would go to any half decent local gig!), they were OK, but they were supported by Talk Talk who were superb.
A pretty fair reflection of Friday's gig. Apparently Saturday was better, which was to be expected...and why we originally had tickets for the first and last shows. Rearranged dates mean that this has become first and penultimate...but that's still good. We'll be off early on Thursday to the frozen North for more fun. The reunion gigs in '89 also ended with a cover of Last Time...but without this... please log in to view this image It does the heart good...and not before time!
I've said before that I was at the last of their Wembley concerts...and that it was a distinct let down. The security was ridiculous and playing in a seated venue was just a terrible idea. I'd seen The Clash play 3 gigs at Brixton Academy that summer and they were on a whole different level. I'm glad that I'd seen The Jam a couple of times before, because that Wembley gig was a distinct let down and I'm sure that the atmosphere put the band off. Next time I saw Weller, he was being 'canned off' in Brockwell Park as part of The Style Council's first live performance....maybe it's just me?
Just been sent this.. please log in to view this image Captain's Hofner bass at the end of Saturday's gig. Apparently, the neck snapped off through fair usage...and he trashed the ****er. It would sell for more than a brand new one, I should expect.
I was at Wembley on 5th Dec and the shows were too emotional the audience a mixture of anger and despair and the band for the only time that I saw them were going through the motions and thats not really a surprise As concerts go I prefer to remember them from Brighton in Sept 82 when they were fabulous.
I saw them in the Red Cow pub in Hammersmith in 77 it was licenced for about 200 but somehow 300 squeezed in, the place was like a furnace and the band tore it apart that night
Just booked a couple of tickets for the album launch (and accoustic set) of a new band... The Wingmen...and when I say new, I really mean a group of old codgers like myself. So, Gentlemen, I give you... Paul Gray of The Damned; Martin Parrott of The Cherry Trees, South Norwood...and Johnny Moped; Leigh Hegarty of Ruts DC; Baz Warne of The Stranglers; and Rob Coombes of Supergrass. Basically, it's a fabulous line-up. So far, just this one morsel has been released... ...very tasty, too! The £60 ticket (ooof!) comes with an album, T Shirt, badge and tote bag (very Brian!), but it's that or have the heating on for a couple of days...and you can't take it with you!
Just watched Episode 3 of SAS Rogue Heroes, which features New Rose as the attack on a German Aerodrome takes place and plays out to Smash It Up....so far, a Damned fine soundtrack.
Happy 43rd Birthday to the magnificence that is... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Widely considered to be their finest album...I think that it's a toss up between that and the Black Album...but what's certain is that it's a cert for thje Top 10 punk albums, although there were already signs of the Gothic in Plan 9 Channel 7 and I Just Can't Be Happy Today and the poppier side of things in Smash It Up. Rat's successful, recent return for the reunion gigs have led to suggestions of a MGE/BA tour with Rat and Paul. I'd love it...but it'd probably bankrupt me, as I'd want to go to every one of them.
Today is the 42nd anniversary of The Black Album, to my mind, the band's magnum opus. There's a huge musical distance between MGE and the BA. It is impossible to think of History of the World, 13th Floor Vendetta or Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde appearing on MGE, or any other Damned album. Curtain Call exists in a different reality to anything else that they've recorded, before or since. Paul Gray joining and a growing confidence amongst the other 3 members took them onto another plane. Writing this from a train on my way to Manchester to see my second reunion gig and hoping for great things. Fingers crossed
Not a bad version of Downtown but obviously can't compare with what has to be the ultimate version, simply because it isn't sung by Cindy Wilson! And talking of Cindy. Her finest hour, and one of their finest tunes, doing her best Sandy Shaw impression barefoot and simply gorgeous!
Last night was a fabulous performance from the boys. It was filmed, which was always likely to kick it up a notch or two. Brian looked slightly less likely to expire on stage and Rat was back to setting his cymbals alight. Captain's got the taste for smashing up Hofner copy bass guitars and another one bit the dust at the end. Dave has been fabulous throughout. No 'going through the motions' here. Last night, everyone was on it including the crowd. Was out until the wee small hours in some club in Manchrster, so I'm still pissed rather than hungover on the PACKED train back to London. I think I may have agreed to going to Birmingham on Saturday....but I'm a bit hazy on who with.....the sign of a good night!
