Very good band, saw them a dozen times at work. Quick story, ignore if easily bored ... ... the first time they played Rock City it was the height of Punk Rock and very intense. The Stranglers were musically ahead of most bands, not too far into the clothes and definitely not the mutual spitting. During the gig Hugh Cornwell asked people to stop spitting but some continued. I was stage left, with my working partner Scouse and, all of a sudden, there's a major fight so he's off into the mosh pit and getting a lad in a headlock. As he's dragging him towards the fire exit I realised it was Jean-Jacques Burnel, the bass player. I'd seen him, in the corner of my eye, leap headfirst off stage into the crowd after he'd been spat at. Scouse was having none of it and saying 'he's going out' I managed to prise him off the lad, who's actually a martial arts expert, and got them to shake hands. We got him back on stage and Cornwell said 'That's your last chance, any more spitting and the gig's over and we'll set Jean-Jacques loose on yer'. The head doorman put me, Scouse and four other lads at the fromt of the stage with baseball bats. Good as gold after that and a great night for all
As well as above also saw Uriah Heep & Sabbath there. The arena up the road. Not the best sound but saw Joe Bonamassa there. Theatre Royal. Christine Collister. Small intimate gig and she took the time to come round to all the tables and have a few mins chat.
To be fair, the local Punk crowd were pretty fanatical and always packed the place out. We had the Damned, Angelic Upstarts, Sex Pistols, Clash, Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Exploited, etc, plus the likes of Bauhaus, Altered Images, Billy Idol and the more cultured Indie bands ... some cracking nights.
I hadn't rated him that highly but it was a totally professional gig tbh. After that I paid more attention ... I just thought he was promoted badly, like a Punk Elvis, but he had a great voice. This, even though it's more of a ballad, is my favourite ... ... lovely melody and backing vocals.
Aye good track, he certainly did have a canny voice like,and you’re spot on with the Punk Elvis promotion
I'd forgot about Dunelm! Great place that. Many a happy Friday night there, including Dire Straits not long before they cracked it.
Spent half my life in the 70s in the Dunelm. Seen a lad there called Keith Xmas who played bottle neck with sellotape round his fingers. He was bloody good as well.
The opposite of that, I remember seeing the Mac Lads, and people were spitting all over the place. One lad at the front jumped up and spat a great big phlegm ball at them, and one of the band (can't remember which one) saw it coming, caught it in his mouth, and then spat it back.
I don't have a favourite venue, but l am a fan of small venues, something about close and intimate. My first venue as a 13 year old was Woodham village hall, a band named Dave and the Strangers. The Wooden bridge Guildford had bands like the stones, Kinks, etc, as did the Atalanta in Woking. Saw many bands at the old Empire pool Wembley with l liked. Since moving away to NN8, l loved Wilbarston village hall, so many great nights, some big names playing there before touring. Last act l saw there was Roger Chapman. Wilbarston village hall has closed now, but it's a great story if googled. I aways think The Stables MK isn't too bad Best outside venue, and the friendliest is Fairports Cropredy festival, but will only be making one day this year because of commitments.
I moved to Derby in 1990. There was a venue called the Wherehouse which had some good bands. I saw all sorts, rarely my type of music, but mates dragged me along. Very early Pulp, Oasis, before they made it. Jamiroqui The Verve, Radiohead, Zodiac Mindwarp. All sorts things back then. The wherehouse was also the home of club night 'Progress'. That was serious early 90s club scene stuff. Folk came from all over. Headline djs in their early days were Pete Tong, Sasha, Carl Cox, Paul Okenfold. My favourite was Boy George. Progress was a massive thing at the time, if you were into house music, which I got sucked into. Moved around a bit from Wherehouse and spawned Renaissance, probably one of the UKs most influential dance clubs of the 90s. Sasha had a residency. It was absolutely unreal those nights. I have vague memories of the place having free fruit all night at the bar and being handed out on the dance floor. Probably on my own here but that was quite a music scene to be part of. I am much more sedate now.
