My Favorite Shows
10, Rose Tattoo, The Fforde Grene, Leeds, 1981
I was probably fifteen when Rose Tattoo rolled through Leeds in support of their brilliant debut 'Assault and Battery'. I sauntered out of my parents house, telling them i was going to hang out with my friends. I then applied a charcoal pencil to my top lip on one of the two buses I had to catch to the bad side of town, in an attempt to pass for 18. I nervously waited in a line of denim and leather with my friend Chris Madden, rehearsing my imagined date of birth so as to gain entry to this most hallowed (and seedy) of Yorkshire rock venues. The band played what i consider to be the most rock'n'roll gig i have ever seen at ear splitting volume. I was so dumbstruck we burst backstage and into the bands dressing room, where i was hugged enthusiastically by a naked and sweaty Angry Anderson, putting to bed the dregs of his bottle of Vodka. In short a real game changer.
9, Black Uhuru, June 1981.
My obsession with hard rock was knocked soundly off course when i started hanging out with the local 'rude boys' at school; they introducing me to the psychedelia of dub reggae. It all made perfect sense when Black Uhuru rolled up to Leeds University that summer. The local rastas had been causing a few problems as i recall, and it was thrilling for a lad from Leeds to be at a local concert and in some sort of ethnic minority. The band were just brilliant, I had a massive crush on the now deceased Puma Jones and i got to meet Sly and Robbie (their rhythm section) outside afterwards: Result!
8, Gorillaz, Harlem Apollo, NYC, April 2006.
My old friend Garry Mullholland was in town reviewing this show for Q magazine and i was lucky enough to be asked along as his date.We spent the day together catching up over what was a near twenty year absence. We reminicsed about times together in London playing in our band,Bible Belt. I took him to an opening at the Studio Museum in Harlem to meet a few people then we crossed the street and went to an amazing rock concert.
In support of Demon Days they left no stone unturned: Inviting all of their numerous guests to perform including Ike Turner, Shaun Ryder and Snoop Dogg. There were cartoons, puppets, a brilliant light show and a bangin' band: Ten out of ten Mr Albarn!
7, Bjork, Radio City Music Hall, NYC, October 2001.
9/11 had just happened and I was in the middle of a messy divorce (are they ever nice?) I was workin' a shitty job with a lunatic boss and my band were breaking up. So I
was in dire need of a transformative musical event. I got it with interest from our favorite Icelandic pixie.
Aided by the Matmos DJs and a twelve piece choir from Greenland she pretty much took the roof off, blending traditional Scandanavian sensibilities with beats to great effect: What a voice!
6, The Hives, The Bowery Ballroom, NYC, June 2002.
Hearafter referred to as 'that' Hives gig it really was pretty brilliant. All the more memorable for having met the fabulous ladies from The Twentytwos there. They charmed my socks off and asked me to join the band: Result!
5, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Teatro Opera, Buenos Aires, Nov 1996.
Spacehog were lucky enough to tour South America. It was a nice way to extend our Summer, playing in the warmth of the southern hemisphere. But to get there I had witnessed a years worth of nineties proto grungy alt rock bands, and most of them were shite. So when the promoter called and asked if we would be interested in seeing Nick Cave in the local opera House, we were all thrilled at the prospect of a change of sonic scenery. And lord he did not disappoint. I'm a bit sketchy on the details but the setting and the selection, in support of that years' 'Murder Ballards' album, made for a memorable evening.
4, The Sisters Of Mercy, Leeds Warehouse, April 1983.
Leeds Warehouse played host to some of my favorite shows over the years. It was where Simon Moran (SJM) promoted some of his first concerts and was always a good place to see a national act before they became superstars. I watched Swans play a gruesome set there to about fifteen people at bonecrunching volume.And there were very few more present when REM roled in to support their debut album in 1984. But the one that stands out was seeing the Sisters Of Mercy. For a brief moment, Leeds felt like the center of the musical universe and The Sisters were our band: Cherry picking from the first four ep's which usually sold out as soon as they were pressed, and a couple of nifty covers, they absolutely fucking nailed it. The place was packed with patchouli sodden goths and i will never forget it.
3, Prince, Wembley Arena, July 1988.
At college in London? Huge Prince fan? Why did i only go to one of the 7 legendary shows he gave to promote Lovesexy? I guess I'll never know, Because up there in the stratosphere is Prince, and then theres' everyone else. By the time he got to 'The Cross' there were tears of joy rolling off my face, this man out plays, dances and sings anyone i can think of, and hey with Sheila E, Cat and Eric Leeds in tow his band don't suck either! It is noteworthy that I was in the presence of future band mates Choque Hosein and David Ashmore of the Hollowmen. Not wanting to create the wrong impression i chose to conceal the fact that i was tripping on acid throughout the show. Maybe that's why it was so good, but in any event it was probably overcautious on my part on getting to know them better.
2,The Stone Roses, Powerhouse, London March 1989.
When The Hollowmen were asked to open for The Stone Roses i had never heard of them. By the time we turned up in our van outside a pub in Islington, they were well on their way to being huge. There was a line around the block to get tickets to the already oversold out show and every A&R man worth their salt was there waving a check book at them. I don't think i've ever seen a band smoke so much weed (except maybe the La's, who my college band Can't Remember supported in '87). In spite of this they came out of the dressing room and delivered a mesmerising set which would go on to become their debut lp. Opening (of course) with'I Wanna Be Adored' they flattened me with their power, menace and majesty, i still love that album.
1, Queen Elland Road Football Ground, May 1982.
I'm not sure what happened exactly at this gig. I guess i was transported....somewhere. The band were touring the distinctly dodgy 'Hot Space' album which was basically Freddy Mercury hanging out in gay discos and the rest of the band begrudgingly going along with it. But that didn't detract from the bands amazing repertoire, immense light show and supreme command of stagecraft.
I lost half my clothes, probably half my mind and walked home from my beloved Leeds United's home field, knowing i had seen the greatest ever stadium rock band. I was never the same since.