Crawler, Boxer & Moon Newcastle 1977
At first glance this may not seem a particularly strong line-up. However, if you dig a little deeper it was actually a pretty interesting collection of bands. Crawler had morphed out of Back Street Crawler, who were Paul Kossoff’s post-Free band. After Kossoff’s sad passing, the remainder of the band continued as Crawler, recruiting Geoff Whitehorn (who had just left jazz-rock band If, and is now in Procol Harum) on guitar. The rest of the line-up was Terry Wilson-Slesser (local Newcastle hero and ex-Beckett) on vocals, Terry Wilson on bass, Tony Braunagel on drums, and John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick (ex-Free, and, until recently, of The Who) on keyboards. Boxer were a later version of Patto, fronted by Mike Patto, and originally had the late great Ollie Halsall on guitar. However, by the time of this package tour the Ollie had left and the line-up was Mike Patto vocals, Eddie Tuduri drums, Chris Stainton (Joe Cocker’s band) on keyboards, Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge and Beck, Bogert and Appice) on bass, and the late Adrian Fisher (ex Andy Fraser’s Toby and Sparks) on lead guitar. So between these two bands there were some very respectable musicians. Moon were a seven piece funk-rock band who opened the show. I remember going to the gig with Marie, and that the City Hall was about half full. I don’t recall anything about Moon, but do remember watching Boxer (I thought Mike Patto was a great singer) and Crawler. Crawler delivered a solid blues-rock set, with Slesser doing the business vocally and as a front man. Good values for £1! Actually looking back at this lineup in retrospect some 40+ years later, there were some amazing musicians on stage together that night: the excellent local singer Terry Slesser, Rabbit, the wonderful and very underrated Mike Patto (ex Time Box and Patto), Chris Stainton and Tim Bogert! Boxer were on paper sensational! I wish I could go back and relive this one!
2 Aug
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Posted by bloke2012 on August 14, 2012 at 11:15 am
And the £1 ticket price included a free single!
Posted by vintagerock on August 14, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Now you mention it, that rings a bell (but only slightly)
What was the single? I wonder if I still have it.
Posted by bloke2012 on August 29, 2012 at 8:51 am
It looked like this
We had a few as we collected them from the empty chairs!!!
Posted by vintagerock on August 29, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Many thanks. I don’t have my copy anymore I am afraid
Posted by Mike on November 1, 2012 at 2:21 am
I still have a copy of Beat instrumental from the time with an article about this tour (one of those where the journo travels with them), interesting insofar as it was when punk was starting to take over the music scene and these bands (who would have been classed as BOFs) must have been wondering what the near future held. Nice to see that some of the guys in these bands are still out there and probably had the last laugh in the long term.
Posted by Garry Shewan on November 6, 2012 at 4:42 pm
The Boxer track on the EP was an absolute classic. Called ‘No Reply’ I still have it on my iPad today! Still cannot believe what we got a one pound that night!
Posted by Jack Dent on January 26, 2013 at 7:50 am
I was at this gig and still have the free EP that they gave away.
Posted by vintagerock on January 26, 2013 at 8:54 am
A couple of people have replied mentioning the free EP. Not sure what happened to mine. I have a big pile of singles upstairs, which it might be in
Posted by Leigh on September 22, 2014 at 7:57 pm
I saw this tour in Sheffield City Hall. I dont remember any single but after the gig the promoter was throwing out LP’s out to the crowd out side the stage door. I have a copy.
moon, turning the tides.
good memories.
Posted by vintagerock on September 22, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Thanks Leigh Best wishes Peter
Posted by Stuart Donaldson on March 20, 2017 at 9:05 pm
Thanks so much for info. I went to see the three bands at Liverpool Empire with my best school mate, a fellow Free/ Crawler/ Kossoff fan and loved it. Most interestingly for me as a musician myself I was able to meet and work with Nick from Moon who has since become a dear friend. Do hope this wasn’t selfish or tedious for others bunt very heart warming for me, with love, Stuart xxx.
Posted by Mike Hoggart on July 11, 2017 at 6:06 am
Thanks for the write up I’ve just been going threw old gig tickets. I can remember going the gig at the Free Trade Hall. Manchester.
Posted by Kevin Ponsonby on March 15, 2021 at 1:09 pm
I went to the Liverpool gig and, like others, couldn’t believe the value – a whole £1. Moon were good, Boxer were excellent as were Crawler. On the free single, I know that (the excellent) Without You Babe was Crawler’s contribution and Boxer’s was No Reply. I think Moon’s was Turning The Tides. I do still have that single somewhere. Ahh memories.
Posted by vintagerock on March 15, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Hi Kevin yes it was a great tour and great value. Crawler were a greatly under rated band and Terry Slessor a great singer who still performs in the North-East to this day, or at least until lockdown. Happy days Peter