Dead Fingers Talk Redcar Coatham Bowl 1978
I can’t be certain exactly when I went with a couple of mates to see Dead Fingers Talk, but I would guess it was around 1978. Dead Fingers Talk are a largely forgotten, and very under-rated band. They hailed from Hull and released one album entitled “Storm the Reality Studios”, which was produced by Hull-born Mick Ronson. Their best song, and the highlight of their live show, was a song called “Harry”. “For the uninitiated, `Harry’ was a song protesting against the persecution of gay people by society. In the form of a dramatic monologue over a basic backing track, Bobo takes the role of the persecutor, picking upon members of the audience as the persecuted. Chillingly effective, it is still the highlight.” (From a Record Mirror interview of the time). Dead Fingers Talk played extensively in the North East in the mid-70s, and built up quite a following in local clubs, before they were drawn into the punk movement. The Coatham Bowl was quite empty for this gig; I would guess that there were no more than 50 to 100 people there. But those of us who were there were treated to a great show by Dead Fingers Talk. 
Front man Bobo Pheonix was just amazing, “charismatic and an absolute dynamite stage performer – he was compelling and riveting” (Jeff Parsons, Dead Fingers Talk guitarist, 2005). During Harry, Bobo picked out members of the audience and shone a massive flashlight on them, shouting directly at them, persecuting them and haranguing them with a barrage of anti-gay slogans. Very, very powerful stuff that had to be seen to be believed; and I was so relieved that Bobo didn’t pick on me. A poor guy standing just in front of us bore the brunt of Bobo’s fury, and clearly didn’t know what had hit him. Their music showed influences of The Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, and they mixed punk with more traditional rock. Sadly Harry was never recorded so all I have to remember the song are my memories of that night in Redcar.
1 Sep
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Rich & Lou Duffy-Howard on August 15, 2014 at 6:05 pm
Fantastic to spot this! Jeff’s a brilliant guitarist, still making amazing sounds! Here he is at our gig a couple of weeks ago, amazing! R&L…http://loudhailer.net/lec/
Posted by vintagerock on August 15, 2014 at 6:31 pm
That’s great! Many thanks indeed Peter
Posted by Jeff Parsons on August 17, 2014 at 9:12 pm
Thanks, Rich and Lou – great to read this – my memories of that particular gig are sketchy, but it sounds typical of many gigs of that period!
Posted by vintagerock on August 18, 2014 at 6:29 am
Thanks Jeff Happy days Peter
Posted by mark on November 9, 2022 at 1:43 pm
I saw DFT at the Lyceum, London supporting (of all people) Whitesnake ( who were beyond dreadful – a substandard Free ) in September 1978. Bobo was wearing a long coat with ” Qu**r”(or something similar) painted on the back & Harry included a riff on a Lenny Bruce monologue ” Are they any …. in the audience tonight?” The (very small, 200 at most) audience took this exceptionally badly. A teenager next to me threw a can at the band & the bored bouncers gave him a kicking.
Posted by vintagerock on November 9, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Hi Mark Dead Fingers Talk were a highly influential yet sadly underrated and almost forgotten band. Happy days Peter
Posted by mark on November 10, 2022 at 1:38 pm
It wasn’t until some years later that I understood the William Burroughs/Lenny Bruce references.
I was probably the only person in the audience who appreciated them – though I sort of got the impression that applauding would have invited unwanted attention from the people around me …
Very long shot, I am trying to find the name of a solo performer I once saw. Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt ( probably 1975 or 76) Might have played Newcastle as well? American blues harmonica player. He would have been in his 60’s or even 70’s. I have no idea if I saw a genuine blues legend or somebody obscure.
Posted by vintagerock on November 10, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Hi Mark I remember seeing Doctor Ross around that time? Best wishes Peter
Posted by mark on November 10, 2022 at 2:35 pm
The ” harmonica boss”. That’s yer man – Googled him & found a reference to a gig at Boro Town Hall.
Which leaves only one more to go. R&B pub rock band I saw play the Greyhound (Fulham) in 1981. Bass player was Pete Zorn
Posted by vintagerock on November 10, 2022 at 3:12 pm
Hi Mark I think I saw Doctor Ross twice in Sunderland. Once at the Black Cats Club which used to be the club inside the old Roker Park football ground and once at the Glebe blues club at the Royalty Pub. You are going to have to give me more of a clue about the gig in the Greyhound! Best wishes Peter
Posted by mark on November 10, 2022 at 4:26 pm
If memory serves me rightly, a gig solely consisting of harmonica solos required a certain level of dedication to the blues.
Pub rock band. One those annoying things; trying to remember the name of a long lost LP from 40+ years ago… Fairly sure it they were called the singers name (& band)/ LP cover was individual passport photographs of the band.
Fairly sure it was at the Greyhound I saw them ( my one & only visit to Fulham). It only stands out as the following week (?) I went to see Richard Thompson playing the Barbican & lo & behold, John Zorn (who was in the band playing the Greyhound) walks onstage.
Posted by vintagerock on November 10, 2022 at 5:25 pm
Hi Mark I’m afraid I can’t help on this one. I will rack my brain a little more but I don’t think I will be able to help. Does anyone out there know who Mark is talking about? Cheers Peter
Posted by mark on November 10, 2022 at 7:03 pm
Even by my standards, it’s an obscure one . Any suggestions on where to look would be appreciated
Posted by vintagerock on November 11, 2022 at 12:54 pm
Can anyone help Mark? 🙂 Peter