UFO Newcastle Academy 25 April 2015
UFO 2015 are Phil Mogg (vocals and original, and only constant, member since 1969), Andy Parker (drums, and also a member of the original band in 1969), Paul Raymond (joined in 1976, and a veteran of 60s bands including Plastic Penny and Chicken Shack), Vinnie Moore (guitar and a new guy, who has only been with UFO for 12 years) and Rob De Luca (bass since 2008). The downstairs area of Newcastle Academy was packed with a mix of rock fans from the older generation and a good smattering of younger rockers. Good to see that these guys still attract a cross section of discerning music fans. They start with “We Belong to the Night” from their 1982 Mechanix album, which I am not that familiar with, and is a great opener. Phil Mogg looks and sounds great, and the rest of the band are rocking from the word go. Like many fans, I’ve come primarily for the classics, and I haven’t got long to wait. Four songs in and “Lights Out” hits us right between the eyes. The modus operandi seems to be thus: a classic UFO rocker, then a couple of new or less well known songs, followed by another classic. The great songs keep coming: “Only You Can Rock Me” (the guy to my left is shouting “Turn It Up”; which I definitely agree with), “Love to Love” (that one has always been one of my favourites; I’m a sucker for ballads), and “Rock Bottom” closes the show. We all know what is coming. You can’t have a UFO gig without “Doctor Doctor” and this one is no different. The young girl to my right (she can’t be more than 20) goes crazy, playing air guitar and shaking her head like it might just come off. “Shoot Shoot” send us on our way. The old guys really are the best, you know. A great gig. Only two things could have improved it. More volume (the guy on my left was right). And I miss Pete Way. Don’t get me wrong, the new bass player is fine, and couldn’t have done any better, but for me Pete Way was the soul of this band. Hope he’s ok. He hasn’t been so well, but I read that he is alright now and working on a solo album.
Setlist: We Belong to the Night; Fight Night; Run Boy Run; Lights Out; The Killing Kind; Venus; Only You Can Rock Me; Burn Your House Down; Cherry ; Love to Love; Messiah Of Love; Makin’ Moves; Rock Bottom
Encore: Doctor Doctor ; Shoot Shoot
PS the image (which I may have used before, and hence you may have seen before) is of a signed copy of the classic UFO lp Phenomenon, which I picked up at a car boot sale for 50p many years ago. Who knows if the signatures are real, put they look pretty real to me and I like to think that they are.
4 May
UFO Newcastle Academy 25 April 2015
Posted May 4, 2015 by vintagerock in UFO. Tagged: classic rock, concert, concerts, gig, gigs, heavy metal, heavy rock, music, rock, rock n roll. 4 Comments
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Posted by Steve Bell on May 5, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Thanks for review. Managed to get myself there too. Starters in The Star Inn first then a replacement T shirt. I saw them at High Voltage fest in 2010 when Vinnie Moore’s guitar kept going off. Killed their set dead, so can now forget that disaster. Agree some of the new stuff is a bit forgettable but classics more than make up for it. Nice touch when the band gave the young lad at the front some plectrums and a set list. Support from Russia, Rockscool weren’t bad either.
Posted by vintagerock on May 5, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Cheers Steve Best wishes Peter
Posted by Hockey on May 5, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Great review again Peter, thanks for posting as I couldn’t make the local gigs in Leeds or Manchester this tour. I’ve seen the Vinnie Moore lineup a few times and I think it’s the best band since 2000 when Schenker left for the second time. I love Mr Schenker but Vinnie can nail it too every time. Hope to see them again some time soon, cheers, Mike
Posted by vintagerock on May 6, 2015 at 8:50 am
Many thanks Mike Cheers Peter