The last time that I saw Steve Hillage in concert was in 1979 at Newcastle City Hall. By then he had released seven solo albums, was several albums on from his classic L lp and the audience was dwindling a little. The things I remember most about Steve in concert are his epic performances of the songs from L and his use of what is termed “glissando guitar”. I wasn’t sure of the origin or meaning of the term so I googled it. Many thanks to Chris D from the seven string forum for explaining glissando guitar for me: “I think this got called “glissando guitar” first by Daev Allen from Gong, who as far as I know pioneered this technique. Steve Hillage also used this a lot. Glissando is the musical term meaning “slide” but glissando guitar isn’t “slide guitar” as you know it.The sound you get is a lush drifty synth/string effect, it sounds cool & is easy to do, although trying to explain it seems complicated”. It seems the technique involves removing the tremolo arm and jiggling it across the strings while using a wah wah pedal for effect. Whatever it is, it certainly gave a unique sound to much of Steve’s guitar work at the time.I have also been reading quite a lot about System 7, Steve’s latest band. I didn’t realise how influential he has been in the dance scene and it the acceptance of dance at Glastonbury. So I making myself another promise which is to try to see System 7 when the opportunity next arises. Support act for the 1979 tour was Trevor Rabin who would go on to join Yes. Typical setlist from the 1979 tour: “The Salmon Song”, “Unzipping The Zype”, “Hurdy Gurdy Glissando”, “Light In The Sky”, “1988 Aktivator”, “Unidentified (Flying Being)”, “UFO Over Paris”, “Activation Meditation”, “The Glorious Om Riff”, “Activation Meditation”, “It’s All Too Much”, “Electrick Gypsies”, “Talking to the Sun”
Posts Tagged ‘classic rock’
16 Mar
Steve Hillage Newcastle City Hall 1979
15 Mar
Steve Hillage Newcastle City Hall 1977
Steve Hillage Newcastle City Hall 1977
Steve Hillage toured a lot during the late 70s. I attended most, but not all, of the gigs he played in Newcastle during that period. He called at the City Hall twice in some years, and I didn’t catch all of those gigs. I did attend his 1977 concert at the City Hall, and pretty fine it was too. Steve was a guy of several faces: the quiet bearded hippy from Gong, the somewhat unlikely guitar hero who emerged during the late 70s, and he even popped up onstage at the Reading festival as a special guest of Sham 69, which was a very unlikely pairing (and didn’t go down well with some of the skinheads in the crowd, as I recall). 
A further side of Steve has emerged in recent times, as the leader of electronic ambient new music visionaries System 7. During the years I am blogging about here, Steve was very much a guitar man, releasing a clutch of pretty fine albums, and playing some pretty good gigs. Support came from Glen Philips on this 1977 tour. The tour waa to promote Steve’s latest album Motivation Radio and the set was drawn from that album and his previous album L. I found a setlist from the Glasgow gig of the tour on the Glasgow Apollo site. I would imagine the set at Newcastle will have been similar to this: It’s All Too Much; The Golden Vibe; Unidentified (Flying Being); Light in the Sky; Radio; Aftaglid; Electrick Gypsies; The Salmon Song; Solar Musick Suite; Saucer Surfing; Searching for the Spark; Hurdy Gurdy Man; Hurdy Gurdy Glissando; Not Fade Away
14 Mar
Steve Hillage live in 1976
I first saw Steve Hillage live at a free concert in Hyde Park. That was in the hot summer of 1976, where he played on a bill headlined by Queen. I’d heard of Steve through his work with Gong, and seen that band at Newcastle once, but wasn’t really prepared for how good he was that day. The sounds of his psychedelic guitar work filled the park with great versions of Donovan’s Hurdy Gurdy Man, and the Beatles All Too Much. The line-up of Steve’s band that day was Steve Hillage on guitar and vocals, Clive Bunker (ex Tull) on drums, Colin Bass on (of course!) bass, Christian Boule on guitar, Phil Hodges on keyboards, Basil Brooks on synthesiser and Miquette Giraudy on synthesiser and vocals. This show was their live debut and pretty good it was too. I’ll blog separately about the rest of that day on another occasion. A group of us went down on the train with a day return. The line-up was Queen, Kiki Dee, Steve and Supercharge. Happy days. This debut performance was soon followed by release of the album L, which my mates and I bought through a “record club” that we ran at the time, where we took turns in buying an album, and then passed it around between us. L is a very strong album, with great swirling psychedelic sounds, Steve’s glissando guitar, and lots of rich synth sounds. By the end of the year Steve was headlining his own tour, and selling out concert halls up and down the country. A group of us went to his gig at Newcastle City Hall. Support came from Nova who were an Italian progressive rock/jazz fusion band based in London. This was the Electrick Gypsies tour which showcased tracks from L, with extended guitar solos. Pretty cosmic stuff, very much of its time, and great fun as I recall.
13 Mar
Status Quo Reunion Tour Manchester Apollo March 12th 2013
Status Quo Reunion Tour Manchester Apollo March 12th 2013
When I was growing up with rock music in the early 70s, there was a band who played great rock and boogies, put on amazing concerts, and released a sequence of great albums. They toured constantly up and down the country, and played at all the festivals. They were championed by John Peel, and wherever and whenever they played a loyal group of denim clad fans turned out and gave them the best reception that you could wish for. Sadlt somewhere over the years the members fell out, which resulted in acrimony and legal wranglings. The band reformed reformed with a couple of original members and started to tour again. They managed to regain some of their former glory, and many of us stayed with them, or in my case regained the faith and started to go and see them again. Over time the band lost the respect of the media and in the public consciousness the band became something from the past, and often the subject of some mockery. That band was (and is) called Status Quo.
Last night I saw that band again. I didn’t quite realise how important the event, or indeed the event was, until I got into Manchester Apollo last night. You could just feel the anticipation. This was the reunion we had all hoped for but we thought would never happen. The Apollo was packed to the rafters; these reunion gigs sold out quickly and more dates were added. The support band The Treatment put on a good show; they are a your rock band from the AC/DC mould with hints of glam. The crowd gave them a warm reception, but we were all there for one thing. To see the Frantic Four, the Mighty Quo reunited and ready to rock us like the old days. We had our doubts; would it still be the same? Was it really that good anyway? Could they still do it? After all these are older guys, and time must have taken its toll. The stage was set with a backdrop of the Hello album, the lights went down.
8.35pm. On the dot. As advertised. Jackie Lynott’s recorded introduction from the Live album roars out over the PA: “Is there anybody out there who wants to rock? Is there anybody out there who wants to roll? Is there anybody out there who wants to boogie? Tonight! We have the number one rock’n’roll band in the land! Will you welcome? The magnificent! STATUS! QUO!” And the curtain drops and it starts. The four are there and ready, standing in front of lines of AC30s and Marshall stacks. The first thing I noticed was the volume. And the clarity of the sound. And looking down from the slipper at the left side of the circle, the crowd are going crazy downstairs (all standing). The band all look well and they seem genuinely pleased to be together, old wounds have been healed, and they seem to be mates again. So it has finally happened. I got to see the original line-up again: cheeky Francis (didn’t he used to Mike in the days when I first got into this band?) Rossi, human rock rhythm machine Rick Parfitt, pure hard rocker bassist Alan Lancaster and solid powerhouse drummer John Coghlan. Much has been written about Alan’s ill health; well last night he seemed just fine and the fist few songs featured his vocals. I’d forgotten how important he was to the band. Important for his vocals, for his solid bass, and for maintaining the heavier and rockier side of the band. The opener was Juniors Wailing just as it was when I first saw Status Quo. Is it really 42 years ago since I first saw them? Where have all the years gone? Francis was on great form. Not as much cheeky chat as usual, but there was some, but great guitar playing. Slick, fluid and very loud. Rick looks slim and healthy with a new short hair cut and sporting a leather jacket. He kept the pace and the rhythm up throughout, sometimes it looked like he might explode. John Coghlan sat on a raised drumstool, twirling his sticks as he did in the old days. It felt right to have him and Alan back there, and I realised just how important John’s drumming was to the Quo sound. The set was drawn from the Live album, and the early 70s period, with a lack of the hits. No Caroline or Rocking All Over the World. Instead we got In My Chair, Backwater, Don’t Waste My Time, Big Fat Mama. This was a lean, loud, heavy rock n roll machine. It made me realise just how great the old band were in the 70s. Their old mate Bob Young joined them on mouth harp on Railroad and closing song (the Doors) Roadhouse Blues. The guy a couple of seats away told me that he had flown over from New York for the gig. I can’t express how good it was. Amazing; breath taking, emotional, and just good honest simple rock.
Setlist: Junior’s Wailing; Backwater; Just Take Me; Is There a Better Way; In My Chair; Blue Eyed Lady; Little Lady; Most of the Time; (April), Spring, Summer and Wednesdays; Railroad; Oh Baby; Forty-Five Hundred Times;Rain; Big Fat Mama; Down Down; Roadhouse Blues. Encore: Don’t Waste My Time; Bye Bye Johnny
12 Mar
The Magic Band The Cluny Newcastle 11 March 2013
The Magic Band The Cluny Newcastle 11 March 2013
I went to see the reformed Magic Band last night at the Cluny. The Magic Band reformed in 2003, minus Captain Beefheart (who sadly passed away in 2010). The current line-up includes members John French (aka ‘Drumbo’, who first joined the band in the 60s) on lead vocals and mean harp playing, ‘Rockette Morton’ (who was also with the Captain in the late 60s and early 70s) on bass and Denny Walley (aka ‘Feelers Rebo’ who joined the band during the 70s) on guitar. These three old-timers are joined by Eric Klerks on guitar and Craig Bunch on drums. My first surprise was how packed the place was. The Cluny was full of 50 and 60 somethings, largely but not exclusively male, who knew every word and gave the band a great reception. 
The second surprise was just how good the Magic Band of today are, and how true to the original they play the songs. Drumbo is a great front man and has the Captain’s vocals off to a T. I remember the first time I heard Trout Mask Replica, when it came out in the late 60s. I just couldn’t believe what was coming out of my stereo. The strange disjointed sounds were so different to anything else around at the time, and when you put on top of that Beefheart’s strange growls, you had an album the like of which had never been heard before. The music still sounds kind of weird today, but it remains clear how deeply routed in the blues it was, and how important a part of the music Drumbo and the others were. Oh, and it was just great to hear Diddy Wah Diddy live. If you are into Beefheart and you get the chance to see this band, do go along. Many thanks to Drumbo for signing my poster. Setlist: My Human Gets Me Blues; Low Yo Yo Stuff; Diddy Wah Diddy; Bass solo; When It Blows Its Stacks; Hot Head; Dr Dark; Circumstances; On Tomorrow; Alice in Blunderland; Suction Prints; Hair Pie Bake I; Steal Softly Thru The Snow; Owed T’Alex; Click Clack; Sun Zoom Spark; Moonlight on Vermont; Big Eyed Beans From Venus. Encore: Floppy Boot Stomp
Just remembered I also saw the Magic Band when they were touring as Mallard in 1976 or 1977 at the Mayfair and the Reading festival.
10 Mar
Heads, Hands and Feet; Patto Newcastle City Hall March 1972
Heads, Hands and Feet; Patto Newcastle City Hall March 1972
I’d seen Head, Hands and Feet on the Old Grey Whistle Test, playing Warming Up The Band and was pretty impressed so I decided to go and see them at Newcastle City Hall. For this gig the seats were unreserved; you paid your 60p at the door and could sit whereever you wished. Support came from Patto, who I hadn’t heard of before going to the gig. Patto were formed out of the 60s band Timebox, who did a great version of The Four Seasons song Beggin’ which I can remember being a dancefloor favourite at our local Top Rank in the late 60s. Patto were just great, with Mike Patto on vocals, John Halsey on drums, Ollie Halsall on guitar, and Clive Griffiths on bass. Mike Patto and Ollie Halsall have both now sadly passed away. They were both incredible musicians, Patto with a raucous soulful voice and Ollie with a very fast, fluid and jazzy guitar style. Patto live were just great. Head, Hands and Feet also featured a top guitarist in Albert Lee, and Chas Hodges (later of Chas and Dave) on bass. The rest of the six piece were Tony Colton on lead vocals, Ray Smith on rhythm guitar, Pete Gavin on drums, and Mike O’Neill on keyboards. Head, Hands and Feet were quite American (although they were from the UK) and country rock in style. I sat totally in awe of Albert Lee, particularly when they played Country Boy, which featured much country twang soloing from Albert. I remember this as a gig with two great bands, neither of whom went on to achieve the success that they should have. And come to think of it I don’t have lps by either of these bands, which is something that I really need to correct. I’m off to ebay to have a look for a Patto or a Head, Hands and Feet lp!
9 Mar
George Hatcher Sunderland Polytechnic Wearmouth Hall 1976
George Hatcher Sunderland Polytechnic Wearmouth Hall 1976
George Hatcher and his band gigged quite a lot in the UK during the late 70s. I remember seeing them at this gig at Sunderland Poly Students Union, and also at the Reading festival in 1977 and supporting Dr Feelgood. My recollections are of a pretty hot southern rock band, who released a clutch of albums: Dr Run, Talking Turkey, and Rich Girl during the years 1976 to 1978. Although George is American he formed the band in the UK in the midst of punk and the NWOBHM, and did surprisingly well touring the UK and Europe, particularly given the musical climate at the time. The George Hatcher Band of that time consisted of George himself on vocals; John Thomas, guitar; Terry Slade, drummer; Steve wrenn, keyboards; Harris Jannou Bass; and Phillip Swan, guitar. They toured a lot; supporting AC/DC, Ted Nugent, The Kinks, Dr. Feelgood, and Supertramp along the way. In 1982 George returned to the USA and has toured there since, with some considerable success. I checked the George Hatcher band out, and they are still going strong, although the line-up has changed over the years, with only George remaining from the 70s. Its about time he returned to the UK for a tour.
8 Mar
Horslips Newcastle Polytechnic 10 February 1978
Horslips Newcastle Polytechnic 1978
This gig was at the time of Horslips The Man who built America lp. I think I may have seen the band in the early 70s at a festival or two (Buxton I think) but this was the first time I went to see Horslips in their own headlining concert. I’d heard their seminal lp The Tain, and was blown away by it. If you haven’t heard of Horslips these guys were poineers of Irish celtic rock, blending traditional Irish music with rock. They have been cited as influences on many bands which were to follow including U2, and others. From a scholarly work by John Murphy: “They inspired the likes of U2 and the Irish punk and new-wave rock musicians who followed them, and without the pioneering efforts of Horslips, Irish music and culture today may never have reached its current success, three decades later.” (Estudios Irlandeses, Number 3, 2008, pp. 132-142). Horslips in concert were everything I expected and better; great Irish rhythms, catchy pop/rock songs. This was a major tour for the band, possibly the biggest they ever did in the UK, taking in large concert halls such as Glasgow Apollo and Hammersmith Odeon, and an appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test. The programme declares that it was the “American Tour”, but this was simply a play on words taken from the title of their album of the time. cI’ve always fancied seeing the band again, but have never had the chance to do so. I know that they recently reformed, so perhaps I’ll get the chance to go to another Horslips concert one day.
7 Mar
Home in concert in the early 1970s
Home in concert in the early 1970s
The band Home don’t get mentioned very often these days, but they were great live and on record. Home existed only for a short few years between 1970 and 1974, and toured quite a lot during that period. A few of my mates were big Wishbone Ash fans, and also got into Home around the time of their second album in 1972. I think they saw some similarities between the bands, and I think we also saw Home supporting Wishbone Ash at one point. One of them bought the new album (which was their second album) and we played and played it, trying to learn the guitar parts. Of course, we weren’t to know it at the time, but Home guitarist Laurie Wisefield was to go on to join Wishbone Ash in 1974 as replacement for Ted Turner. I saw Home in concert at least four times, and possibly more. I remember concerts at Sunderland Locarno, Sunderland Poly, and as support act for Mott the Hoople and for Wishbone Ash. Live the band had great songs written by singer and front man Mick Stubbs, strong harmonies, and exquisite guitar work from Laurie Wisefield. The programme here must have come from one of the gigs in Sunderland. Standout tracks for me at the time were: “Dreamer”; “Fancy Lady, Hollywood Child” and “Baby Friend of Mine” all of which feature on their second album. Their third and final album “The Alchemist” is often hailed as a progrock classic. From the progarchives site: “it was however the third album, “The Alchemist” which was the band’s masterpiece. This concept album is one of the forgotten gems of prog, telling a tale of supernatural events and the reaction of those placed in fear by them. Musically, the album sees the band taking an enormous leap forward.” Drummer Mick Cook went on to join the Groundhogs, and bass player Cliff Williams went on to john AC/DC and remains with them until this day. Mick Stubbs and Mick Cook have both now sadly passed away. If you get the chance listen to their second album or The Alchemist. I have the second album on vinyl; I should really set about getting a copy of their other two albums.
5 Mar
Humble Pie Newcastle Odeon November 1974
Humble Pie Newcastle Odeon November 1974
The last time that John and I saw Humble Pie was at a gig at Newcastle Odeon in late 1974. I recall my friend Norm being there at the gig as well (will check with him; I did so and yes Norm was with me; he has a strong memory of sitting up in the balcony watching the band). On this occasion the band the 7.30 start time suggests that the band played one show, rather than customary two shows that bands often played when they called at the Odeon. I recall this as a good gig, with Marriott on his usual top form. For me Steve Marriott really came into his own at big, open air gigs. He seemed to draw power in his voice and his performance from a larger crowds. Support for this gig was McGuinness Flint. This was a later version of the band, with a line-up featuring Hughie Flint, Tom McGuinness, Lou Stonebridge and Dixie Dean. I remember them playing When I’m Dead and Gone, The programme says of Humblie Pie: “perhaps one of our hottest bans in the 70s, are also A&M’s most coloirful and illustrious soul childrenof the explosive 60s English rock n roll boom.” 
Sadly the band was to split up the following year. Humble Pie played a lot of gigs during their brief existence. Over 400 are documented in Jerry Shirley’s book from the August 69 debut at Ronnie Scotts to a show in Houston in March 1975.He believes this is about 70% of the total. Steve Marriott went on to play in the reformed Small Faces, which I saw a couple of times at Newcastle City Hall in the late 70s. I also saw Steve playing at a small venue in Sunderland shortly before he tragically died in a fire, which was on April 20th 1991. A bit like Paul Kossoff, Phil Lyonott and I am sure a number of others, Steve Marriott represents everything which is good and bad about rock and roll, tremendous talent, a huge ego, but the inability to deal with the fame and fortune rollercoster ride full of tremendous highs and depressing lows. Shame. Setlist for the gig at the Odeon was probably something like: Thunderbox; Four Day Creep; Sweet Peace and Time; The Fixer; 30 Days in the Hole; Let Me Be Your Love maker; C’Mon Everybody; I Don’t Need No Doctor. Thanks again to John for all his help with memories of Humble Pie and in writing the last few days’ posts.
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