Sky Newcastle City Hall 1st October 1979
Sky were a classical rock band formed by classical guitarist John Williams, bass player Herbie Flowers (former member of Blue Mink and T. Rex) and Francis Monkman (a founder member of Curved Air). They were joined by Tristan Fry on drums and percussion and Kevin Peek on guitars. They release their debut album, simply titled “Sky” in 1979 and toured in support of it, the tour being titled “Sky At Night”. The tour was very successful, including sold-out concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and five nights at the Dominion Theatre in London. I found it quite a strange event and unlike the normal rock concerts which I was used to at the time. A review on http://www.jacopastorius.co.uk/ describes the Manchester concert in 1979: “As I recall a quiet gig comparatively, the music precise, almost clinical.” which I sort of agree with. 
Sky were very different from other bands who had merged rock with classical. Their debut was promoted with the message: “FIVE OF THE MOST RESPECTED MUSICIANS ON EARTH ARE IN SKY. A group of people that talented can’t be bound by an earth-bound name. SKY. THE BAND. THE ALBUM. REACH FOR IT”. This was true symphonic rock and was massively popular for a number of years. The line-up of Sky changed over the years with John Williams and Francis Monkman both leaving the band in the early 80s and Herbie Flowers continuing with a new line-up. From Wikipedia: “Sky toured the UK again during spring 1993, playing notably smaller venues than they had in the 1980s. The last performance by Sky was at an RAF tribute concert in May 1995. Although Sky never formally disbanded, the band has not returned to active recording and performance.”
Posts Tagged ‘gigs’
29 Jun
Sky Newcastle City Hall 1st October 1979
28 Jun
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band 17th October 1977
Bob Seeger and the Silver Bullet Band 17th October 1977
Bob Seeger was the business; pure class. He did a short tour of the UK in 1977, calling at Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and London. This was before he had big success, and as I recall the Newcastle concert, which I attended, was far from full. The guy was awesome. I would love to see him again.
I don’t recall what they played but I found a listing from a bootleg, which was recorded in the Boston in the same year. I would imagine the set would have been something like this: Rock And Roll Never Forgets; Travelin’ Man; Beautiful Loser; Turn The Page; Sunspot Baby; Ship Of Fools; Main Street; Come To Poppa; Mary Lou; Sunburst; Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man; Heavy Music; Katmandu; Night Moves; Let It Rock Medley.
Seger is performing again in the US; hope he comes back to the UK one day.
27 Jun
Smokie Newcastle City Hall 22nd July 1977
Smokie Newcastle City Hall 22nd July 1977
I guess this has to rate as a guilty pleasure but I have to admit that it was a pretty good concert. This was the classic Smokie line-up of Chris Norman (vocals), Alan Silson (guitar, vocals), Terry Uttley (bass, vocals) and Pete Spencer (drums). By 1977 Smokie had the UK singles charts 8 times with “If You Think You Know How To Love Me” (No 3), “Don’t Play Your Rock ‘N’ Roll To Me” (No 8), “Something’s Been Making Me Blue” (No 17), “I’ll Meet You At Midnight” (No 11), “Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone” (No 12), “It’s Your Life” (No 5; I don’t remember that one), their cover of “Needles And Pins” (No 10), and of course, the classic 🙂 “Living Next Door To Alice” (No 5, and surprisingly not actually their biggest hit). The concert featured all the hits, Chris Norman was great, and Marie and I just lapped it up. I think support band Wilder went on to become Gilbert O’Sullivan’s backing band.
26 Jun
Steel Pulse Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt 11th June 1978
Steel Pulse Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt 11th June 1978
Steel Pulse are a roots reggae band, from the Handsworth area of Birmingham. They formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, composed of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals), and Ronald McQueen (bass). They achieved considerable success in the late 70s as part of the interest in reggae alongside the growth of punk. This gig at Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt was around the time they released their first album “Handsworth Revolution”. The place was packed and this was a great concert. I recall that they played the single “Ku Klux Klan” which discussed the evils of racism, and during which they donned the Klan hoods, Heavy stuff.
25 Jun
Peter Straker New Tyne Theatre Newcastle 26th Nov 1977
Peter Straker New Tyne Theatre Newcastle 26th Nov 1977
Sorry if my posts are a little short for the next few days. We are off to Glastonbury, so I have set up a few posts and scheduled them to appear each day, but my time was limited so they are briefer than they would normally be (and there will probably be even more typos than normal, which is saying something 🙂 ). I will return to normal next week and will also reflect on our Glastonbury experiences.
Anyway onward with the first of my pre-written and scheduled entries which is going to be Peter Straker. This guy was simply amazing! Peter Straker is a Jamaican born singer and actor, best known for appearances in Doctor Who (in the 1979 serial Destiny of the Daleks) and for being a friend of Freddie Mercury. He starred as Hud in the original 1968 London production of ‘Hair’. More recently his critically acclaimed one man show ‘Peter Straker’s Brel’ has featured at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
In 1977 Peter Straker was forging a career as a pop star, and had just released an album “This One’s on Me” which was produced by Freddie Mercury and Roy Thomas Baker. The tracks on the album were: Ada; I’ve Been To Hell & Back; The Day The Talkies Came; Heart Be Still; Alabama Song; Ragtime Piano Joe; Jackie; The Annual Penguin Show; The Saddest Clown; Vamp. His set consisted of tracks from the album. Straker’s performance was simply sensational, very theatrical, passionate and emotional. I remember both Marie and I really enjoyed the concert and thought that this guy was going to be massive. He has found success following a more theatrical path. The theatre was pretty empty, as I recall, which was a shame.
24 Jun
Shanghai Redcar Coatham Bowl 1975?
Shanghai Redcar Coatham Bowl 1975?
This was one of the first gigs I went to at Redcar Coatham Bowl. It was probably in 1975 or 1976. Shanghai were a rock band fronted by ex Rebel Rouser and top 60s R&B vocalist Cliff Bennet. The rest of the bands line-up featured former Pirate, ace guitarist and big Wilko Johnson influence Mick Green on choppy Telecaster; Brian Alterman, also on guitar; Speedy King on bass; and Pete Kircher on drums (who would later join Status Quo). This band had all the right ingredients but just never quite made it; another potentially great rock band who were passed by when punk came along and brushed everything aside. I also saw them supporting Status Quo around the same time. Shanghai lasted a couple of years, released two albums, and then split. Mick Green went on to reform the Pirates and sadly passed away in 2010, while Cliff Bennett continues to perform to this day. Wonder who the support act was. I think it may have been Raven, who were a North East band which formed in 1974 and gained popularity during the NWOBHM movement in the late 70s.
22 Jun
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel with Orchestra & Choir Sage Gateshead 21st June 2014
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel with Orchestra & Choir Sage Gateshead 21st June 2014
It was a truly amazing experience to see Steve Harley perform the first two classic Cockney Rebel albums “The Human Menagerie” and “The Psychomodo”, accompanied by full band, the Orchestra of the Swan and Choir, conducted by Andrew Powell, last night. This concert was first performed at the Birmingham Symphony Hall in 2012, and is now available on DVD. Steve Harley said at the time “ It’s been a long time coming – something like 39 years. Now we’re here, at last, with an orchestra and a choir and a big rock band, to play those first two albums pretty well the way they appeared on the original vinyl. Maybe some things should never change, in spite of progress. Welcome, my old friends.”
First Half; The Human Menagerie: Hideaway; What Ruthy Said; Loretta’s Tale; Crazy Raver; Sebastian; Mirror Freak; My Only Vice; Muriel the Actor; Spaced Out; Judy Teen; Chameleon; Death Trip.
Second Half; The Psychomodo: Sweet Dreams; Psychomodo; Mr. Soft; Singular Band; Ritz; Cavaliers; Bed in the Corner; Sling It!; Big Big Deal; Black or White; Tumbling Down.
Encore: Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me).
A great concert. Stand-outs (although there were many, with standing ovations for several songs) were: “Sebastian”, “”Tumbling Down”, and “Make Me Smile”.
Steve Harley put his heart and soul into the performance last night. His voice just gets better with time, and the songs found a new life when played with the full band and orchestra. Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) was star number two of the show, playing great sax and clearly enjoying every minute of it. 
Steve had some great craic with us all, telling us stories about his days with the band in the 70s, and bringing back memories for me of classic gigs at Newcastle City Hall and Reading 1974, all of which he referred to. He related a memory from the City Hall of a guy jumping off the balcony and climbing down the light tower. He introduced “Tumbling Down” by reminding us all how we would leave the hall still singing the closing line “Oh dear!….look what they’ve done to the blues, blues, blues…”. Steve quoted Hammersmith Odeon as an example, with the Cockney Rebel crowds entering the tube still singing, but I recall the very same thing happening at Newcastle City Hall, and Reading in 74 and at a gig at Redcar Coatham Bowl. But for me the high point has to be “Sebastian”, Steve shrouded in dark gothic lighting, wringing every drop of emotion out of the epic, haunting, enigmatic ballad. Stunning and beautiful. And the mass singalong, including the full orchestra singing the “ooh la la la”s, for “Make Me Smile” took us all back to our youth. Me, I was back in the City Hall, Steve was No 1 in the charts and the atmosphere was simply electric; I thought the roof would come off.
Thanks for another great night, Steve.
21 Jun
Michael Schenker Newcastle City Hall 30th November 1982
Michael Schenker Newcastle City Hall 30th November 1982
I get the impression that the mad axe man was probably not the easiest guy to work with. Come 1982 and vocalist Gary Barden was out of the MSG, to be replaced by ex Marbles and Rainbow front man Graham Bonnet, he of the powerful voice with an amazing range. On top of that drummer Cozy Powell and Schenker’s UFO mate Paul Raymond were also off. A new album “Assault Attack” was recorded and released and a tour followed soon after. However by the time the tour started Graham Bonnet was gone, and the vocal spot was refilled by Gary Barden. What was happening! I was looking forward to seeing Schenker and Bonnet together; now that would have been some gig. The rest of the line-up was Chriss Glenn on bass (aha someone stayed constant) and his SAHB pal Ted McKenna on drums.
The tour called at Newcastle City Hall on 30th November 1982, and it was another good concert, even if we didn’t get the chance to see Graham Bonnet. Less UFO songs this time around, but we still got “Doctor Doctor” 🙂
An audience recording exists; I found this comment about the gig on the Live Rock Avenue blog spot: “Assault Attack tour but no Graham bonnet, unfortunately. Assault attack was a masterpiece, on the same level of the first two studio album but rawer,harder, heavier, bluesier…Barden’s abilities weren’t the same as Bonnet’s. Assault attack, Dancer, Samurai, Broken promises were left out of the set list due to Barden’s inabilities. However a great concert. Also Looking for love was played!”
Setlist: Ulcer; Cry for the nations; Attack of the mad axeman; Rock you to the ground; Bijou Pleasurette; Victim of illusion; Into the arena; Desert song; Curvoisier Concerto; Lost horizon; Let sleeping dogs lie; We are looking for love;,Armed and ready; Doctor doctor; Ready to rock; Rock Bottom
This was the last time I saw Michael Schenker, which is a mistake on my part. Another one to add to my list of people to see again. I see he is touring again in December….
20 Jun
Michael Schenker Newcastle City Hall 2nd Oct 1980 and 4th Sep 1981
Michael Schenker Newcastle City Hall 1980 and 1981
Michael Schenker was (and still is) a true guitar legend. Back in the mid 70s, Shenker was the man. Great rock attitude, a reputation for being a pretty wild guy, great screeching riffs, fast fingers up and down the neck of his Flying V, a little bit flashy, so skinny, and amazing long blonde hair. I saw him many times with UFO right back from the early days when they used to play quite regularly at Sunderland Mecca. I would stand on the dance floor transfixed by Schenker’s playing, and had a few mates who swore down that he was the best guitarist at the time. “Doctor Doctor” was of course a big favourite of all of us, and the dance floor would always fill when it was played. Then around 1978, shock horror, Schenker announced that he was leaving UFO. He was becoming known for drug and drink excess, for being unreliable, disappearing for spells. The usual tale of a young guy (he was only 17 when he joined UFO) and too much too soon. However it seemed that he soon got his act together and that by 1980 he was of sufficient stature to lead his own band, and to go out and headline his own tour. Schenker set about assembling a band of top rate musicians. By 1981 his band included Schenker on his signature Gibson Flying V lead guitar, newcomer and Schenker discovery Gary Barden on vocals, ex SAHB Chris Glen on bass, his old UFO pall Paul Raymond on keyboards and rhythm guitar, and powerhouse drum supremo Cozy Powell.
I saw Schenker on his 1980 tour, in support of his first solo album “The Michael Schenker Group, when he called at Newcastle City Hall on 2nd October 1980 and at the same venue again on 4th September 1981 when he played in support of his second solo lp “MSG”. Both shows were opportunities for Schenker to show us what virtuoso rock guitar playing is all about. The set featured a mix of his new solo stuff and UFO favourites like “Rock Bottom”, “Shoot Shoot”, “Lights Out” and of course “Doctor Doctor”, which, for me, is one of the great classic rock songs, and a track that I play to this day.
Setlist from the Hammersmith Odeon gig of the same tour: Armed and Ready; Cry for the Nations; Victim of Illusion; Natural Thing; Feels Like a Good Thing; Into the Arena; Looking Out from Nowhere; Rock Bottom; Tales of Mystery; Lost Horizons; Shoot Shoot; Doctor Doctor; Lights Out
From the 1981 tour programme:
“The Mad Axe Man is Back.”
“Is it Loud Enough?”
I just have to hear the first few bars of “Doctor Doctor” with that magnificent swirling guitar, and I’m back on that dance floor again – just to the right of the plastic palm tree 🙂
“Doctor doctor, please…..
Oh, the mess I’m in
Doctor doctor, please…oh, the mess I’m in
She walked up to me and really stole my heart
And then she started to take my body apart
Livin’ lovin’ I’m on the run
So far away from you
Livin’ lovin’ I’m on the run
So far away from you”
(Schenker and Mogg, 1974)
Wow is that song really 40 years old ? 🙂
It all seems like yesterday…..so recent, and yet so long ago
19 Jun
Joe Satriani Newcastle City Hall 29th May 1990
Joe Satriani Newcastle City Hall 29th May 1990
Joe Satriani was inspired to pick up the guitar at age 14 when he learnt of the death of Jimi Hendrix and is “one of the most technically accomplished and widely respected guitarists to emerge in recent times.” (Greg Pato, AllMusic bio). A group of us went to see Joe Satriani when he appeared at Newcastle City Hall in 1990, shortly after he had released his highly successful third album “Flying In A Blue Dream”. I recall a set of super ace virtuoso guitar work, largely instrumental, although I believe Joe did sing on a couple of numbers. His work is heavily influenced by themes from science fiction with titles like “Surfing with the Alien” and “The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing”. “When he was just a little-biddy boy, ace widdlist Joe Satriani used to have weird dreams, dreams where he was flying around in “this blue colour” which coulda been “sky or space or water”. Hmmm, weird huh? But wait, it gets weirder… he’s still having them, has a new LP out called Flying In A Blue Dream featuring ‘The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing’ ” (Steffan Chirazi, Kerrang!, 1989)
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