This was a massive deal for the Playhouse and for Whitley Bay. The Playhouse proudly announced the gig: “The Tygers of Pan Tang return to play their first home gig in 45 years at Playhouse Whitley Bay, on the Saturday 9th of November – in what will be an emotional, nostalgic and over all outstanding night for fans.”
But before I write about this concert, let me reminisce a little, back to the early 1980s when I first saw the Tygers perform. From my blog entries of the time: “Tygers of Pan Tang Newcastle City Hall 13th May 1981 & Newcastle Mayfair 3rd Sep 1982. The Tygers of Pan Tang were formed in Whitley Bay. For readers who are not from the north-east UK, Whitley Bay is a seaside town. close to Newcastle upon Tyne. The original Tygers line-up was Robb Weir (guitar), Rocky (bass), Jess Cox (vocals) and Brian Dick (drums). They released the single “Don’t Touch Me There” in 1979 and the album Wild Cat in 1980.
I saw the original band several times at gigs in the northeast; in particular, I recall gigs in their old stomping ground The Rex Hotel in Whitley Bay, and at the Old 29 in Sunderland [a much-missed public house which hosted many great gigs during the 1970s and 1980s before closure]. I also saw them supporting Magnum at Redcar Coatham Bowl and The Scorpions at Newcastle City Hall. [Sadly recently passed] John Sykes (later of Thin Lizzy) joined the band during 1980; soon afterwards Jess Cox left and was replaced by Jon Deverill.
The new line-up recorded their second album Spellbound and went out on a headline tour to promote it. I won a competition in a local paper and as my prize received a clutch (I think it was 6 or 8!) tickets (note the ticket stamped “COMPLIMENTARY”). for the City Hall gig, a sweatshirt, a copy of the new Spellbound album and some badges. Result ! So I played my prize to get to know the songs ready for the gig.
A group of us met in Steels club [referring to the social club for Sunderland steelworkers, who were employed in steelworks such as that which is shown in the picture, I believe] on the night of the concert and drove through to the City Hall in a couple of cars, clutching our free tickets. Support came from Magnum (a bit of an about turn, as the Tygers had supported them just a year earlier) and Alcatraz, who I can only assume were a NWOBHM [New Wave Of British Heavy Metal] band.
The City Hall wasn’t full for the gig, but the Tygers performed a set of class metal, fronted by the powerful front trio of Jon Deverill who stood stage front open shirted, mane of long hair, confidently and powerfully screaming the vocals, John Sykes who was already a rock star in his head and you just knew it to watch him, and founder and guitar anchor Robb Weir.
They released a great version of “Love Potion No 9″ around the same time. John Sykes left shortly afterwards the tour to join Thin Lizzy, and was replaced by Fred Purser from Penetration, which is the line-up I saw at the Mayfair in 1982. The Tygers were one of the better bands to emerge from the NWOBHM genre. Robb Weir now fronts a reformed Tygers.”
Move forward 30 years or so and I am about to witness the Tygers in concert again. Yet this is quite a new band than that I saw in the Rex Hotel all those years ago. In 2000, Robb Weir reformed the band as the only original member. The other musicians are Tony Liddell (vocals), Dean Robertson (lead guitar), Brian West (bass), and Craig Ellis (drums).
Support came from the Shannon Pearl Quartet, whose ethereal sound filled the hall. Quite a contrast to the heavy rock sound of the Tygers, Shannon is a self-proclaimed White Witch who has established her own self – styled “Witch Pop”. From the Sunderland Echo: “The neo-folk artist performs both solo, using only her voice, sparse percussion and a loop station, as well as with her live band to transport audiences to another world with her spiritual sound. Last year, to coincide with the summer solstice, she released her debut album, Kiss the Ground, which earnt her praise for its “hauntingly enchanting” music.”
I really enjoyed her set. It was a refreshing change from the type of music I am used to seeing. Quite spooky, a strange mix of folk-rock, mystical sounds and theatrics with Shannon wearing a strange White Witch outfit complete with tiara. Spooky music, spooky sounds, and spooky clothing. Shannon is a true witch who entranced us with her “Witch Pop”.
The Tygers exploded onto the Playhouse stage. The lineup may be very different to that which started as a new up-and-coming band in Whitley Bay during the late 1970s, but the ethos and soul remains the same. Loud, heavy, classic rock. Lengthy guitar solos, screeching and screaming vocals, proudly making it clear that they owned that stage and were delighted to return to their homeland.
The songs were new to me, but the sound remained the same. The Tyger growled at us all. Songs which presented a soundscape painted by their very titles: “Edge of The World”, “Only The Brave”, “Fire On The Horizon” and “Hellbound”. Robb Weir was on fire and must have been so excited about returning home and playing to a home crowd who didn’t care about the lineup. For one evening this was our band returning home to play to us. They were proud and do you know what, so were we.
Finally, the very last song was the Tygers blistering version of “Love Potion Number 9”, which brought back great memories: “Love Potion No. 9” is a song written in 1959 by the greatly renowned Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally performed by the Clovers in the USA, and in the UK The Searchers recorded it in 1964. I have a copy of the song on a Searchers EP from back in the day.
“I took my troubles down to Madame Rue, You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth. She’s got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine, Sellin’ little bottles of Love Potion No. 9” (Leiber and Stoller, 1959). Great songs stand the test of time. Magical memories and happy days return. Thank you Tygers.
Many thanks also to Jackie for the photographs and to Chris for manipulating the site. And, of course, to Wikimedia Commons for the pictures of the Rex Hotel in Whitley Bay, Southwick steelworks, and John Sykes during his time with Thin Lizzy; the remaining images are from my own collection.
Setlist: Euthanasia; Keeping Me Alive; Love Don’t Stay; Gangland; Edge of the World; Back for Good; Paris by Air; Only the Brave; Do It Good; Slave to Freedom; Fire on the Horizon; Suzie Smiled.
Encore: Don’t Stop By; A New Heartbeat.
Encore 2: Hellbound; Love Potion No. 9.
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