Great night out at The Square in Harlow last week to see Attila's book launch and a glittering heaven of stars on stage including Brighton's own Piranhas.
I first saw Attila 30 years ago at The Zap Club in Brighton. I new little of what he did as I went along to see The Newtown Neurotics (or The Neurotics as they were known at that point in time) only they didn't play on account of Steve Drewett having his wisdom teeth extracted that week. Attila played the gig on his own and this was really something new. During the set I recall he played the great 'Green Fields of France', a real tear jerker of a song about the death of a Scottish soldier in the trenches of the Western Front. Subsequently I wrote to him and he very kindly sent me a cassette containing said song and invited me to bootleg away.
The next time he played was at The Basement in Brighton in January 1986 and I took him up on his offer, this gig being one of only two gigs that I have ever bootlegged (on an early '80's dictaphone - no mini discs then!). I'll dig it out and upload sometime soon.
Since the date at the Zap Club I had armed myself with a copy of 'Ranting At The Nation' so I now understood the style.
So when Attila played at The Square last week marking his 35th year as a ranting poet and musician, it was strange to thing that I had shared 30 of those years!
In a night of celebration of the Harlow and Brighton music scenes of the late '70's and '80's the bill was wonderful as can be seen from the flyer at the top of this post.
A real highlight for me and an absolute live first came when Steve Drewett joined Attila on stage for a version of 'Mindless Violence/Andy Is A Corporatist', one of the most rousing anti-fascist messages that I know of.
Mindless Violence/Andy Is A Corporatist
The Square Harlow
11th September 2015
The night worked its way through Attila's long career, and 'Tyler Smiles' was another highlight, coming as it did on the eve of the announcement of the new era for the Labour Party.
The Piranhas headlined and although being the proud owner of the 'Tom Hark' single, one of the first ten singles I purchased I am sure, and coming from Brighton way, I had never seen them live. They were great and very funny, especially when Boring Bob shared his issues with Space Invaders machines!
Boring Bob Grover of The Piranhas
The Square Harlow
11th September 2015
'Space Invaders' by The Piranhas
All in all a great nights entertainment in my favourite of all venues The Square which will sadly close down..... a real loss for Harlow and live music generally!
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