The Cortinas Fiesta Club Plymouth 22nd March 1977

The Cortinas From Bristol

Bristol's Cortina's had a very early dealings with The Stranglers that came about through Hugh's continued association with the fair city. The Stranglers made but one appearance at the fabled Roxy Club in Neal Street, Covent Garden in January 1977 and The Cortina's managed to get support in the following manner according to drummer Daniel Swann:

"A few months before, during the summer of 1976, Nick (the guitar player) had spotted Hugh Cornwall lounging in a park in Bristol.  Nick had just recently gone up to London and seen the Stranglers at the Roundhouse with the Ramones, so he recognized him right away.  Apparently, Hugh Cornwall had lived in Bristol a few years prior and regularly came back to visit old friends.  Nick went up to Hugh and chatted for a while.  He mentioned that he was in a punk band and asked if we could play a gig with the Stranglers.  Not long after, a postcard arrived from Hugh saying “come and open for us at the Roxy on the 22nd of January”".

 Flyer for a Roxy gig that didn't happen. The date would suggest February 1977, but this date saw the band play in Doncaster. On stage at The Roxy were The Damned, The Adverts and Chelsea.

The gig that they did play was on Saturday 22nd January 1977 and the evening was not without incident.

Al Hillier was in attendance and had this to say:

"I deffo went there with a few of the Finchley Boys in '77. I do remember bumping into Sid Vicious down there who was being a complete fucking arsehole. He pierced a Party Seven and sprayed it all over everyone including me and Finchley Boy hard man Dennis Marks who eventually followed old Sid to the khazi and gave him a few slaps. I was actually tripping at the time but I remember Sid emerging from the toilet with a big grin on his face covered in blood"

For the band, the night got worse as the Roxy management and the Strangler's roadies fell foul of a couple of con artists posing as members of the Met's Vice Squad. The upshot being that the band lost a total of £600, the proceeds of that night's gig as well as the money from the previous nights show at the RCA.

Bigger things were to come the way of The Cortinas when they supported the band again in the summer on 26th June. Incidentally, one of The Stranglers' sets from that day can be found here.

Here's a set from The Cortinas, caught between the date at The Roxy and the date at The Roundhouse.

Thanks for the trade!

MP3 (as recieved): http://we.tl/30aRd6xmRi

01. Defiant Pose
02. Tired Of Compromise
03. They
04. We're Gonna Play In The Subway Today
05. Further Education
06. Fascist Dictator
07. Tokyo Joe
08. Gloria
09. Gonna Get Mary In The Bus Shelter
10. Have It With You
11. Television Families
12. Have It With You
13. Slow Down

Dexter Dalwood of The Cortinas and JJ talk basses, Soo Catwoman looks bored!