Oooh Aaargh It's Oxford Apollo on 4th February 1983

Here's one for my good friend Owen for whom this was his Year Zero moment. I give you his thoughts, in his own words, on this date and what followed.

Cheers O!

'Exactly 30 ago today I lost my gig-going virginity to a certain black clad band at Oxford Apollo at the tender age of 15. I can still remember every detail of my introduction to the world of live concerts all these years later. It was the beginning of a long journey with The Stranglers which has taken me the length and breadth of the British Isles. It's also given me a reason to travel all over Eu...rope from Norway to Greece & Portugal to Yugoslavia, clocking up a fair few gigs over the years. Along the way, I've had numerous touring partners, some of whom are still active and some that have fallen by the wayside (and one who I've lived with for 20+ years!). Here's some of my fellow fans that I've been priviledged to travel with: Jacquie (obviously), Dave H & Sean T, Stevie T, Graham C, Gary B, Glenn S, Carl D, Wig, Paul C, Paul B, Ade & Gunta, Danny B, Scots John, Pud, Jacko, Dave from York, Dom P, Phil C, Baz C, Tony R, Paul K, Graham K, Bez, Karen, Paul W, Neil H, Simon & Joni, Baz S, Jim BUT, Deek & Graham, Dara A, Gary R, Raj, Jim R, Paul McG, Marian, Marcel & the Dutch, Uli & Gerd and a horde of Wonky busers and other gig goers! Thanks must go to the band (in whichever form), the management and crew (notably Gaz K, Bill T, Sil, Max, Bruce, Colin, Louie) who've helped to make the journey possible. Here's to many more gigs following the one and only Stranglers...See you in March for the next round...'

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-QwQYi3eg7d


Artwork: https://we.tl/t-expBZhpewj

01. Intro
02. Nuclear Device
03. Toiler On The Sea
04. Ships That Pass In The Night
05. Its A Small World
06. Just Like Nothing On Earth
07. No More Heroes
08. Who Wants The World
09. Never Say Goodbye
10. Baroque Bordello
11. Golden Brown
12. Princess Of The Streets

01. Midnight Summer Dream
02. European Female
03. Tramp
04. The Raven
05. Duchess
06. London Lady
07. Nubiles (Cocktail Version)
08. Down In The Sewer

Thoughts On The Specials In 2013

A feature in this month's Mojo magazine was an interview with the band conducted on the back of the band's excellent Maida Vale gig in December, recorded for BBC 6 Music and available here. This started me thinking about the upcoming tour and The Specials in more general terms.

The short article contained two revelations:

1) The Specials have penned 3 new songs with the intention to take them into the studio to see how they pan out in a no pressure session and of far more significance....

2) Terry Hall is in remission from mouth cancer and had been clear for 6 months. All the best to TH!

The news that Neville Staple is 'to take a back seat' and will consequently miss the upcoming May tour came as a blow to many. As is so often the case seen on the Stranglers related 'Burning Up Time' Forum, fan opinion was divided. In this respect the excellent Specials forum played host to a lively exchange of opinions on the whys and the wherefores of Nev's decision.

With regards to new material I have maintained a 'Best not to' position since the reformation. but the hints in the Mojo interview could well undermine my position. Brad's comments in the interview hint of something of a departure from the expected. A reference is made to Terry's brilliant collaboration with Mushtaq. That makes me think for sure.

The other thing that is clear from this interview is that with the enforced line-up change, set change is a must.... 'Why?' has to be in there (my opinion, not theirs!).

This is potentially very exiting... new material and a handful of rarities. To date I have had the pleasure of seeing the reformed Specials seven times, three of which stand up there as the best gigs I have ever been to! I never expected to see them in this (near) complete form and they have been consistently wonderful. Therefore, I leave the arrangements for the May tour in their capable hands, with the understanding that whilst these gigs may be different from the ones that I have seen to date, the probability of disappointment is very low.

And The Winner Is....

Congratulations to Meanie who came up with the winning entry to the caption competition, as judged by this democratic panel of one.

It's a shame that the bugger is in Australia...... it couldn't cost more! Only joking my friend!

 

Hugh: 'Quick... what's 128 divided by 3?'

JJ: 'Let me pause for reflection for a second...... ah, Fuck knows!'

 

Also worthy of mention in dispatches:

 

'Keep smiling! The press are here.'

 

Hugh: 'Demon of the semen. So what does that make me then?'

JJ: 'Umm...... Ugly?'

 

Please drop me a line Meanie with your choices.

20 From '79 (14) Siouxsie And The Banshees Aula Der Kantonscule Baden Switzerland 9th June 1979

This is a great recording (I think) of the Banshees in Europe. Personally, I prefer their later material, but with this early-ish set it is clear that Susan and the boys were taking punk in another direction entirely. This is my whole point about 1979.... bands started looking forwards and making new sounds, that took British music on to the next level. Furthermore, there is certainly no doubt that Siouxsie (along with the likes of Pauline Black, Poly Styrene, Debbie Harry, Ari Up etc etc) created a space for women in the music business that simply had not previously existed.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-tOs6ZUmSwa

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-fO78CON5Ks

01. Mirage
02. Playground Twist
03. Mittageisen
04. Switch
05. Overground
06. Icon
07. Placebo Effect
08. Regal Zone
09. Jigsaw Feeling
10. Hong Kong Garden
11. Suburban Relapse
12. Helter Skelter
13. Love In A Void

Edinburgh Playhouse 11th February 1983

OK, another cat lick of the 'Feline' tour, this time from Edinburgh. Whilst looking for the Bingley Hall press ad, I stumbled across a review of this gig which I thought may be of interest to the reader. I think that this may have come from the pages of 'Record Mirror', the rather light weight cousin of the main music weeklies in print in the UK at the time. It is a fine example of lazy journalism, 'let's not send a photographer down to the gig... what we'll do instead is rifle the archives for a Gus Stewart shot of '77 vintage and us that!'. Quality aside, what this rather unfavourable review this does show is that the bands new direction was greeted sceptically by both fans and the press alike.

JJ ponders 'Roger Colbert...... one for the black book!'

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-0sOsI9nvlL

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-mpzOQhjUaE

1. Intro

2. Nuclear Device
3. Toiler On The Sea
4. Ships That Pass In The Night
5. It's A Small World
6. Just Like Nothing On Earth
7. No More Heroes
8. Who Wants The World?
9. Never Say Goodbye
10. Baroque Bordello
11. Golden Brown

1. Princess Of The Street

2. Midnight Summer Dream
3. European Female
4. The Raven
5. Duchess
6. London Lady
7. Hugh
8. Nubiles (Cocktail Version)
9. Tank
10. Genetix



Sheffield City Hall 13th February 1983

This one is posted for Mark Senior who along with Phil Coxon are responsible for a highly readable blow by blow account of the trials an tribulations of touring the hard way (shop doorways for bedrooms etc!). I would post the link, but the official site appears to be down as I write this (besides which you should know where it is anyway!).

So, thanks lads!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-4oH68CuVFh

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-WkrT5qC5yJ

1. Intro
2. Nuclear Device
3. Toiler On The Sea
4. Ships That Pass In The Night
5. Its A Small World
6. Just Like Nothing on Earth
7. No More Heroes
8. Who Wants The World
9. Never Say Goodbye
10. Baroque Bordello
11. Golden Brown

1. Princess Of The Streets
2. Midnight Summer Dream
3. European Female
4. Tramp
5. The Raven
6. Duchess
7. London Lady
8. Nubiles (Cocktail Version)
9. Down in the Sewer (aborted)
10. Genetix

Black And White In Stafford Bingley Hall 30th May 1978

This one comes with a health warning worthy of a ton of asbestos! But, it is a posted here at the specific request of Phil Coxon (for it was his first outing with the band) and Yesican, who recently kindly helped me out with a couple of replacement recordings. Cheers to you both!

Seemingly recorded from within a closed toilet cubicle at the back of the hall, with the mike in the bowl, nestling under a generous turd.... this recording otherwise is great!  Setwise it showcases 'Black & White' almost in its entirety.

FLAC: https://we.tl/5RL4dQmFnC

Artwork: https://we.tl/3mUEV7I3Rx

1. INTRO
2. BURNING UP TIME
3. DAGENHAM DAVE
4. BRING ON THE NUBILES
5. GOODBYE TOULOUSE
6. PEASANT IN THE BIG SHITTY
7. PRINCESS OF THE STREETS
8. DEAD RINGER
9. HANGING AROUND
10. UGLY
11. SOMETIMES
12. I FEEL LIKE A WOG

1. GO BUDDY GO
2. CURFEW
3. TANK
4. OUTSIDE TOKYO
5. NICE ‘N’ SLEAZY
6. THREATENED
7. DO YOU WANNA?
8. DEATH AND NIGHT AND BLOOD
9. SWEDEN
10. TOILER ON THE SEA
11. FIVE MINUTES