With the country still in the midst of lockdown and no sign of any live music in the foreseeable future if at all this year I thought I would take the opportunity to look back in the archives, sounds posh I know but it’s just an spreadsheet, and revisit gigs I attended on this day down the years. I will keep this going until I can attend my first gig again in person so hopefully this also brings back memories for my gig going chums who have joined me on this great musical journey down the years.
Just the one but a goodie for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
1981, Michael Schenker Group, Hammersmith Odeon, London
This was Graham and mine’s third ever gig. Being young and naïve we got there early for the support act, The Starfighters. The mind and memory is a crazy thing that I can remember everything about this gig including the support act but if you asked me to name the ten gigs that I went to this year before lockdown I would probably struggle without looking them up.
Back to the Starfighters who were terrible but unforgettable for one reason. They are responsible for arguably the loudest single note I have ever heard in my life. The lead guitarists hit a note that must have pierced a hole in the Odeon and probably killed all dogs in a half mile radius.
Schenker were great from the opening intro of ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ through all of the great tracks like ‘Armed and Ready’, ‘633 Squadron’ ‘Attack of the wild axe man’ ‘but I want more’ through to the finale of ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Ready to Rock’. Just a great metal gig. This one was certainly more theatrical than the previous two shows from Whitesnake and Rainbow.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon. Support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.