1964
*The Hollies, Cheltenham Town Hall
Quiffs intact. Graham Nash played an unamplified acoustic guitar.
*The Sharks, Schöningen, Germany (several times)
Unfeasible trousers but great R & B.
1965
*The Hollies, Cheltenham Town Hall
We sat on chairs positioned round the edge of the dancefloor and didn't dare ask anyone to dance.
1966
*TJ - Tours, France
TJ, a black American organist, played in the same club every night for a month. He claimed to have written "Night of a Thousand Dances".
1967
30. September: Wynder K. Frogg, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Hammond Heaven.
19. October: Herbie Goins and the Night Timers, University of East Anglia, Norwich
UK soul.
21. October: Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Better than Geno Washington but not half as famous.
16. November: Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, University of East Anglia, Norwich
The age of psychedelia approaches.
14. December: Jimmie James and the Vagabonds, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Stax-type soul again, but with a white singer.
1968
13. February: The Young Tradition, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Early exposure to finger-in-the-ear folk. Peter Bellamy had the longest hair I'd ever seen.
25. February: Savoy Brown, University of East Anglia, Norwich
They got big in the States because the Americans have such good taste.
27. March: Jeff Beck Band / Pretty Things / Pyramids, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Rod the Mod long before he was crap.
11. May: The Move, University of East Anglia, Norwich
A truly great band. Even Carl Wayne acted the part.
18. May: Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds, Keswick College, Norwich
I think Albert Lee was in the band.
22. June: Pink Floyd / Fairport Convention, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Some double bill!
29. June: Moody Blues, Royal Festival Hall, London
They did make a good album, once. Pity about the moustaches.
12. October: Tyrannosaurus Rex, University of East Anglia, Norwich
"Elfin-like", that's what they always say about Marc.
2. November: Spooky Tooth, University of East Anglia, Norwich
"Sunshine Help Me".
26. November: Cream Farewell Concert, Royal Albert Hall, London
Didn't they go on.
*Deviants, Progressive Club, Norwich
Yes, but could they play their instruments?
10. November: Free, Progressive Club, Norwich
7. December: Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, University of East Anglia, Norwich
I predicted he would go solo. He did.
18. December: Bakerloo, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Well-smoothed Dave Clempson's priceless trio.
1969
16. January: The Nice / The Idle Race, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Never mention Roy Wood to Jeff Lynne.
23 January: Free, University of East Anglia, Norwich
One of the most perfectly-formed bands of all time.
8. February: Blossom Toes, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Jim Cregan, later Rod Stewart's guitarist, was the leader of this sweetly-named combo.
15. February: Bonzo Dog Doo-Da Band / Roy Harper, University of East Anglia, Norwich
The original line-up. Sadly, less funny onstage than on record.
18. February: Roland Kirk, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Or rather, Rahsaan Roland. Never did get into jazz, sorry.
22. February: The Pyramids / A Taste of Honey, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Innocent, up-tempo reggae.
8. March: Fairport Convention, University of East Anglia, Norwich
We'd seen them at Colchester in the interim. Sandy Denny told me to fuck off.
22. March: Roy Harper / Ron Geesin, University of East Anglia, Norwich.
I can still nip down the road and see Roy at the Brook over thirty years later.
27. March: Jon Hiseman's Colosseum / Honeybus, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Too much in the way of soloing, especially the old "double saxophone" bit. But Honeybus flew like a bird in the sky.
10. May: The Barbecue, Earlham Park, Norwich with The Hollies, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick and Tich, Gun, Soft Machine, Marmalade and others.
"What did the students think of us?" - "Er ..."
22. May: Fleetwood Mac, Industrial Club, Norwich
They almost made our ears bleed and Mick Fleetwood wore a pair of wooden testicles on a string.
7. June: Blind Faith, Hyde Park, London
If I hadn't rescued Stevie from the pond, this band would never have been formed.
20. June: Third Ear Band / Bridget St. John, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Everyone sat on the floor, including the band.
5. July: The Rolling Stones, Hyde Park, London
"Okay, see you in Hyde Park then."
4. November: Spooky Tooth, Mensa am Westring, Kiel, Germany
Luckily, rugby songs are a rarity in Germany.
15. November: Ten Years After /Chicken Shack, Ernst-Merck-Halle, Hamburg
He's fast, isn't he? And that Christine Perfect was a bit of all right.
12. December: Bach Weihnachtsoratorium, St-Johanniskirche, Lüneburg
The only classical concert I've been to in my life. I coughed all the way through and a nice old lady gave me a sweetie.
1970
3. January: Aspidistra Flying Blues Band, Blue Note, Wilhelmshaven
Who? Well, I was there and it was bloody cold.
7. January: Hardin and York, Mensa am Westring, Kiel, Germany
The World's Smallest Big Band.
21. January: Soft Machine, Mensa am Westring, Kiel, Germany
Robert Wyatt did his funny falsetto bit.
10. March: Steamhammer, Mensa am Westring, Kiel, Germany
Whatever did happen to Steamhammer?
10. April: Renaissance, Mensa am Westring, Kiel, Germany
Rather nice pastoral sounds from Keith Relf and his sister Jane.
15. April: The Flock, Ernst-Merck-Halle, Hamburg
"The Sound of the Seventies", said the ticket. Jerry Goodman ended up in the Mahavishnu orchestra.
22. May: Hardin and York, Mensa am Westring, Kiel, Germany
The ticket price had gone up by 2 DM in four months. This can happen when you're Big In Germany.
28. May: Deep Purple, Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany
The support was Alex Harvey. I thought he was brilliant but the audience hated him. A sign of things to come?
21 / 22 June: Hamburg Big Gig Festival: Colosseum, Black Sabbath, Family, Rare Bird, Humble Pie, Uriah Heep, Gentle Giant
We slept under the stars and woke up covered in dew.
10. July: Free, Spektrum Club, Kiel, Germany
Paul Rodgers pinched a bottom to celebrate the band's first hit.
25. September: Caravan / Jackson Heights, City Hall, Salisbury
An outing from the farm. The support was Lee Jackson from the Nice, but there was hardly anyone there.
21. December: Strawbs / Hardin and York / Al Stewart, Royal Albert Hall, London
A benefit for the "Conservation Society". An ill-matched bill failed to create much atmosphere.
1971
March 23: Yes, Norwich Lads' Club
What was the name of that irritating acoustic solo Steve Howe used to do?
April 4: Bronco, University of East Anglia, Norwich
It may be a loo roll to you, but to me it was my introduction to Jess Roden.
April 30: Michael Chapman, Norwich Folk Festival
And he's still on the road right now.
May 12th: Traffic, Norwich Lads' Club
It looked like members of this band would soon start to die. They did.
*Arrival, Rolle College, Exmouth
They had just had a big hit with "Friends": "We all have friends who have friends by the river". No we don't.
*Mogul Thrash, Rolle College, Exmouth
A bit like the Average White Band with guitar solos. Probably the best band John Wetton was ever in.
*Osibisa, Rolle College, Exmouth
"Don't talk about my girlfriend like that", I should have said.
1971 -72
*MC5: Eichhof, Kiel, Germany
"Excuse me, what means 'Kick Out Ze Jemms, Muzzerfuckers?'"
*Man: Eichhof, Kiel, Germany
You thought the Manics were the original Welsh windbags? No, Man were.
*Alexis Korner: Pupille, Kiel, Germany
I couldn't afford to go but I heard it through the floor.
*Frumpy, Förde-Hochhaus, Eckernförde, Germany
Inga Rumpf, Frumpy's singer, is now a Christian evangelist.
*Brian Auger Trinity / Status Quo, Stadthalle, Neumünster
Quo were cool. No longer a pop band and not yet a joke.
1973
15. October: Free, Colston Hall, Bristol
Heartbreaking performance to promote "Heartbreaker".
31. October: Rory Gallagher: Colston Hall, Bristol
A nice line in lumberjack shirts.
1974
*Stackridge, Victoria Rooms, Bristol
"The Stanley is for you and me." Mutter Slater wisely didn't take part in 1999's misguided reunion.
*John Entwistle's Ox, Bristol University
However did they get all that equipment up to the first floor?
18. September: Deep Purple, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
I'm afraid I always thought that Ritchie Blackmore was over-rated.
27. October: Nektar, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
Deutsch-Rock vom Feinsten.
4. November: Gong, Post-Aula, Bremen, Germany
Featuring Steve Hillage in woolly hat mode.
12. December: Mungo Jerry, Revolution, Bremen, Germany
Fantastic! Someone in the audience kept buying the band Jägermeister and they kept drinking and playing until they could no longer stand. The next night, the club burned down.
16. December: The Sweet, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
My snobby friends refused to attend on the basis that the Sweet were a "teenybop" band. Nonsense! Fabulous glam rock, with the drummer having a drum battle with a back projection of himself. They beat the Flaming Lips to this concept by 25 years.
* Alice Cooper, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
This was the classic Steve Hunter / Dick Wagner line-up featuring a guitar battle that drew blood.
1975
29. January: Soft Machine, University of Bremen, Germany
Robert Wyatt did his funny falsetto thing (again).
12. March: Country Joe and the Fish, University of Bremen, Germany
It wasn't exactly Woodstock revisited.
9. May: Genesis, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
The Lamb Lay Down on Broadway.
18. August: Kevin Coyne, Post-Aula, Bremen, Germany
Andy Summers was in this band.
27. September: Camel, Reithalle, Cloppenburg
I put up posters in Bremen to advertise this. We had to sit on bales of hay and pick our way carefully though the horse shit.
29. October: The Who, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
The main story in the local paper detailed how Moonie smashed up Bremen's poshest hotel. How could it be otherwise?
1976
8. February: Status Quo, Stadthalle, Oldenburg, Germany
Third time lucky (?) after the previous two shows had been cancelled.
27. February: Uriah Heep, Stadthalle, Oldenburg, Germany
I had a row with Birgit's sister-in-law after she falsely claimed that David Byron was a good singer.
14. March: Udo Lindenberg, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
What a shame this great character didn't catch on outside Germany. At one stage, he even recorded an album in English, but to no avail.
4. May: The Rolling Stones, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
I recall that they had a giant penis.
2. June: Smokie, Dorfhalle, Ritterhude, Germany
Sometimes, one gets desperate.
21. June: Rolling Stones, Knebworth
I think they were there somewhere.
23. July: Heavy Metal Kids / XTC, Brunel Rooms, Swindon
I don't remember what I was doing when I heard that JFK had died, but I do remember what I was doing when I heard that Gary Holton had died. XTC played "All Along The Watchtower", incidentally.
August: Reading Festival 1976 with Rory Gallagher, Gong, Van Der Graaf Generator, Camel, The Enid, Black Oak Arkansas
The year the Enid took the festival by storm! No, honestly.
17. October: Jess Roden Band, Southampton University
Funky British soul. His backing band came from Southampton, you know.
29. November: Kiki Dee, Gaumont, Southampton
She was briefly able to fill theatres like this.
1. December: Caravan, Southampton University
For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night.
10. December: Steeleye Span, Gaumont, Southampton
They should really have kept it under their Hat.
17. December: Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Gaumont, Southampton
Big In Germany.
1977
28. January: Supercharge / Ultravox, Southampton University
This was the original Ultravox with John Foxx (better than any subsequent versions).
9. February: Jethro Tull, Gaumont, Southampton
Flamingos can stand on one leg as well.
13. February: SAHB without Alex Harvey, Top Rank, Southampton
Clever name, eh? Quite good even without the main man, because of Zal Cleminson.
5. March: Pat Travers Band / Doctors of Madness, Reading University
The Doctors had a bassist called Stoner who dressed up in a skelton suit.
9. March: Graham Parker and the Rumour, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Brinsley Schwarz is a cool name, don't you think?
15. March: Gordon Giltrap, Southampton University
There must be better things to do with a guitar.
21. March: Bandit, Village Bowl, Bournemouth
I went because dear old James Litherland was in the band. The singer was Jim Diamond, who later had a hit with "I Should Have Known Better".
13. April: Tribo, Mirandela, Portugal
Hiching though Portugal, I was befriended by this band which specialised in Camel covers! They gave a performance specially for me (which can happen if you are an Englishman abroad). The bassist Manuel is still a good friend today.
4. May: Widowmaker, Souhampton University
Super-cool, motionless Luther Grosvenor had turned into crazed glam-rock axeman Ariel Bender.
7. May: Ian Gillan Band, Southampton University
I got to interview the man who has more brain that meets the eye.
11. May: Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, King Alfred's College, Winchester
I'm probably prouder to have been at this gig than at any other ever. The appeal escaped most of the assembled student teachers, however.
20. May: The Damned / The Adverts, Southampton University
Mark Eitzel of American Music Club was at this gig. Not that I knew that.
27. May: Queen, Gaumont, Southampton
The tickets cost £2. What a rip-off.
4. June: Caravan, Farnborough Recreation Centre
Never go and see a band at a recreation centre.
16. June: 10CC, Gaumont, Southampton
Apart from Eric Stewart, they just couldn't look the part.
21. July: Weeke Jokes, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
My band, man.
30. June: Roger Ruskin Spear, Southampton University
He had a Kinetic Wardrobe.
3. July: Bad Company, Earl's Court, London
Paul Rodgers was already putting on weight and wore a stetson, for goodness' sake.
6. July: Crawler / Boxer / Moon, Guildhall, Portsmouth
What they call a package show. Roll on recycling.
21. July: Roogalator, Winchester Art School
Chunky R & B from Danny Adler.
12. August: Freshly Layed Band, Queen Inn, Burley
A fateful night.
August: Reading Festival 1977 with Thin Lizzy, Graham Parker, Nazareth, Ultravox, Electric Chairs, Racing Cars, The Enid, The Motors
The Motors had some of the most expensive promotion any band has ever received. It didn't help them much.
25. September: The BA, Riverside Inn, Winchester
"Bus Garage Café, well it's okay."
29. September: Camel, Southampton Gaumont
Well, I honestly thought the Snow Goose was good.
30. September: Kursaal Flyers, Southampton University
Not very exciting pub rock promoted above its station.
1. October: The BA, King Alfred's Boys Club, Winchester
First and last gig at this youth club. (There was a minor riot.)
2. October: The Pirates, Glen Eyre Hall, Southampton
Who'd have thought dear old Mick Green would end up at the Cavern with Macca? Good choice of guitarist, though.
4. October: Ian Gillan Band, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Their bassist appeared to be a heavyweight wrestler.
8. October: Freshly Layed Band, The White Buck, Burley
First of many trips into a forest hippie enclave.
11. October: Throbbing Gristle, Winchester Art School
I remember it well. Not many tunes, but Cosey Fanni Tutti looked a picture.
12. October: Phil Manzanera's 801, Southampton University
Good album but he never followed it up properly.
18. October: Dr Feelgood, Portsmouth Guildhall
Got to interview Lee Brilleaux, now in the Great Travel Lodge In The Sky.
19. October: Racing Cars, Southampton University
They had had some kind of hit.
26. October: Caravan, Southampton University
Still out to pasture. Do you know that Pye Hastings is now a sales rep?
27. October: Wishbone Ash / The Motors, Gaumont, Southampton
We got in on account of the aforementioned massive promotional push being given to the Motors. (Push the Motors, geddit?)
15. November: Status Quo, Gaumont, Southampton
At the end of the show, their leads were all tied up in a knot in the middle of the stage.
26. November: The Ba, Winchester Art College
Someone took a great photo of this.
28. November: Wilco Johnson, Village Bowl, Bournemouth
Do you know, he still does that "machinbe-gunning the audience" stuff today? Extraordinary.
6. December: Freshly Layed Band, Riverside Inn, Winchester
Watch those floorboards.
7. December: Thin Lizzy, Gaumont, Southampton
On the ticket, it said Thin Lizzie.
1978
6. January: The Enid, Basingstoke Technical College
At the time, they seemed revolutionary. They actually played "Land of Hope and Glory" and (blush) I actually enjoyed it. Bloody hell!
22. January: Rich Kids, Glen Eyre Hall, Southampton
If only Midge Ure had got frozen in this state. Mind you, they were furious at people gobbing at them, and they had a point.
25. January: Talking Heads / Dire Straits, Southampton University
That is not a misprint. The tickets cost £1 each.
3. February: Tyla Gang, King Alfred's College, Winchester
That's Sean Tyla, not Liv Tyla.
6. February: Split Enz, Southampton University
Before they wuz Crowded House. Better, too.
11. February: Colosseum II, South Stoneham Hall, Southampton
Gary Moore was in this band.
18. February: Krazy Kat, King Alfred's College, Winchester
In perfect harmony (but not with the Ents Officer).
19. February: The Enid, Victoria Palace, London
Did we really do this?
24. February: The Soft Boys, Winchester Art School
Wading through a ventilator.
27. February: Rush, Gaumont, Southampton
What about the voice of Geddy Lee, how does he sing so high?
11. March: Freshly Layed Band, Riverside Inn, Winchester
Slight return.
15. March: Eddie and the Hot Rods, Top Rank, Southampton
Barrie Masters did some good acrobatics on the lighting rig.
17. March: David Coverdale Band, Basingstoke Technical College
This is definitely a misprint.
22. March: John Miles, Village Bowl, Bournemouth
Music is my first love, and it will be my last. Soppy but undeniable.
30. March: Freshly Layed Band, White Buck, Burley
For the sake of the rainforests, an editorial decision has been taken at this stage not to mention the rest of the Freshly Layed gigs we attended (17 in all).
2. April: The Soft Boys, Nashville, London
Robyn Hitchcock didn't recognise me.
17. April: Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Still Big In Germany.
25. April: Graham Parker and the Rumour, Mecca Ballroom, Portsmouth
Hold back the night.
26. April: Rory Gallagher, Gaumont, Southampton
Not a lot different from last time.
29. April: UK, Southampton University
That Bill Bruford, he can play a bit.
5. May: The Tubes, Gaumont, Southampton
A novelty band which can really play, that's rare.
12. May: Lesser Known Tunisians, The Saints, Southampton
First encounter with Wickham's answer to North Africa.
18. May: Steve Hillage, Poole Arts Centre
Surely it coudn't be the same woolly hat?
19. May: Lesser Known Tunisians, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
We promoted this one.
3. June: Black Sabbath, Gaumont, Southampton
Another misprint.
4. June: Sham 69 / Stratejacket, Top Rank, Southampton
Like Madness later, Sham 69 didn't deserve their awful fans.
17. June: The Blades, Riverside Inn, Winchester
Previously the Amazorblades.
29. June: Lesser Known Tunisians, Old Mill, Holbury
The night of the Sounds review.
30. June: Artemis, Cricklade College, Andover
Greg Watkins was still playing Camel covers.
15. July: The Picnic, Blackbushe Airport, with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading.
First ever laminate on a string!
16. July: Whirlwind, Jumpers Tavern, Christchurch
Got a rather nice free T-shirt from this rockabilly band.
26 - 28 August: Reading Festival 1978 with Spirit, The Motors, Status Quo, Sham 69, The Jam, Patti Smith Group
A rather unpleasant atmosphere reigned, as the line-up might lead one to expect.
16. September: Staa Marx, Winchester Rugby Club
The sons of Mrs Aardvark. They were great.
20 September: The Polar Bears, The Cricketers, Winchester
Support came from the Erections, another Winchester band, one of whose members was called Dr. R. Slicker.
21. September: 10CC, Gaumont, Southampton
I'm not in Love with 10CC any more. "Dreadlock Holiday", yuk.
23. September: Camel, Gaumont, Southampton
The "Breathless" tour, first sticky Backstage Pass!
26. September: The Stranglers, Gaumont, Southampton
A punk band in a seated venue didn't really work.
29. September: The Warm Jets, Riverside Inn, Winchester
Nothing to do with Brian Eno and nothing to do with the Nineties Warm Jets either. There you go.
6. October: Thieves Like Us, Riverside Inn, Winchester
Literally a life-altering experience.
11. October: Climax Blues Band / Fabulous Poodles, Southampton University
This was the sort of strangely mis-matched double bill which was around in those days. I am certain that the other support was Elvis Costello's Flip City, but I can't prove it.
20. October: Press-Ups, Riverside Inn, Winchester
One of our less wildly successful promotions.
21. October: Identical Strangers, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
They begged me to review the gig and then moaned when they didn't like what it said.
27. October: Staa Marx, Riverside Inn, Winchester
Bognor rock.
28. October: Boomtown Rats, Gaumont, Southampton
It must be said, he didn't look like a future knight of the realm.
3. November: The Enid, Basingstoke Technical College
Oh, come on.
25. November: The Aliens / Hazzard, Theatre Royal, Winchester
The first show for a decade at this un-renovated theatre. When people danced, they stirred up so much dust that you couldn't see the stage. Or it could have been dry ice.
6. December: Ian Gillan, Southampton University
The all-in wrestler was still there.
23. December: Tours, Brewer's Arms, Poole
Something stirs in Poole. Tourist Information, please.
1979
10. February: Supercharge, South Stoneham Hall, Southampton
There was a bloke with a beard who played sax.
14. February: Gruppo Sportivo, Southampton University
They didn't sound Dutch, but they were.
3. March: Fischer-Z, Southampton University
Big In Germany, but this time deservedly so.
4. March: Van Morrison, Portsmouth Guildhall
Peter Bardens was playing with Van this time around.
16. March: Screeens, Salisbury Technical College
Yes, that's three "e"s. Thieves Like Us supported.
21. March: The Hollies, Portsmouth Guildhall
There is a place for nostalgia. Dunno where.
22. March: Graham Parker and the Rumour, Southampton Guildhall
My friend Volker called him a little weasel. A tad unfair, I thought. Possibly a stoat.
23. March: Freshly Layed Band, Bournemouth Town Hall
This was their last ever gig. "Come and get the rest of the Ploughmans!"
24. March: Identical Srangers, Crown Hotel, Eastleigh
They wanted me to re-assess them. There were only two other people in the audience.
4. May: Mark Andrews and the Gents / The Lens, Top Rank, Southampton
Charity show. The Lens became IQ, a quite well-known prog-rock band.
5. May: The Enid, South Stoneham Hall, Southampton
Backstage was fun for a change, because they were breaking up and yelling at each other in a most ungentlemanly way.
11. May: XTC, Glen Eyre Hall, Southampton
I could see that Andy Partridge had stage fright. No, really. It takes one phobic to know another.
15. May: Mark Andrews and the Gents, Portsmouth Polytechnic
Although the personnel kept changing, this band was always great.
19. May: Piranhas, John Peel, Gosport
First of many sightings of these dangerous creatures.
30. May: The Tubes, Gaumont, Southampton
Still good musicians. Still high heels.
7. June: 64 Spoons, Old Mill, Holbury
I think they had a famous guitarist.
8. June: Writz, Bishop Otter College, Chichester
We went to check out the venue for a forthcoming Thieves gig. It turned out to be a formal ball, so we stood out a bit.
9. June: Mungo Jerry, King Alfred's College, Winchester
They were sober. How disappointing.
23 June: Eric Bell Band, Theatre Royal, Winchester
Grand re-opening of the venue. After The Fire cancelled and this was a poor substitute.
5. July: Joe Jackson, Locarno, Portsmouth
A meteoric rise from the John Peel, Gosport
13. July: The Stranglers, Gaumont, Southampton
They didn't exactly have a charismatic stage show.
26. July: Lip Moves, Knight's, Eastleigh
Local band which might have made good. But didn't.
12. August: Nightshift, Jumper's Tavern, Christchurch
The new band of Roger "Fatman" Hunt from Freshly Layed.
August: Reading Festival 1979 with The Cure, Motörhead, The Police, Cheap Trick, Peter Gabriel, The Ramones
These were the Readings we liked.
1. September: The Outsiders, Pinecliff, Bournemouth
This time it was Tim Holt from Freshly Layed who had a new band.
10. September: Patrik Fitzgerald, Melkweg, Amsterdam
The Thieves sent me and Birgit to Amsterdam to recover from the strain. We sat behind Bob Geldof and Paula Yates in the tram.
27. September: Leo Sayer, Gaumont, Southampton
Merely in the line of duty.
28. September: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Gaumont, Southampton
This must have been shortly before the split.
29. September: The Outsiders, Pinecliff, Bournemouth
They wrote songs then that the Agency still play today.
5. October: Camel, Poole Arts Centre
Autographed backstage pass! Unfortunately there were hardly any original members left.
17. October: Camel, Gaumont, Southampton
And it isn't shome mishtake.
31. October: Caravan, Southampton University
A sales rep. Honest!
2. November: Tours / Martian Schoolgirls, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Fateful show. We promoted this one and some of the audience abused the venue. My relationship with the venue's management hasn't recovered to this day.
18. November: The Jam / The Vapors, Poole Arts Centre
Not that long before, the Vapors had been at the Old Mill, Holbury.
25. November: The Enid, Bournemouth Winter Gardens
They had turned into a parody of a parody.
6. December: The Piranhas, Crown Hotel, Eastleigh
I don't want my body ('cos it's so bloody shoddy).
13. December: Last Orders, Crown Hotel, Eastleigh
No, no, that was the name of the band.
16. December: The Police, Gaumont, Southampton
Of course it was me they were screaming at.
26. December: Blondie, Stateside Center, Bournemouth
One of the most sweatily joyful gigs ever.
1980
1. February: Merger, Basingstoke Technical College
Thieves supported. There were gigantic day-glo posters, but not a gigantic day-glo audience.
3. February: Tom Robinson's Sector 27, Poole Arts Centre
A lunchtime gig!
8. February: Renaissance, Southampton University
One of those bands of imposters, with no original members.
10. February: The Clash, Poole Arts Centre
The backstage pass was quite useful because it was a battlefield out front.
28. February: Joe Jackson, Gaumont, Southampton
I disapproved of the acapella "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" but now I realise it was quite good.
3. March: Gillan, Southampton University
Another interview. Whatever did we talk about?
13. February: The Clash, Top Rank, Southampton
No backstage pass, but a safe spot on the balcony. Below, it looked like the pitch at Twickenham.
14. February: Bobby Henry and the Risk, Knight's, Eastleigh
They could have gone far. They didn't.
27. February: The Tourists, Gaumont, Southampton
I couldn't understand why such a crummy band had such a high profile.
15. March: The Limos, The Saints, Southampton
This was an ambitious musician called Mark Easton. He later joined Mark Andrews and the Gents.
19. March: The HGBs, Railway Inn, Winchester
Chris Willey from Attic Theatre put together this R & B band.
10. May: Inside Story, Jumpers Tavern, Christchurch
Roger Hunt had already moved on from Nightshift.
22. May: Da Biz, Brewer's Arms, Poole
Ronnie Mayor from Tours with a new but very similar band.
3. June: Whitesnake / Gary Moore's G-Force, Gaumont, Southampton
I can't really explain this.
27. June: John Otway / Wild Willy Barrett, The Griffin, Southampton
You needed to take out personal insurance to be in this audience.
22-24 July: Reading Festival with Samson, Iron Maiden, Slade, Whitesnake, Def Leppard
Musicians Only! Favourite occupation: Dodge the Piss Bottles.
8. August: The Blazers, The Saints, Southampton
Good name. Can't remember the band.
20. August: The Time, Plough, Durrington
The beginning of a long and happy relationship.
22. September: Ebony Rockers, Top Rank, Southampton
Charity show with good local reggae band.
26. October: Joe Jackson, Bournemouth Winter Gardens
I'd forgiven him by then. Shouldn't have doubted him in the first place.
4. November: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Gaumont, Southampton
They were boring and lightweight. Synth-pop, nein danke.
13. November: Sad Café, Gaumont, Southampton
They had a singer called Paul Young. How confusing.
18. October: The Time, Waterlooville Football Club
Big venue. Were they going to break through?
29. October: Exploding Seagulls / Bitter Lemmings: Solent Suite, Southampton
One of many gigs I attended (lost the details of the others) promoted by an enterprising label called Stick It In Your Ear.
13. November: The League of Gentlemen, Royal Exeter Hotel, Bournemouth
Robert Fripp on home ground. Very intense, naturally.
15. November: The Enid, Town Hall, Eastleigh
Down and very nearly out.
24. November: The Damned, Gaumont, Southampton
Neat Neat Neat! Yes Yes Yes!
30. November: The Planets, John Peel, Gosport
Super band which I assume must have been messed up by the industry.
6. December: The Time, Sussex Hotel, Bognor
This one was recorded live.
12. December: The Kinks, Gaumont, Southampton
Eye contact, that's what makes Ray Davies such a great live performer.
1981
8. January: The Outsiders, Railway Inn, Winchester
One of our promotions. A new venue, still going strong today.
15. January: The Time, Railway Inn, Winchester
This is where Richard Williams was inspired to enter the world of rock and roll.
30. January: The Piranhas, King Alfred's College, Winchester
They'd had a gigantic hit with "Tom Hark", which didn't represent them at all. To show their annoyance, they played a brilliant set of heavy dub reggae, which upset the audience (but not me).
14. February: The Troggs, Rock Garden, London
Valentine's Day with Reg.
15. February: The Time, Royal Hotel, Guildford
There was a terrible fight.
26. February: The Time, Cumberland Tavern, Portsmouth
Kevin sang one song from the gents' toilet.
28. February: Camel, Poole Arts Centre
The "Nude" tour this time. Rapidly losing patience!
6. March: The Time, John Peel, Gosport
I stayed the night and got a Chinese takeaway. Interesting stuff, isn't it?
7. March: Dr Feelgood, Southampton University
This line-up featured John "Gypie" Mayo.
11. March: The Skavengers, Railway Inn, Winchester
One of ours. Good sub-Police white reggae.
16. March: The Who, Poole Arts Centre
With Kenney Jones, the band just didn't feel right any more.
18. March: Games To Avoid, Railway Inn, Winchester
A serious-minded and really good band from Southampton.
21. March. The Time, Joiners Arms, Southampton.
According to the diary, I proposed to Birgit after this gig. It was obviously an inspirational performance, but romantic? I doubt it.
25. March: The Time, Railway Inn, Winchester
One of our promotions.
1. April: Exploding Seagulls, Railway Inn, Winchester
Nick Jacobs, later of the Blue Aeroplanes, was in this band.
3. April: The Press, New Queen's Head, Winchester
Local band which insisted I review them in this horrible pub.
5. April: Zip Code, The Victory, Southampton
A new venue. This was a new Winchester band.
21 April: Xena Xerox, Gilbey's, Southampton
They were furious because I didn't think they were as good as they thought they were.
4. May: Cosmetics, Royal Exeter Hotel, Bournemouth
More like it. Richard Mazda, ex of Tours, had a great band here.
11. May: The Time / The Secret, The Victory, Southampton.
We caused a sensation by getting Tony Oxley (or was it Kevin Robinson?) to announce that we were getting married the following day.
12. May: Duballup / The Secret: Floater's, Southampton
Oh Lord, forgive me. I went to a gig on my wedding night.
25. May: The Time / The Secret: South Parade Pier, Southsea
Not many people in a very large room.
30. May: The Time, Railway Inn, Winchester
This was Baz Mort's birthday party but it ended in chaos when somebody tried to attack me.
3. June: Status Quo, Gaumont, Southampton
Again and Again and Again.
23. June: The Jam / The Time, Guildhall, Portsmouth
On this tour, the Jam selected local bands to support them. In Portsmouth, The Time were the obvious choice. Bruce Foxton had checked them out in Guildford.
1. July: Zip Code, Railway Inn, Winchester
One of ours.
8. July: Headless Horsemen / The Secret, Railway Inn, Winchester
Initial sighting of John Parish's first post-TLU venture.
15. July: The Skavengers, Railway Inn, Winchester
One of ours.
22. July: The Time, Railway Inn, Winchester
One of ours.
31. July: The Time, The John Peel, Gosport
Home territory.
28-30 July: Reading Festival 1981 with Girlschool, Gillan, Nine Below Zero, The Kinks
I had been relegated to the Hants Chronicle, Musicians Only having closed in November 1980.
1. September: Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive / The Time, Locarno, Portsmouth
The critics didn't like this good-time band, but I thought they were fun. Brilliant rhythm section: Graham Maby and Larry Tolfree.
23. September: Cosmetics, Railway Inn, Winchester
A last-minute booking. Richard Furter from Freshly Layed was in Cosmetics by now, making them seriously funky.
2. October: The Bomb, Stowaways, Southampton
What a strange night. This was an unrehabilitated Peter Green, three-inch fingernails and all, playing with local Southampton musicians.
9. October: Cosmetics, Bournemouth Town Hall (with Alternative TV)
ATV were hilariously incompetent.
22. October: The Time, Joiners Arms, Southampton
The venue was completely laid waste by Portsmouth football thugs.
29. October: Exploding Seagulls, Winchester Art School
They were on the Fried Egg label, you know.
30 October: Biz Internationale, Jokers, Bournemouth
First encounter with a storming seven-piece band consisting of Dabiz plus a brass section.
3. November: Madness, Gaumont, Southampton
The ANL leaflets said "Support Madness, Not Racism". Well said.
13. November: Bad Manners, Gaumont, Southampton
Only because Magnet Records gave me free tickets.
22. November: I.Q., Park Hotel, Southampton
I had given a bad review to a heavy metal band called Berlin. Someone pointed me out to their leather-clad supporters, so I did a bunk in the nick of time.
27. November: Rick Wakeman, Gaumont, Southampton
I was very, very rude about this. With good reason.
16. December: Squeeze, Top Rank, Southampton
Cool for cats.
19. December: Four People I Have Known, Railway Inn, Winchester
Ex-members of Zip code, including Paul Bringloe, were in this interesting band.
24. December: Tom Robinson Band, Marquee, London
Sweaty end-of-year show, backed by Cosmetics.
31. December: Outsiders, Pinecliff, Bournemouth
Birgit didn't like the fact that complete strangers insisted on kissing her. I didn't like that fact either.
1982
1. January: The Time, The Salutation, Portsmouth
Or maybe this was the one where Kevin sang from the bog.
8. January: Sadista Sisters, Quartier Latin, Berlin, Germany
They were scary on stage but I got to chat to them afterwards and found them charming.
24. February: Four People I Have Known, The Victory, Southampton
This band was beginning to catch on.
13. March: Budgie, Winchester Recreation Centre
Some naive promoters lost their shirts on this one. The curse of the Recreation Centre struck again.
21. March: Haircut 100, Poole Arts Centre
"Love Plus One" is still one of my all-time favourite singles.
28. March: XTC, Gaumont, Southampton
Terrible sound problems and far too loud.
6. April: Headless Horsemen, Cathedral Hotel, Salisbury
The début of John Parish's Spiderman pullover.
8. April: Graham Parker, Gaumont, Southampton
He had a new backing band and had lost a lot of his sparkle.
11. April: Four People I Have Known, Folly Market, Petersfield
We flogged a lot of cassettes.
16. April: Headless Horsemen, Crispin Hall, Street
A "Sheep Worrying" Fanzine Showcase. Apart from us, there were two paying customers. What is more, Street, being a Quaker town, has no pubs.
17. April: Biz Internationale, Midnight Express, Bournemouth
A cool new club with a cool new band.
24. April: Cosmetics, Midnight Express, Bournemouth
A cool new club with a cool not-so-new band.
28. April: Headless Horsemen, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Trotting around a bit.
5. May: Four People I Have Known, Saddle Bars, Bransgore
Nice venue in a New Forest barn.
22. May: Camel, Poole Arts Centre
That was it. I'd had enough.
26. May: Biz Internationale, The Waterfront, Southampton
The single was forthcoming. Unfortunately, it came fifth (arf!).
1. June: Rory Gallagher, Gaumont, Southampton
Much the same as last time. And the time before.
25. June: Rolling Stones, Wembley Stadium
I nearly got piles.
26. June: Burnt Offerings Showcase with Four People I Have Known, Headless Horsemen and The Time, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
I've got a live tape of this. It was bloody good.
30. June: Ideal, The Venue, London
The best representatives of the Neue Deutsche Welle. I tried to start a roll in Soundmaker, but it didn't catch on.
7. July: High Risk, John Peel, Gosport
Heavy rock with its just about acceptable face on.
6. August: Biz Internationale, The Waterfront, Southampton
Now the single was out. The other day, I got it out of the shed and gave it another listen. "Stay True" - great soppy love song, ripe for covering by someone or other.
7. August: Tiger Tiger, Ad Lib Club, Kensington, London
Some stunning girls from Alresford. One of them went out with that blonde curly-haired drummer who's in Status Quo and we went to tea with them.
12. August: Joe Jackson, Gaumont, Southampton
All eyes were on his superb percussionist Sue Hadjopoulos.
11. September: Chinatown, Theatre Royal, Winchester
An absolutely terrible show-off heavy rock band.
25. September: Gerry Hackett and the Fringes, John Peel, Gosport
The latest incarnation of The Time, playing hilarious Sixties covers to pay off some debts. Quite priceless.
2. October: The Beat, Poole Arts Centre
Margaret didn't Stand Down, but they gave it their best shot.
4. October: Wishbone Ash, Guildhall, Southampton
Never! But here it is, in black and white.
5. October: The Damned, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Rat Scabies. Now that really is a good name.
5. November: Look Back In Anger, Havant Arts Centre
A Goth character called Jim Newby kept pestering me to write about his band. They briefly looked as if they might go somewhere.
13. November: Two Finger Zen, West End Centre, Aldershot
Performance art from Fred Bolton and other ex-Exploding Seagulls.
18. November: Talk Talk, Gaumont, Southampton
This mincing load of ninnies was later to throw off music biz conventions and turn into one of the greatest British bands of all time.
24. November: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Gaumont, Southampton
They had a brilliant light show.
3. December: Gillan, Poole Arts Centre
Bathing In Safe Water, said the headline. I though Gillan might one day do something interesting, but now he's back in Deep Purple.
10. December: Whitesnake, Gaumont, Southampton
A Bite To Sicken, said the headline. It's rare for me to walk out of a gig, but I walked out of this one.
19. December: The Kinks, Bournemouth Winter Gardens
We were in the front row and by the end I felt as if Ray Davies was my best friend. "Low Budget" was a bit of a classic rock song.
1983
11. January: Factory, Forum des Halles, Paris, France
On a course in France and in desperate need of a musical injection.
18. February: Games To Avoid, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Backgammon is worth giving a miss.
25. February: Biz Internationale, Midnight Express, Bournemouth
Still plugging away.
3. March: Thin Lizzy, Gaumont, Southampton
It was great the way Phil Lynott reflected the spotlight off the scratchplate of his guitar back onto the audience. Well, I thought so, anyway.
6. March: U2, Guildhall, Portsmouth
I thought they were pompous then and I still think they're pompous now. Bono scaled the balcony and planted a flag. Why?
9. March: Gerry Hackett and the Fringes, The Waterfront, Southampton
The Fareham Creek beat.
11. March: Fun Boy Three, Poole Arts Centre
Someone in the foyer said, "What's that old bloke doing here?" I turned round and discovered she was talking about me.
12. March: 10CC, Gaumont, Southampton
Hardly recognised a soul in this band.
15. March: Van Morrison, Bournemouth Winter Gardens
What everybody should experience at least once: a terrible performance from a genius who has "off" days.
26. March: Gerry Hackett and the Fringes, John Peel, Gosport
Don Your Moptops.
2. April: Spandau Ballet, The Pavilion, Bournemouth
I thought Spandau Ballet were really good. All their effete followers came down from London and there was lots of tartan in evidence. I'd rather have Spandau than East Enders any day.
30. April: Weapon of Peace, Portsmouth Polytechnic
Even though I did a review, I don't remember a thing about them.
4. May: Gerry Hackett and the Fringes, Railway Inn, Winchester
Birgit was more than a bit pregnant, so we held a "Quick Before It's Too Late" Party.
12. May: Roman Holliday, Bournemouth Academy
They wore sailor suits.
21. May: Gerry Hackett and the Fringes, Sparshalt College, Winchester
Unfortunately, the agricultural students were all far too young to recognise any of the songs.
8. June: Après Ski, The Waterfront, Southampton
A variation on Biz Internationale with a new frontman. Ronnie Mayor had finally given up and emigrated to Australia.
10. June: Chris Rea, Guildhall, Southampton
Only because Magnet Records sent me free tickets. His allure evaded me.
20. June: Steve Winwood, Théâtre Municipale, Luxembourg
In my Top Ten gigs of all time. After this, he became involved in Corporate Rock and went rapidly downhill.
28. June: Eurythmics, Gaumont, Southampton
Not much better than the Tourists.
30 June: Four People I Have Known, Mash Tun, Winchester
On the way down.
8. July: Weeke Jokes II, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
My band, man (again, but a different one, featuring the back of Mr Richard Williams.)
16. July: Steve Winwood, Gaumont, Southampton
Birgit being unavailable, I went with the girl next door. A mistake, since she spent the evening telling me unfascinating facts about the Alan Parsons Project.
3. August: Après Ski, Waterfront, Southampton
It just wasn't the same without Ronnie Mayor.
5. September: Gerry Hackett and the Fringes, The Salutation, Portsmouth
I've got it. THIS was the one where Kevin sang from the bog.
24. October: Automatic Dlamini, Bristol Bridge Inn, Bristol
A rare opportunity for me to do a bit of "mime mixing".
6. November: Gerry Hackett and the Fringes, BBC, Southampton
This was a recording of something called the Cellar Show, presented by John Sessions. He done well, didn't he?
26. November: The Primary / Big Bear Little Bear, New Bridge Inn, Southampton
Paul Bringloe was in Big Bear Little Bear and I liked them.
1984
3. February: The Hollies, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Tony'smildly flattened hamster was in good nick.
10. February: Laughter In The Garden, Joiners Arms, Southampton
A spin-off from Lip Moves.
27. March: Views From A Park Bench, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
Students danced to my rendition of "Watch It" in this dance production. It wasn't exactly "Dance Hall at Louse Point" but the principle was similar.
13 and 14 April: REM, Knust Club, Hamburg, Germany
I still have the poster on my wall.
15. April: UB40, CCH, Hamburg, Germany
Confirmed as the most boring band of all time.
8. May: Camel, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Bye!
21. May 1984: The Sound, Marquee, London
I shed tears when Adrian Borland died. A shocking case of unrecognised talent.
2. June: King, La Sainte Union College, Southampton
Pop-art Doc Martens were sported by this lot. Paul King became a pop TV presenter.
11. June: Odeon, Greyhound, London
Tim Barron teamed up with an ex-member of Suzi Quatro's band, but it didn't work out.
22-24. June: Glastonbury Festival with Ian Dury, Dr John, The Smiths, Elvis Costello
I built up my biceps pushing the buggy around.
9. July: Status Quo, Gaumont, Southampton
.... and Again and Again and Again ...
28. July: Automatic Dlamini, Antelope Hotel, Sherborne
Aha! Something stirs down in Dorset.
17. November: Lords of the New Church / Wall of Voodoo, Portsmouth Polytechnic
Richard Mazda had produced an album for Wall of Voodoo. That was the connection.
1985
4. January: Rocking Erics, Pinecliff, Bournemouth
A short-lived project by Tim Holt.
7. February: Killing Joke, Southampton Guildhall
They were supposed to be terrifying but were loud and uninteresting.
27. April: Richard Thompson, Dominion Theatre, London
This was the one where poor Richard was booed off by rampant Pogues fans. "Richard Thompson, who the fucking hell is he?" The Boothill Foot Tappers were also on the bill.
22-24. June: Glastonbury Festival with Ian Dury, New Model Army, Style Council
"The Year Of The Mud". We survived, although it took two days to clean up the buggy. At least it was character-building.
6. July: Alvin Stardust / Mud, South Wonston, Winchester
In the line of duty for the Hants Chronicle. Told you it was the Year of the Mud.
1986
4. January: Sting, BIC, Bournemouth
In his jazzy phase. Andy Summers put in a guest appearance, of course.
1. February: The Bangles, Portsmouth Polytechnic
Now this was a privilege. They were brilliant live.
15. March: Wall of Voodoo, Marquee, London
However did they get their cacti through customs? Support act was John Shuttleworth, introducing a persona which is now to be heard on Radio 4.
16. March: The Merseybeats / Marmalade: Theatre Royal, Winchester
Rather poor Sixties package tour.
8. May: Talk Talk, Hammersmith Odeon, London
Living In Another World. They were indeed, in a rather attractive one.
20-22. June: Glastonbury Festival with The Pogues, Psychedelic Furs, Robert Cray, Simply Red, Level 42
Extract from review: It's 3 a.m. and the wind is blowing an icy gale, gusting violently at storm force speeds. High up on the hillside, a lone emaciated figure, clad only in a pair of flimsy underpants, struggles to prevent his flapping tent from disappearing over the precipice. Images of Stone Age Man are evoked as he bravely hammers at the bent tent pegs with a rough hewn flint.
Of course, my wife and one-year old baby slept through the entire thing.
26. July: The Agency, Pinecliff, Bournemouth
First appearance of the Soul Searchers, made up of various Bournemouth stalwarts. The world's best party band.
12. October: Curtis Mayfield, Top Rank, Southampton
A fine man.
22. October: Mighty Lemon Drops / Pop Will Eat Itself, Southampton University
The support was a tad more interesting than the headline.
27. October: Tom Robinson Band, Salisbury Arts Centre
Our secret weapon to ensure that Lucy would be interested in music. Birgit was seven months pregnant. They played "War Baby" before it was released and I'm proud to say I predicted it would be a hit.
1987
1. February: Robert Fripp, Nuffield Theatre, Southampton
The League of Crafty Guitarists. Fripp seemed to have completely lost his sense of humour.
29. March: Hollies, Guildhall, Portsmouth
They didn't get any better, but they didn't get any worse either.
3. April: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall
The first of a great many visits to our home village.
19-21. June: Glastonbury Festival with Richard Thompson, Elvis Costello, New Order, The Communards
Christ! A DOUBLE buggy! It was exhausting.
10. July: The Agency, St John's Rooms, Winchester
Typical bloody Winchester. This Wincheter Hat Fair show was ruined by an invasion of beermonsters.
18. September: Kelly McGuinness Rhythm Method, Boar's Head, Wickham
A new blues venue which had opened in a country and western club called the Ponderosa. It felt like being in an American roadhouse.
28. October: Flik Spatula / Who's In The Kitchen, Southampton University
Two really good Southampton bands.
2. November: Bad News, Guildhall, Portsmouth
The Comic Strip being comic. The TV joke did not transfer well.
11. November: 10,000 Maniacs, Basins, Portsmouth
A horrible venue at the top of a multi-storey car park voted Europe's ugliest building. A loss-leading gig for Natalie Merchant's band, the first UK date of the "In My Tribe" tour.
11. December: The Agency, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
They got lost and arrived late but played a stormer for the staff "do".
13. December: Cranes /Bushbabies, Portsmouth Polytechnic
Early exposure to the work of Portsmouth's Bite Back label.
14. December: Automatic Dlamini / Betty Pages, Railway Inn, Winchester
Aha! One of ours. The greatness of this band was becoming apparent.
1988
26. January: Stitch, Joiners Arms, Southampton
This was the first-ever Next Big Thing gig. Stitch had previously been Games To Avoid and had shortened their name from Stitched Back Foot Airman.
3. February: Roachford, Basins, Portsmouth
A promo for "Due South". Sensibly, the band refused to play until they got paid. If we'd done that with our articles, there wouldn't have been a magazine at all.
9. February: Blurt, Joiners Arms, Southampton
First of three Joiners appearances from Bristol avant-garde screechers.
24. March: Automatic Dlamini: Railway Inn, Winchester
Back again and more and more exciting.
20. March: FSK, Joiners Arms, Southampton
"I Wish I Could Sprechen Sie Deutsch" sang these John Peel favourites on a rare visit to Blighty.
22. June: M Walking On The Water, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Another groovy German band. I have NINE albums by M Walking On The Water, even though one of them tried to chat up my wife.
23. August: Rainbirds, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London
This is where that horrible Chris Evans records TFI Friday. Yet another German band, and one that made two really good albums.
17. September: Duck Soup, Twyford Parish Hall
Portsmouth r & b band played at a 40th birthday party for me and Will Thallon.
5. October: Steve Winwood, Royal Albert Hall, London
I got vertigo in the upper balcony. And Winwood had lost it.
14. October: The Hollies, Poole Arts Centre
Jochen Schmidt and his girlfriend Vicky turned up out of the blue. Oliver: Vicky, what did you think of the Hollies' version of 'Purple Rain'?" Vicky: "It was Scheisse".
27. October: Roachford, Quartier Latin, Berlin, Germany
"Cuddly Toy" sounded good.
19. November: The Agency, White Buck, Burley
New Forest Frolics.
25. November: Billy Bragg / Michelle Shocked / Beatnigs, Guildhall, Portsmouth
The ultimate package tour. The Beatnigs attacked sheets of metal with electric saws, just like Einstürzende Neubauten.
1989
12. January: Wolfhounds, Joiners Arms, Southampton
They were supported by the Mild Mannered Janitors from Portsmouth.
11. February: Throwing Muses, Portsmouth Polytechnic
A great US band which opened the doors for a whole lot more great US bands.
11. March: The Agency, Mean Fiddler, Harlesden, London
I took Craig Whipsnade, but he wasn't keen on them.
19. April: REM, Portsmouth Guildhall
Wonderful double bill with the Blue Aeroplanes. Michael Stipe appeared to be wearing a straitjacket. This was an early UK date of the "Green" tour.
23. May: Big Dipper, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Good American band. Supported by Strange Fruit, later to become Trip.
16-18 June: Glastonbury Festival with Suzanne Vega, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello
Extract from the review: I observe a curry stall for half an hour and do some sums. Veg curry and pitta costs £4. There are six people serving, on average, one customer a minute each. This means they're making £1440 an hour. Nice work! One festival a year and the rest of the year on the Costa Brava.
26. July: Senseless Things, River Park, Winchester
Winchester's pathetic attempt at a "festival".
6. August: The Templemeads, Mash Tun, Winchester
What a great name. A truly likeable "raggle-taggle" band, which made an album with the marvellous title "Ate My Kitchen".
26. August: The Agency, White Buck, Burley
More stirrings down in the Forest.
9. September: Flik Spatula / Eat, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Later, Flik's guitarist actually joined Eat.
14. October: Van Morrison, Gaumont, Southampton
Back to top form. My ribald friend Malcolm Payne pretended he thought it was Jim Morrison.
14. December: Automatic Dlamini, Railway Inn, Winchester
The first ever sighting round these parts of Polly Jean Harvey.
1990
11. January: Automatic Dlamini, Joiners Arms, Southampton
I videoed this classic gig. Support came from ex-Chesterfields the Betty Pages.
15. February: Giant Sand, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Howe Gelb found an old upright piano and spent most of the show improvising blues on it. He couldn't have hated me then because we'd never met.
18. March: Kevin Coyne, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
His hair had gone white but he still had the magic.
27 March: The Brilliant Corners, Joiners Arms. Southampton
First of four Joiners appearances from these under-recognised Bristolians.
7. April: The Hollies, Mayflower, Southampton
Sorry Suzanne.
14. June: Whisky Priests, Railway Inn, Winchester
Bloody typical Winchester again. There was a punch-up, wasn't there.
23-25. June: Glastonbury Festival with The Cure
On the way home we crashed into exactly the same bridge outside Salisbury that the Rolling Stones had crashed into decades earlier. I promise we didn't do it on purpose.
9. July: Spirit of the West, Railway Inn, Winchester
An American band at the Railway. Blimey!
28. August: An Emotional Fish, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Hilarious. They brought an articulated lorry full of gear and got it stuck in St Mary Street. Serve them right.
5. September: John Otway, Railway Inn, Winchester
He couldn't get far up the step ladder because the ceiling was so low.
10. October: Die Toten Hosen, Subterrania, London
Mad German punks. "Dead Trousers" - that's a good name.
10. November: Van Morrison, Mayflower, Southampton
When he's good, he's very very good.
15. November: The Becketts, Joiners Arms, Southampton
John Parish produced this Bristol band which specialised in controversial posters.
24. November: Happy End, Hope Centre, Bristol
Improvised jazz in the mould of Loose Tubes.This was interesting. It was the first evidence that John Parish was a star in Bristol. Every two minutes, people came up to shake his hand.
1991
11. January: The Agency, Bournemouth Pavilion
It was a trifle chilly on the seafront.
2. February: Return to the Forbidden Planet, Cambridge Theatre, London
The return of Tim Barron, starring in this blockbuster musical.
14. February: Trip, West Indian Club, Southampton
They'd just been signed and everything was set fair.
23. March: Maria McKee, Academy, Manchester
Maria can knock spots off all the Alanis Morisettes of this wirld.
25. May: BAP / Bob Geldof's Vegetarians of Love, Hamburg, Germany
A sort of festival. Dave Stewart's band played as well. All the music was lamentable and I froze half to death.
31. May: Joe Jackson, CCH, Hamburg
The Laughter and Lust tour. Not much of either, unfortunately.
5. August: John Otway / Attilla the Stockbroker, Guildhall, Winchester
Hat Fair Cabaret, compèred by Arthur Smith.
22. August: Trip, West Indian Club, Southampton
Never was a band more "up for it". I was propositioned by a hooker. Never was anyone less "up for it".
29. August: Thin White Rope, Joiners Arms, Southampton
This was the 200th Next Big Thing gig.
8. September: The Blues Band, City Hall, Salisbury
Chilling. In the audience was the Languages Adviser who for years ensured that I didn't get promotion. If she was a Blues Band fan, I couldn't be.
26. October: Runrig, Modernes, Bremen
Christmas in Germany makes you desperate. One good thing: The roof of the venue swung open to reveal the stars.
21. December: PJ Harvey, Joiners Arms, Southampton A horrible old school hall.
1992
17. January: Robyn Hitchcock / PJ Harvey: ULU, London
Poor Robyn was upstaged and the press was out in force. I had a nasty experience in the bar. A bloke called Jon Driscoll from Waltham Chase, who years before had successfully hassled me to plug his fanzine "Teenage Kicks", had become a music media darling by the name of Jon Beast. I spotted him and went over to congratulate him on his success. He blanked me.
15. February: Gallon Drunk, Joiners Arms, Southampton
The support band was Asphalt Ribbons, later to become Tindersticks.
12. March: John Cambell, Boar's Head, Wickham
In my Top Three gigs of all time.
13. March: Birdland / Trip, Southampton University
I cycled there and left after my boys had finished.
28. March: The Hamsters / The Producers, Boar's Head, Wickham
The Hamsters did annoyingly pointless Hendrix covers.
24. April: The Fall, Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg
I nearly died. See the book.
5. May: Dr Feelgood, Boar's Head, Wickham
Farewell, Sir Lee. We shall not hear his like again.
27. May: PJ Harvey, Pyramids, Portsmouth
This was shattering. Got to go again tomorrow.
28. May: PJ Harvey / Automatic Dlamini, Bierkeller, Bristol
So we did. John Parish nearly fell off the stage when he saw me leering out of the audience.
3. June: Automatic Dlamini, The Gardens, Yeovil
A night club complete with palm trees. I scattered flyers to the winds.
26-28 June: Glastonbury Festival with Van Morrison, Lou Reed, PJ Harvey, Shakespears Sister
Watching PJH, my children had their first view of crowd surfing.
14. July: Rolling Stones, Wembley Stadium
Actually it was Wilco Johnson. Some idiot lost the Stones tickets.
24. July: K-Passa, Gosport Festival
"Bollocks", we shouted. It's a compliment.
3. August: The Fall, Pyramids, Portsmouth
Less eventful than Hamburg.
25. August: Eugenius / Urge Overkill, Joiners Arms, Southampton
There was little sign that the American support band would end up in the charts.
7. September: Throwing Muses, Pyramids, Portsmouth
Good birthday present.
9. October: Joe Ely / Coal Porters, Boar's Head, Wickham
Right, I must go to Austin, Texas. Immediately.
28. October: Guitar Orchestra / Passing Clouds, BID, Berlin, Germany
I attended this in an effort to promote the Dlamini album, and bumped into ex-pupil Adam Green as well.
26. November: That Petrol Emotion, Pyramids, Portsmouth
Another band which deserved to do far better than it did.
8. December: The Sundays, Pyramids, Portsmouth
It was hard to see what made this band at all special.
15. December: Automatic Dlamini, The Cricketers, Oval, London
This was their last ever gig. I was the only paying customer.
1993
12. January: Otis Grand, Boar's Head, Wickham
He did a guitar walkabout and nearly trampled me to death.
13. January: The Wishplants, Powerhaus, Islington, London
After the band had gone off, a curtain was pulled across the stage and a disco started up.
2. February: Stereo MCs, Pyramids, Portsmouth
They still haven't made a second album.
23. February: Belly, Pyramids, Portsmouth
Belly had a gorgeous heavy metal bassist.
24. February: Suede, Pyramids, Portsmouth
Concave stomachs a go-go.
3. March: The Auteurs, Joiners Arms, Southampton
They thought they were pretty wonderful. Last time they had played at the Joiners, they had been supporting Suede.
9. March: Birdland, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Funniest Joiners gig ever. They asked Mint to turn out the lights so they could make a spectacular entrance. Unfortunately, they forgot to ask him to turn them on again and thus played their first two numbers in complete darkness.
22. April: The Heartthrobs, Joiners Arms, Southampton
A great band built around the Carlotti sisters. Should have been a lot better known.
22. May: PJ Harvey, Guildhall, Southampton
Support band Gallon Drunk were destroyed by the soundman. PJH were inspiring.
12. June: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall
The support band, Moosehead, featured Mark Meredith from TLU and his brother Guy.
24. June: Arthur Brown, Joiners Arms, Southampton
No flaming headdress. A cautionary warning of the possible consequences of a rock & roll lifestyle.
25-27 June: Glastonbury Festival with Donovan, Barenaked Ladies, Page and Plant, Midnight Oil and The Kinks
I have a video of this weekend.
20. July: Underground Lovers / ILA, Joiners Arms, Southampton
ILA was a Henry Beaufort school band I was looking after.
24. July: Richard Thompson, Gosport Festival
He annoyingly didn't bring a band with him.
26. July: The Blues Band, Gosport Festival
Phew! No sign of the Languages Adviser.
24. August: U2, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland
This involved a lengthy journey though the night. Was it worth it? Was it heck.
18. September: Richard Sinclair's Caravan, The Gantry, Southampton
They were all in an awful state. Andy Ward, Camel's original drummer, was unrecognisable.
24. September: Smokin' Joe Kubek / The Hoax, Boar's Head, Wickham
Sometimes, a band is just a revelation. The Hoax was such a band.
4. October: Clive Gregson, Railway Inn , Winchester
Some folk is good.
7. October: The Breeders, Pyramids, Portsmouth
The Deal sisters looked like they'd done a few too many Deals.
28. October: The Wedding Present, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Indie cult favourites. Not with me.
21. November: Robyn Hitchcock, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Not many people present. He will never be more than a cult, admit it.
2. November: World Party, Portsmouth Poly
Actually I do Wanna Sail In This Ship of Fools.
1994
15. January: The Soft Boys, Astoria, London
How sweet: a reunion. It sold out, too.
27. January: Cornershop, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
I loved their wilful non-commerciality. What a thrill when they finally got a hit, much later. On this occasion, there can't have been more than 30 people there.
7. February: The Blue Aeroplanes, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
It looked as if they were finally going to achieve a breakthrough. The place was packed. Almost exactly six years later, you couldn't give tickets away.
9. March: Trans-Global Underground, Southampton University
Everybody in the audience appeared to have been taking Ecstasy or something.
11. March: Paul Weller, Guildhall, Portsmouth
He had that bloke from Ocean Colour Scene with him.
18. March: Silver Rattles, Twyford Parish Hall
A Beatles tribute? Why would I book such a thing? Because Phil Campbell, from The Time, was on bass. I very nearly electrocuted myself by fiddling about with things I knew nothing of.
21. April: Walter Trout Band, Pyramids, Portsmouth
A horrible over-the-top guitar show-off.
2. May: Oasis, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
"Marginally less interesting than a slumbering lugworm". I don't feel ashamed of this verdict. It just took everyone else a few years to catch up with the truth.
8. June: Peter Perrett and the One, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Having never seen the Only Ones, this was the next best thing. But he was a bad advert for heroin.
24-26. June: Glastonbury Festival with Nick Cave, The Levellers, Paul Weller, James
Not one of the most memorable festivals.
19. July: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall
Back again.
16. September: The Steamkings, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Good local band which kept plugging away for years.
27. September: Pretenders, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Nobody can wear leather trousers like Chrissie can.
4. October: Radiohead, Pyramids, Portsmouth
I don't remember whether they were any good. But they were sniffy about playing "Creep". Shouldn't have bloody written it then.
13. October: Sugar, Pyramids, Portsmouth
The trouble with Bob Mould is that after a while it all begins to sound the same.
22. November: Electrafixion, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Effectively it was Echo and the Bunnymen. And it wasn't very good.
25. November: Tom Robinson, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Now completely solo. Support was TV Smith from the Adverts.
21. December: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall
Public demand.
1995
6. January: The Surfing Brides, Boar's Head, Wickham
They came highly recommended, but they weren't that good.
20. January: Joe Jackson, Guildhall, Portsmouth
The "Night Moves" tour. It began brilliantly with "Home Town", starting to coincide with the chiming of the Guildhall clock. Then it went downhill.
9. February: Supergrass / Bluetones, Joiners Arms, Southampton
A typically inspired Mint double bill. I preferred the Bluetones.
14. February: Richard Thompson, Pyramids, Portsmouth
Why doesn't he ever bring a band? How can you promote an electric album with an acoustic set?
6. March: Sleeper, Joiners Arms, Southampton
They did several Joiners shows, including a free one in 1993.
11. March: PJ Harvey, Shepherds Bush Empire
Tricky was the support act. He didn't get on with Island Records either.
17. March: John Otway, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Not exactly the most responsive audience in the world.
19. March: David Thomas and Two Pale Boys, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Almost like having Pere Ubu in your living room.
4. April: Elastica, Pyramids, Portsmouth
Hard to believe that we'd have to wait five years before a chance to see them again.
11. May: PJ Harvey, The Forum, London
We went there via Swindon. Unintentionally.
22. May: Kirsty McColl, Pyramids, Portsmouth
A little Twyford charabanc outing, culminating with fish and chips.
15. June: Bettie Serveert, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Really good band from Holland, who turned out to have a surprisingly large UK following.
24-26. June: Glastonbury Festival with Oasis, PJ Harvey, Portishead, Pulp
This was the year of the pink catsuit.
6. July: Elastica / Gene, The Forum, London
An NME Brat show. They purposely positioned the lights to highlight Justine Frischmann's breasts. Or maybe I would have noticed them anyway.
18. July: Black Grape, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
This was one of their first ever shows. A good moment to catch them, as they were still bursting with enthusiasm and something approaching good health.
19 July: Duffy, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Yes, Steven "Tin Tin" Duffy. An artist who deserved more recognition. The audience kept calling out for Duran Duran numbers! Drummer James Powell (Georgie Fame's son) had played with Automatic Dlamini.
24. July: Tom Robinson, Gosport Festival
He brought a band with him but they weren't much good.
5. August: The Feile Festival, Cork, Ireland, with M People, Sleeper, The Boo Radleys and Blur
What a shame! There was hardly anyone there, so the girls got to be on Irish TV just by dancing around in front of the stage. In a Guinness-fuelled frenzy, I finally got my ear pierced.
10. August: Kinky Machine, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Later to become Rialto, they played at the Joiners four times.
11. October: Sleeper, Pyramids, Portsmouth
I took my friend Trevor but he wasn't impressed: "She can't sing!"
19. October: Echobelly, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Drummer Andy Henderson had been in Automatic Dlamini. Me, I tried to square the apparent picture of innocence that was Sonja Aurora Madan with a lascivious interview with her which I had read in that week's NME.
1996
17. January: Perfume, Joiners Arms, Southampton
They had five different styles of promotional postcard. Five!
22. January: Björk, BIC, Bournemouth
We first had to sit through the Brodski Quartet caterwauling for an hour.
24. January: Placebo, Joiners Arms, Southampton
My idea of a truly terrible band.
25. January: Catatonia, Joiners Arms, Southampton
First sight of Cerys in action and one thing was obvious: This is a star.
5. February: Northern Uproar, Joiners Arms, Southampton
A lot of fuss about nothing.
11. February: Number One Cup, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Is this a bra size?
22. February: Alan Price and the Electric Blues Company, Bridport Arts Centre
Awful to behold. Sub-standard pub rock from musicians who had once been star attractions.
23. February: The Producers, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
This was something rare: A Brit blues band with taste and flair.
26. February: Echobelly, Pyramids, Portsmouth
They had a fantastic soppy slow song at the end.
3. March: Audioweb / Mansun, Joiners Arms, Southampton
One of those "whoo" moments. Mansun are absolutely my kind of band. "We are destined to be stars and nothing will stop us".
4. March: Screeper / Velcro, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Screeper's manager Tony Rollinson reminded me so much of me in Thieves days that I suspected I'd died and been reincarnated.
12. March: The Bluetones, Pyramids, Portsmouth
They found the transition to a big stage problematic.
2. April: Tiny Monroe, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Four-piece in the style of Echobelly / Sleeper. Great stage presence.
14. April: Catatonia / Space, The Brook, Southampton
Some Welsh double bill. Unfortunately, this super venue is now used almost exclusively by bloody tribute bands.
17. April: Aimee Mann, Shephards Bush Empire, London
In the audience was Tony Banks, a future government minister. A good reason to vote Labour, then.
27. April: Pete Harris Blues Band / XL5, Twyford Parish Hall
An unpromising name for actually a quite swinging dance band. Dear old Mark Andrews fronted XL5.
17. May: Bottomless Pit Orchestra, The Eagle, Winchester
This was Chris Willey back again, playing in a fleapit.
26. May: Essential Festival, Brighton with Audioweb, Bis, Drugstore, Echobelly, Baby Bird, Whipping Boy
I went with Lucy and it pissed all day. Whipping Boy were brilliant, whatever became of them?
6. June: Sleeper, Southampton Guildhall
They failed, like every other band here, to overcome the acoustics.
16. June: Freakpower, Portsmouth Polytechnic
This time I went with Annabel and the bouncers were awkward. We had a backstage pass, however, courtesy of the bassist Jesse, who had been in a musical with Tim Barron. Norman Cook is a better rhythm guitarist than a DJ.
17. June: Mansun, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Headlining now.
5. July: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall
More soul searching.
17. July: Tiger / Linoleum, Joiners Arms, Southampton
I put my name on Linoleum's mailing list and for the next few years, I kept receiving bits of lino through the post. I nearly accumulated enough to finish the kitchen floor.
20 - 21 July: Womad Festival, Reading
Lots of good people whose names I can't spell.
26. July: Bottomless Pit Orchestra, The Eagle, Winchester
More fleas.
4. September: Sneaker Pimps / Screeper, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Chris Corner of the Sneaker Pimps took a call on his mobile phone on stage. Cool or what?
7. September: Howe Gelb, The Pit, Farnham
My birthday treat. As Howe was a friend of John Parish's, we offered to help him get to the nearest railway station, but he refused. He doesn't like me.
9. September: Robyn Hitchcock / Homer, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Someone wrote an incomprehensible letter to the Chronicle about Homer.
18. September: Linoleum, Joiners Arms, Southampton
I spotted a brilliant guitarist in this band, and lo and behold, he later joined Elastica.
24. September: Longpigs, Pyramids, Portsmouth
A Crispin and a Crispian within a fortnight. What's rock & roll coming to?
27. September: XL5, The Bridge, Shawford
Not even Mark Andrews could awaken the audience in this "Ignore the band" pub.
1. October: Kula Shaker: Pyramids, Portsmouth
When I went to the bar, I looked to the left and saw Richard Branson (record company boss). Then I looked to the right and saw Sir John Mills (Crispian's grandfather).
2. October: Nils Lofgren, The Brook, Southampton
Quite nice to drive ten minutes down the road and see a legend in a pub.
5. October: John Parish and PJ Harvey, The Cavity, Bridport
The best night of my life.
6. October: The Hoax, The Brook, Southampton
Would they break through? They'd already been on Later With Jools Holland.
8. October: John Parish and PJ Harvey, Fleece and Firkin, Bristol
We stayed at a guest house in Whitchurch called Revilo. It wasn't very good.
12. October: The Producers, The Brook, Southampton
They kept playing until they more or less had to be carried offstage.
13. October: Nut, Joiners Arms, Southampton
A girl singer briefly touted by some record company. The name wasn't too promising.
16. October: Audioweb, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The press hated this band but I thought the combination of soulful vocals and chunky guitars was quite clever.
4. November: Drugstore, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The crowd was small but the amount of red wine consumed on stage was quite large.
5. November: Catatonia, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The buzz was growing fast now.
16. November: Edward II, RKL Club, Gosport
The most danceable band on the planet, it said. Unfortunately, the audience was clinically dead.
18. November: Scheer, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Good band from Northern Ireland. "Head" from Yeovil was doing the sound.
30. November: La Cucina, RKL Club, Gosport / K-Passa, The Brook, Southampton
A trawl for a danceable band to play in Twyford.
12. December: Peter Green Splinter Group, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Cozy Powell was on drums!
20. December: The Hoax, Salisbury Arts Centre
In my top ten gigs ever.
21. December: The Producers / XL5, Twyford Parish Hall
Unprofessionally. I got drunk and couldn't remember if I'd locked up the hall or not. Had to go back in the middle of the night to check.
1997
11. January: The Producers, The Brook, Southampton
More of the same.
21. January: Super Furry Animals, Kenickie, Astoria, London
This was an NME Brat show. Kenickie were just beginning to attract attention.
2. February: Screeper, North Pole, Winchester
Their manager, Tony Rollinson, wrote a book about music in Portsmouth, not by any means as short a volume as you might think.
5. February: Candyskins, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Oxford band on the way down.
6. February: John Parish and PJ Harvey, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Sumptuous surroundings for the Louse Point dance show.
12. February: Silver Sun, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Spunky harmony pop.
26. February: Gene, Guildhall, Southampton
The Supernaturals supported and were better than Gene.
28. February: The Agency, The Producers, Winter Gardens, Bournemouth
A fund-raiser for Bournemouth Football club!
6. March: Rosa Mota, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Certainly the loudest band ever to play the Joiners.
12. March: Pavement, Pyramids, Portsmouth
My favourite US band at the time. Check out the mad drummer.
20. March: Symposium, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Spoilt brats.
25. March: Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, The Brook, Southampton
Gorkys on top form before record company tomfoolery.
28. March: T-Rextasy, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Ugh! A tribute band. Paul made me go.
3. April: K-Passa, The Brook, Southampton
Mass pogoing.
15. April: Gold Blade, Joiners Arms, Southampton
My pet goths Gretschen Hofner supported and were more interesting than the self-aggrandising Gold Blade.
20. April: Billy Bragg, Salisbury Arts Centre
Very special Bragg show: It was two nights before the General Election!
21. April: Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
On an upward trajectory.
23. April: Catatonia, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
And another.
25. April: La Cucina, Twyford Parish Hall
The conga went right the way round the outside of the hall. One of those bands where it's impossible to believe that such thrilling music can't make a living for itself.
1. May: Mansun, Pyramids, Portsmouth
The perfect rock & roll attitude.
13. May: Ian Hunter, The Brook, Southampton
Not nearly as good as his past had led one to believe.
14. May: Feil Garvie, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Adam Green's latest effort. Even less likely to succeed than the previous ones.
17. May: Jackie Leven, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
I really wanted to be positive about Jackie. He was good but still took himself too seriously.
20. May: Kenickie, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
At their best. It wouldn't last long.
21. June: Pete Harris Blues Band, Twyford Parish Hall
This was Birgit's 40th birthday party. Support was the first (and last) performance by Revilo and Ricardo. I demonstrated my love by forcing myself to go on stage with Richard Williams and sing "Stay", "The One I Love" and "Don't Ask Me". We got an encore.
23. June: Ash, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Glastonbury warm-up bedlam.
24. June: Primal Scream, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Every Sister is a Star. What a brilliant, brilliant band. And this was them allegedly not on top form.
27-29 June: Glastonbury Festival with Sting, Radiohead, The Prodigy, Primal Scream
I fail to see the charm of Radiohead. It seems I am not in the majority.
4. July: World Party, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Hello Jumbo. Now the brains behind Robbie Williams.
10. July: Vex, North Pole, Winchester
They got "Indie Album Of The Month" in MOJO.
12. July: La Cucina, The Brook, Southampton
All their families were there.
19. July: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall
They brought the hall down as usual.
26 - 27 July: Womad Festival, Reading
We had a go at a drum workshop.
6. September: Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, The Pit, Farnham
My birthday present again. A sweet little venue which holds about thirty people, but the food was awful.
13. September: The Cage, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
The grand debut of Richard's band. I was in a furious mood because of having been refused admission to see Eric Bibb at the same venue the previous night on account of arriving five minutes late.
24. September: Tanya Donnelly, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Considerably more mellow music than last time round.
2. October: Stereolab, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
I love a band that sets up its own gear.
8. October: Spiritualized, Pyramids, Portsmouth
I hated it. Dunno why. Within a couple of months I'd decided they were brilliant.
9. October: Strangelove, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Fantastic. Patrick Duff was a complete natural. Fail to understand why he's so unpopular with the press. Maybe because he's got a brain?
28. October: Seventeen Reasons Why, Hotel Utah, San Francisco
A visit to the home of American Music Club. We ate salsa and corn chips.
13. November: Flaming Stars, Joiners Arms, Southampton
The natural successors to Gallon Drunk. Nice, seedy, skinny blokes in dark, baggy Oxfam suits.
14. November: The Hoax, Salisbury Arts Centre
Birgit's brother Harald flew in from Germany specially to see them. It was worth it.
2. December: Echobelly, Pyramids, Portsmouth
They had really sweet twinkly lights on their backdrop but all their albums sounded the same.
3. December: Robyn Hitchcock, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Our feet nearly froze to the floor.
13. December: The Producers, Twyford Parish Hall
Xmas special.
18. December: Chris T-T: Railway Inn, Winchester
My brave ex-pupil (previously in ILA), striking out on his own.
29. December: The Hoax, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Videoed for posterity. I can see all my friends in it (well, not all of them).
1998
17. January: The Agency, BIC, Bournemouth
Gulp! A Harley Davidson convention!
20. January: Spiritualized, Salisbury Arts Centre
So this is what it's like to take drugs!
22. January: Richard Thompson, Salisbury City Hall
He still didn't bring a band, only his son.
29. January: Catatonia, Wedgwood Rooms, Portsmouth
You could hardly get in there.
5. February: User / Screeper, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
"Showcase" recording for a TV show called SFX.
18. February: Colin John, The Cavity, Bridport
I met a couple I'd last seen on the Rochdale Canal. We unforgivably chatted in loud voices all the way through the performance.
23. February: Sleeper / Rialto, Pyramids, Portsmouth
"But she can't sing!"
21. March: The Hollies, Mayflower, Southampton
Please don't tell me I look as old as this audience.
27. March: Asian Dub Foundation, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
What sprung dance floors were invented for.
28. March: La Cucina, Twyford Parish Hall
They broke up soon afterwards. No connection.
30. March: Bobby Mack and Night Train, The Brook, Southampton
He said the competition in Austin, Texas is so fierce that he can't get a gig there. We gotta go to Austin!
31. March: Drugstore, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
They have an album out and even the prospect of a hit single with Thom Yorke. Success for Drugstore? That would ruin everything.
18. April: Preacher Boy, The Brook, Southampton
From Tenderloin, San Francisco.
25. April: Catatonia, Southampton University
We took Annabel. She was amazed by the crowd surfers. This band was about to go ballistic.
28. April: Jesus and Mary Chain, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
They seemed a bit bad tempered.
2. May: Creamfields Festival, Winchester with Beth Orton, Finley Quaye, Primal Scream
Surrounded by wild-eyed maniacs shouting, "Ello Mr Gray! What're you on then?"
6. May: Heather Nova, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
She was marvellous and had a really good band as well.
31. May: Kenickie, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
They were terrible and obviously about to break up.
2. June: Embrace, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
I wouldn't want to cuddle them.
5. June: Billy Bragg, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The crowd was unconvinced by the Woody Guthrie stuff. Don't worry, you'll get used to it eventually.
14. June: Eric Bibb, The Brook, Southampton
Got to see him at last but he was a bit too Mr Perfect for me.
16. June: The Cage, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
The plan was to sell lots of CDs. The plan failed.
26 - 28. June: Glastonbury Festival with Blur, Catatonia, Pulp, Robbie Williams
Independent on Sunday! Fame at long, long last!
1. July: Spleen. The Thekla, Bristol
A fantastic noise from Rob Ellis and co. On a ship, as well.
4. July: Preacher Boy, Red Eye Club, London
I don't recommend wandering round Kings Cross late at night, unless you're getting paid for it.
5. July: Party In The Park, Hyde Park, London, with Tom Jones, All Saints, Boyzone
I got to stand in a queue with Sir David Frost. Lucy got David Duchovny's autograph and then spoke to Prince Charles. The music was shite.
11. July: The Hoax, Twyford Parish Hall
The summit of my promoting career. People said they were too loud and I just didn't care.
18. July: Noel Redding Band, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Probably the most depressing gig of my life. How could a rock legend demean himself so?
25 - 26 July: Womad Festival, Reading
I remember dancing to "White Lines" in the Rough Guide tent at 2 am.
3. August: PJ Harvey, Bridport Arts Centre
An intimate warm-up for the "Is This Desire?" tour. Great support band too: White Hotel.
10. August: Ian Dury, Dingwalls, London
On great form despite ill health.
11. August: Lodger, Dingwalls, London
Island records showcase for a new signing. Just for once, I could look around at all the journalists and think, "I'm one of you!"
15. August: The Producers, The Brook, Southampton
You'd think one would get bored. One wouldn't.
5. September: Thieves Like Us, The Agency, Trip, The Cage, Z.inc, Twyford Parish Hall
Or maybe this was the best day of my life. My 50th birthday party.
19. September: Bop Brothers, Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Checking out a Brit Blues outfit for a possible booking. The venue was a school hall. Shudder!
27. September: Jackie Leven, The Brook, Southampton
He told a lot of rude stories.
28. September: Daheebiejeebies, Lucy's Retired Surfer's, Austin, Texas, USA
Jet lagged and in heaven.
29. September: Maceo Parker, Antone's, Austin, Texas
Funk Overload, the Real Thing! And we met someone who had been at Glastonbury.
30. September: Monte Montgomery, Saxon Bar, Austin, Texas
Tequila overdose! The next day, I bought his album.
3. October: R.L. Burnside, House of Blues, New Orleans
Genuine toothless blues.
4. October: John Carey, Tipicino's, New Orleans
Kill that digital sound system.
8. October: Hurricane No. 1, Joiners Arms, Southampton
One of these ended up in Oasis.
12. October: Rialto / Lodger, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Overblown and over-hyped. Rialto, not Lodger.
14. October: Ash, Guildhall, Portsmouth
Ash have one of the wildest audiences ever, but the songs were great and Charlotte Hatherley had transformed the band.
19. October: Grandaddy, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The lowest-fi imaginable. A quiet electric band - how refreshing.
20. October: Mansun, Guildhall, Southampton
Annabel fell asleep.Well, she was tired.
26. October: Bob Mould / Mercury Rev, Reading University
Just a minute, who's that support band? The candelabra gave them away. I made the fatal mistake of going to the front during Bob Mould's set and couldn't hear for a week.
27. October: Silver Sun, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
I'm sorry, but I like harmony vocals.
11. November: Morcheeba, Pyramids, Portsmouth
Quite pleasant to listen to but not much of a live spectacle.
16. November: Roddy Frame, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Very impressive. Just as lively and inspired as in Aztec Camera days.
26. November: Edward II, The Brook, Southampton
Could we afford to book them? No.
28. November: John Cooper-Clarke, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Bernard Manning lives.
2. December: Drugstore, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Yes, well, by now it had all gone horribly wrong, of course.
11. December: PJ Harvey, Colston Hall, Bristol
We all went down in a gang. We walked out of the car park and someone threw a bottle at us. Thanks a bunch.
12. December: The Producers, Twyford Parish Hall
They stayed over and played a lunchtime gig at the Bugle the next day, despite having consumed the best part of a bottle of whisky before going to bed. Hard livin' bluesmen.
18. December: PJ Harvey / Howe Gelb, Olympia, Dublin, Ireland
I stayed in Swords, where Boyzone come from. Howe Gelb still doesn't like me.
1999
8. January: Orko, Railway Inn, Winchester
Briefly managed by Mint. Probably a mistake.
9. January: Reconsider, Talking Heads, Southampton
A young blues band. So bad that I decided not to review it for fear of being too offensive. Getting old at last.
19. January: Mercury Rev, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Putting in a bid to be my favourite band of all time.
25. January: John Parish, Wedgewood Rooms, Salisbury
A live version of his "Rosie" film sountrack. It really worked.
8. February: Heather Nova, Salisbury Arts Centre
Twyford village outing. Heather is a suitable role model for any teenage girl.
13. February: Miller Anderson, Vintage Inn, Shedfield
And this was the man who wrote most of the songs on the Keef Harley albums.
20. February: Colosseum, The Brook, Southampton
Oh God! Dave Clempson was half bald and wore glasses. They hadn't progressed at all in 25 years. There was really no need to insult the audience like this.
24. February: Los Pacaminos, The Brook, Southampton
Paul Young's hobby Tex-Mex band.
26. February: The Creatures, Salisbury Arts Centre
The audience seemed to have taken a wrong turning from the Rocky Horror Show.
5. March: Wilco Johnson, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
He wasn't getting any better either.
9. March: Rumdum, Joiners Arms, Southampton
The grand re-opening of the Joiners after re-furbishment. They put the stage against the only wall which hadn't been tried before.
16. March: Glenn Tilbrook, The Brook, Southampton
You can't half singalong to those old Squeeze songs.
20. March: Bop Brothers, Twyford Parish Hall
Undemanding blues evening.
1. April: PJ Harvey and John Parish, Improv. Theatre, London
They were sensational. It was supposed to be John Peel's birthday party but turned out to be the first of many. Echo and the Bunnymen were so bad that Birgit was yelling "Boo, get off", like the guys in the Muppet Show.
9. April: K-Passa, Talking Heads, Southampton
Should I book them?
12. April: Rosita, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Kenickie spin-off, hardly worth the bother.
13. April: Bobby Mack and Night Train, The Brook, Southampton
Southampton, Texas, what's the difference?
16. April: The Hoax, The Brook, Southampton
Recording their farewell live album.
19. April: Ultrasound, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Fat people being not very good. My unerring antennae for a band about to break up proved reliable again.
27. April: Howe Gelb, The Cumberland, Bristol
He STILL doesn't like me.
9. May: Handsome Family, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Murder in the woods. Sylvia Sims is a big fan (You'll have to read the book).
10. May: John Cale, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The fact that it was billed as a "Spoken Word" event didn't put people off calling out for Velvet Underground songs.
12. May: dEUS, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Belgium's finest. They'd gone a bit "alt-country" but none the worse for that.
15. May: Colin Blunstone, The Brook, Southampton
The Zombies' "Odessy and Oracle" is one of my favourite albums. Colin was encouragingly elegant and unravaged.
29. May: Homelands Festival, Winchester, with Dot Allison, Asian Dub Foundation, Black Star Liner
More pop-eyed maniacs.
30 - 31 May: Bishopstock Festival, Exeter, with Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim
It rained and there was hardly anyone there, but it didn't matter because this weird event was bankrolled by rich people for our entertainment. There are certainly worse things to spend your money on.
3. June: The Producers, Tower Arts Centre
They'd just been voted British Blues Band of the Year.
6. June: A, Joiners Arms, Southampton
It was very rumbustuous but not much else.
17. June: Scott 4, Joiners Arms, Southampton
An unsuccessful attempt to appear cool in stetsons.
20. June: Tom Robinson, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
He downloaded some of his own lyrics on the internet in the interval.
22. June: Wilco, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Jeff Tweedy wins my vote for seediest rocker of the century. He also hurled himself backwards through the drumkit during the encore.
25 -27. June: Glastonbury Festival, with Hole, Blondie, REM, Manic Street Preachers
But more importantly, Marianne Faithfull.
10. July: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall
Probably their best ever performance. They wanted to make up for being pissed on my birthday.
23 - 25 July: WOMAD Festival
We handed out 2000 Robyn Hitchcock flyers.
14. August: Chris T-T, Railway Inn, Winchester
Still brave. If I didn't know better, I'd have offered to manage him.
26. August: Ten Benson, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Loony local support, Rumdum, were better.
27. August: Robbie McIntosh, The Brook Southampton
Desperately disappointing solo effort from Macca's sideman.
1. September: Death In Vegas, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
One of those wild nights, full of excitement. Spiritualized revisited.
4. September: Willard Grant Conspiracy, Melkweg, Amsterdam
Robert Fisher assured me: "When we come to England, we'll be visiting some small towns like Manchester, Birmingham and Winchester." They did.
5. September: Luscious Jackson, Melkweg, Amsterdam
Luscious by name, luscious by nature.
6. September: Sparklehorse, The Garage, London
John Parish wangled me in. People annoyingly talked in the quiet bits.
9. September: Edward II, The Brook, Southampton
We definitely couldn't afford to book them. And then they split up.
10. September: Llama Farmers, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Trevor's "stag night"! Forever to be known as a Llama Night.
11. September: Trevor's wedding, Oxford
A live performance by me of a re-written version of "Clever Trevor". All because I was too scared to make a speech.
13. September: Arab Strap, Wedgewood Roms, Portsmouth
I didn't care at all about that ugly Scottish bloke's troubled love life.
18. September: The Hoax, South Parade Pier, Portsmouth
Nearly the end.
24. September: Robyn Hitchcock, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
All the elements were there: Guest appearance by Kimberley Rew, nearly a fight in the audience and Robyn Hitchcock still didn't recognise me.
30. September: Chris T-T, Railway Inn, Winchester
No, no, I won't be tempted.
6. October: Campag Velocet, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Objectively, not a promising format. Subjectively, hugely enjoyable because the attitude was so good.
13. October: The Hoax, Astoria, London
The absolute end. The autograph session continued afterwards in Tottenham Court Road.
16. October: Sonny Black and the Dukes, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Anaemic Brit blues in a cabaret style.
18. October: Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Quelle scoop! The old boys and their Do Right Women done good.
3. November: Reg Presley, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
He said he knew where to mine for gold. But since "Four Weddings and a Funeral", he doesn't need to bother.
8. November: David Gray, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Good name, good bloke.
12. November: Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Hideaway? Good idea.
16. November: The Flaming Lips, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Brilliant performance art. In my Top Three ever.
25. November: Paddy Casey, Joiners Arms, Southampton
A bit like Marc Bolan. Are we coming full circle?
11. December: John Otway / K-Passa, Twyford Parish Hall
This is where we came in.
26. December: The Agency, Liquids, Bournemouth
Finishing the Millennium in traditional style.
2000
23. January: Bellatrix, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Good point: what happened to Bellatrix?
26. January: Blue Aeroplanes, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
They were even better than ever, if that's possible. But their following had dwindled.
28. January: Rachel Stamp, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Good point: what happened to Rachel Stamp?
30. January: Freedy Johnson, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
I have fond memories of our cat, Freedy, who was run over by a lorry. But of Freedy Johnson I have no memory at all.
31. January: Elastica, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
This was the period when they were all allegedly on drugs and the press thought they were crap. I though they were fantastic. That Justine was still a bit of all right.
7. February: Savoy Brown, Bottom Line, New York.
How embarrassing. Arriving at what, to a UK punter, would have seemed a reasonable time, I found I had missed not only the support act but all but the last ten minutes of the headliners as well. The doorman took pity on me and let me stay for the second house. Kim Simmonds was still impeccably smoothed.
26. February: Peter Bruntnell, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Early exposure to a musician destined to become one of my favourites.
5. March: Day One, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Good point: whatever happened ... (Oh, shut up!)
10 March: Eels, The Pyramids, Portsmouth
The funniest gig of all time. The magnificent Mr E insisted that we should all sit down in silence for the duration of the show. Scuffles broke out in the audience when some people refused to comply.
15. March: The Wannadies, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Not bad for Scandinavians.
18. March: The Producers, Twyford Parish Hall
They played a blinder. Voted UK blues band of the year three years running.
20. March: Cay / Crashland, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Cay were kinda krusty.
2. April: Terris / Coldplay, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Aha! It was obvious to the thirty or so people present that Coldplay were going to be gigantic.
4. April: The The, The Pyramids, Portsmouth
Matt Johnson had gone grunge and it was neither a pretty sight nor sound.
11. April: Hefner, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Sorry, I thought they were twee and over self-conscious. The singer was unbearable.
23. April: The Dandy Warhols, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Nice to see them in the charts about 18 months later.
4. May: Cousteau / Chris TT, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
The first time you see Cousteau they really impress you with their suaveness. Unfortunately, they never seem to learn any new songs.
5. May: Chicken Shack, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
I shook Stan's had and it was all limp. You wouldn't think that of a gnarled bluesman, would you?
12. May: The Flaming Lips / Built To Spill / Wheat, Royal Festival Hall, London
The RFH is an absolutely terrible place to see a band. That's all I'm prepared to say.
20. May: Neal Casal / Peter Bruntnell, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Guess who blew whom offstage?
27. May: Bishopstock Festival, Exeter
It clashed with Homelands, it pissed with rain and the signs were there that all was not well in the state of Bishopstock. But Steve Earle was a revelation.
3. June: The Agency, Holdenhurst Village Hall
Tim Holt's birthday. Here I met Tom Oldham, who reviewed the first edition of this book and started a bit of a roll for it. Respect!
8. June: Chris Hillman, The Brook, Southampton
Disappointingly wholesome. In the audience was Sid Griffin from the Long Ryders, who was drunk.
22 - 25 June: Glastonbury Festival. There was a problem with overcrowding and I was caught up in it. Having just seen the Flaming Lips on the "New Band" (!!) stage, my only thought was, at least I'll die happy.
8. July: John Otway / The Nightporters, Twyford Parish Hall
Oh heck, another of those. Not even the brilliantly entertaining Nightporters could follow Otway.
13. July: Pat McDonald, Abaixadors Deu, Barcelona
Talk about mañana. John Parish was here, producing Sparklehorse, and did this show with Pat McDonald which didn't get started until so late at night that I only heard half the first song before having to leave to catch a train.
16. July: Eels, Southampton Guildhall
Thankfully a less rowdy audience. Here, we learnt that you must never leave an Eels show until you are absolutely sure it's over. And I fell in love with Lisa Germano.
17. August: Mansun, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Check out a silver-haired Tommy Winstone doing the tour managing. But Mansun seemed to have come to a bit of a full stop.
24. August: Asian Dub Foundation, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
My idea of a truly great band and a fine collection of people.
25. August: Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, Gosport Festival.
They don't come any more dismal than this. Mind you, I got hate mail for saying so.
29. August: Omar and The Howlers, The Brook, Southampton
We missed them in Austin so they came to us.
2. September: The Agency, Ferndown Community Centre
Launching their new album which I daringly helped to finance. It sold so fast that I got the money back in about a week.
7. September: Drugstore, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Who on earth finances them?
17. September: PJ Harvey, The Hope and Anchor, Bridport
This crazy lunchtime gig was the world début of the "Stories From The City .." songs. Too weird to describe, really. It would be up there with the Cavity show if only I could find it in my heart to like the album. But I can't.
18. September: PJ Harvey, Bridport Arts Centre
The official début, featuring the psychedelic mini-skirt which turned out to be about the most restrained garment Polly wore all year.
28. September: Alan Clayson, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
It was a lecture about the Beatles. Does this count as a gig?
30. September: Naughty Rhythms Tour, Perins School, Alresford / The Gliders, Tower Arts Centre, WInchester
We checked out Otway and co in a school hall before catching half the Gliders show. Sean Lyons, ex-Soft Boy, was in this very good band.
5. October: Elliot Smith, The Forum, London
I was on a total high, having just been on the Johnny Walker Show on Radio Two. I danced round Portland Place, which wasn't very dignified.
12. October: The Delgados, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
They had the seediest chain-smoking string section imaginable.
19. October: Wishbone Ash, The Brook, Southampton
Paul made me go. (A different Paul, this time).
21. October: Vigilantes of Love, Joiners Arms, Southampton
A pretty good cult band from the States but there were only twelve people there.
9. November: Chris TT, Joiners Arms, Southampton
Chris was getting better and better. His second album contained a great song called "Dreaming Of Injured Popstars".
25. November: Black Blue Fish ... Very Beautiful, Railway Inn, Winchester
The return of Rumdum. Possibly the weirdest band I've ever seen, and charming because they aren't all clever-clever, just mad.
27. November: Grand Drive, The Borderline, London.
My first exposure to the godlike Hawksley Workman. And Grand Drive were wonderful too.
29. November: Willard Grant Conspiracy, Joiners Arms, Southampton
That Robert Fisher is a bit of a character, but you wouldn't want to spend too much time with him on a tourbus.
3. December: Hardin and York, Café Hahn, Koblenz
The ultimate nostalgia trip. The whole family flew there just for the gig and yes, it was worth it.
9. December: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall
It wouldn't be Christmas without them, would it?
10. December: Nine Below Zero / Amor, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The new band of Jon Amor from the Hoax. We arrived just as he was sa