Category: Music

Rockin at The De La Warr Pavillion


Back in 1970, when I was just eighteen years of age, a fledgling english rock band called Uriah Heep released their first studio album. That album ” … Very ‘Eavy ….. Very ‘Umble”, struck a chord with me and probably set the foundation of my musical tastes.

Over the years I saw the Heep live, several times, bought many of their albums and still listen to them regularly.

So imagine my delight when I found that they were touring…

screenshot_20250303_181619_chrome2159773152391855582

So tickets purchased I waited with anticipation. Of course there were some concerns. After so many years, most of the original band members have passed on. Would the current line up sound anything like the band that I followed.

And so, last Thursday, I arrived at the De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill. Before I could answer the Uriah Heep questions I was going to be entertained by two support acts.

The first to perform was Tyketto, a band from New York, USA. Having never heard of them I assumed they were a relatively new band. How wrong could I be. They have been around since 1987!!!

Tyketto

They gave a very good account of themselves and were well received by me and the rest of the audience.

Following Tyketto, the next act very quickly set up their kit. They were April Wine and had also passed below my rock radar. Also not a new band, having formed in 1969, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

April Wine

Although categorised, like Tyketto, as Hard Rock, their style is very different and dare I say it, more complex. Once again their reception was very positive.

But then it was time for the main event, the reason most of us were there.

After a surprisingly short time, the support bands kit was cleared away and the stage was set for Uriah Heep.

Also, like April Wine, Uriah Heep formed in 1969. Fifty six years entertaining their fans.

Uriah Heep

In that time they have produced some 25 studio albums, 20 live albums, many compilation albums and singles.

Uriah Heep

Their sound is very much as I remember although the current lead singer Bernie Shaw has a different sound to David Byron who fronted the band back in the day.

Uriah Heep

There is no doubt he has the stage presence and the voice needed to front Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep

Of course they did all the favourites as well as some newer songs. For me the highlight was to see and hear the lead guitarist, Mick Box, perform his unique magic.

Mick Box – Uriah Heep

Mick Box is the last surviving, original band member.

Uriah Heep

All too soon the show came to an end. This show was the final one of their UK tour.

If I Was To Open A Shop


If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

I would re-open the shop previously closed down by Pressed Rat & Warthog.

Pressed rat and warthog have closed down their shop
They didn’t want to; ’twas all they had got
Selling atonal apples, amplified heat
And pressed rat’s collection of doglegs and feet


Sadly, they left, telling no one goodbye
Pressed rat wore red jodhpurs, warthog a striped tie
Between them, they carried a three-legged sack
Went straight round the corner and never came back


Pressed rat and warthog have closed down their shop
The bad captain madman had told them to stop
Selling atonal apples, amplified heat
And pressed rat’s collection of doglegs and feet


The bad captain madman had ordered their fate
He laughed and stomped off with a nautical gate
The gate turned into a deroga tree
And his peg leg got woodworm and broke into three


Pressed rat and warthog have closed down their shop
They didn’t want to; ’twas all they had got
Selling atonal apples, amplified heat
And pressed rat’s collection of doglegs and feet

“Pressed Rat and Warthog,” is a song from Creams 1968 album “Wheels Of Fire”.

The song was written by Mike Taylor, with lyrics by Ginger Baker.

Perhaps calling this a song is stretching the definition, more a nonsense poem set to music with narration by Ginger Baker.

Still, I feel sorry for Pressed Rat and Warthog. After all twas all they had got

Right Now #3


Yup, right now, I am listening to Summer Of ’69 by Bryan Adams.

Seems appropriate as the clocks changed last night as we moved into BST. The loss of one hours sleep means that it is officially Summer whilst in reality, nature still thinks it’s Spring.

Whilst there is an implicit sexual meaning behind Adams song, 1969 was a momentous year for events of interest on a global scale.

On a personal level, in May of 1969, I  started my apprenticeship as a Fitter and Turner. Initially I spent two years based at the Flathouse Apprentice Training Centre, then completing my training in HM Dockyard, Portsmouth. To complete this course I had to leave home, move into digs some 90 miles from home.

The first-ever Concorde test flight took place March of 1969, conducted in France. It’s such a beautiful plane, but really noisy. When our pooch was still alive, every Sunday afternoon, we used to take him up on Butser Hill. We would see Concorde flying low on its descent into Heathrow. It’s such a shame it isn’t flying now.

July of 1969 saw the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. Astronauts Aldrin and Armstrong were on the moons’ surface for just under 22 hours, but theirs was a jaw-dropping achievement.

The Woodstock Music and Arts Fair took place in August of 1969. Nearly half a million people attended. Strange that it is referred to as Woodstock but actually took place about 40 miles away at Bethel.

On a darker note, 1969 was the year of the Manson Family murders. Named after cult leader Charles Manson. Five people were murdered by the cult, including a heavily pregnant Sharon Tate, wife of movie producer Roman Polanski.

President Richard Nixon announced the end of the Vietnam War in December 1969 and immediately began troop withdrawal. This proved to be somewhat premature as in April 1970, the war spilled over into Cambodia.

Thank you, Bryan Adams. Your song has acted as an historical trigger.

A Little Prog Rock Please


This was us, Gerry, me and a couple of friends out for a Fridays entertainment.

Honestly, we were in the stalls, somewhere just left of centre, three rows from the  back.

The picture was taken at the very end of the show by Genesis Connected, a very competent tribute act.

I have been a Genesis fan since the early 70’s. In fact, the first time I saw them live, they were only 2nd or 3rd on the bill, still very much on the rise.

I followed them closely, seeing them live every time they visited Portsmouth. That is  until Peter Gabriel departed.

After that, I found it very difficult to differentiate between Genesis with Phil Collins taking the lead vocals or a Phil Collins solo effort.

This new phase for Genesis saw the band transition from Prog-Rock to Pop-Rock, and my interest in Genesis waned.

Not having any prior knowledge of this act, I will admit to being a little disappointed during the first half of the show. I was expecting more offerings from Prog-Rock Genesis.

Where were tracks from Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England By The Pound, and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway ?

Turns out that I was being a tad unfair. The image below tells why.

“Celebrating the hits ….”

Genesis didn’t start to have hits until they transitioned to Pop-Rock, although they did enter the UK charts with a track taken from Selling England By The Pound. I Know What I Like was a minor hit, reaching number 21 in April 1974.

Once I had rationalised what this band was about, I began to enjoy the show more.

We were treated to crowd pleasers such as Living Years and Cup Of Coffee from Mike and The Mechanics, Biko, Sledgehammer,  and surprisingly Panopticom from Peter Gabriel, but for the most part, this was a Phil Collins love-in with songs such as In The Air Tonight, Easy Lover, Turn It On Again, Invisible Touch, Sussudio and more besides.

Genesis Connected had the audience singing along, clapping, and even dancing for the final song of the night.

All in all, it was a polished performance. I sang and clapped with the rest of the audience but when it was over I was left hankering for the Return Of The Giant,  Hogweed, The Knife, Watcher Of The Skies, just a little more Prog-Rock.

Having said all that, I would go to see them again. I’ll just have to get my Prog-Rock fix elsewhere.

Top 15 Songs Revived


Our local rag, The News, publishes a “Daily Graphic”. This one struck a chord with me.

No matter if you agree with the content of this list or not, there are some cracking tracks here.

https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-11-2015/content.html

My personal favourite is Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Lightning Seeds,

closely followed by Led Zeppelins Immigrant Song

I chose the YouTube links based on their reference to the shows that used the tunes.

Other versions are available.

Do you have a favourite classic track that has been given a new lease of life, or introduced to a new audience due to its appearance in a film or TV show ?

Right Now #2


What am I listening to …

For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield.

For me, this song has always been associated with the war in Vietnam, an anti war protest song. 

How wrong could I be. I  have only recently come to understand that the song was referencing the “Sunset Strip curfew riots in Los Angeles,” which took place between police and young people in 1966. It was these events that inspired Stephen Stills to write the song.

I believe my misconception was fed by numerous documentaries of that era, using this song as a musical backdrop.

The lyrics are here …..

There’s something happening here
But what it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it’s time we stop
Children, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

It’s time we stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

What a field day for the heat (Ooh ooh ooh)
A thousand people in the street (Ooh ooh ooh)
Singing songs and they carrying signs (Ooh ooh ooh)
Mostly say, “Hooray for our side” (Ooh ooh ooh)

It’s time we stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away

We better stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

You better stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

You better stop
Now, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

You better stop
Children, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?

Right Now ..


What am I listening to ….

Assassing by Marillion from their 1984 album, Fugazi.

I saw this band live, back in the 80’s, at Portsmouth Guildhall. If my memory serves, they were supported by a local band, Rufus Stone.

What Is My All-Time Favourite Album ?


What’s your all-time favorite album?

Such a hard question to answer.

My first response is “On The Threshold Of A Dream” by The Moody Blues first released in 1969. I certainly play this a lot so much so that I am on my 2nd vinyl copy, the first having worn out. I still listen to the album, but these days, I stream, using Tidal or Spotify.

A more considered response leads me to offer up “Foxtrot” by Genesis first released in 1972. I still have my original vinyl version but also have it on CD. Genesis are a band that I used to see live every time they visited Portsmouth. Pretty much an annual event, either at Portsmouth Guildhall or South Parade Pier.

Many other albums are jostling for that favourite spot. Amongst them, some of the great classics. “Dark Side Of The Moon” and “Echoes” by Pink Floyd, “Led Zeppelin II” and “IV”, “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull, “Tapestry” by Carole King, and the list goes on and on.

So to truly answer the question, I think “Foxtrot” by Genesis take the honour, but only just.

Music is such an emotive subject, and to nominate a favourite will always be coloured by how one is feeling, ones mood at any given time.

Ask me again tomorrow.

When Doves Cry


Take a listen to Patti Smiths’ cover of “When Doves Cry”, just follow the link below.

When Doves Cry https://g.co/kgs/CU1zh3

I had only ever heard the original by Prince until today when Radio Paradise played the Patti Smith cover.

I really like the original Prince release, but to my ears, Patti Smiths is the superior interpretation.

What do you think ?

RIP Tony Bennett


At the age of 96, by anyone’s standard, Tony Bennett had a good innings.

I had the pleasure of attending a Tony Bennett concert at Portsmouth Guildhall. This would have been in the early seventies. Well over forty years ago, when I was in my twenties.

Obviously, I don’t remember a whole lot about the show. I do remember that he only had a small band supporting him. That they opened for him and that I really liked the stuff they did. I also know how when Tony came on stage, he owned the stage, the auditorium, and the audience.

He was the consummate professional showman with a superb voice and his own style.

He will be missed, but he has left behind a huge legacy of recordings. Dip in, give them a listen.