This all-star show was originally planned to happen in 2020 but the pandemic put paid to that, so after 3 years of waiting, line-up changes, pain and sorrow, finally this incredible show took place in all its messy glory. It was truly a gathering of the clans as everywhere you looked was another old friend or music bizz legend.
We arrived early enough to make sure we saw all the music that started with the Vive Le Rockers who feature among others David Ruffy on Drums, Slim Cyder on Keyboards and Paul-Ronney Angel on guitar and vocals. After a short introduction from Vive Le Rock editor in chief Eugene Butcher they kicked the night off with a super charged version of Miserlou. Paul-Ronney Angel then paid the first tribute of the night, to those that have fallen since this show was first scheduled to happen, as they played a good spiky version of Eddie & The Hot-Rods Teenage Depression in tribute to Barry Masters.
It was then time for the first special guests of the evening as Kim and Jackie from Girlschool were introduced and slowly appeared, Jackie hit the stage first and joked that Kim was stuck in the loo's once more, as the first chords of Emergency were slowly played by Jackie, who was trading licks with Paul-Ronney. Once Kim hit the stage they tore through Emergency, sirens blaring, before getting Eugene onstage to pay tribute to the guvnor himself, our lord and master Lemmy, as Bomber got most of the audience singing along with them as Kim and Eugene traded verses. Eugene was then replaced by Beki Bondage so they could give Please Don't Touch the proper edge with Beki taking Lemmy's vocals on, from the original hit Motorhead/Girlschool version.
Once Kim and Jackie had left the stage they were replaced by Milly Manders who was probably the youngest performer of the night, who paid tribute to Nora Foster whose death had been announced earlier in the day, as she tore into God Save The Queen assisted by Gaff on blistering guitar, this was full throated blast of energy and made me wonder why I hadn't managed to see Milly live before now.
We then got to the first Awards of the evening and the prize for most shambolic presentation went to Beki and the crew who seemed most dis-organized, as she got Charlie Harper on stage to give the award to best festival to Rebellion. The awards for best new band went to Amyl & The Sniffers the award being given by Jenny Bellestar. Beki then announced Lee Thompson who was nowhere to be seen, so instead Stuart Pearce wandered on, in typical psycho style, to give the gong for best re-issue to the UK Subs, even if Charlie Harper couldn't be found to collect the award. So of course, then Lee Thompson finally made it on stage to give a legend award to Neville Staple and tell a story of being on the first two tone tour and Neville saving him. Then the final award in this part was presented by Brix Smith to Bob Vylan with the two Bobs giving a short and funny speech.
After that chaotic interlude we were very happy when the Vive Le Rockers came back out to start their second set with a cracking take on Pipeline, then Jim Jones came on to re-join his old band mates Slim and Paul-Ronney for a dark twisted take on I Put A Spell On You with Jim doing his usual great rock & roll preaching. They then did an amped up version of High School Hop with Slim really letting loose on the piano parts.
Jim Jones was then replaced by Bad Barbee who are Jenny Belle Star, Liz Westwood and Tommie-Rae Brown so that Jenny could sing her first big hit The Clapping Song this was great fun with the trio really having fun with this old classic. Then Liz Westwood took lead vocals on Sonic Boom Boy her big hit from the 80's that sounded great with some great crunchy guitar. Beki Bondage came back out to take over vocals on a fine if a touch ragged version of Lucille. Then it was time for the don of the bass to appear as Norman Watt-Roy strolled on being joined by Laurie Wright on guitar, to blast through Roxette as magnificent as ever, with Norman pulling all of his classic moves while thankfully not falling over like he did the last time I saw him playing with Slim and Paul-Ronney.
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It was then time for the second instalment of awards dishevelment with Beki bringing Milly Manders on to give the award for album of the year to The Interrupters. Then Richard England came on to give the Cockney Rejects a Lifetime Achievement award, that was super poignant as the Cockney Reject's drummer between 1999 and 2016 Andrew Laing had died on Monday. Then Beki brought Youth from Brilliant on to tell us just why Norman Watt-Roy deserved an award for a lifetime of services to the music industry. Then Beki introduced Rhoda Dakar who gave a very emotional tear-stained speech in thanks and praise to Terry Hall her great friend, who was another of the fallen who was being given the icon award.
Next on for a short set were Cockney Rejects who were ready to spar with anyone they could, as they launched into Paper Tiger as Mick Geggus got good and crunchy on guitar. Jeff Geggus got everyone going for Unforgiven as he shadow boxed around the stage, this too short set closed with a cool take on Bad Man that left everyone wanting some more.
After a slightly too long break it was time for Neville Staple to play a storming set that opened with Do The Ska that had the 8 piece band bouncing along as they got everyone skanking along as they tore into Nite Klub, Monkey Man had almost everyone singing along with them on the Toots classic, of course the place went mental for A Message To You, Rudy. It's hard to believe how prophetic Gangster Times is as a song, as we really are living in the Gangster Times the Specials were on about 40 odd years ago. Concrete Jungle has Sugary Staple leading the dancing as well as singing along with her husband Neville. A huge cheer went up at the start of Ghost Town that went down a total storm as they checked they had enough time before playing Long Shot Kick De Bucket that ended with a good rousing chorus or two of Yeah Yeah Yeah's.
Then finally it was time for the evenings most miraculous event, the re-animated Lords Of The New Church featuring Michael Monroe, replacing his old friend and song writing partner Stiv Bators on vocals, as he joined Dr Terry Chimes, Brian James, Dave Treganna, Mark Taylor and Nick Turner for a set that opened with Mark Taylor's organ intro, as the rest of the band came on and launched into Lords Of The New Church sounding dark and magisterial. Livin' On Livin' had some smoldering guitar from Brian James as Michael Monroe really nailed the vocals. Dance With Me has a great sax solo from Michael as well as backing vocals from Nick Turner who also played tambourine. Russian Roulette was a huge great sing along, great fun, although I'm more used to hearing Dave Treganna signing it in The Crunch, they totally nailed it.
Method To My Madness kept everyone happy as it rocked like the death rock masterpiece it is. They then paused as Rat Scabies came on to give Brian James the award for Pioneer, before Rat kicked Dr Terry off the drums so we could have half The Damned playing a rambling version of New Rose to close the set. Then Alan Clayton came on to encourage us all to cheer for some more before The Lords Of The New Church came back out closing the night with a magnificent brawl through Pills to guarantee that everyone left happy at the end of another legendary Vive Le Rock awards show.
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