Comments on: Hackney Empire, Stiff Little Fingers, 10 worst reunions

By: cha

cha — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:03:33 +0000

had the pleasure of seeing slf a few times in the last few years brilliant. we had a bithday party for arthur guinness last thursday in dublin saw the undertones in a small pub they played in the middle of the floor marvellous

By: Joannie Volpe

Joannie Volpe — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:25:52 +0000

I bet I’ll take flack for this, but I don’t care! I have only gone to one reunion band concert series(that I can remember) and that was the Police 07-08 tour. I have been a fan since they first started, saw them as one of my first concerts in 1980 when I was 16. They were magnetic live then, and at this point of their careers they have such a fine choice of material to select from, their tour was just magical. The audience were on their feet singing and dancing along to those songs that just brought back such great memories of music that was part of the weave in the fabric of our lives. And I say that as a fan, but i believe it is also true even if you were not a Police fan. There was a span of a few years in the 80s where you couldn’t NOT hear the Police, whether you wanted to or not!
Suffice it to say I went by myself once; with my children once; with my friend son’s once; with my friends; once and with my BFF to the Apollo Theater taping of Elvis Costello’s Spectacle with the Police as his guests.
I’ve never walked away unhappy from a Police concert, and these last times were just frosting on the cake as far as i’m concerned. I was so well pleased that they made up and got back together, i never thought it would happen.
Joannie

By: Prince Blanco

Prince Blanco — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:14:32 +0000

Catbrain – I’m not sure who the latest singer is in The Stranglers so I can’t comment but I saw them in 2004 when Paul Roberts was lead singer and it was a fantastic show! Coincidentally, Paul had been the Stranglers’ singer for 15 years at that point- the same length of time Hugh was their lead singer. Obviously I would have loved to have seen Hugh upfront as I did back in the day on The Raven tour but to be fair Paul had paid his dues at that point so good on him as it’s a tough gig being the ‘new guy’. I read recently that Ronnie Wood said some people still refer to him as the ‘new guy’ in the Rolling Stones even though he’s been their guitarist for 35 years. Pete – saw Buzzcocks a couple of years ago and they were better than when I saw them as a teenager – fantastic! Would probably leave the ‘From The Jam’ tour alone though and last year’s Pursey-less Sham 69 tour was questionable but I don’t want to judge cause Dave Parsons is a bit of a mate.

By: Peter Jones

Peter Jones — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:25:40 +0000

I saw the Buzzcocks early this year performing Differt Kitchen and Love Bites.
Also saw them playing a “greates Hits” set on some festival.
Both time they were great.
Love the Damned in 2009 too.
I liked the Gang of 4 reunion a few years back but don’t see the point of making new recordings of their old songs.
Thought that the Mc5 reunion was great too.
And don’t forget the Stooges…awesome live but let’s forget the record.

By: David Palmer

David Palmer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:49:58 +0000

TO JESSE,you wouldn’t be dissapointed if you get the chance SLF are awesome live,They tour quite alot keep ticket prices sensible and do what they do best put on one hell of a show.They also write and record new material so it’s not like a greatest hits show.Don’t know where you’re based but they are touring the UK this OCTOBER/NOVEMBER already got a ticket for Wolverhampton .Check them out on MySpace for latest news it’s well worth it.

By: Pete Stevens

Pete Stevens — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:31:25 +0000

One other major recommendation are Buzzcocks. Awesome live too !!

I gatecrashed the ‘pit’ at a gig back in January for photos….

http://www.pmsphoto.co.uk/authenticate.tlx?username=575718a43a965fb4d97ea4403e5a4d2e&password=harmonyinmyhead

By: Pete Stevens

Pete Stevens — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:27:40 +0000

Gotta gettasay – went to see Stiff Little Fingers this year at The Forum in London’s Kentish Town. It was almost exactly twenty years after last seeing them in Brixton when “See you Up There” was recorded…I was still at college. I actually went with one of the same people I went with on that night, my really special friend, Michelle. We were right there against the barrier at the front. Jake may have put on a couple of pounds*, but they were absolutely f**kin brilliant.

For me they were the only band who approached The Clash for an overall canon of songs. OK I may be forty plus, but the music still moves me. You just can’t hear songs like ‘Barbed Wire Love’, ‘Suspect Device’ or ‘Johnny Was’ live and not be moved. If you’re unsure about Stiff Little Fingers or don’t really know their music that well, PLEASE just buy ‘See You Up There,’ crank up the volume and revel in an amazing live band !!

*and the audience too

By: Catbrain

Catbrain — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:14:31 +0000

Reunions generally end up being meta versions of the original. I had the misfortune of seeing The Stranglers earlier this year, of course without Hugh Cornwall. Truly surreal experience, because they play the hits (of course) but the new guy (I couldn’t even be bothered remembering his name) tries his utmost to sound like the original recordings. Covers band at best. It totally cured me of any desire to see any more of these bands who are generally well past their use by date… apart from the occasional Don’t Look Back gig, which don’t seem to happen unless it is the complete original lineup.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:13:06 +0000

From the videos I’ve seen, I think SLF would still be great to see live.

By: David Palmer

David Palmer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:17:44 +0000

I think one of the saddest reunion bands has to be The Pogues,when The Clash fell apart in ’85 The Pogues were a glimmer of hope and indeed for the next 5 years lived upto expectations.I saw them a few times beginning when they supported the Clash at Brixton right through to when JOE took up lead in ’91 and SPIDER in ’92.That is when it should have finished though,job done .Shanes work with The Popes was excellent and it looked like the Pogues had secured their rightful place in music history.Oh no fast forward ten years to 2001 and there it was The Pogues are doing a christmas tour,full line up Shane ‘n all.Well that was it credit card out,2 tickets(one for the girlfriend”COME ON THEY’RE BRILLIANT YOU’LL LOVE THEM”)what with booking fees,credit card fees just about every bloody fee you can think of I ended up paying about £70 I still feel robbed 8 yrs later.It was f***in awful the audience consisted of fat middle-aged blokes pissed out of their minds and boring office looking types who had only heard Fairytale of New York.The band looked old and uneasy with each other,like distant relations at a wedding,and every pisshead there thought they were lead vocals I think I heard Shane sing about three lines.I can still remember the feeling of complete emptiness on the way home none of that post gig buzz you should have.I consoled myself with the thought it’s a one off and the band deserved one last moment of glory,Oh no they’ve done it every F***in Xmas since.