fritz44

UFO - Academy Newcastle 24th November Well I was a bit worried about seeing this lot again, as it was 22 years since the last time. I'll start with the negatives. Phil Mogg removing his shirt to reveal his 50 odd year old torso - not needed. Pete Way looked very 'waysted' and like Stephen Fry's long-haired elder brother. Vinnie Moore showboating - nobody will have Mad Mickey's presence in the band, but the guitarist can play his stuff. Final negative; Sh*te venue management! The gig itself - f**king brilliant! Kicked off with Mother's Mary, played some stuff off Monkey Puzzle, with Hard Being Me the stand out of the new stuff. Majority of the show was the standards though; This Kids, Only You Can Rock Me, Let It Roll, Lights Out (no reference to the city either), Love To Love, Looking Out for Number One, Rock Bottom, Too Hard to Handle, Doctor Doctor and Shoot Shoot. Superb! Why the venue management wanted them off stage before 10pm to start a Rock Disco is beyond me, especially as the audience were lapping it up, and the band were having a great time. Final gripe - will someone buy Pete a new pair of pants? Bloody hell, this sounds more like a fashion review than a gig round up.

Sorry D13 and Puppetking 2112, I've never catalogued the vinyl! Basically I stopped buying vinyl before home PC's became the norm. I know I've got the vinyl of Rush upto GUP, but the first three are part of the Archives set. One thing I do have is the original PW cover. Why would anyone want vinyl? It is NOT the new black!

I own the whole catalogues of Rush, AC/DC, Zeppelin (minus the box set), and the Black Keys. I need a couple of Motorhead CD's to consider them finished. My AC/DC collection includes the first 4 LP's released in Australia. I'm considering getting rid of my vinyl (pure clutter, never listen to it), but will be hanging on the AC/DC bits for the memories. Good thing about The Song Remains The Same - No Quarter!

I'm really enjoy this thread, despite the comments about Hemispheres, which was where I 'came in' to Rush. I struggled with Rush around the time of the Signals and GUP offerings. Only recently have I found that I can listen to both, and enjoy the material. Like TW, I saw Rush in the Ingleston cowshed on the Signals tour, but I was losing interest, and didn't enjoy the show as much as earlier tours (Hemispheres and PW). However, I did see the band on the R30 tour, and what a ****ing show! Keep going TW, I want to hear your comments on RTB - my favourite later album.

Well the Dropkicks were no warm up for Rancid. Rancid were simply superb! A whole new meaning to the word POWER. The video on the backdrop blended in some startling images, which suited the music. Mind you the images were no match for the stuff Rush do, but differing styles.

Last night (9/11/06) caught the Dropkick Murphys and Less Than Jake co-headlining at the Academy in Newcastle. The place was packed to the rafters. I was disappointed that the Dropkicks were on before Less Than ... Still a brilliant atmosphere! As usual the Dropkicks tore into their set, and were ****ing excellent. The only down-side were the vocals, which were a little lost in the battery. Then came Less Than Jake. Never a good sign when the vocalist/guitarist wears pantaloons! Well pantaloons might be a bit strong, but this trend for calf length/long shorts/ill fitting pants is beyond this 'old-timer'. Shorts are short, i.e. above the knee. Would have been a canny gig, but he rambled on for too long - play the bloody songs. Still good warm up for RANCID on Monday.

Dropkick Murphys tomorrow, with Less Than Jake (?) co-headlining. Let's hope that the Dropkicks get top billing.

Saw VH in '79 at the Newcastle City Hall, which the then Sounds (defunct UK rock paper) scribe Geoff Barton covered. He still talks about the gig in Classic Rock! It was probably the best show and the loudest (and I've seen Motorhead there loads of times)) I've ever seen/heard at the City Hall. Also caught VH at Donington in '84 when they were f**king brilliant - streets ahead of AC/DC that night. Dave Lee Roth was everywhere on both occasions, and the rest of the guys were on the top of their game. And I have to agree that VH were Dave, Eddie, Alex and Michael.

This Thursday (9th?) I've got the Dropkick Murphys at the Academy in Newcastle. Monday (13th) is Rancid, which I'm really excited about. Then on 24th got UFO.

Today I've just got.... Costello Music - The Fratellis Wolfmother - Wolfmother And All That Could Have Been - NIN Love Over Gold - Dire Straits

I can't believe that nobody has mentioned Nils Lofgren. I wasn't a big fan, but went to a gig a couple of years ago, and he blew me away. The gig was at Newcastle City Hall, and if it was half full I'd be surprised, but he gave it everything, and then some more. Keith Don't Go was outstanding. Caught him last year at the Sage in Gateshead, jam packed with people in suits, because they are on the mailing list for this prestigous venue - pity it's in Gateshead! FRIDGE - Brian Tatler! I didn't think Diamond Head's main man would get a mention - very good live though. Lost interest in the band after they kicked Colin and Duncan out. Anyway back to the thread, my top five:- 1. Nils Lofgren 2. Alex Lifeson 3. Jimmy Page 4. Edward Van Halen 5. Angus Young - Why? Because anyone that can play like that doing his antics live, must have something, even if he has slowed down with age.

The Black Keys - September 27th at Northumbria University, Newcastle. This is the same night that The Cult play at the Academy in Newcastle. Gig - just like buses, nothing for a while then a 2 come together. South Side Johnny - 21st October, Newcastle Academy The Answer - 22nd October, Legends, Newcastle Wishbone Ash - 25th October, Newcastle Academy Motorheed (sic) - 1st November, City Hall, Newcastle Rancid - 13th November, Newcastle Academy UFO - 23rd November, Newcastle Academy. Again another gig the same night is Pat Travers at The Cluny, Newcastle. I'd rather see PT, but my mates want to see UFO, and have bought the ticket for me. The 'old lady' is whinging, but there seems to be space in the calendar to fit in buying CD's, so I can't understand why she's complaining.

It's a long time since I saw the Scorpions, and lost interest in them after Blackout. I own the vinyl of Fly My To The Rainbow, Taken By Force, Tokyo Tapes, Lovedrive, Animal Magnetism and Blackout, but I only have Lovedrive on CD. It took me along time to realise I didn't like Klaus Meine's vocals! Favourite track would have to be Coast to Coast with Mad Mikey helping out.