Talk:Concert 1978-03-17 Belfast

March 17, 1978, Ulster Hall, Belfast reviews

• Greg Cowan of Belfast punk band The Outcasts:
  "Although memories are hazy of '78 I do remember that Colin (Cowan) had come up with a cunning plan to publicise the name of the Outcasts by jumping on stage with any of the few major artists that were playing Belfast at that time. I can't remember in which order it came but during a three month period Colin had jumped on stage with Graham Parker and the Rumour, Boomtown Rats and, of course, Elvis Costello. I particularly remember the Elvis Costello gig because our plan was to push Colin on stage from the front so it was a complete surprise to us when Colin suddenly appeared from the rear of the stage and grabbing Elvis Costello's microphone from him began shouting about the Outcasts. As this was during the height of the troubles in Belfast, Elvis himself, quite understandably, went into a blind panic and ran off stage (for about five minutes). As we later found out he thought this was some sort of political attack on him. As the bouncers closed in from the wings to apprehend Colin he made a stage dive into the mass crowd who conveniently separated causing Colin to knock himself unconscious on the floor where we collected his limp body and spirited him away. As all major concerts in Belfast at the time were sponsored by the same company with the same crew of bouncers, when we eventually did our first major support with the Clash in the Ulster Hall we must be the only band beaten up by the bouncers after playing and ceremoniously thrown out onto the street!"