Retro Dundee, January 14, 2009

At this stage in his career he was still a bit of a skinny little whippersnapper, having surfaced in tandem with the punk movement, but behind the image lay a big talent, and we got an instant reminder when he started the show off with "Watching the detectives". After that the hits kept coming, "Olivers Army" - "Alison" - "Accidents will happen" - "Red Shoes" and on it went. This tour was to promote his "Armed Forces" album so there was plenty new material too. He has since gone on to work with just about every musician on the planet it seems and is still touring 3 decades on. There were 2 support acts on the night. One was Richard Hell & the Voidoids from the USA. This was the band he formed after he left Television. Richard Hell was the guy who gave the world the "punk look" ie cropped spikey hair and ripped shirt held together with safety pins. This image was later enhanced by the Brit punks to become the punk fashion we now refer to. Also on the bill was big haired Manchester poet John Cooper Clarke. Urban grit and wit. I think we got our £2.50's worth!