The Gig of my (Keele) Life!

Mike Beattie - 2002 - Jools

Jools and his rhythm and blues orchestra was at the 2002 graduation – he played for a good couple of hours and tore the house down. He looked like he was really into the whole night. We had our customary fire alarm go off at the union, and while we were outside the orchestra kept our spirits up by playing a few tunes on the fire escape while we filed back in. Brilliant stuff.

Iain Phillips - 1975 - Osibisa, Paul McCartney

I was at Keele 1971 to 1975. For a few years was on the Social Commitee with our elected rep - John Stokes. I remember coming across Osibisa (an African type band) in a store cupboard!!! The gig was great. I also saw some correspondence to Keele offering the Rolling Stones for £1,000 but it was beyond our budget! Also Paul McCartney played for few pounds after the Beatles break up, as Wings. We had the most amazing social programme!

Ruth Hayward - 2006 - Futureheads

The Futureheads in 2006. Used our Keele cards to get into the then Gallery because the ballroom had put up the price for a beer. We were a little worse for wear and ended up drunkenly buying New Order tickets to see them at Wembley. That gig turned out to be the last performance with Peter Hook. Without our Keele cards it would never had happened.

Katie Harrington – 2006 - Futureheads

I second Ruth Hayward's post! Largely because I was the other person getting drunk and buying New Order tickets! Can't remember all that much about the Futureheads gig but I know it was good!

Richard O’Hagan - 1989 - Primal Scream, Sandkings, Wonder Stuff, Buddy Curtis

Too many to mention. The most memorable were Primal Scream stalking off stage after about two songs because Bobby Gillespie thought someone had thrown a skiff at him (about 1988) and the La's having to take the stage walking through the audience because Lee Mavers had broken his foot skateboarding a few days before and couldn't climb the stairs. What else? Birdland almost having to cancel because they all got chickenpox, then playing for about 15 minutes before trashing their instruments, Head getting no reaction from the crowd because we were all blown away by their support band, The Sandkings. The very early Wonder Stuff gig, when they were all still alive (natch), the insanity of Buddy Curtis & the Grasshoppers...

Mark Holtz – 1993 - Atomic Kitten

Atomic Kitten around 2000. Pre-gig interview was longer than expected, and we ran out of questions. Shania Twain was playing in the background, so rather feebly, I asked them "What's the best thing about being a woman?" to which Kerry Katona grabbed her breast and said "THESE!". Now that's class.

Chris Parkins – 1981 - Pretenders, Hawkwind, Simple Minds, Ian Gillan

Most Social Secretaries had a 'claim to fame' gig. Mine was probably the Pretenders, in the same week that 'Brass in Pocket' was no.1 - supported by UB40. But my personal favorite was the 'Sci-Fi' Christmas Ball of 1979 - Hawkwind, supported by Simple Minds. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple vocalist) jumping off the stage and punching a member of the audience was pretty memorable. Mind you, the guy was asking for it. The Enid divided opinion like Marmite. One guy dropped to his knees after the gig and thanked me for booking them. Another guy threatened to beat me severely for having booked them!

Haidee Van Duyvenbode - 1994 - Transvision Vamp

Transvision vamp 1992/3 ish? She was a bit drunk, shouted abuse and fell off stage I seem to recall

Gordon Mousinho - 1975 - Vinegar Joe, Spirit, Desmond Dekker, Andy Fairweather Low

Vinegar Joe, circa 1973, Robert Palmer, and Elkie Brooks wearing a skirt that can generously be described as 'micro'. There were so many great bands...... Spirit, with Randy California playing in just a jockstrap and cowboy boots! Also Desmond Dekker and the Aces. When Andy Fairweather Low appeared and sang Wide eyed and legless, my girlfriend (now wife) and two of her flat mates decided to get up on stage and accompany him! Then there was the whole rugby/football club serenade of Frankie Miller! Saw lots of bands locally as every major act started their tour in Stoke. In one three week period in 1973 I saw Led Zeppelin, ELP and the Who, all at Trentham Gardens. Also Bowie as Ziggy at Victoria Hall.

David Harris – 1970 - Jehtro Tull, Pink Floyd, Edgar Broughton Band, Cream, Rod Argent, Ten Years After

Starting in 1967, Jethro Tull almost a resident band. Pink Floyd and the Edgar Broughton Band. Then in 1972 Cream at the royal ball with Margaret dancing with a triple vodka in one hand and a galloise in the other. Second half of my Uni career a bit of a blur, but do remember talking to Rod Argent as the Zombies did their last gig at Keele [a little bit of history]. This was the musical wallpaper of our time before the Bee Gees inflicted disco on us.

As a tribute to Alvin Lee, who died last week. 10 Years After, was my favourite gig at Keele, yet I haven't come across anyone who was there with me. Alvin took half an hour tuning up with his back to us. Even got a few boos. That guitar was definitely in tune as he turned around and blew the audience away. "The fastest guitar in the west". Rest in rock Alvin.

Andy Irwin - 2011 - Zane Lowe

By far and away still the most astounding entertainer and on-stage performer I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching at Keele, and one of the best performers I’ve witnessed full-stop, was Zane Lowe in 2011. The entire Union Ballroom moved as one to the set performed by the most in-demand of Radio DJs. His energy is extraordinary, and his ability to work a crowd without saying very much at all (he allows his DJing to do the talking) is legendary. His mixing skills are insanely good and at one point he played a superb mix of four or five current chart hits in quick succession and that was it – the happy crowd of new and returning students were completely in the palm of his hand. His sets are, like his radio shows, high energy, faultless mixing and perfect timing. He understands his audiences, and makes them feel special and unique – even when he’s ‘just’ playing a student union gig, his attention to detail is simply great.

Jonathan Brown - 1981 - Pretenders, UB40, U2

Pretenders supported by UB40 30/01/1980 - As Chris Perkins says, The Pretenders played the very week that Brass in Pocket got to No1, and I remember a rumour that they tried to pull out for a bigger gig somewhere else. UB40 were unknown at the time and excellent. They were so pleased with the lighting they hired the gear for their upcoming tour. The highlight for me was Chrissie Hind singing’ ‘Gonna use my arms, gonna use my legs, gonna use my . . .’ and then turning around and bending over for the word ‘ imagination’ !

U2 - I’m pretty sure they played in Hawthorns Refectory they were so unknown. I wish I could say I was there, but I couldn’t be bothered to go. And, yes, I lived in Hawthorns C Block, just a stone’s throw from the building. Later (29/11/1980) they played the Union and I missed that too. A couple of years later I enjoyed the album ‘Boy’ which they undoubtedly played then.

Cheap Trick 02/07/1979 - A gimmicky, Spinal Tap kind of band whose lead guitarist Rick Nielsen was the consummate showman. He strapped on more than twenty guitars for one song and progressively removed one and plugged in the next one for each part/lick/solo. He had about 100 picks/plectrums stuck to his mike stand and flicked them into the crowd between licks. Each one had a cartoon picture of him with his trademark baseball cap. I kept one but lost it later. The drummer, Bun E Carlos, was fat, bald, sweaty and smoked through the entire set. The other two were pretty-boy glam rockers. Fantastic stuff. I bought the yellow vinyl live in Japan LP on the strength of that gig but it was awful. Before the gig I threw up all over the Geology department after a geophysics lecture and I had an awful headache during the gig. The next day I went into the health centre with glandular fever and was imprisoned for two weeks by Dr Scott.

Robert Plant’s blues band (not yet the Honeydrippers) – his first gig after the demise of Led Zeppelin – March 1981 (9th or 10th).

This answers Stuart Sanders’ question in the Keele website, and partially confirms the comment here:

http://www.thisdayinrock.com/index.php/general/1981-robert-plant-played-a-secret-gig-at-keele-university/

This was during one of the balls, and there was no publicity – just an announcement and stampede at around 11pm to the smallest room at the top of the Students’ Union building. I got in with a couple of mates and it was sweaty, electric and unforgettable. Afterwards at about 2am when most had gone home, I had an awful beer with Robert Plant (Richard Eldridge, 1981, was also there). I chatted slightly deliriously about having seen Led Zep at Knebworth 1979 and that Jimmy Page (not present that evening) went to the same school as my older brother and that he (Jimmy Page that is) used to practise guitar in the house in Epsom next door to where I lived (all true). We shook hands and I got his autograph, which I gave that to my girlfriend of the time who probably still has it.

Bernard Balderston - 1967 - Cream, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band

I was a graduate at Keele between 1963-1967 and I was at Keele when Cream played. I vividly remember standing beside Eric Clapton at 5.00am listening to the final set by Vivian Stanshall and the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band who were also on the band list. This must have been either 1967 or possibly 1968. I did visit Keele for the Summer Ball the following year.

Stuart Sanders (1980)- Robert Plant

"Is it true that in 1981 Robert Plant played a secret gig at Keele University, England with his band The Honey Drippers?  Louise Marshall (1981): "I am pretty certain it was the Easter 1981 Ball. (it wouldn’t have been the Fresher’s ball in 1980 — the one that Gary Glitter pulled out of that very morning.... Yes, it was in that upstairs room, and I think they were billed as The Honeydrippers and RP’s name was kept out of the billing. He was rather nice, I seem to remember."

 

Trevor Parry (1984) - Slade, Big Country

1981 and 1982 seemed to have some great bands, 1983 and 1984 not so good.  The best was Slade, complete with toilet rolls.  Very loud and a very tight band.  Big Country played in Hawthorns refectory.  They were late as they'd been involved in a car crash allegedly.  Very soon afterwards they made the charts.  There was a rumour that only 3 people turned up to a Thomson Twins gig.  Jab Jab were fun but I've not found any trace of them.  The Bootleg Beatles also played at Hawthorns.  I also remember Altered Images, The Man Upstairs (University band), Amazulu.