\0 Parker and the Rumour, though Parker is tighter and has a rawer voice. But it’s the lyrics that stand out. The stand-out track of the set - of the whole conoert, was'watching the detectives', now released as a single. Thudding bass, hypnotic reggae beat and Elvis shouting out the chorus, 'Watching the detectives/ Don't get cute/ (fetching the detectives/ They shoot, shoot, shoot’ It's brilliant! Elvis is an original. His versatility, especially as a songwriter is stunning, and on the evid ence of the new material he has just begun to amaze us. The crowd brought him back for two encores., 'Blame it on Cain' and 'Red Shoes' When he finally left the stage, Mick turned to me and yelled over the crow®, 'That guy is going to be a star!!'." All this excitement was getting a bit much, so we fought our way through the crowds to the bar for some liquid refreshment. As a result we missed the beginning of Ian Druy's set. When we got back down the place was rocking. There’s no dqpbt Dury has an arresting stage presence He’d iswapped his drumming outfit of a tea shirt and tea cosy hat for a white suit and was stomping around the front of the stage inciting the crowd to riot. With his hair cropped short on top and straggling down the back of his bull like neck he looked like a cross between Rasputin and The Incredible Hulk. Between songs he harangued the crowd with shouts of 'Blockheads' (which turned out to be his last sorur^ and other quaint cockney slogans. I was physically drained after pogoing throughout Wreckless and Elvis so I was incapable of dancing, but the crowd were jumping all over the place. I pitied whoever had to play last becuase by that stage the whole thing was accelerating into^the realms of overkill. According to the pre-concert publicity the playing order was sh changed nightly, so the problem was shared equally, and that for me was one of the beautiful things about the concert and the whole Stiff enterprise. It's a real family affair. Everyone plays in eaoh other’s band, Everyone lends a helping hand. And that's a very healthy antidote to anyones superstar ego-trips. It was only fitting that when Ian Dury was called baok for an encore evryone on the tour, Nick Lowe, Wreckless, Elvis, Dave Edmunis, Larry 7allis and all the supporting musicians came on too, to treat us to a blitzkrieg brain destroying performace of Ian’s new single, 'Sex, Drugs and Rock'n'roll. That finished everyone off. And what better sentiments to close on? While Iall this Mayhem had been going on^ a trem endous electrical storm had been raging outside. Sally, Mick and I were sitting it out on the stairs when Elvis walked by, underneath vis. If we hadn't just s en him p A l c participate in one of the most energet c, satisfying concerts ever I doubt we'd have given him a second glance. 19 77 - the year of the little guy
Remember— if isn't Aif\j'7 WORTH A FUCK?