Jane’s first gig at the Gaumont: Rod Stewart and the Faces
It was Dec 4th 1974; I remember it so well! I had just turned 18 and only just passed my driving test. So, it was the first time I had driven alone and it felt like a real adventure driving into Taunton that evening! I suddenly felt grown-up and independent!
I sat upstairs in the Circle for £2. I vividly recall ‘Rod the Mod’ strutting his stuff; he looked so great, and that voice, specially when he sang ‘Maggie May’!!
Trevor’s first gig: Elton John (May 30th 1976)
It was an unforgettable experience – him with his huge glasses, sparkly jacket, red trousers and high heels!
There was a particular moment I remember when he left the piano and, as the band continued to play, he started dancing around with one of the backing singers; I don’t think it had been rehearsed; it seemed completely spontaneous. Anyway he tripped up and somehow they ended up together, on their backs on the stage – and I remember the backing singer trying to make it look like part of the act because she was pumping her legs in the air to the rhythm. Amazing! I remember he sang Crocodile Rock, Benny and the Jets and Your Song, particularly.
What a great evening!
Sensational Alex Harvey Band (June 15th 1976)
What a fantastic performer! Way ahead of his time with a spectacular stage show – including a castle on stage from which he emerged brandishing what looked like an enormous gun, and when he fired it, it directed laser-like lights into the audience. There was also a routine in which he teased the lead guitarist (Zal Cleminson) who was dressed as the court jester with white clown make-up; he was leaning out of a turret window trying to grab his guitar which was dangling from a tower above! Incredible stuff! The music was an extraordinary mix of rock ‘n’ roll, music hall, vaudeville and jazz. Sensational indeed!
Rory Gallagher (September 6th 1980)
We loved him! He came on stage in ordinary work clothes and really beat hell out of his battered, beloved Strat, giving his all – real sweaty blues, and coming right down into the audience, completely regardless of security! A truly full-on performer!
Hawkwind (December 20th 1980)
A fantastic atmosphere! They really got the audience going! I clearly remember an incident involving their drummer, Ginger Baker, who, you will remember had a very fiery temper – there was this member of the security team being very officious and standing right in front of the stage trying to clear the fans who were dancing there, having fun; so Ginger leapt up from his drum kit, marched to the front of the stage, tapped the official on the shoulder and indicated that he should scarper rather than the fans! He got the message, slunk off and the dancing continued!
Peter Gabriel (February 2nd 1980)
This was a very memorable concert for me for 2 reasons:
It was the first gig I had been to in which remote mikes were used – so Peter Gabriel entered spot-lit down the centre aisle singing his first number. We thought that was really dramatic!
It provided me with my most treasured moment of all the gigs I went to; I was in a seat with an empty one between me and the aisle – and for a moment during that amazing song ‘Biko’, he came and sat in that seat right next to me, and I really felt the power and the passion!
