The first gig I ever went to was Aztec Camera at Birmingham Odeon on 10 October 1983. That was when they still had gigs at the Odeon. I was thirteen at the time and being allowed to go all the way to Birmingham for an evening with a friend to see a band was a big deal and one of those life changing experiences. I’d looked forward to it for ages and when I got home after couldn’t sleep for the excitement of it all.
I’m still able to sing the whole of the album this comes from, High Land, Hard Rain, all the way through, word for word, with all the songs in the right order. Let’s see the download generation try that.
At the time I didn’t really know who Joe Strummer was but the line “faces of Strummer that fell from the wall, and nothing was left where they hung” just sounded like a really important statement. It did prompt me to find out, which led me to the record section of Walsall Library to borrow Clash albums.
The sound on this clip from Pebble Mill at One is a little quiet so you’ll have to turn it up a bit. I wanted a jacket like Roddy Frame’s at the time.
Aztec Camera were my first band, although it was The Wonder Stuff who ended up as my favourite band. I was very excited then, to hear that the Stuffies’, Miles Hunt has invited Roddy Frame to join him at the Shared event he’s curating at the Town Hall in January.
2 responses so far ↓
regengirl // December 10, 2008 at 22:02
What a cool first gig and cheers for the notice re. Roddy Frame at the Town Hall in January – v exciting (especially as I missed him at Glee earlier this year). I love High Land Hard Rain (I always play it if I’m anywhere near Scotland) and am in awe that Roddy Frame was only 19 (I think) when it came out.
Saw The Wonder Stuff a couple of times in my teens – including the night at The Institute where Miles Hunt walked off after only 3/4 songs after he said someone spat at him. Not a fan of all the later diddly diddly stuff but remember Eight Legged Groove Machine being the perfect soundtrack to teen moodiness – happy days!
h4num4n // December 10, 2008 at 22:30
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen the Stuffies or Milo doing his solo thing . Probably around 5 times a year.
I was at that Institute gig. I used to love gigs there. Was not impressed by the spitting thing.