Before i start i would like to thank SARAH PINK for putting this night on and for organising the last RUTS shows and ive also got a thanks to the 'black egg' girl who was kind and trusting enough to let me and my mad mate share her cab with her after the show, even if we were only in the cab for 3 minutes it was still apreciated because it saved us a walk up a very long hill.
About the gig itself, we turned up too late to watch the ALABAMA THREE and also possibly THE FALLEN HEROES so i am unable to furnish you with any idea what they were like, sorry about that.
But i was just in time to catch P.A.I.N coming onto the stage, they played two songs of their own before ripping into a ruts song before they left the stage, (it would of been nice if that night was filmed for future release because it was a night that had the feeling of being a 'spontanious' one and great night of 'fans' of the RUTS playing and watching their favourite RUTS songs. next on were a band that was made up of ex members of THE MEMBERS (theres a bad joke in there somewhere) who gave us a semi acoustic version of 'sound of the suburbs which was actually not bad, it was after a couple of minutes before me and my mate saw one of the EX-MEMBERS was the same bloke who was on the same tube as us and who fled with much haste when the train got to shepards bush, we called after him wondering if he was going to the same place as us but i had my doubts because he looked more like a PINK FLOYD backing player, how wrong i was because the bloke was having visible fun at playing his old songs again and was also taking enjoyment at being a part of the gig as a whole, the 'MEMBER' and friends finished their short set by giving us another version of 'babylons burning' (for the second time tonight, P.A.I.N were the first band that night to play the song) but it didnt matter because it was a good version.
Next on was TV SMITH, TOM ROBINSON and the BLOCKHEADS gutairist who are becoming the CROSBY STILLS AND NASH of punk with their accoustic live shows, but the resembalance ends with the lining up in chairs along the stage because we were treated to some great songss from the careers of all on the stage including some classic tracks from THE ADVERTS and T.R.B (as well as the second great version of 'babylons burning'). sadly owing to time the bands had only a short time to play and they were off after three songs st the most, as was to be seen by the way that BEKI BONDAGE and her mixed VICE SQUAD and other band (ive forgotten their name -oops, sorry chaps) had only the time to play one song 'something that i said' before they were obligised to leave just as soon as she had came on, not fair i say!.
Anyway, before we had the chance to ponder why MS BONDAGE got such a short time the next 'act' took to the stage, THE CAPTAIN and band was only on the stage for a minute or so before he dropped the bombshell that JOHNNY MOPED wasnt able to make the night and this sent a ripple of dissapointment through the crowd, and after playing a selection of DAMNED and SOLO songs the CAPTAIN started to talk about a replacement who he introduced as 'herbert' who was in fact HENRY ROLLINS (who had yet again flown acroos the atlantic ocean just to help out, good man) and with 'HERBERT' on vocals sensible and his band accompanied ROLLINS in a stirring version of another RUTS song.
Of the no -shows it was mercifully small in number, containing only JOHNNY MOPED (i was aching in my desire to hear JOHNNY MOPED play their/his greatest, the classic song 'no-one') (yaa-boo!) and the only other no-show was half pint sized NICKY TESCO from the MEMBERS.
But that didnt dampen the spirits of the audience or those of the performers who seemed to enjoy the night as much as the crowd, the band members also thought nothing of mixing with the 'punters' and were to be seen the venue over watching the other bands playing dispelliing the 'us and them' theory.
And without trying to sound too soppy everyone was there to pay tribute to paul fox and the final end of the brilliant RUTS.
The next to take to the stage was a large film screen that played a section of the video of the RUTS gig that happened last year just before PAUL FOX sadly passed on, although only a short set the band played that night like they knew they wouldnt ever again and who featured HENRY ROLLINS on vocal duties. if you were wondering what that gig was like then i suggest that you scroll down and read the review of the gig some articles below, but needless to say, i was the type of gig that you dont go to everyday, it was almost like we were 'lucky' to be there for some reason and a brilliant night was truely had by all.
After the show me and my mate wondered about in search of a drink and found ourselves in the upstairs bar where most of the 'acts' from that night had met for a drink, so we found our selves surrounded by many of the people who's records i have been buying for xxxx years, and i must say that nice people all they were, HENRY ROLLINS was a suprisingly subdued and CAPTAIN SENSIBLE seemed to be amused when i said that i thought that he looked lkie 'the peter pan of punk' for his youthful looks, ROLLINS looked taken aback at my piss take but THE CAPTAIN seemed quite amused. the nearest the night came to an unhappy situation was when i was talking to BEKI BONDAGE and a bloke who was with her became very jelous of me and looked like he was miffed because 'i was stepping on his toes - what a sad wanker!
But never let it be said that im a snooty git because i found a sheet with written music on it (it was 'something that i said' by the RUTS BEKI BONDAGE had spent the day writing the song out for her band to learn as that was the song she played), and as i approached her to sighn the paper she said "where did you get that? i spent all day writing that out" "oh" i said, "i found it on the bar over there, do you still want to sign it?" and sign it she did, as well as TV SMITH, GAYE ADVERT (who still looks bloody great) HENRY ROLLINS and 'THE CAPTAIN'. who seez im a geek? spending an hour and a half/ two hours with these people i found there was no snootiness or 'us and them' it was all RUTS fans out to say one last goodbye to the RUTS, one of the best bands of the late seventies. the RUTS are dead long live the RUTS.
Of the DVD film that followed the band i intend to follow that up with a review of it. but only part of the film was shown at the gig/film preview, the part with the RUTS set with HENRY ROLLINS (and the lady from ZION TRAIN who sang brilliantly as the main vocalist on 'jah war'), although the set was short it still gave you a good feeling (thats of course you are a RUTS die-hard like wrinkly old me) of what it was like to attend a RUTS show, watching it made me remember the thoughts i had about how being onstage was very tiring for PAUL FOX and yet he soldiered on despite visibly being in pain. it was a fitting farewell and tribute to the superb music that the RUTS made.
A review of the RUTS full DVD featuring THE DAMNED, UK SUBS, TV SMITH, JOHN OTTWAY TOM ROBINSON, 'TADPOLE' TUDOR. MISTY IN ROOTS,JOHN ROBB (ER?), HENRY ROLLINS and others plus members of the RUTS, is coming very soon. all the bands set's are featured in whole (all three songs each apart from the DAMNED, UK SUBS and the RUTS. they and others also feature on a seperate DVD of interviews. watch for that soon -this week.
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