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Post by kursaal75 on Dec 31, 2015 8:12:25 GMT
THE GREAT BRITISH MUSIC FESTIVAL AT OLYMPIA  Did anyone go? |
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Post by kursaal75 on Dec 31, 2015 8:28:49 GMT
STATUS QUO SET LIST:
Junior's Wailing
Backwater/Just Take Me
I Saw The Light
Little Lady/Most Of The Time
4500 Times
Roll Over Lay Down
Big Fat Mama
Don't Waste My Time
Roadhouse Blues
(big ben)
Auld Lang Syne
Caroline
Bye Bye Johnny
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Post by kursaal75 on Dec 31, 2015 8:55:59 GMT
What I can remember about the day was, having a few pints in a couple of Southend pubs at midday, before the group of 8 made our way to Olympia. I think we arrived during the set of the Climax Blues Band and headed straight to the bar, while we waited to see Thin Lizzy. I had seen the band earlier in the year at a free concert in Harlow Town park and thought they were brilliant. Thin Lizzy produced a blistering set finishing with the forthcoming single Boys Are Back In Town. I wasn't impressed with Steve Marriott all star band, so it was back to the bar. I think Quo come on at 10:45 Capital Radio's Nicky Horne introduced the band and as they strolled on with a Rossi, "How r ya, alright" we were away with Junior's Wailing and the crowd were up for it from the opening notes. Backwater, just take me followed and we only come up for air during Most of the time, before jumping up & down and headbanging to a 16 minute 4500 Times. By the time we got to the jig in Roadhouse Blues, I was fuc....Knackered. By the end of 1975, Quo were a force in UK rock and they didn't disappoint in this no nonsense, in ya face, loud,sweaty, boogie rock. The band went of for a while, as we heard the chime's of Big Ben over the PA system then they came back on with Auld Lang Syne, Caroline and Bye Bye Johnny. My ears were buzzing, my t shirt was dripping with sweat, probably due to the numerous pints I consumed throughout the day. We got out of Olympia at around 12:30 and in those days with the tubes closed we walked from Kensington through London meeting lots of party revealers until we reached Liverpool Street Station 4 hours later. We caught the paper/milk train home around 5am. I think I was back in the pub at 12, but then again I was only 18 and I hadn't realised yet that the Start of the Blue For You tour was just around the corner with 2 nights at the Hammersmith Odeon at the end of February and the Cardiff Castle gig in July.  |
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Post by curiousgirl on Dec 31, 2015 10:34:24 GMT
Sounds like an amazing night Kursaal. Thanks for sharing. My first experiences of Thin Lizzy - beyond hearing their singles of course, was hearing Whiskey in the Jar played by sixth formers, who were older than me and so they seemed cool, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I thought, 'what's that?" I loved it. And after Alan mentioned being a fan of the Climax Blues band, I saw them a couple of times at Hammersmith Odeon. Pre-the Rhino era. I was quite taken aback to discover that he'd been a member.  I couldn't remember him in it. |
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Post by vivfromcov on Dec 31, 2015 14:19:37 GMT
Thanks for your write-up Dave! Yes I was there, as you know! I think I have mentioned it once or twice! Where were you... on the floor or up in the stands? We were quite high up about halfway back on Rick's side. I don't remember too much about the other bands except that I liked Thin Lizzy. Of course Quo were amazing and I loved the loudness, the heaviness, the audience participation and the spectacle of the formation dancing!  From then on I became obsessed with buying their albums and seeing them live as often as I could. 40 years ago.... Best New Years Eve ever!  |
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Post by kursaal75 on Dec 31, 2015 15:40:04 GMT
Hi Viv, I think you did mention that you went to the Olympia gig once or twice, but you forgot to mention it was your first concert. I think we were standing between Parfitt & Rossi nearly ½ way from the stage. Thin Lizzy we were center stage, near the front. As for Climax Blues Band & Steve Marriott we were 2 rows from front.......at the bar. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2015 19:52:40 GMT
Kursaal/viv......loved reading your posts.....I really wish I had been old enough in those days to go to gigs.
Sounds amazing.
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Post by Gaz on Dec 31, 2015 20:15:46 GMT
What I can remember about the day was, having a few pints in a couple of Southend pubs at midday, before the group of 8 made our way to Olympia. I think we arrived during the set of the Climax Blues Band and headed straight to the bar, while we waited to see Thin Lizzy. I had seen the band earlier in the year at a free concert in Harlow Town park and thought they were brilliant. Thin Lizzy produced a blistering set finishing with the forthcoming single Boys Are Back In Town. I wasn't impressed with Steve Marriott all star band, so it was back to the bar. I think Quo come on at 10:45 Capital Radio's Nicky Horne introduced the band and as they strolled on with a Rossi, "How r ya, alright" we were away with Junior's Wailing and the crowd were up for it from the opening notes. Backwater, just take me followed and by the time we got to the jig in Roadhouse Blues, I was fuc....Knackered. By the end of 1975, Quo were a force in UK rock and they didn't disappoint in this no nonsense, in ya face, loud,sweaty, boogie rock. The band went of for a while, as we heard the chime's of Big Ben over the PA system then they came back on with Auld Lang Syne, Caroline and Bye Bye Johnny. My ears were buzzing, my t shirt was dripping with sweat, probably due to the numerous pints I consumed throughout the day. We got out of Olympia at around 12:30 and in those days with the tubes closed we walked from Kensington through London meeting lots of party revealers until we reached Liverpool Street Station 4 hours later. We caught the paper/milk train home around 5am. I think I was back in the pub at 12, but then again I was only 18. Great post,kurs. The way you wrote that, I could imagine being there. Geez Quo were a brilliant live band back then,eh. 40 years .where did all those years go?..I'm writing this 7am New Years Day, clear headed and about to take the dog for a walk around the mountain this perfect New Years morning...no way I would've been doing that 40 years ago. ;-) |
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37
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Lancaster+Parfitt+Coghlan+Rossi=Pure Quo
Posts: 1,004
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Post by 37 on Jan 2, 2016 14:43:56 GMT
Viv and Kursaal, thanx for the reports, real shame I was not there. Thin Lizzy and Quo on the same bill,superb. This gig is one of those I was there moments, alongside Cardiff Castle 1976, Glasgow Apollo 1976, NEC `Charlie`1982, End Of The Road Milton Keynes 1984 and Bournemouth Festive 2012(sorry,only joking about this disaster!).I would liked to have seen the day Bad Company headlined as well,another great lineup.
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Post by powerage on Jan 2, 2016 17:30:26 GMT
My dad was there, said it was an amazing night.
He taped the show as well.
Thanks for the reports, wish I could I have seen the show.
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37
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Lancaster+Parfitt+Coghlan+Rossi=Pure Quo
Posts: 1,004
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Post by 37 on Jan 2, 2016 19:07:36 GMT
powerage, you say your dad recorded the gig. Two questions.
1)Is this audio or video?
2)Does he still have it?
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Post by kursaal75 on Jan 2, 2016 20:30:34 GMT
I remember it was recorded by Capital Radio, and the highlights were played on the Nicky Horne rock show, You Mother wouldn't like it, in January.
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Post by wolfman on Jan 2, 2016 23:44:28 GMT
THE GREAT BRITISH MUSIC FESTIVAL AT OLYMPIA Did anyone go? I wasn't even born back then....  |
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Post by powerage on Jan 3, 2016 20:46:26 GMT
powerage, you say your dad recorded the gig. Two questions. 1)Is this audio or video? 2)Does he still have it? Hi 37, it's an audience audio recording. Im certain that I've got it somewhere. I know there is a version floating about of the gig as I downloaded it the other day. His source may have been released a few years ago I know we released a few of his 70s recordings. I'll see if I can dig it out and do a 40th anniversary remaster haha. |
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37
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Lancaster+Parfitt+Coghlan+Rossi=Pure Quo
Posts: 1,004
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Post by 37 on Jan 4, 2016 16:39:09 GMT
Cheers for info.
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I couldn't remember him in it.
From then on I became obsessed with buying their albums and seeing them live as often as I could.
