By Phil Wright
Thursday 21st March took me to Leeds for a total ‘Punk Fest’ at the O2.
Opening the night was a true Punk legend, Glen Matlock, the original bass player and songwriter for the ‘Sex Pistols’. He was joined on stage by Neal Whitmore from ‘Sigue Sigue Sputnick’. The combination of Matlock and Whitmore brought some good old-fashioned Rock and Roll to the O2, with tracks like ‘Won’t Put the Brakes on Me’, and ‘Magic Carpet Ride’. Before ending their set with ‘Pretty Vacant’ and ‘Head on a Stick’.
Now the mood was set for the night. The intro came thundering through the speakers, the crowd was pumped and ‘Stiff Little Fingers’ made their entrance with ‘Suspect Device’. Jim Burns didn’t take a break until the third song of their set, ‘Fly the Flag’, (no wonder he had a sore throat). Founding bass player, Ali McMordie, was so at home up on that stage, a born entertainer. The chemistry between the bandmates was phenomenal.
For the next hour or so, we were treated to some classic ‘Stiff Little Finger’ with hits like ‘Nobody’s Here’ and ‘Tin Soldiers’, but then surprised us all with a rendition of ‘Love of the Common People’, by Paul Young.
This gig goes to show Punk is well and truly still alive. Check out the rest of the tour dates and get your tickets. You will not be disappointed!
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