Rob ‘As mentioned two old school mates had got into Punk in late ’77 (we left school that year). I hadn’t taken much interest in it but has kept in touch with them and started to listen to some of singles they had bought, heard the first Clash album, Ian Dury and The Lurkers and was blown away.
The first gig I went to was Ian Dury at Portsmouth Civic Hall in the spring of 1978.
Then The Lurkers at a Punk venue in Reading. A mate who was at Basingstoke Tech organised them to play there too in early 1979.
Guildford Civic Hall and University also had many gigs. I also started to go to the London venues, The Lyceum, The Music Machine, Hammersmith Odeon, The Electric Ballroom, The Greyhound in Fulham Palace Road, The Clarendon Hotel. Around 1979/1980 The Tumbledown Dick held a number gigs. I saw The Chords (maybe) there, The Nips with Shane McGowan – still love their single Gabrielle. The Angelic Upstarts played there but I didn’t go to that.’
‘The Au Pairs and Delta 5 at Guildford Uni and particularly as it was a John Peel Roadshow. Really loved their sets.’
‘Orchestral Manoeuvres – A mate got some tickets and we went with his girlfriend and one her mates. A great night I seem to remember.’
Rob ‘The Wasted Youth thing was great – A mate and I went to see them somewhere near Reading in early 1980 having read about them in the NME.
It was a tiny venue with about 15 people there but we thought they were good and I think talked to them after the gig. Somehow we blagged our way to being put on the guest list for future gigs.
When asked for our names we said Rob, Martin and a third mate called Chris who didn’t go to the Reading gig.
When we turned up at the next venue and promptly said we’re on the guest list it’s – Rob, Martin and Chris we got the reply, nothing like that but we’ve got Chris plus 2. So the mate who wasn’t even at the first gig got the main credit on the guest list Typical. We went to see them a number of times that year and for the next couple of years.’
Thanks Rob!
1981 to follow soon
ITTLG 
1 Comment