tim,mike,dm,anyone. been meaning to ask this for ages, did any of you attend this gig. it was mid may sort of isolated before the 3 on the bounce in june..( notts,b-ham and bristol ). i live very near leicester and never went...was it pretty low key or was it advertised in normal channels.. any memories from the above mentioned night.
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leicester palais 1984
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I went to this gig.
It was a very low key gig.
I only heard about it as a friend was at Leicester Polytechnic at the time.
It was put on by a crowd calling themselves something like Rorasch Testing. There was a limited edition poster of the gig advert that they produced of which I have a copy of somewhere - think the edition was only 300. They also were selling a fanzine with a New Order interview and rare photos in (of Bedford Boys Club 1981 gig)- still got that somewhere as well.
Remember it was a good gig and that one of the support bands Life made an impression on me. Does anyone have any live recordings of the group Life? I think a New Order roadie played in them.
Someone professionally video taped this gig, I remember cameras being on the upstairs balconies.
They then played Nottingham Palais within a short time.
Originally posted by Simon Park Remember it was a good gig and that one of the support bands Life made an impression on me. Does anyone have any live recordings of the group Life? I think a New Order roadie played in them.
Andy Robinson. Now New Order's manager!!
I remember it well (ish) and the first I heard about it was outside The Royal Festival Fall show in aid of the Miners. A couple of guys were handing out leaflets with details relating to the gig. That was one of the special things about NO in those days. You just did not know when, or where, they would pop up.
I am also pretty sure that the person who promoted the show was Declan and if the old grey matter serves me correctly he was actually the one handing out the leaflets.
We arrived early at the show and as usual sneaked in with our microphones and walkmans. I can remember us blatantly standing right next to the mixing desk during the soundcheck prior to the gig.
It was quite usual for us to get to see them fixing the levels and us being able to stay in there was usually down to whatever frame of mind Hooky was in. The gig at Hemel Hempstead in 1985 always makes me giggle and if anyone was in there with us you will remember why and buy did the 'press and play' version of BLT sound cracking.
Anyway, back to Leicester. If you indeed have a copy of the show it may well be preceeded by the very same soundcheck and you may even hear Hooky say 'Clear the room...Did you get that Declan'. I could be quoting the wrong show of course as it was 20 years ago.
This was also a special occasion for me personally as it was the first time I ever spoke with Barney and like the sad twat I was I actually kept the glass he was drinking his Pernod and Black from. I simply could not believe I was standing next to and chatting to my goddam hero (I was 19 then remember). He was really chatty and friendly and certain put away the possibility of him being a miserable, unfriendly geezer like I had seen so often on stage previous to me speaking with him.
Thanks for reminding me of this gig. It was a legendary night for me and again reminds me of how bloody superb the whole period was.
'LIFE' had to be probably the worst NO support band I have EVER seen this is of course despite Andy Robinson's looks and stage presence. Yes, I am taking the piss.
They were also involved with in the August dates from Sunderland to Heaven and there was also a band from Ireland who played also. They were a great bunch of lads but their name is one I cannot remember. Am I right when I say that they arrived late for the Chippenham Goldiggers show and actually played AFTER NO? What a superb venue that was.
DM
thanks chaps. i get a bit intrigued by venues, was it similar to notts palais with a standing area and balconies.??
Hi Paul. It was most certainly not the largest venue in the world and to the best of my knowledge it was a one level standing area only. Pretty much similar to a number of places they played in the those days.
DM
thanks. they did pick some strange venues back then...but that was part of the package. any favourite venue?? i have never been more packed at a venue than leeds tiffs in 85. sheff uni..(octagon centre)..had the best sound. sheff roxy was the weirdest. loads of different venues with different memories..( good and bad ). get that project finished !!!!
The Leeds 1985 show is shrouded in one of my best memories of New Order in the UK. I was skint multiplied back in those days and initially could only afford a one way on National Express from Luton Bus Station. I can remember reading the book 'It' and there was plenty of snow on the ground as I shivered my way up the M1.
If I was ever short of a ticket good old Slim would usually help me out and he came through in fine style on this occasion. He even offered me a ride back down south for the Sobell Centre gig but I really did not fancy crashing in the back of their 7.5 tonner in that weather. What a pansy eh? and later I was to regret this initial decision.
Luckily during the show I bumped into an old mate of mine from WGC and he was at that time studying for his degree in Manchester so I decided to take him up on his offer of a trip back across the nines to Rushulme for the night.
I was up early the next morning to get my arse to the best place to hitch a ride to London. For some reason no one would bloody stop for me and after an hour panic started to sink in. Me miss a NO gig? No bloody way. So I made my way back to my mates house but he had already left for Uni so in desperation I got his mate to let me into his room so I could search for some cash! Thankfully, he had around £10 there so I quickly rushed down to the National Express station. Bollocks! I cried as the cost for a one way to London was more than I had on me. The furthest I could get was Yam-Yam Birmingham! At least it was closer so I went for it.
By the time I arrived in Brum it was getting on for 3PM so I thought I would ask the station supervisor if he could help me out to get me down to the capital. No luck in that department but he suggested I go ask the cops (who lived just over the road from the bus station to see if they could help me). Initially the desk hand said that I could ring my parents and they could drop some money off at their local cop shop and they would sub me the cash their end but even after I had confirmed the details with my parents the desk hand the turned round and said that they could not do it!
By now it was getting on for 4PM and steam was slowly starting to makes its way out of my ears and nose. I was basically out of options so I decided to take a walk to the train station to trying and jump one down to Euston. Ticket collectors? It was like a bloody convention of them at the entrance to the platform the 4.45 was leaving from!
Bollocks! (Once again) I was beaten. I was NOT to see NO that evening in Finsbury Park. Thoughts of how I was going to get home were secondary to this fast approaching fact. As I looked through my cash less wallet I noticed a blue hole in the wall card from Barclays. There was bugger all in there. In fact I do not remember EVER having any money in that account.
As I was just about to leave the station I stopped and shoved the card into the cash machine obviously expecting to see the usual 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS' come up. How much did I need? Well, the train would cost about £19 so £20 would do but I put £50 in anyway.
BINGO! Out popped £50 and then dream was back on once again. I could have dropped to my knees at that point. I was not only going to get to the gig but I was also going to be able to fill my empty stomach which had slowly began to ache as the stress of the situation became more real as the experience continued.
First thing Dave. Go and get that ticket! NO!! First thing Try for ANOTHER £50! BINGO! From no New Order gig, no food and no hope I now had 100 squid which was a nice amount back in the mid 1980's!
I felt tall as tall could be. I knew I had plenty of time to get the train even if I missed the next one so I took a leisurely walk to the nearest McDonalds and boy does food taste sweet when you are as hungry as I was! 2 Big Macs, 6 nuggets, large fries and a similar sized coke. Lovely.
I got up, sighed and made my way to the ticket office where I purchased a one way ticket through to Euston. Even with all that cash I had no intention of paying the 'full' fare' so I comfortably managed to jump trains from the BR station to Finsbury and then from Finsbury to WGC.
The usual crew were at the gig and a few asked me how the trip down from Leeds was. "Interesting". I replied, as I laid into ANOTHER pint of lager. Did Barclays ever get their £100 back? Not a chance matey!
But seldom did being at a NO gig mean so much.
DM
Classic insights Dave, I read through that last one quickly at first, and I was just about to slag you for playing BINGO, till I read it again
Keep the stories coming mate, they lighten this place up no end;)
Hows the book getting on?
Another quality post from the Molly archives.. . 
And Town are one-up as I speak.
Need to sort out the Nico situ ASAP, mind.
dm. cast your mind back to 87...did you do sheff roxy the gig after the finsbury tent and just prior to barrowlands and the hac. this was the weirdest venue i have ever been to..i am sure it was on top of a multi-storey car park near sheffield bus station.
Originally posted by PAUL TROWELL dm.cast your mind back to 87...did you do sheff roxy the gig after the finsbury tent and just prior to barrowlands and the hac.this was the weirdest venue i have ever been to..i am sure it was on top of a multi-storey car park near sheffield bus station.
Yeah, it became a church I think after being a club, and is now scheduled for demolition as part of the regeneration of inner-city Sheffield. I didn't realise it was formerly known as the Top Rank, and they'd played there before 1987 !
Leicester Palais was smaller than Nottingham Palais.
The bar upstairs was definitely open although I cant remember if you could watch the bands from upstairs. I do remember professional video equipment being set up for the recording of the gig.
Leeds Tiffanys 1985 was another small northern disco/club venue, in the middle of a shopping centre!.
I made the trio of Blackburn, Leeds then Michael Sobell Centre on succesive nights. Leeds station on a snowy January night waiting for the first London bound train was not fun.
A killer set of gigs, does any one else remember Barney's running joke of it being Gillians birthday on every night of those gigs?
Originally posted by Simon Park Leicester Palais was smaller than Nottingham Palais.The bar upstairs was definitely open although I cant remember if you could watch the bands from upstairs. I do remember professional video equipment being set up for the recording of the gig.Leeds Tiffanys 1985 was another small northern disco/club venue, in the middle of a shopping centre!.I made the trio of Blackburn, Leeds then Michael Sobell Centre on succesive nights. Leeds station on a snowy January night waiting for the first London bound train was not fun. A killer set of gigs, does any one else remember Barney's running joke of it being Gillians birthday on every night of those gigs?
"And it's Steve's birthday tomorrow"..... possibly the best back-to-back performances, Leeds and Sobell ?
Originally posted by Grant Hart > Originally posted by Simon Park> Leicester Palais was smaller than Nottingham Palais.> > The bar upstairs was definitely open although I cant remember if you could watch the bands from upstairs. I do remember professional video equipment being set up for the recording of the gig.> > Leeds Tiffanys 1985 was another small northern disco/club venue, in the middle of a shopping centre!.> > I made the trio of Blackburn, Leeds then Michael Sobell Centre on succesive nights. Leeds station on a snowy January night waiting for the first London bound train was not fun. > > A killer set of gigs, does any one else remember Barney's running joke of it being Gillians birthday on every night of those gigs?
"And it's Steve's birthday tomorrow"..... possibly the best back-to-back performances, Leeds and Sobell ?
Hmmm. Best back-to-back = RFH / Paradiso IMHO.
Possibly Birmingham/Malvern 86 may be contenders for top back-to-back shows as well. They haven't been consistenly great two nights on the trot very often !
Originally posted by Grant Hart Possibly Birmingham/Malvern 86 may be contenders for top back-to-back shows as well. They haven't been consistenly great two nights on the trot very often !
How true. The two nights at Liverpool State in 3/83 were pretty good too (the only common track between the 2 nights was Ultraviolence). As were Caley Palais / Barrowlands in 2/85.
Originally posted by Grant Hart Paradiso was shite until the encore though !
Maybe they were thinking to hard about the prank they were about to pull on the audience. And could that be the gig with the longest encore ever played by the band ;) ?
tim..
thanks for that roxy link. yes thats the one !!
back to back classics, i think you might squeeze home with b-ham and malvern for the set variety and fantastic venues and atmosphere.
although salford uni, donny rotters and macc leisure centre wasnt a bad trio on the bounce!!!
if only we could turn back the clock 
simon.. thankd for info on leicester palais. regarding leeds, yes it was in a shopping centre..( the merrion i think )..and it was the most packed i have ever been at a new order concert. i never made blackburn the night before..( far too rough for me :()
Originally posted by little boy lost > Originally posted by Grant Hart> Paradiso was shite until the encore though !
Maybe they were thinking to hard about the prank they were about to pull on the audience. And could that be the gig with the longest encore ever played by the band ;) ?
Boulder Colorado had Blue Monday, Temptation and Ceremony, and Hull 82 had a 17.5 week-long version of Ultraviolence.....
Originally posted by Grant Hart > Originally posted by little boy lost> > > > Originally posted by Grant Hart> > Paradiso was shite until the encore though !>
Maybe they were thinking to hard about the prank they were about to pull on the audience. And could that be the gig with the longest encore ever played by the band ;) ?
Boulder Colorado had Blue Monday, Temptation and Ceremony, and Hull 82 had a 17.5 week-long version of Ultraviolence.....
Could it really be that you're forgetting that at the Paradiso, the band left the stage after Ceremony(pretending they were gonna do another "Rotterdam '82"), then came back on to do Confusion, 586 and Blue Monday, and then finished off with the second encore of Decades & Love Will Tear Us Apart? 
Did they ? That's a new one on me ! I always suspected something had happened on stage halfway through, but had no idea it was like that ! Cheers Jan !!
Originally posted by Grant Hart Did they ? That's a new one on me ! I always suspected something had happened on stage halfway through, but had no idea it was like that ! Cheers Jan !!
Glad to be of any assistance, Grant. Listen to Bernard's comments after Thieves Like Us ("thanks very much to the Dutch people (...) especially those from Rotterdam") and right before they launch into Confusion (can't make out exactly what is being said, but it includes "fooled" and "Rotterdam", so...).
It's fun to listen to the (Dutch) remarks being made in the taper's vicinity between Ceremony and Confusion. "30 minuten!? iets meer..." (30 minutes!? A little over...) "Helemaal te gek" ("This is crazy") "Koffiepauze" (somebody reckons they must have taken a coffee break). Thanks again to Marko for weeding this particular, and historical, recording !
Originally posted by Grant Hart [quote"And it's Steve's birthday tomorrow"..... possibly the best back-to-back performances, Leeds and Sobell ?
Nah, the best back to back was way back in March 83, Brixton Ace and Tolworth:)
Originally posted by Solitude
Nah, the best back to back was way back in March 83, Brixton Ace and Tolworth:)
Spot on my t-shirt wearing friend. A right couple of classic gigs there with the Brixton Ace very high in the rankings of the ones which I personally attended. Thinking about it, if I could have only seen NO once it would have been there. 18 years old....Mosh pit elite....Everything's Gone Green....NEW ORDER WONDERLAND.
What was it? "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOOKIN' CIVILISED!"
In those days that was all you got in the way of 'interaction'!!!
DM
