Japan were still trying to a glam rock band when they supported BOC. They were awful and got canned off. They had more success going down the art school route.
Ha - some odd bedfellows indeed … I’ve always been intrigued by Blue Öyster Cult’s Fear The Reaper (at least prior to the breakdown and solo section of the song) - it was lauded in Sniffing Glue issue 1 so the link to punk / new wave connection might not be so weird … now Toto and The Ramones is a different proposition altogether 😁😁😁
My grandpa was friends with BÖC in the 80s after they hired him for a *job* - he had a conversation about the difference between punk and metal with them, as he knew I was a punk rocker. He was quite impressed with their intelligence and their taste in suits.
Totally agree on that song and could be a Magazine single really if it was a bit more scuffed up! Just like early Motörhead and The Damned have so much in common but will be found in different racks in a record shop!
Indeed, Lemmy stepping in on bass as they reformed as The Doomed in 78 and playing on Ballroom Blitz b side a year later... And of great live pairings (and further Damned/glam rock links), they supported TRex on their last tour, dueting on Get it On...
I remember reading a story about the Beach Boys supporting the Grateful Dead back in the day. The Deadhead hippies were giving the Beach Boys a hard time because they thought they were ‘just’ a pop band. To their credit, the Grateful Dead stuck by them and berated their fans, saying the Beach Boys were, quite rightly, a great American band and they should have more respect. The Deadheads gave them respect and the tour was a success.
I recall Morrissey being one of the support bands to Madness' gig in Finsbury Park in '92. He didn't go down well at all...got bottled off stage. Weird addition to the bill....the rest of the acts made sense!
This sounds like most “jazz” festivals of the past few decades, where it is a hodgepodge of pop acts and maybe one or two actual jazz sets.
Japan were still trying to a glam rock band when they supported BOC. They were awful and got canned off. They had more success going down the art school route.
Great piece, I remember seeing the Stranglers supported by a comedian whose name I can't remember, but it didn't really work.
Also what about Suicide supporting The Clash in the early days, I'm not sure die hard UK punks really appreciated electronics from NYC!!
Thanks - and I bet!!
Ha - some odd bedfellows indeed … I’ve always been intrigued by Blue Öyster Cult’s Fear The Reaper (at least prior to the breakdown and solo section of the song) - it was lauded in Sniffing Glue issue 1 so the link to punk / new wave connection might not be so weird … now Toto and The Ramones is a different proposition altogether 😁😁😁
My grandpa was friends with BÖC in the 80s after they hired him for a *job* - he had a conversation about the difference between punk and metal with them, as he knew I was a punk rocker. He was quite impressed with their intelligence and their taste in suits.
Brilliant stuff 👏
Totally agree on that song and could be a Magazine single really if it was a bit more scuffed up! Just like early Motörhead and The Damned have so much in common but will be found in different racks in a record shop!
Indeed, Lemmy stepping in on bass as they reformed as The Doomed in 78 and playing on Ballroom Blitz b side a year later... And of great live pairings (and further Damned/glam rock links), they supported TRex on their last tour, dueting on Get it On...
..and Smash it Up part 1 is their homage to Bolan written after he died by the Captain.
I remember reading a story about the Beach Boys supporting the Grateful Dead back in the day. The Deadhead hippies were giving the Beach Boys a hard time because they thought they were ‘just’ a pop band. To their credit, the Grateful Dead stuck by them and berated their fans, saying the Beach Boys were, quite rightly, a great American band and they should have more respect. The Deadheads gave them respect and the tour was a success.
I remember the Beastie Boys opening for Madonna back in the day.
Chuck Berry opened for Black Oak Arkansas at the Hollywood Palladium in 1976. Mick Jagger was there to check Berry out.
Really enjoyed this! Tried to find some more and spotted that U2 have had some really varied opening acts - Mission of Burma, Jay-Z, UB40 etc.
Thanks for the support 👍
Just watched Showaddywaddy doing "I Wonder Why" on YouTube, and got some great ideas for jazzing up my wardrobe-- thanks!! 😅
I saw Japan playing support to Blue Oyster Cult at the Liverpool Empire in 1978 on May 30.
Amazing stuff!!
The Jimi Hendrix Experience famously supported The Monkees in the US. They didn’t last long with The Monkees fan base and got kicked off the bill.
Brilliant!
I’m prompted to add Don’t Fear the Reaper to my playlist today
So good, hope you're well AK! x
Biggest Roth move ever
Ha! There've been a few!
I recall Morrissey being one of the support bands to Madness' gig in Finsbury Park in '92. He didn't go down well at all...got bottled off stage. Weird addition to the bill....the rest of the acts made sense!