On This Day 8/4/2001 Texas

All Images Subject To Copyright

On this day, 8 April 2001, Scottish rockers Texas played the Cardiff International Arena with English rock band Reef in support.

Oddly it was the band’s second visit and quick return to the venue following a visit in February on their Greatest Hits Tour.

Founded in 1986 by Johnny McElhone (formerly of the bands Altered Images and Hipsway) and Sharleen Spiteri on lead vocals. Texas made their performing debut in March 1988 at the University of Dundee.

They took their name from the 1984 Wim Wenders movie Paris, Texas.

On This Day 7/4/1994 Primal Scream

All Images Subject To Copyright

On this day, 7 April 1994, Scottish rock band Primal Scream played Cardiff University in support of their recently released fourth album Give Out But Don’t Give Up.

It was released on 28 March 1994 in United Kingdom by Creation Records and in the United States by Sire Records. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.

Musically, it marked a massive departure from the psychedelic sound of their previous studio album Screamadelica (1991) into one influenced by classic rock and blues music.

Its cover photo is a cropped version of Troubled Waters by American photographer William Eggleston.

On This Day 6/4/1982 Judie Tzuke

All Images Subject To Copyright

On this day, 6 April 1982 singer-songwriter Judie Tzuke played Cardiff’s Top Rank on her Shoot The Moon Tour with support provided by The Bloomsbury Set.

Shoot the Moon is the title of the fourth album by singer,released in April 1982. It was Tzuke's first album for Chrysalis Records after leaving Elton John's label, The Rocket Record Company, who had released her first three albums. The album peaked at no.19 on the UK Album Chart.

The album was part recorded at Rockfield Studios, nr Monmouth

The band consisted of:

Judie Tzuke, vocals

Mike Paxman, Guitar

Paul Muggleton, Guitar & Percussion

Bob Noble, Keyboards

Rhino Edwards, Bass

Charlie Morgan, Drums

On This Day 5/4/1983 UFO

All Images Subject To Copyright

On this day, 5 April 1983, British rock band UFO played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall in support of the eleventh studio album Making Contact, which featured Welsh-born guitarist Paul ‘Tonya’ Chapman, formerly of Cardiff-based rock band Lone Star.

The nickname "Tonka", was allegedly acquired due to his indestructible qualities.
Lead singer Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way and drummer Andy Parker formed the band in 1968.

Originally taking the name Hocus Pocus, the group changed their name in October 1969 to UFO, in honour of the London club where they were spotted by Noel Moore, who signed them to Beacon Records label.
Over a career spanning 53 years, UFO have released 22 studio albums, 14 live recordings, 16 compilation albums and one album of cover songs.

They achieved moderate success in the late 1970s and early 1980s with several albums and singles (including their 1979 live album Strangers in the Night) in the UK and US Top 40 charts,[6][7] and have sold over 20 million records worldwide.

All Images Subject To Copyright

Setlist

When It's Time to Rock
Blinded by a Lie
We Belong to the Night
Let It Rain
No Place to Run
Only You Can Rock Me
Love to Love
Couldn't Get It Right
Long Gone
Too Hot to Handle
Lights Out
Mystery Train
(Little Junior's Blue Flames cover)

Encore:
Rock Bottom
Doctor Doctor

Encore 2:
Shoot Shoot

On This Day 4/4/1978 Heavy Metal Kids

All Images Subject To Copyright

On this day, 4 April 1978, glam rock band The Heavy Metal Kids played Cardiff’s Top Rank.

The Heavy Metal Kids were formed in 1973 by the merger of two previous bands: Heaven and Biggles.
They took their name from a gang of street kids, featured in the novel Nova Express by William S. Burroughs.

Gary Holton, frontman of the band 1972–77 was probably better known for playing the part of Wayne in the UK television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983–85).

In December 1978, Holton stood in for The Damned vocalist Dave Vanian on a short Scottish tour; and he also recorded a solo single (which became a number one hit in Norway), a punk-country version of Kenny Rogers's "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town"

Holton died from an overdose of morphine combined with alcohol in 1985. He is buried at Maesgwastad Cemetery, Welshpool.

On This Day 3/4/1970 Badfinger

All Images Subject To Copyright

On this day, 3 April 1970, Welsh rock band Badfinger played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre as part of a package that included Gene Pitney, Clodagh Rogers, Satisfaction and Johnny Hackett.

The band had visited the same venue the year previously on a bill again with Gene Pitney but under their original name The Iveys. Also playing that night were Joe Cocker and Marmalade.

The Iveys, formed in 1961, which became the first group signed by the Beatles' Apple label in 1968. The band renamed themselves Badfinger, after the working title for the Beatles' 1967 song "With a Little Help from My Friends" ("Bad Finger Boogie").

From 1968 to 1973, Badfinger recorded five albums for Apple and toured extensively, before they became embroiled in the chaos of Apple Records' dissolution.

Badfinger had four consecutive worldwide hits from 1970 to 1972: "Come and Get It" (written and produced by Paul McCartney, 1970), "No Matter What" (produced by Mal Evans, 1970), "Day After Day" (produced by George Harrison, 1971), and "Baby Blue" (produced by Todd Rundgren, 1972).

Their song "Without You" (1970) has been recorded many times, and became a US and UK number-one hit for Harry Nilsson and, decades later, a UK number-one for Mariah Carey.

On This Day 2/4/1969 Led Zeppelin

All Images Subject to Copyright

On this day, 2 April 1969, legendary rock band Led Zeppelin played Cardiff’s Top Rank.

Review: It all went a bit pear-shaped when Led Zeppelin did a benefit gig in Cardiff back in 1969.

The Progressive Blues Night (also featuring Welsh band Kimla Taz) at the Top Rank was in aid of the Biafran Relief Organisation. Unfortunately only 450 people turned up to watch and the charity event actually lost money to the tune of £100.

However, those who did go were treated to a technically brilliant performance. Opening number Communication Breakdown demonstrated why Led Zep's debut album was riding so high in both the US and UK charts.

Robert Plant's vocal virtuosity and Jimmy Page's nimble fingers whipped up the faithful into a tumult.
The show continued in the same pompous rock-god vein until How Many More Times.

This 15-minute epic was meant to be the evening's highpoint showcasing Page's incredible guitar skills. However, an engineer accidentally activated the revolving stage causing jack plugs to be wrenched from their sockets whilst others were snapped off completely.

The gig ended at that precise moment. For several seconds afterwards though arguably the greatest rock band in history stood on a revolving stage in Cardiff mutely playing to a bemused and constantly shifting crowd. (by Anthony Brockway)

Zep fan John Hughes recalls the gig ( taken from Zep fan site)

I was at that show too, having seen Led Zep in Mothers Club in Birmingham a few days before this show. Memories of the night are spot on, and not romantically tinged, as I vividly remember the stage turning and the PA starting to get dragged over.

I knew someone organising the show and he told me afterwards that Peter Grant had run-up to the balcony where the stage control box was and very nearly threw the poor engineer out of the window down to the dance floor!

I have to say however that I believe there were far more there than 450 there, as mentioned in the original review, but maybe the passage of time.

And strangely enough, I moved to the Midlands a few years later and in something like 1990 I was queueing at my local W H Smith and I thought the guy in front of me looked familiar ... it was Robert Plant, who lived not far away from me (ie his village wasn't too far away from my village).

Never one not to seize the moment, I mentioned to him that the last time I as close as this was in 1969, at that Cardiff show.

He became suddenly cautious, obviously thinking "I've got a right one here", and I mentioned the infamous PA incident - and a bit to my surprise, he sort of paused - looked like he was giving it some thought - and said, "yeah, I remember that."

I like to think he wasn't humouring me ; - )

On This Day 1/4/1979 Eddie and The Hot Rods

All Images Subject To Copyright

On this day, 1 April 1979, former pub rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods played Cardiff’s Top Rank with support provided by The Members.

Formed in Canvey Island, Essex, England, during 1975 by guitarist Dave Higgs (who had previously played in the Fix with Lee Brilleaux), with drummer Steve Nicol, bassist Rob Steele and singer Barrie Masters.
The band had just released their third album Thriller peaking at #50 in the UK album charts.

Due to disappointing sales, they found themselves dropped by Island in 1979, and in May that year were rumoured to be on the verge of splitting, with Gray touring with The Members and Masters and Nicol playing in the band Plus Support.

They signed to EMI in August 1979, releasing a further album in 1981, Fish'n'Chips with new bass player T.C. (Tony Cranney), but disbanded in 1981.

Eddie and the Hot Rods

Barrie Masters - vocals
Graeme Douglas - guitar, backing vocals
Dave Higgs - guitar, backing vocals
Paul Gray - bass guitar, backing vocals
Steve Nicol - drums, backing vocals