On This Day 04/04/1978 Heavy Metal Kids

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

The Heavy Metal Kids were formed in 1972 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.

The initial, pre-recording line-up consisted of Mickey Waller (guitar), Ronnie Thomas (bass and vocals), Gary Holton (lead vocals), Keith Boyce (drums) and Cosmo (guitar).

They were the first signing by Atlantic Records' new London offices, having been spotted by their A&R man, Dave Dee.

In January 1974, they recorded their first, self-titled album, produced by Dave Dee and engineered by Phil Chapman.

Waller left the band shortly before they went in to Island Studios, to record the follow-up album Anvil Chorus, in January 1975,which was produced by Andy Johns. At this point keyboard player Danny Peyronel left to join UFO and was replaced by John Sinclair. Shortly after, Cosmo was replaced by Barry Paul, and the band moved to Mickie Most's RAK Records where they recorded Kitsch, which was produced by Most.

John Sinclair left to join Uriah Heep and was replaced by Jay Williams.

Gary Holton, the frontman of the band worked with Casino Steel (1981–84), and played the part of Wayne (Aka London) in the UK television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983–85). Holton died from an overdose of morphine combined with alcohol in 1985.

Holton's funeral took place on 22 November 1985, with a 15-minute service at Golders Green Crematorium in London. His Auf Wiedersehen, Pet co-stars attended. His ashes were placed in his grandparents' grave in Maesgwastad Cemetery, Welshpool

On This Day 13/03/1989 Spacemen 3

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On this day, 13 March 1989, English neo-psychedelia band Spacemen 3 played Cardiff’s Venue club following the release of their eagerly awaited Playing with Fire album.

The album's front cover sleeve bore the slogan, "Purity, Love, Suicide, Accuracy, Revolution". Playing with Fire was Spacemen 3's first record to chart and one of the breakthrough indie albums of the year.

Within weeks of its release, it was No. 1 in both the NME and Melody Maker indie charts. It was "their most critically and commercially successful album" (Stephen Erlewine, AllMusic).

Reviews were extremely positive and the album garnered wide critical acclaim.

Formed in 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire, by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce, known respectively under their pseudonyms Sonic Boom and J Spaceman. Their music is known for its brand of "trance-like neo-psychedelia" consisting of heavily distorted guitar, synthesizer, and minimal chord or tempo changes.

Spacemen 3 had their first independent chart hits in 1987, gaining a cult following, and going on to have greater success towards the end of the decade. However, they disbanded shortly afterwards, releasing their final studio album post-split in 1991 after an acrimonious parting of ways.

They gained a reputation as a 'drug band' due to the members' drug-taking habits and Kember's candid interviews and outspoken opinions on recreational drug use. Kember and Pierce were the only members common to all line-ups of the band. Pierce has enjoyed considerable success with his subsequent project Spiritualized.

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On This Day 12/03/1971 Yes

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On this day 12 March 1971, prog rock band Yes played Cardiff University, promoting their Yes Album, the band’s third studio album. A gig the previous month at Cardiff Technical College was cancelled after their van was involved in a road collision.

The tour began at the Lyceum in London—Guitarist Steve Howe's first performance with the band—and ended at the Crystal Palace Bowl, also in London— Keyboard player Tony Kaye's last performance with the band before his 13-year absence.

The tour saw the band play concerts in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, France, Italy, Canada, and the United States over three legs—a European leg, a North American leg and a single-show return to the United Kingdom.

The line-up for the tour unchanged throughout its duration, and was the fifth incarnation of Yes.[8] Steve Howe joined the band two months previously—all concerts during May and June were cancelled while the band found a replacement—and Tony Kaye was replaced by Rick Wakeman shortly after the tour ended in time for rehearsal sessions for Fragile.

Jon Anderson — vocals, harmonium, Dewtron Mister Bassman Bass Pedals

Steve Howe — Gibson ES-175, Martin 00-18 acoustic guitar, vachalia, vocals

Chris Squire — Rickenbacker 4001S, Fender Telecaster bass, vocals

Tony Kaye — Hammond organ

Bill Bruford — Ludwig drums, Paiste and Zildjian cymbals

Setlist

Also Sprach Zarathustra

(Richard Strauss song)

Yours Is No Disgrace

I've Seen All Good People

Clap

Classical Gas

(Mason Williams cover)

Perpetual Change

Everydays

(Buffalo Springfield cover)

America

(Simon & Garfunkel cover)

On This Day 11/03/1988 The Fall

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On this day, 11 March 1988, Manchester post-punk band The Fall played Cardiff University.

Formed in 1976 in Prestwich, Greater Manchester. They underwent many line-up changes, with vocalist and founder Mark E. Smith as the only constant member.

The Fall's long-term musicians included drummers Paul Hanley, Simon Wolstencroft and Karl Burns; guitarists Marc Riley, Craig Scanlon and Brix Smith; and bassist Steve Hanley, whose melodic, circular bass lines are widely credited with shaping the band's sound from early 1980s albums such as Hex Enduction Hour to the late 1990s.

The band had just released their tenth studio album The Frenz Experiment released on 29 February 1988 through record label Beggars Banquet.

It reached number 19 in the UK album chart, making it the Fall's first Top 20 album.

Set list

Cab It Up / 2 x 4 / Get a Hotel / There's a Ghost in My House / Bremen Nacht / Frenz / Tuff Life Boogie / Carry Bag Man / Victoria / Oswald Defence Lawyer / Guest Informant / Mr. Pharmacist / In These Times

On This Day 10/03/1967 The Who

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On this day, 10 March 1967, legendary rock band The Who played Cardiff’s Top Rank.

In December 1966, A Quick One, their second studio album was released. A version of the album with an altered track listing was released under the name Happy Jack on Decca Records in April 1967 in the United States, where the song "Happy Jack" was a top 40 hit.

Unlike other albums by the Who, where guitarist Pete Townshend was the primary or sole songwriter, A Quick One features significant songwriting contributions from all band members, with singer Roger Daltrey contributing one song, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon each contributing two. The album also included a cover of the Holland–Dozier–Holland song "Heat Wave" and ends with a musical suite titled "A Quick One, While He's Away", which served as an inspiration for later rock operas that the Who would become known for.

On This Day 09/03/1995 Radiohead

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On this day, 9 March 1995, rock band Radiohead played Cardiff University following the release of their second album The Bends.

The album was driven by dense riffs and ethereal atmospheres from the three guitarists, with greater use of keyboards than their debut.

It received stronger reviews for its songwriting and performances.

While Radiohead were seen as outsiders to the Britpop scene that dominated music media at the time, they were finally successful in their home country with The Bends, as singles "Fake Plastic Trees", "High and Dry", "Just", and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" made their way to chart success.

Formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards), brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass), Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals) and Philip Selway (drums, percussion).

Tour Setlist

The Bends
Just
Anyone Can Play Guitar
Bones
Permanent Daylight
High & Dry
Black Star
Prove Yourself
Stop Whispering
Vegetable
Fake Plastic Trees
Blow Out
Creep
My Iron Lung
You
Banana Co.
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Ripcord

On This Day 07/03/1982 Theatre Of Hate

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On this day, 7 March 1982, Post-punk band Theatre Of Hate played Cardiff’s Top Rank with support provided by UK Decay.

Formed in London, England, in 1980 and led by singer-songwriter Kirk Brandon (formerly of the Pack), the original group also consisted of bassist Stan Stammers (formerly of the Straps and the Epileptics), saxophonist John "Boy" Lennard, guitarist Steve Guthrie and drummer Luke Rendle (formerly of Crisis and the Straps).

In August 1981, Mick Jones of The Clash produced Westworld, Theatre of Hate's first (and only) studio album to be released prior to the band's dissolution the following year.

Guitarist Billy Duffy (formerly of The Nosebleeds) joined the band soon after the album had been recorded, and drummer Rendle was replaced by Nigel Preston.

Heralded by the Top 40 single "Do You Believe in the West World" (which afforded the new line-up the band's one appearance on Top of the Pops), Westworld was released in February 1982 by Burning Rome Records, peaking at No. 17 the following month during its seven week run in the UK Albums Chart.

Recorded in September 1981 in Berlin, the live album He Who Dares Wins was also released in February in an attempt to curtail the sale of bootlegged recordings of Theatre of Hate concerts.

Brandon went on to front Spear of Destiny with bassist Stammers. Brandon also was a founding member of the punk supergroup Dead Men Walking, while Stammers formed Plastic Eaters in 1996.

Preston played with Sex Gang Children before joining former bandmate Duffy as drummer for the Cult on their 1984 album Dreamtime. Preston later played with the Baby Snakes and the Gun Club. He died in 1992.

On This Day 02/03/1969 Budgie

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On this day, 2 March 1969, Welsh rock band Budgie played St Peter’s Scout Hall, Cardiff.

Formed in 1967 in Cardiff, Wales under the name Hills Contemporary Grass. Their original line-up consisted of Burke Shelley on vocals and bass, Tony Bourge on guitar and vocals, and Ray Phillips on drums.

After performing several gigs in 1968, the band changed their name to Budgie the following year and recorded their first demo.

The band had initially considered going under the name "Six Ton Budgie", but decided the shorter single word variant was preferable.

Burke Shelley has said that the band's name came from the fact that he, "loved the idea of playing noisy, heavy rock, but calling ourselves after something diametrically opposed to that".

They are described by author Garry Sharpe-Young as one of the earliest heavy metal bands and a seminal influence to many acts of that scene, with fast, heavy rock (an influence on the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) and acts such as Metallica being played as early as 1971.

The band has been noted as "among the heaviest metal of its day."