On This Day 13/065/1979 Status Quo

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 13 June 1979, rock legends Status Quo played the first of two nights at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens on their, If You Can’t Stand The Heat tour..

If You Can't Stand the Heat was the band’s eleventh studio album.

Recorded at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Holland, and produced by Pip Williams, it was released in October 1978 and reached #3 in the UK album chart.

The sleeve notes that Aphex Aural Exciter was used in the recording process, thus contributing to a more atmospheric sound than its predecessor, "Rockin' All Over The World".

Unusually for a Status Quo record, a brass section, The David Katz Horns, was used, as well as a backing vocal trio: Jacquie Sullivan, Stevie Lange, and Joy Yates.

Formed in 1962 under the name The Scorpions by Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster at Sedgehill Comprehensive School, Catford, London, along with classmates Jess Jaworski (keyboards) and Alan Key (drums).

Rossi and Lancaster played their first gig at the Samuel Jones Sports Club in Dulwich, London.

In 1963, Key was replaced by John Coghlan and the band changed their name to The Spectres. After changing their name, Lancaster's father arranged for the group to perform weekly at a venue called the Samuel Jones Sports Club, where they were noticed by Pat Barlow, a gasfitter and budding pop music manager.

Barlow became the group's manager and secured them spots at venues around London, such as El Partido in Lewisham and Café des Artistes in Chelsea. In 1965, when Rossi, Lancaster and Jaworski left school, Jaworski opted to leave the band and was replaced by Roy Lynes.

They began writing their own material, and later that year met Rick Parfitt who was playing with a cabaret band called The Highlights. By the end of 1965, Rossi and Parfitt – who had become close friends after meeting at Butlins – made a commitment to continue working together.

Band members: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan

Additional Musician: Bob Young (harmonica), Andy Bown (Keyboards)

Setlist

Caroline

Roll Over Lay Down

Backwater

Rockers Rollin'

Is There a Better Way

Hold You Back

Little Lady

Rockin' All Over the World

(John Fogerty cover)

Oh, What a Night

Dirty Water

Forty-Five Hundred Times

Big Fat Mama

Don't Waste My Time

Roadhouse Blues

(The Doors cover)

Encore:

Rain

Down Down

Drum Solo

Bye Bye Johnny

(Chuck Berry cover)

On This Day 10/06/1977 Ian Hunter

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 10 June 1977, rock legend Ian Hunter, the former Mott the Hoople frontman played Cardiff Top Rank on his Overnight Angel tour, with support provided by punk band The Vibrators.

Overnight Angels (1977), was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and featured a heavier guitar sound courtesy of former Bowie sideman Earl Slick.

Hunter's record label in America, CBS refused to release the album in the US due to issues concerning Hunter's management: "Overnight Angels was not released in the US because I fired my manager, Fred Heller, during the English promotional tour – just before it was to be released in America. Columbia said they didn't want to release it until I had new management and that dragged on until it became too late.

Setlist

Golden Opportunity

One of the Boys

(Mott the Hoople song)

Overnight Angels

All the Way From Memphis

(Mott the Hoople song)

Once Bitten Twice Shy

Letter to Britannia From the Union Jack

England Rocks

Roll Away the Stone

(Mott the Hoople song)

All the Young Dudes

(David Bowie cover)

On This Day 09/06/2011 Black Stone Cherry

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 9 June 2011, American rock band Black Stone Cherry played Cardiff University promoting their third album Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Seat, released on May 31.

Black Stone Cherry originated in Edmonton, Kentucky. Chris Robertson and John Fred Young, son of The Kentucky Headhunters Richard Young, started to play music together early in their teens and were soon joined by Wells and Lawhon.

Black Stone Cherry officially formed on June 4, 2001. They then took over the practice house which had been used by The Kentucky Headhunters since 1968 and began to record tracks.

They also began holding shows at clubs in the area, and after a short while they gained a large following of people of all ages in the town. In 2003, on Black Stone Cherry Records, the band released their first demo on CD called Rock N' Roll Tape.

Setlist

Change

Shooting Star

Blind Man

Rain Wizard

Things My Father Said

Rolling in the Deep

(Adele cover)

Hell & High Water

Killing Floor

White Trash Millionaire

Soulcreek

Drum Solo

In My Blood

Maybe Someday

Blame It on the Boom Boom

Lonely Train

On This Day 07/06/2004 Incubus

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 7 June 2004, American rock band Incubus played Cardiff International Arena supported by Hundred Reasons.

The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer José Pasillas while enrolled in Calabasas High School and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell; both of whom were eventually replaced by bassist Ben Kenney and DJ Kilmore, respectively.

The band were promoting A Crow Left of the Murder... their fifth studio album released on February 3, 2004. The album marks the first appearance of bassist Ben Kenney, following the departure of founding member Dirk Lance.

Setlist

Megalomaniac

Nice to Know You

Idiot Box

Just a Phase

Priceless

Nowhere Fast

Wish You Were Here

Pantomime

Here in My Room

Drive

Clean

Vitamin

Black Hole Sun

(Soundgarden cover)

Pistola

The Warmth

Under My Umbrella

Talk Shows on Mute

A Certain Shade of Green

Encore:

A Crow Left of the Murder

Sick Sad Little World

Aqueous Transmission

On This Day 06/06/2000 Pearl Jam

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 6 June 2000, American rockers Pearl Jam played Cardiff’s International Arena on the band’s Binaural Tour with support from The Vandals.

Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The band's lineup consists of founding members Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), and Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guitar), as well as Matt Cameron (drums), who joined in 1998.

The band’s concert was recorded in Cardiff, Wales at Cardiff International Arena and was selected by the band as one of 18 "Ape/Man" shows from the tour, which, according to bassist Jeff Ament, were shows the band found "really exciting." Allmusic gave it three out of a possible five stars. Allmusic staff writer Steven McDonald said, "Anyone looking to pick up a representative sampling of this overwhelming anti-bootleg series should have this one on their short list."

Pearl Jam's 2000 European tour ended in tragedy on June 30, 2000, with an accident at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Nine fans were crushed underfoot and suffocated to death as the crowd rushed to the front.

After numerous requests for the crowd to step back, the band stopped playing and tried to calm the crowd when the musicians realized what was happening, but it was already too late. The two remaining dates of the tour were cancelled, and the band seriously considered retiring after this event.

Pearl Jam was initially blamed for the accident, but the band was later cleared of responsibility.

Two additional concerts through July were cancelled.

On This Day 04/06/2005 Audioslave

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 4 June 2005, American rock band Audioslave played Cardiff International Arena supported by Trail of Dead.

Formed in Glendale, California, in 2001. The four-piece band consisted of Soundgarden's lead singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell with Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello (lead guitar), Tim Commerford (bass/backing vocals), and Brad Wilk (drums).

Critics first described Audioslave as a combination of Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine, but by the band's second album, Out of Exile, it was noted that they had established a separate identity.

Their unique sound was created by blending 1970s hard rock and 1990s alternative rock, with musical influences that included 1960s funk, soul and R&B.

Audioslave - Review

By Bill Cummings 04/06/2005

The lights dim at around 9.30. Audioslave bound onto the stage at Cardiff's International air craft hanger (I mean Arena). Audioslave least we forget are Chris Cornell (ex of Soundgarden) and a rhythm section made up of former members of Rage Against the Machine. So you would think this would be a night of blood sweat and rock (or should that be RAWK?). Kicking off with “Your Time Has Come” Audioslave rip through tracks from their last two albums with bounce and power, and Cornell's voice is indeed impressive at times at close quarters - the audience seems to be well into the sound they are making.

Audioslave have problems though: for me, musically, too much of their newer material much of it from recent album "Out of Exile" resembles the kind of Stadium rock bluster that resonated throughout much of the 90's. For example, mid paced rockers like “Like A Stone” wash over me, whilst limp new single “Be yourself” is reminiscent of U2 light and the poorer aspects of the Pearl Jam back catalogue.

Chris Cornell is a good watch though, years of touring have served him well he knows his stage craft, gesturing and engaging with the crowd throughout the night. At one point he tells everyone the tale of the time that A band he used to play with, Soundgarden (huge cheer) had played on the Lollapolooza bill with a band called Rage Against the Machine (deafening roar!) “We were on the same bill as a band called Rage Against The Machine. They played first, unfortunately. We got our asses kicked that time!” Chris then left the stage and the rest of Audioslave kicked into "Bulls on Parade". The crowd cheers. When Cornell returns another slew of mildly interesting rawk tracks follow then a “Goodnight!” from the band. Unlike the Audioslave throng, I'm kind of left rather bemused and under whelmed by much of the first half of this show.

Chris Cornell's solo acoustic encore section was warmly received, he played Soundgarden Classics like “Black Hole Sun” and "Call Me A Dog" from the "Temple of the Dog" Album and its a deep dark, passionate ballad (that he did as a tribute to Andy Wood of the long gone Seattle group Mother Love Bone). This was one of the best periods of the gig. Closely followed by the fantastic blast of power that is Killing in the Name of this is clearly the highlight of the night and the crowd really immerse themselves in the propulsive bass and stinging guitars and the anthem of “Fuck you! I won't do what you tell me!” reverberates around the venue. It's still a great song even after all these years, but I'm afraid the irony of watching it delivered by a Supergroup in a Stadium isn't lost on me - after all a song about anti conformity is hardly in its correct setting amongst heavy handed stewards, corporate labels like Coca Cola on sale at the bar, or the expensive t-shirts that are racked up as you enter the venue. Lastly comes a long souped up ten minute version of probably the best Audioslave song “Cochise” all driving rhythms and bass, twisting funky guitar lines are topped off by a cracking shouted lines of “Go and Save yourself/And take it out on me”.

With that they are gone. They might be able to produce an enjoyable enough show but do Audioslave have a future? I'm not sure. They don't blow me away, but they offer the diehards a taste of some of the best Melodic alternative rock from the 90's so they go away happy. Whether their new material will really last as the best moments of Soundgarden or Rage have, I somehow doubt.

Setlist

Your Time Has Come

Set It Off

Out of Exile

Like a Stone

Spoonman

(Soundgarden cover)

Gasoline

The Worm

Doesn't Remind Me

Be Yourself

Bulls on Parade

(Rage Against the Machine cover)

Sleep Now in the Fire

(Rage Against the Machine cover)

Drown Me Slowly

Shadow on the Sun

Encore:

Black Hole Sun

(Soundgarden cover) (Chris solo acoustic)

Call Me a Dog

(Temple of the Dog cover) (Chris solo acoustic)

I Am the Highway

Show Me How to Live

Killing in the Name

(Rage Against the Machine cover)

Cochise

On This Day 03/06/1989 Inspiral Carpets

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 3 June 1989, Indie rock band Inspiral Carpets played Cardiff’s Radcliff's Square Club.

The band had just released Dung 4, a demo album on Inspiral Carpets' own Cow Records and only on cassette. The name refers to the catalogue number.

Formed in Oldham in 1983, the band's most successful lineup featured frontman Tom Hingley, drummer Craig Gill, guitarist Graham Lambert, bassist Martyn Walsh and keyboardist Clint Boon.

Formed by Lambert and singer Stephen Holt, who departed the band before they signed with Mute Records,

Inspiral Carpets was known for using organs and distorted guitars with influences from psychedelic rock.

Inspiral Carpets came to prominence along with bands such as the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays in the Madchester scene of the late 1980s. The band first appeared on a flexi-disc with "Garage Full of Flowers" that was given free with Manchester's Debris magazine in 1987.

Their first proper release, the Cow cassette, soon followed. The 1988 Planecrash EP on the Playtime label received much airplay from Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who asked the band to record a session for his show.

The band reworked their single "Find Out Why" as the theme song for the show 8:15 from Manchester.

As the band's popularity grew, Playtime's distributor Red Rhino Records went bankrupt, leading Inspiral Carpets to form their own label, Cow Records, in March 1989. The label's first release was the Trainsurfing EP.

With half of the first album, Life, written, Holt and Swift departed and formed the Rainkings, so the band recruited Too Much Texas singer Tom Hingley and Martyn "Bungle" Walsh of The Next Step to replace them. Martyn Walsh became the band's 13th bass player.

After a handful of singles on their own label, with "Move" nearly reaching the UK top 40, the band signed a deal with Mute Records and soon experienced their first top-40 chart success in the UK with "This Is How It Feels."

The single reached No. 14 on the singles chart, and the debut album Life reached No. 2 on the albums chart in 1990.

On This Day 02/06/1981 XTC

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 2 June 1981, one of UK’s finest bands to evolve from Punk/New Wave XTC played what was to be the band’s final UK live appearance at Cardiff’s Top Rank promoting their Black Sea album.

Lead singer and guitarist Andy Partridge recalled the gig not so flatteringly.

“ Last gig of a tour should have gone perfectly but both of my Amps blow up on stage. Nevertheless, the road crew decided to have their end of tour japes and dumped on my head a sack of confetti during 'Snowman' (Oh! nearly forgot, got myself a rotten electric shock that night as well).”

Black Sea was critically acclaimed and remains XTC's second-highest charting British album, placing at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart, as well as their most successful US album, peaking at number 41 on the Billboard 200.

It spawned three UK top 40 singles: "Generals and Majors" (number 32), "Towers of London" (number 31), and "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" (number 16).

Another single, "Respectable Street", was banned from BBC radio due to its references to abortion and a "Sony Entertainment Centre.

Black Sea was recorded at Virgin's Town House studio in London with producer Steve Lillywhite and engineer Hugh Padgham.

It was originally titled Work Under Pressure in reference to XTC's grueling touring and recording regimen. After their manager complained, frontman Andy Partridge devised Black Sea as a reference to his emotional state while composing the album.

At the age of 12, Partridge was professionally diagnosed as "hyperactive" and given a prescription of Valium.

He later formed a dependency on the drug that was exacerbated by the pressures of his music career.

After disposing of the drug in 1981, he experienced severe withdrawal effects that led to XTC's withdrawal from touring.

From 1980 to 1981, XTC toured Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US in support of Black Sea as the opening act for the Police. At this point, they were playing in arena stadiums while Partridge's mental state was beginning to deteriorate, and he requested to cease touring, but was opposed by Virgin, his bandmates, and the band's management.

He would occasionally experience moments of memory lapse to the extent that he would forget who he was. His then-wife Marianne blamed his illness on his longtime dependency on Valium, which he had been prescribed since the age of 12.

She threw away the tablets, and over the next year, he experienced intense withdrawal effects that he later described as "brain melt".