On This Day 28/02/1993 Pulp

On this day, 28 February 1993, rock band Pulp played Terminal 396, Cardiff University on their Razzamatazz tour supporting St Etienne.

Razzmatazz" is a song written and released by Pulp. Featuring lyrics written by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker about an ex-girlfriend, the song sees the narrator mock his ex-girlfriend for leading a dull life after dumping him.

"Razzmatazz" was the band's final single for Gift Records, charting at number 80 in the UK. The single was released independently of an album, although it appeared as a bonus track at the end of the US version of His 'n' Hers. Since its release, the song has seen positive critical reception and has appeared on multiple compilation albums.

Review by David Rose

A very quick trip (less than 1 1/2 hours!) down to Cardiff after the live footy got us (me, Clive and infrequent gig-goer Soke) there in time for doors. Not the usual Uni main hall, but an industrial decor pipe-lines psychic dancehall backroom as well! An excellent venue, and certainly one to go back to! Pulp, our main reason for being here tonight, came on at 8.20 and played a totally brilliant set of their haunting, sleazy organ-led pop; seventies-influenced, sleazy, sexy, sinister but always startling and superb. Jarvis Cocker, as I've always believed would happen, is well on his way to becoming a true star of our times, and was an inspiring and eye-catching focus for this brilliant band of misfits and strays. Every one a winner, but highlights were "Stacks", "She's A Lady", the God-like "Babies" and closer "OU". Another highlight was Jarv sharing his late-arriving pizza order with the front rows; I had a mouthful of garlic bread while dancing to "Stacks"! It's only February, but I'll be hard pushed to see a better performance than Pulp's this year!

St. Etienne, however, paled in comparison to their support. Due on at 9.30 but eventually emerging at 10 with "Nothing Can Stop Us", a fine but very laid-back opener, their subsequent set was ambient, unusual and very nice, but never startling and always suffering in comparison to Pulp's sparkling performance. 2 unusual covers, of Bowie's "Absolute Beginners" and the Fall's "Choc Stock", and their own cinematic pop classic "You're In A Bad Way" were the highlights of a set, during which I spent much of the time watching the projections on their heart-shaped backdrop. A very short set as well - off at 10.35 having played considerably shorter than their support, they introduced the last number with vocalist Sarah Cracknell announcing, "sorry to disappoint anyone but we don't do encores. We're not a rock'n'roll band, we're a pop group." Hmmm. So, off we went to the chippy, to celebrate Pulp's set.

Final score; Sheffield 4, St. Etienne 2. An impressive home win!

On This Day The Shamen 26/02/1989

O this day, 26 February 1989, Scottish psychedelic band The Shamen played The Venue, Cardiff on the band’s Synergy Tour. Support was provided by Jesus Jones.

The band had just released their second album, In Gorbachev We Trust. It is an important landmark in The Shamen's transition from the psychedelic rock of Drop to the electronic dance music that would bring them chart success. The "Gorbachev" of the album's title is Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991.

1989 was a busy year, as they set out on their Synergy tour, a nightclub experience, combined with live music from the Shamen and others like Orbital, and with DJing from Paul Oakenfold, Mixmaster Morris, Mr C, and Evil Eddie Richards.

The tour was to last nearly two years. Synergy was innovative at the time, as a touring rock dance club introducing live bands to clubbers, and house, techno and ambient DJs to rock fans. The Shamen also released the Phorward mini album, produced by ex-Fiction Factory singer/songwriter Kevin Patterson.

The Yardbirds - 24 Feb 1967

On this day, 24 February 1967, legendary band The Yardbirds played Sophia Gardens.

Formed in London in 1963, the band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963–1965), Jeff Beck (1965–1966) and Jimmy Page (1966–1968), all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's 2011 list of 100 greatest guitarists. The band's other members during 1963–1968 were vocalist/harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, and bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, with Dreja switching to bass when Samwell-Smith departed in 1966. The band had a string of hits in the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things" and "Over Under Sideways Down".

Originally a blues-based band noted for their signature "rave-up" instrumental breaks, the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneered psychedelic rock and early hard rock, and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s. Some rock critics and historians also cite their influence on the later punk rock, progressive rock and heavy metal trends.

On This Day 22/02/1977 AC/DC

On this day,22 February 1977, legendary Australian rockers AC/DC played Cardiff’s Top Rank supported by The Jenny Darren Band. The band was actively touring to promote their album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.

Formed in Sydney in 1973, their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock and heavy metal, although the band calls it simply "rock and roll". They are cited as a formative influence on the new wave of British heavy metal bands. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and have sold over 200 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time.

Line up :

Angus Young - Lead Guitar

Malcolm Young - Rhythm Guitar

Bon Scott - Lead Vocals

Mark Evans - Bass

Phil Rudd - Drums

Setlist

Live Wire

She's Got Balls

Dog Eat Dog

Gonorrhea

The Jack

Problem Child

Jailbreak

Bad Boy Boogie

High Voltage

Whole Lotta Rosie

Baby Please Don't Go

Fan review:

By Mike Toozer, Cardiff, Wales,UK:

It was a long time ago and I was only 21 so I don't remember a lot about it. I'd also had a few drinks no doubt... For anyone who has never been there the old Top Rank ballroom had quite low ceilings which bounced the sound around and concentrated the loudness. This was, without doubt, the loudest gig I ever went to! I have hearing loss now, requiring a hearing aid, and I've always blamed this gig for it! My ears were ringing for a couple if days after. Mind you, I did go to a lot of gigs back then. I don't recall the set sorry but I do vividly recall a wild guitarist dressed as a school boy, complete with shorts and a school cap being carried on another band member's shoulders while playing in full flow. Happy days and I am glad I was there to hear them. Still have a couple of tracks (Back in black and Highway to Hell) on my Spotify all-time favourites playlist!

On This Day The Jacksons 21/02/1979

On this day, 21 February 1979, pop/soul legends The Jacksons, formerly Jackson 5, played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens on their Destiny tour.

Destiny was the thirteenth studio album released by American band the Jacksons. It was released in November 1978 by Epic Records and CBS Records. The album marked the first time in the band's career in which they had complete artistic control, producing it themselves after previously working under the supervision of Philadelphia soul architects Gamble and Huff.

Including the international hits "Blame It on the Boogie" and "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", the album would eventually sell over four million copies worldwide, two million in America during its initial run and another two million worldwide. It was promoted with a year-long world tour.

Personnel :

Michael Jackson – vocals

Jackie Jackson – vocals

Tito Jackson – guitar, vocals

Marlon Jackson – vocals

Randy Jackson – vocals, congas, percussion, piano, keyboards

Band members :

Michael McKinney – bass

Bud Rizzo – additional guitar

James McField – keyboards

Tony Lewis – drums

Setlist

"Dancing Machine"

"Things I Do for You"

"Ben"

"I Am Love"

"Keep on Dancing"

"Jackson 5 Medley" ("I Want You Back"/"ABC" / "The Love You Save")

"I'll Be There"

"Enjoy Yourself"

"Destiny"

"Show You the Way to Go"

"All Night Dancin'"

Encore

"Blame It on the Boogie"

On This Day Bryan Ferry 12/02/1977

On this day, Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre on his In Your Mind tour, with support provided by illusion.

Ferry had just released his fourth studio album In Your Mind, It was his first solo album of all original songs. released after Ferry's band Roxy Music went on a four-year hiatus. It peaked at No 5 in the UK album charts.

Band Lineup: Bryan Ferry (vocals), Phil Manzanera (guitar), Chris Spedding (guitar), Paul Thompson (drums), John Wetton (bass), Ann O'Dell (keyboards), plus a brass section and backing vocalists.

On This Day The Clash 11/02/1980

On this day, 11 February 1980, punk legends The Clash played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens on their 16 Tons Tour with support provided by The Xcerts and Mikey Dread.

The band had recently released their classic album London Calling.

London Calling was released in December 1979; it peaked at number 9 on the British album chart and at number 27 in the United States, where it was issued in January 1980. The album's cover photograph by Pennie Smith became one of the most-recognisable images and Q magazine later cited it as the "best rock 'n roll photograph of all time".

During this period, The Clash began to be regularly billed as "The Only Band That Matters". Musician Gary Lucas, who was employed by CBS Records' creative services department, has said he coined the tagline. Fans and journalists soon widely adopted the epithet.

The Clash had planned to record and release a single every month in 1980. CBS dismissed this idea and the band released only one single—an original reggae song called "Bankrobber", in August. It featured Mikey Dread and reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart. In October, the band's US record company released a B-side compilation EP called Black Market Clash, which was later re-released in expanded form as a full-length album.

Setlist

Clash City Rockers

Brand New Cadillac

London Calling

(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais

I Fought the Law

Police and Thieves

Complete Control

Armigedeon Time

White Riot

On This Day Split Enz 10/02/1978

On this day, 10 February 1978, New Zealand rock band Split Enz played Cardiff’s Top Rank.

Formed in 1972 in Auckland they ar regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visual style and theatrical performances. The band later moved toward a pop/new wave sound that yielded hit singles such as "I See Red"

By the summer of 1978, Split Enz had no agent, no manager, and no UK or US record contract, having been dropped by Chrysalis. The New Zealand Arts Council gave the band a grant of $5,000. The grant money was used to book studio time in Luton, England, where the band recorded demos that later became known as the "Rootin' Tootin' Luton Tapes". One of the songs from those sessions was "I See Red". Released as a single later that year, "I See Red" marked a significant move away from the band's early progressive/art rock style, towards high-energy, guitar-based power pop. While "I See Red" did not chart in the UK, where it was released on Illegal Records, it did bring the band critical attention.