Punk life in Dunstable

First
I went to some classic gigs in Dunstable including seeing The Stranglers at the Cali, an absolute corker. I cant remember what year but it was towards the end of the Cali era. Near the end of the set the stage got invaded by a mass off fans, you could not see any of the band. The bouncers were totally overun, yet the Stranglers carried on with endless encores regardless.
This was around the time of Rattus Norvegicus and their set included the whole album, brilliant. Still rate it in the top ten of all gigs i have been to.
Also saw endless bands throughout the seventies and eighties at the Queensway Hall ( and even played there myself once I think) Including Hawkwind's Space Rituall gig, they liked the Queensway, it reminded them of a giant cosmic egg., Thin Lizzy ( shock horror) and loads of other bands, but the gig that stands out is that of The Sex Pistols.
It was unlikely that the Pistols should play dunstable especially at the height of their notoriaty in 1976-7??
There was an audiance of about 80 or no more than a hundred and like myself at the time, probablly felt embarassed at being there, as at that time in Luton and Dunstable it was really uncool , to be into Punk.
Glen Matlock was still on bass and Johnny Rotten Lydon of course on vocals. I had never heard anything like the sound of the Pistols, they were very anarchic and didnt give a dam about any of the musical rules
Neither could they give a dam about their dress sense
At the end of the gig, J.R. just sat on the Drum riser, with his kind of strange look of indifference, watching all the punters leave. On the way out lodsa punters were lets say being very critical about the gig, well, a few months later it would be a totally differant story.
But this gig turned my head, made me realise the folly of the old way.
The funny thing is.I dont remember a darned thing about The Jam, who supported the pistols.
read more
Pesented by UK Decay communities