We
arrived at half past height p.m. Gig supposed to get started at nine p.m. Almost
empty venue… but too early yet to judge… In any case I was waiting this
event since 2001, so I gained (and never left!) my place right in front of the
stage this time, a little bit toward our left, just in front of Cap (hoping, actually,
he had not in his mind to use a rubber glove or a banana just in front of us,
if you know what I mean…) – (he didn’t, after all…)
Three
supporters bands performed before The Damned; don’t know their names; haven’t
found out any inscription nor playbill at the venue; maybe I should have checked
better, who knows? I only thought “jee…. those guys had all the chance
to play at the Damned gig…. on the same stage, opening the Damned performance…
- they will surely never forget this for their entire life…what an experience!”
During
last song performed by last supporter band we saw behind us Cap, Pinch, and following
Dave, reaching backstage from our right side.
Well…
let me tell you… I’m almost 38, but I felt like a teen-ager as I saw
them climbing the aside stage stairs… I should be ashamed, in my “elderly
age”, to telling you this, but… hey girls… Dave is still a very
charming man….! Lucky you, Patricia…..
Ok,
c’mon, let’s back on earth Laura… (sorry Dave…)
Still
waiting for our Great Band to come, in the meantime someone told us it would have
been better to avoid flash on our digital cameras, ‘cause (he said) “the
Band could get pissed off…” don’t know exactly whether this was
true or not, I decided in any case to respect such request; that’s why no
shots are available for this Italian gig by my side.
A
really few minutes to arrange instruments and Cap entered, followed by the rest
of the band; he just mentioned a few words about different style found now at
the venue (actually really changed from their last gig in 2001, where gravestones
once covered an entire wall, and everything was tainted black)… then first
bass notes played introducing….. Love song!
Dave then was last
out on stage, starting to sing “I’ll be the ticket, if you’re my
collector” and I felt thrilled!!! I was still remembering last gig in 2001….
I
know nothing can be the same, and first time is always the best one - in almost
any case… ;-) … that’s why I will keep forever in my mind and in
my heart the first time I saw the Damned performance in 2001, being one of the
most beautiful memory of my life (with a special thank to you Dave… I’ll
never forget this). But maybe this time I was expecting something I haven’t
then found; don’t know how to explain this, but though they performed in
their usual splendid manner, that magic atmosphere wasn’t the same as 7 years
ago.
It
seems to us something was kinda “flat”, without that usual involvement
which can happen between the band and the audience… you know,
Hey
Cap… I actually almost didn’t recognize you. It looked like you were
not in the same “mood”; that mood I had the chance to read about through
our Official Damned Message Board... I was also expecting you to tell something
about Blah! Party, though I can understand Italy has particularly nothing
to do with this directly… Don’t get me wrong… You’re always
our great Captain Sensible. This is not intended to be a criticism.
But
it looked like the only one who seemed to have a really good time was Monty! He’s
been great! Jumping up and down and having a lot of fun… Monty, you’re
fantastic!
The
only “contact”, if we can call it this way, established between the
band and the audience has been during “Smash it up!”
A
girl just beside us began to shout out “Smash it up! Smash it up!” after
any song was ended; so the band became curious to know and see who this girl was;
Cap and Dave then invited her and his friend on the stage once Smash it up had
to be finally performed. (I regret, I could have shouted too: “Democracy!
Democracy!”… I’ve lost my chance… another hit or miss, another
hit or miss, and I was looking for a kiss… sniff… ok… forget it…)
I’m
glad I had the chance to listen again to great songs of the past Damned discography,
such as “Noise Noise Noise”, or “Antipope”,
to name just a couple; milestones I only hold on vinyls, so rare is the chance
to play them on our stereo system… but thanks, thanks, and again thanks from
the deep of my heart to have played my really favourite one: “Dr. Jeckyll
& Mr. Hyde”. I love you all! You made me a very unforgettable gift.
THANK YOU GUYS!!!
Though
I’ve been glad to make a jump in my teen-age period, listening old songs
like “Dozen girls” or “Nasty”…. I was expected
to hear more songs from Grave Disorder… could you tell me why this lack of
performance from your present great fantastic job?
Here
below I try to list all songs, or most of them, performed during this Italian
gig at Musicdrome; don’t remember the right succession (I surely missed some
of them; I try…)
Love
song
I just can’t be happy today
Dozen girls
1 of the 2
I fall
Neat
neat neat
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde
The History of the world pt. 1
Eloise
New
rose
Antipope
Plan 9 Channel 7
Nasty
She
Ignite
Smash it up
pt. 1 & 2
Wait for the blackout
Stretcher case
Noise noise noise
I
tell you finally what I found missed:
- most “direct contact”, before
and after the gig, just like happened last time;
- more usual Cap’s liking
and brilliance;
- more Grave Disorder songs;
- Patricia… sniff…
and
I miss Dave… ok, sorry; I was intended to say, Dave, Cap, Stu, Pinch and
Monty, as soon as everything ended and we’ve been “gently” invited
to leave… (but, ok… I dreamt about you the whole night…wow!)
Ok,
just joking, but I don’t when I’m saying that I will miss you all, and
I will miss forever this magic which you have been able to give me, once again.
I
was only a child when such spirit of ’76, ’77 was going-on in UK, starting
to slightly reach also us in Italy. I was enchanted at that time, in my childhood,
watching all that boys and girls with their red and green hair, and black boots
and safety pins, never imaging that in a not so far day I would have been part
of all this; I kept in touch with all this just later, in mid ‘80s, when
the same spirit was almost already dead.
And here’s when, during my
teen-age, I had the chance to know also this great band called The Damned, among
all the others, becoming one of the two band which I always preferred and which
will remain in my heart forever (the Clash is the other one).
Then
I grew-up, leaving black boots and pink hair in a wardrobe, starting to think
that such emotions have to be left there, closed in that cupboard with my past,
well hidden and preserved, never wondering about the possibility to meet one day
the same guys who have been a very important part of my life and my fight. The
same guys I only dreamt about, while listening my vinyls, learning and translating
all their lyrics, wanting to be aware of what I was listening to.
Last
night, you’ve been able for the second time to let me live again that feeling
which somehow I missed so much, but felt with a new consciousness and the maturity
(what a big word!!!) of my almost ‘38. Past and present melted together with
your songs, your strength and charisma. Thank you.
Laura
– myspace.com/talusan
(work in progress…)
A
special thanks goes to everybody who have the patience to read this, and sorry
for my “too Italian” bad English…