November 23rd 1982 – DeMontfort Hall
My first ever concert. I was just turned 17 and Dad took me.
If we go back a year to 1981, as a wet behind the ears 16 year old, I’d heard Sleepwalk on the radio and really like how different it was from what I’d heard before, but I was sure it was by Kraftwerk. It was actually released originally in 1980, but I’ll continue to be behind the times with a lot of my music!
I went down to town (Leicester was home in those days) and popped into HMV that was in the Haymarket Centre at the time and asked for Sleepwalk by Kraftwerk. The shop guy said, they only has Sleepwalk by Ultravox, so I had to gamble on that one!
When I got home and played it, that was the one. The opening beats were so recognisable and different. This would start my musical life down the New Romantic track.
Ultravox would be a massive part of my early music life, I would buy all their records, on 7 inch, 12 inch remix, coloured or clear vinyl, promos, white labels, autographed etc.
The DeMontfort Hall is the largest venue is Leicester, so for a first gig, it was great to hear great acoustics. The support band were a band I would see a few times supporting Ultravox, The Messengers. Another great electronic band and as surprise to me that they didn’t cut through in the charts and faded a way.
The first Ultravox album I bought was Rage in Eden, the Quartet….going back to the first album later (Ultravox by Ultravox). I really bought into the band and went back to the early albums before Midge Ure joined them, John Foxx was the lead singer then…..some great tracks in the early days.
I don’t remember much of the concert, but the stage show, lighting and props gave a theatrical feel to the concert and the music I would describe as anthemic, something that would follow through my music over the years….soaring sounds and full some tunes.
Midge Ure, Chris Cross and Billy Currie were at the front of the stage playing electronic drums, with Warren Cann continuing on main drums to The Voice…..it was an amazing spectacle and a great end to the song.
Set List
- Reap the Wild Wind
- When the Scream Subsides
- The Thin Wall
- New Europeans
- We Stand Alone
- I Remember (Death in the Afternoon)
- Visions in Blue
- Mr. X
- Sleepwalk
- The Voice
- Vienna
- Astradyne
Note: At the time of writing this post, I’m appalled I can’t find my Ultravox tickets or photographs. They would have been kept separate from the general tickets, but I fear they have been mislaid, as I have found a small scrapbook but not the main one!. I sold my main collection of records and programmes back in 1990 to pay the deposit on my first house……my fear is I let some of this memorabelia go at the same time!
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