Thompson Twins – Into the Gap Tour 1984

March 19th 1984 – De Montfort Hall

1984 was a cracking year for music for me. Maybe it was because it was my first year of concert going and starting to create a real social life with like minded friends from school and now, sixth form college (Wyggeston QE1 in Leicester – I wasn’t destined to do good things study wise, but these couple of failed academic years would eventually shape the rest of my life and thoughts towards how it should change for the better)

The Thompson Twins had released a their third album, Quick Step and Sidekick….I’d not heard of them before this album. I’d go back to listen for to “Set” and “A Product of….” later, but haven’t replaced them since selling my vinyl (stoopid move!).

Quick Step and Sidekick had hits like Love On Your Side, Lies, Tears and the very strange We Are Detectives. Love On Your Side, was the song that attracted me to their style of music and alongside Culture Club, I was really intrigued by the way they dressed. Not enough to dress like them myself, but I did attempt to grow a Tom Bailey (lead singer) pigtail…..with little success with my curly hair……in fact, that curly hair ruined my chances of a David Sylvian (Japan lead singer) or Tom Bailey flick haircut too!!!

I was developing a penchant for pop music from bands with daft (pretentious) names, which were really tuneful and lyrically fun. I guess it was the start of understanding music is a way to shut out the world outside and lose yourself for an hour and a half.

Add to the mix, Joe Leeway was born in Leicester (although Wikipedia suggests he was born in Islington….see the article below though, for what we believed at the time….) and what with The Singing Laurels from Leicester supporting Culture Club and this, I realised we had a talented city (Showaddywaddy and Engelbert Humperdink were all we knew before this!!)

The setlist appears quite short compared to many bands, but I can assure you, you get a full 2 hours of concert, especially when tracks last for 10 minutes or so!!

Hold Me Now, which was to be an anthem, had just come out ahead of this gig and a few college friends and I went along to see the guys live. It was probably 50/50 boys and girls.

Tom Bailey came out of a chimney like trap door on to the stage set, which was fun to match their colourful set. This was to be a pure pop concert, with catchy tunes and artistry, cementing my love of keyboard based music bands.

By now, I was working at a camera shop in Leicester, my money we was all being spent on music LPs and singles and concerts.

The support act for this show was Savage Progress, who were soft pop band, but I don’t think I watched them as we were frequenting the bar!

Set List

• The Gap
• Day After Day
• Watching
• Sister of Mercy
• We Are Detective
• Doctor! Doctor!
• No Peace for the Wicked
• You Take Me Up
• In the Name of Love
• Love on Your Side
• Hold Me Now
• Storm on the Sea
• Doctor! Doctor!