Fangbase - Reviews

Avalon Stage, Glastonbury Festival, Somerset

Saturday 28th June 2003

I haven't seen the Damned since they reformed in the 90's with the Stawberries line up and provided support via Naz Nomad. So I was quite excited when I left my mates at the Pyramid stage to go and see them on Saturday night.

I stood with a bunch of rowdy 'erberts in the centre and joined in with the "Sensible's a wanker" and "are you ready" sing a longs. I wasn't disappointed. Starting with an incendiary Ignite they swiftly followed with Disco Man, and you remember what a fantastic singer Vanian is and what a brilliantly underated guitarist Sensible is. Dave looking resplendent in his 70's Elvis shades and black and silver shirt. Sensible being an old hippy at heart, takes the piss, but wears his ESSO SUCKS t shirt with pride.

They piled through I Just Can't Be Happy, followed by a couple of songs I didn't know, and then (in no particualr order) History of the World, Street of Dreams, Neat Neat Neat (with Break on Through), Eloise, Looking at You, New Rose and of course Smash it Up 1 & 2.

At my age I ought to know better, but bounced through the crowd for most of the set with a huge grin over my face, and I can't wait til I see them again.

I need to know if they still play Curtain Call, Melody Lee, Wait for the Blackout and Stranger on the Town

Cheers lads (and lass)

Timberland

And another...

It was quite a long walk out to the Avalon field, but I think the Damned were put on there just to draw a big crowd away from Radiohead.

They were on stage at 11; I got there about 9 to book my space at the front. If the German South-African is reading this, I hope they were as good as you wanted them to be. And if you're the lass who shouted at the 12 yr. old dope-smoker - I hope you enjoyed it too.

I got to the Avalon stage about 9.15, just to make sure I was gonna be down the front, and because of this I had to watch the band before the Damned.

They were called Pronghorn. I thought it was gonna be some hippy rubbish - how wrong was I? Answer - Very! They were a folk / punk / rock band and were superb. It got the crowd moving and 'cowboy dancing' (linking arms and that sort of stuff), and I think gave me the 3rd. best moment of my festival when right at the end they did a cover of Motorhead's 'Ace Of Spades' - folk style!

Then the Damned came on with a load of people dressed as zombies with flashing eyes! Captain said "Hello, we are Radiohead and we're going to play really boring songs." He thanked us all for coming; he'd expected about 4 people to come, so he was happy. It had a capacity of about 1500 and it was packed.

They started with Ignite, the rest is a blur and in no particular order. (I was more worried about the fence. About 2 minutes in, it burst and the security had to wade in and repair it with tape and ties. And all the way through this they played on - they could have stopped.)

Captain had a rant about Bush and Blair, calling them 'dangerous loons' and had a go at Esso for bankrolling Bush into office.

The rest is in no order, just the songs as I remember (it's been 1 1/2 scrumpy fuelled days!):

Street Of Dreams
New Rose (introduced as a first, I thought it was gonna be a new track)
Neat Neat Neat (with Break On Through)
She
Would You Be So Hot....
Looking At You
Smash It Up
Eloise
13th Floor Vendetta
Just Can't Be Happy...

The rest of the set was similar to the last tour. The tent was heaving!

At the end, Captain asked us to buy him a drink if we saw him, he 'mooned' at us, and off they went!

All in all top form, and to see 'em at Glasto. - Fantastic!!

Keith