The last time I went to a punk rock gig was on December 8 1990 to see the Ramones at the Brixton Academy. Joey Ramone died the next April so I guess that was one of his last few performances. The time before was er...the Ramones again in the East Village in New York in the mid eighties. I have been to non punk concerts since 1990 but after almost 27 years I am off to a punk gig in Bristol tonight.
The venue is the Thunderbolt on the Bath Road which I have often passed on my way to the station and thought "that looks like a total dive you would not catch me dead in there - I bet it is awful." So why attend?
You may remember the conversation I had on the train with the 57 year old punk - HERE. He is 58 now and his band, the Stingrays, have not played in Britain in years. They do an annual Japanese tour but nothing at home. Back in the day the Stingrays were not big but they were not insignificant. They played support to U2 in a couple of shows when U2 started. According to the, now, 58 year old punk, U2 were useless back then.
I am not sure that I shall stay for the full four hour set. We 49 year olds have things to do like Sainsbury's shops and 1 AM baby feeds. Who knows, maybe the Stingrays have got older and it will be an acoustic set. In that case I walk at once. All will be revealed later. The "Countdown" is underway. Er...that's a pun for we Stingrays groupies, see below: