Lords Of The New Church
Vive Le Rock Awards
Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
sixth April 2023
After 3 pent up years of cancellations, the mythical Vive Le Rock Awards stuffed the Shepherds Bush Empire to bursting, bringing 5 entire hours of old-fashioned punk, rock, 2 Tone, common chaos and, let’s face it, slight carnage.
It’s transparent from the outset that this night goes to be one hell of a celebration. Clues come with: the queue for the visitor record winding itself across the venue, itself a learn about in attention-grabbing rocker shoes; the puzzling obvious sparseness of degree one, because of the truth that they’ve all been wedged into the bar since early doorways; the no-show of positive other folks on degree right through the awards rite, probably failing to squeeze out of the bar upstairs; and the hearsay that this may really well be the final Vive Le Rock Awards match.
Cockney Rejects
The night time is full of reside performances, the final touch of which is the mythical Lords Of The New Church, the 80s goth supergroup constructed from Brian James (The Damned), Dave Treganna (Sham 69) and Terry Chimes (The Conflict) with the fabulously charismatic Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks) appearing vocals in honour of Stiv Bators. The setlist comprises the rarely-heard New Church, Livin’ on Livin’, and Way To My Insanity, in addition to fan-favourites Dance With Me and Russian Roulette. Rat Scabies joins for a very good quilt of The Damned’s New Rose, and so they end with a canopy of Bo Diddley/New York Dolls’ Drugs. Monroe is rockstar preferrred all through, charismatic and vigorous, it’s a great punk set.
Toughen comes within the form of Neville Staple, 2 Tone rudeboy royalty, who delights us with classics like Longshot Kick De Bucket and Monkey Guy, and, after all, a number of Specials together with A Message To You, Rudy, Ghost The town and Gangsters; and Cockney Rejects, who field their method thru Paper Tiger, Unforgiven and Unhealthy Guy.
Neville Staple
As though all that isn’t sufficient, there are two lengthy units through the Vive Le Rockers space band, that includes Paul-Ronney Angel along individuals of Jim Jones All Stars, City Voodoo Gadget and Ruts DC, joined through a conveyor belt of particular visitors, together with Jim Jones himself and Girlschool’s Kim and Jackie. Unhealthy Barbee, ie. Jennie Belle Famous person (The Belle Stars) and Elizabeth Westwood of Westworld, deal with us to Iko Iko and Sonic Growth Boy, Millie Manders pairs up with guitarist Michael “Gaff” Gaffney for a blistering God Save The Queen, and Beki Bondage fronts for a rocking rendition of Little Richard’s Lucille.
The awards rite, hosted through Beki Bondage, is entertainingly chaotic – now not reasonably Sam Fox degree however as regards to – till it settles down and varieties itself out. Or other folks get started if truth be told showing once they’re meant to. Award-givers come with Early life (Killing Funny story), Brix Smith, Rat Scabies and Stuart Pearce.
Rhoda Dakar
It’s all the time nice to peer the excitement of other folks having their abilities recognised, and the massive smiles on Neville Staple and Norman Watt-Roy are surely heartwarming. Bob Vylan make a poignant remark that punk tune has misplaced its method, and that they’re on a challenge to put it aside (regarding their look dressed all in white). Essentially the most shifting speech, although, is made through a visibly emotional Rhoda Dakar, who accepts the Icon Award for recently-lost Terry Corridor – an unbelievable tribute to him. Famously vocal on females’s rights, she takes the chance to proportion that Corridor used to be massively pro-women in tune, and makes a plea for bands and gala’s to be extra inclusive, pointing out that she merely wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for him…
The chaos continues with an afterparty which now not best spills out of the VIP bar into the auditorium for some time, however for some time additionally appears to be going down in the street out of doors, protecting safety on their ft. No-one needs it to finish. Nice night time, very good celebration, and richly deserved awards.
Bob Vylan
Awards:
Pageant – Riot Pageant and R-Fest
Are living artist – Amyl & The Sniffers
Roots – Neville Staple
Reissue of the 12 months – UK Subs and Edsel Information
New Blood – Bob Vylan
Album of the 12 months – The Interrupters
Pioneer – Brian James
Products and services to Song – Norman Watt-Roy
Icon – Terry Corridor
Lifetime Success – Cockney Rejects
Vive Le Rockers – Set 1
Intro – Babylon’s Burning – Classical Model
Instrumental – Misirlou
Teenage Melancholy – Paul-Ronney Angel
Emergency – Girlschool
Bomber – Girlschool + Eugene
Please Don’t Contact – Girlschool + Paul-Ronney Angel
God Save The Queen – Millie Manders & Gaff (guitar)
Vive Le Rockers Set 2
Pipeline – instrumental
I Put A Spell On You – Jim Jones
Top College Confidential – Jim Jones
Iko Iko – Jennie Bellestar
Sonic Growth Boy – Elisabeth Westwood
Lucille – Beki Bondage
Roxette – Norman Watt-Roy & Laurie Wright
Revel in Your self – Everybody
Are living Units:
Cockney Rejects
Neville Staple
Lords Of The New Church
~
All phrases and footage through Naomi Dryden-Smith: Louder Than Struggle | Fb | Twitter | Instagram | portfolio
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