A list of gigs in and around Northampton from 1979/80 and any recollections
Zeros/Aliens/ Half Sharps/Cobwebs Gig Review from Issue 8.
Mike C requested this excerpt: “I played in a couple of bands (The Aliens and The Half sharps) that were reviewed in Burnt Offerings. I wonder if you have those review as they were written by Wilf Woods (aka Phil Sick) and i think he might like to see them as we always try to give him stuff to remind him of the old times!”
According to Moses Presley “Good gig that one though they got the names mixed up and it was the Half Sharps on last…..Phil Sick, the author of the piece is/was the legendary Wilf Woods of the Zipps and the Gunslingers fame. Also, he used to be involved with Northampton band Fifi and the Firebirds”.
Shaun Arrowsmith added “Happy days, didn’t realise Phil Sick was Wilf, my brother was drummer in the Zipps.”
Doll By Doll – County Ground
Stephen wrote: Many thanks for posting the Doll By Doll gig review – and so quickly! The piece reflects what seems to have been the general response to DBD gigs. Some idiot got them support slots on Devo and Hawkwind tours, and they were often pelted verbally or physically until they were thrown off the tours! You can’t go wrong with their first two albums ‘Remember’ and ‘Gypsy Blood’, which are blinders. Now if only I could nail down the date of the gig.
I am trying to establish tour histories for Doll By Doll, The Motors, Any Trouble and After The Fire, and would love to hear any information or even any live material! Thanks. sjb hyhpen uk at uwclub dot net.
We replied: I re-read the review written by Martin (Tich), he was obviously intrigued by the band and having read up on them some more last night I can see why. I do not recall them at all personally but I will check out some of the music. The County Ground was actually a room in the Cricket Ground, it was more of a rock venue. The reference to bikers by Martin could mean that these were guys who had heard of them through Hawkwind gigs. I would guess that the gig occurred at some point during April 1979, all of the writers on the fanzine would have been 16/17 then.
Stephen wrote: Many thanks for the additional info.
Doll By Doll also linked up with Glen Matlock to produce a very good EP (two to four tracks depending on version) under the name Concrete Bulletproof Invisible (CBI). I believe it was Record Mirror’s single of the week.
I would add that the lead singer Jackie Leven continued to have an excellent solo career, still connecting deep inside your head, but no longer in the rock genre. Superficially, it is ‘just’ folk, although some call it ‘Celtic Soul’. He died prematurely of cancer a few years back. Although I listen to a lot of music, Jackie is the only musician I truly grieved for and continue to miss.
If you have any memories of the gigs reviewed in Burnt Offering during 1979 let me know:
Burnt Offering Fanzine 
Leave a comment