Diamond Head - Central Station Wrexham 13th February 2002
Setlist: It's Electric / Lightning To The Nations / In The Heat Of The Night / To The Devil His Due / Such Was My Love / I Can't Help Myself / Makin' Music / Home / Run // Don't You Ever Leave Me
It will come as no secret to anyone that I am a Diamond Head fan. I have been ever since I first heard the (now, near legendary) White Album back in 1979. And, what is more, why is my copy of the White Album unsigned? I thought each copy was signed by one member of the band?
Anyway, it was a given that I would see Budgie somewhere along the road, but I could only really afford to attend one show, as there is a positive plethora of attendable gigs around this month and next. Wrexham was already favourite as it is not too far from where I live, but then again, a couple of other gigs were not far from where I work, it just depended on which days they all fell on.
It will come as no secret to anyone that I am a Diamond Head fan. I have been ever since I first heard the (now, near legendary) White Album back in 1979. And, what is more, why is my copy of the White Album unsigned? I thought each copy was signed by one member of the band?
Anyway, it was a given that I would see Budgie somewhere along the road, but I could only really afford to attend one show, as there is a positive plethora of attendable gigs around this month and next. Wrexham was already favourite as it is not too far from where I live, but then again, a couple of other gigs were not far from where I work, it just depended on which days they all fell on.
Of course, with the announcement of Diamond Head in support at (and only at) Wrexham, a trip across the border was hastily arranged and plans were drawn up for the crossing. Ah, you may scoff, but a trip into deepest, darkest, Wales is a major undertaking for an Englishman. There is always the possibility of nuclear attack, a major natural catastrophe, or mad Iraqianian terrorists letting loose a brace of Scud missiles on the Western Infidels. They always specify that such things would destroy a country the size of Wales. "Go West, young man, go west!" they say. What they don't tell you is that you take your life in your hands when you do venture forth into the rays of the setting sun! No! They certainly don't tell you that.
So, Floyd, Sean and Brian took to the stage in what is to be one of their last acoustic appearances for the time being because, as any self-respecting, or indeed self-dis-repecting, Diamond Head fan knows, come the end of March, it will most certainly be electric once more.
Set wise, it is pretty much the same set as they have been doing over the last year. It is a carefully crafted, re-arranged set of songs that never ceases to impress me, no matter how often I see them perform it, which seems to be at almost every gig they play these days! In fact, they probably have my picture on the door at all the venues these days with strict instructions not to permit me to enter the building - but, they won't succeed because I am a master of disguise - ha-ha!
So, Floyd, Sean and Brian took to the stage in what is to be one of their last acoustic appearances for the time being because, as any self-respecting, or indeed self-dis-repecting, Diamond Head fan knows, come the end of March, it will most certainly be electric once more.
Set wise, it is pretty much the same set as they have been doing over the last year. It is a carefully crafted, re-arranged set of songs that never ceases to impress me, no matter how often I see them perform it, which seems to be at almost every gig they play these days! In fact, they probably have my picture on the door at all the venues these days with strict instructions not to permit me to enter the building - but, they won't succeed because I am a master of disguise - ha-ha!
Although the set was lacking "One More Night", "Ishmael", "Out of Phase", "Knight of the Swords" and the excellent new song "Forever 16" because of time restrictions, the songs were still beautifully performed and a pleasure to listen to. Floyd is well settled in and looks as much a part of Diamond Head as Sean or Brian. I am looking forward to seeing him in the electric band next month, which will be a five piece band, rather than the four-piece of the original line-up.
I do hope that, with the recrudescence of the electric set, the acoustic set doesn't disappear completely. I shall quite miss it and, whilst I'm glad to hear that the 4-track EP is due out imminently, a CD of the complete live acoustic set would also be a very nice record of the last year or so.
I shall try to make it to Nottingham, to see the last acoustic set for the time-being. What's more, I shall thoroughly enjoy every second of it but, come on, cards on the table time, if I said I wasn't looking forward to the electric shows, I would not be telling the complete truth.
So, what do you reckon? Am I evil? Oh, most definitely, I am!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
17th February 2002
I do hope that, with the recrudescence of the electric set, the acoustic set doesn't disappear completely. I shall quite miss it and, whilst I'm glad to hear that the 4-track EP is due out imminently, a CD of the complete live acoustic set would also be a very nice record of the last year or so.
I shall try to make it to Nottingham, to see the last acoustic set for the time-being. What's more, I shall thoroughly enjoy every second of it but, come on, cards on the table time, if I said I wasn't looking forward to the electric shows, I would not be telling the complete truth.
So, what do you reckon? Am I evil? Oh, most definitely, I am!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
17th February 2002
About the photos...
Well, I couldn't have got any closer had I got on stage with them but I did manage to get a couple of shots that were worth the journey. Not that it wouldn't have been worth the journey had I not got the pictures, because it would have been, but I did, which just makes it all the better.
Not only that, but my review of Budgie was printed in Power Play magazine too.