Reading Festival 1981 - Thamseide Arena Reading 28th-30th August 1981

 




Friday 28th Aug.       
Long Tall Shorty
Nightwing
1990
Lightning Raiders
Saga
Telephone
Budgie
Steve Hackett
Girlschool
Twelfth Night may have opened the Friday
 
Sat 29th Aug
Parachutes
Jackie Lynton's Allstars
Atomic Rooster
Vardis
Lionheart
Stan Webb's Chicken Shack
Alex Harvey Band (probably did not play )
Samson
Rose Tattoo
Billy Squier
Trust
Gillan
Thanks to Phil Teague for confirming who played the weekend and in what order
Dark Star may have been 2nd or 3rd to play on the Saturday Andy Alan's Future
 
Sunday 30th Aug    
Reluctant Stereotypes
Afraid of Mice
The Enid
Desperadoes
38 Special
Wishbone Ash
Greg Lake #
Nine Below Zero
Kinks
Djs :Bob Harris
Jerry Floyd
NB : Acts are listed in order of appearance as far as we can ascertain
Atomic Rooster substituted for someone , anyone help confirm who dropped out ?
Thompson Twins did not perform due to illness .
# Premiere performance by this band , which includes Gary Moore and Ted McKenna        
 

Fri 28/8/81
Didn't bother with the first few bands, then:
Lightning Raiders; Saga; Telephone (all fairly forgettable)
Budgie @7:45pm (very good - got crowd going)
Steve Hacket @ 8:45 (good, but a bit out of place really)
Girlschool (enjoyed the first 20 mins, then they got a bit boring) -
finished @11pm
Sat 29/8/81
Arrived back from the pub at 2:15pm, just as Atomic Rooster were finishing
Vardis
Lionheart (very ordinary)
Chicken Shack (quite good)
Samson; Rose Tatoo; Billy Squier (average)
Trust (went down badly - didn't even get an encore)
Gillan (OK, got two encores)
Sun 30/8/81
First 3 groups included Afraid Of Mice & Reluctant Stereotypes
The Enid (best set of whole festival - got great ovation, but didn't play an encore)
Desperados (got canned initially, but a fair reception after)
.38 special (very good)
Wishbone Ash (didn't come over as well as on the recent tour, but enjoyable)
Greg Lake (with Gary Moore) @7:30pm (excellent set)
Nine Below Zero (not up to much)
The Kinks (OK but a bit boring in the middle of the set) - finished 11:15

The Enid © Phil Teague

Hope this helps

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Reading Festival 1981: Samson

Setlist:
Big Brother 0:00
Take it Like a Man 3:58
Nice Girl 7:09
Earth Mother 8:18
Vice Versa 10:52
Bright Lights 11:57
Walking Out On You 15:17
Hammerhead 21:15
Riding With the Angels 24:09
Gravy Train 28:57

Reading Festival 1981: Greg Lake feat. Gary Moore

*set list (1981/08/30)*

01. Fanfare For The Common Man
★02. Nuclear Attack
★03. Long Goodbye
04. The Lie
05. Lucky Man
06. Retribution Drive
07. Parisienne Walkways
08. In The Court Of The Crimson King
09. Love You Too Much
10. 21st Century Schizoid Man
11. You Really Got A Hold On Me

Setlist: Radio Intro / The Air-Conditioned Nightmare / Every Day / Ace Of Wands / Funny Feeling / The Steppes / Overnight Sleeper / Slogans / A Tower Struck Down / Spectral Mornings / Band Introductions / The Show / Clocks

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Reading Festival 1981: Atomic Rooster 29th August 1981

Setlist: They Took Control Of You / Death Walks Behind You / Watch Out! / Tomorrow Night / Seven Streets / Gershatser / I Can’t Take No More / In The Shadows / Devil’s Answer / Do you Know Who’s Looking For You?

Ref the question who dropped out. Alex Harvey died shortly before the festival and Atomic Rooster took thier place.
I was wanting to see Alex Harvey so was absolutely gutted at the news.
Atomic Rooster were very good from what I recal with the lead singer, dont know his time, taking time out to be sick part way through a song.

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