UFO - Academy Manchester 23rd November 2006
Setlist: Mother Mary / When Daylight Goes To Town / Let It Roll / I'm a Loser / This Kids / Hard Being Me / Drink Too Much / Fighting Man / Only You Can Rock Me / Baby Blue / Heavenly Body / Love To Love / Too Hot To Handle / Lights Out / Rock Bottom // Doctor Doctor / Shoot Shoot
UFO is one of the great institutions of British rock music. Formed in 1969, they had been around for a good few years before anyone outside of Japan noticed them. In 1973 they hired a young German guitar player and, for six years, were one of the hottest rock bands on the planet, recording a string fo stunning albums. Even though Disco and Punk had come along, UFO endured. When the German went crazy (for the first time) and left the band (for the first time) UFO still steamed on for a good few years, initially with Paul Chapman bending the strings, releasing some fine albums along the way. Some random line-ups followed with Phill Mogg finally calling it a day sometime in the mid-to-late ‘80s.
The various members of the band did their own things, individually and in assorted combinations, until the mid ‘90s when the wayward teuton returned for Walk On Water, left again (for the second time), rejoined for Covenant, and left again (for the third time), rejoined for Sharks, and left again (for the fourth and last time to date), before being replaced by guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore, for You Are Here. Drummers have also come and gone since Andy Parker left, with Simon Wright, Aynsley Dunbar and Jason Bonham pounding the skins at various points in history. Even the maddest of bass players (and that’s a whole bucket o' crazy!) Pete Way has come and gone, as has keyboard player and guitarist Paul Raymond. Mogg is the only member to have been in every line-up.
UFO is one of the great institutions of British rock music. Formed in 1969, they had been around for a good few years before anyone outside of Japan noticed them. In 1973 they hired a young German guitar player and, for six years, were one of the hottest rock bands on the planet, recording a string fo stunning albums. Even though Disco and Punk had come along, UFO endured. When the German went crazy (for the first time) and left the band (for the first time) UFO still steamed on for a good few years, initially with Paul Chapman bending the strings, releasing some fine albums along the way. Some random line-ups followed with Phill Mogg finally calling it a day sometime in the mid-to-late ‘80s.
The various members of the band did their own things, individually and in assorted combinations, until the mid ‘90s when the wayward teuton returned for Walk On Water, left again (for the second time), rejoined for Covenant, and left again (for the third time), rejoined for Sharks, and left again (for the fourth and last time to date), before being replaced by guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore, for You Are Here. Drummers have also come and gone since Andy Parker left, with Simon Wright, Aynsley Dunbar and Jason Bonham pounding the skins at various points in history. Even the maddest of bass players (and that’s a whole bucket o' crazy!) Pete Way has come and gone, as has keyboard player and guitarist Paul Raymond. Mogg is the only member to have been in every line-up.
When I discovered that Parker had rejoined Raymond, Way, Moore and Mogg for the Monkey Puzzle CD and tour, I thought I’d better take a look; this was a line-up I hadn’t seen before. Some will say that UFO isn’t UFO without the German. I don’t deny that his flashes of brilliance have led to some awesome moments, but his unreliability has done the band more damage than his genius has done good. So, bollocks to him, I say.
The last time I saw UFO was a couple of years back, on the You Are Here tour. The band was on top form, with Mogg, Way, Raymond, Bonham and Moore turning in a fine performance. However, as good as that line-up was (and it was) Bonham was never more than a journeyman and Moore, although technically competent and more than capable of filling the guitarist’s shoes, was still undeniably the new boy. Whilst that fact didn’t do any harm, his presence actually seemed to lend an air of calm to the proceedings, and the lack of tension, always visible when the German was around, was noticeably absent, I did wonder how long he would stay around.
Well, he’s still there and, at Manchester’s Academy 2 last Thursday, we saw as close to a classic line-up of UFO as you are now likely to get any time in this lifetime; Mogg, Way, Raymond, Parker, and Moore.
The last time I saw UFO was a couple of years back, on the You Are Here tour. The band was on top form, with Mogg, Way, Raymond, Bonham and Moore turning in a fine performance. However, as good as that line-up was (and it was) Bonham was never more than a journeyman and Moore, although technically competent and more than capable of filling the guitarist’s shoes, was still undeniably the new boy. Whilst that fact didn’t do any harm, his presence actually seemed to lend an air of calm to the proceedings, and the lack of tension, always visible when the German was around, was noticeably absent, I did wonder how long he would stay around.
Well, he’s still there and, at Manchester’s Academy 2 last Thursday, we saw as close to a classic line-up of UFO as you are now likely to get any time in this lifetime; Mogg, Way, Raymond, Parker, and Moore.
Messrs Mogg (and Way) were shitfaced. Now, I know that sounds like a bad thing and, I have been to some concerts where a member of the band is so smashed that they’re incapable of performing; Scott Weiland of Velvet Revolver at Manchester, for example. However, some people are more able to handle their liquor than others and these two never missed a beat. Mogg usually talks bollocks and is free with his lyrics at the best of times, so really it was immaterial that they’d been sniffing the barmaid’s apron. A word about Andy Parker. Mighty. ‘Nuff said.
Paul Raymond? The man is a rock. I believe he is the one band member who keeps things on an even keel. When all about are doing their thing, the man is plugging away on rhythm guitar, or keyboards, maintaining the [in]sanity level.
Which leaves Vinnie Moore. There’s no qualms about the man’s talent; he is an amazing guitarist, easily capable of playing anything that you throw at him. He is a better Schenker than the German, I know that. As I wrote in my review of You Are Here, there’s no worry about the gig finishing early because of a tantrum and everyone seems to be having fun and enjoying themselves. It’s so nice to see that at a UFO gig, especially when there’s still everything that there was when the German was there. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
Paul Raymond? The man is a rock. I believe he is the one band member who keeps things on an even keel. When all about are doing their thing, the man is plugging away on rhythm guitar, or keyboards, maintaining the [in]sanity level.
Which leaves Vinnie Moore. There’s no qualms about the man’s talent; he is an amazing guitarist, easily capable of playing anything that you throw at him. He is a better Schenker than the German, I know that. As I wrote in my review of You Are Here, there’s no worry about the gig finishing early because of a tantrum and everyone seems to be having fun and enjoying themselves. It’s so nice to see that at a UFO gig, especially when there’s still everything that there was when the German was there. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
I do have one gripe, and even I am a bit embarrassed by it, but it's the setlist. Don't get me wrong, it's a great setlist. Thing is it's almost the same as when I saw them two years ago. OK. So, if they didn’t play most of these songs there would be a riot, I appreciate that. But, nothing, again, from Walk On Water? I don’t dislike Fighting Man, or Baby Blue, or Daylight, but how about Love Is Forever, Unraveled, Miss The Lights, In The Middle Of Madness, Venus, Self Made Man, Cherry, Mystery Train, Heaven’s Gate, Prince Kajuku? Alright, maybe Prince Kajuku is a step too far, but you get my drift. Or, even keep the same songs, they’re all bloody classics, just shake it up a bit. Start off with Rock Bottom, or something really unusual, just for the sheer hell of it?! I’m not saying I don’t want to hear the songs they played but, for those of us who go along to each tour, let’s have something that we didn’t expect.
Nevertheless, if there’s another CD and another tour, I’ll be there, sure as eggs is eggs. This is UFO, goddamnit!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
29th November 2006
Nevertheless, if there’s another CD and another tour, I’ll be there, sure as eggs is eggs. This is UFO, goddamnit!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
29th November 2006
About the photos...
The Academy 2 was so the wrong place to put UFO; it was packed front-to-back, side-to-side, top-to-bottom. I couldn't get anywhere near a good enough position to be able to take reasonable pictures, like, say, at the Wonderful Wolverhampton Civic Hall, one of the most photo-friendly, and generally awesome venues I've ever been to. What's more, I couldn't even see the drum kit, never mind Andy Parker, and Paul Raymond is always in semi darkness on the opposite side of teh stage from where I am. Doesn't he like me? Still, needs must when the Devil drives and I came up with the odd good snap.
Speaking of the Dark Lord, I have to go and sacrifice a virgin..
