Alton Towers, Staffordshire, UK,
July 4th, 1992
1992 That What Is Not Tour
John Lydon
John McGeoch: Guitar
Ted Chau: Keyboards & Guitars
Mike Joyce: Drums
Allan Dias: Bass
Set List:
Unknown in full...
Notes:
PiL were supporting James. Alton Towers is a fun park. James show was broadcast
on Radio 1, PiL was not. This was bassist Allan Dias' last ever show with the band...
Unknown if an audio / video bootleg was recorded
Gig Review
review by John Gorman, April 2004
© 2004 Fodderstompf.com / John Gorman
This is more of a story
than Just a review... I'd like to share it with people and I'd really
like it to be in memory of John McGeoch, I dedicate
this to him...
Some Days in Life are just Great aren't they ? Bit like the first time
you pick up your first electric guitar and try and play a chord. Like
many, I loved music, Big Time. I was heavily influenced by the Sex Pistols,
Public Image, and anything John Rotten did, said etc... Anyway this
is a great story and I hope you enjoy it....
The Year was 1989 and as massive music fan, and musician too, I remember
keenly reading Melody Maker every week, just waiting for some
news to be printed that Public Image were gain play ''Live'' again.
They hadn't been ''in town'' since 1987. It was Summer 1989, '9' was
out in the shops, around about June time if I remember correctly. I
opened up an issue of Melody Maker sometime around then and there
was a small bit about a possible gig at the Hammersmith Odeon in September.
Fucking great I thought, at last !!!! I was going to See PiL for the
first time and I couldn't wait...
I remember getting there
and going in, the band came on, Lydon was a true showman, excellent!
There were some amazing ''Fluorescent Backdrops'' used for the '9 Tour',
it was awesome. Lydon had a awful cold, but it didn't stop him and he
told us too... He continued to kick mutha fucking ass on stage with
a what can only be described as a truly great performance. While doing
so, McGeoch and Dias played ''Run-around'', having a great time with
their ''wireless Guitar / and Bass systems'' like they were loving it
big time ! I remember at one Point Allan Dias jumped Off stage (quite
a few times actually !) and was running up and down the right/hand side
of the seating area, he had fluorescent war paint on his face, far out
! It was a great Show, it rocked and I was hooked there and then.
By
1992, everything and anything PiL did was great and I loved it. Everything
Lydon did was great, TV shows, The Word with the interview with
that wanker Terry Christian. And yes, it was released, oh yes, it was
fucking excellent wasn't it?
'That What Is Not'
I want to add a bit about 'That What Is Not', 'cos it sort of got me
''Backstage''. I think this is the finest of all the PiL LP's. A true
piece of musical art. It's almost perfect in my view. McGeoch's work
added such an awesome sound to things and his playing is perfect. Allan
Dias, a great bloke added what, I thought was an excellent and almost
perfect balance to McGeoch's work with his bass. Anyway, about February
1992 I finally got my hands on 'That What is Not' and played it, very
very loud! I immediately thought ''My God, what the fuck is this?! It
was (and Still is) AWESOME ! I honestly could not believe how superb
this piece of work was, it really is...
The Lyrics are so positive, with Lydon drowning out any negativity that
many (try) to bring in life. Lydon addresses things head-on, while purposefully
and meaningfully stamping out his lyrics with anger, like a cigarette
under his boot. John McGeoch's guitar sound is fantastic on that LP,
it's an awesome sound and It kicks ass big time. And the best thing
is that it STILL sounds as fresh now, as it did back then, in my view,
it can-not-be dated. The songs were the best I'd heard and was nicely
surprised they'd gone for a more rock sound. Check 'Cruel', it is,in
a word, fantastic. The entire content, the lyric, it;s fucking perfect
I reckon! No pop song either. I think it is the best rock album of the
1990's (despite falling sales due to bad distribution and half-hearted
marketing by their label...)
The reason I mention all this is because it had a PiL "Fan Club"
address on inner sleeve didn't it? Anyway, I had a small Pro-Audio business
at the time, and being such a fan I kept writing to each member of the
Band ! (except Rotten, cos he'd wouldn't have liked that I'm sure).
Anyway, I kept sending the dudes letters, ''could I get a Backstage
Pass for one of the Shows? Guess What happened?
I got NO reply !
(as expected, he he!)
I didn't give up easily though, and as the tour dates approached for
the 'That What Is Not' Tour, I had to increase the Pressure ! I sent
a letter about the London T&C 3.05.92 gig, it was my last and final
attempt I think. I wrote again and It read...
''Ok that's it, I'm going to see The Cure instead'' ! (they were playing
same night in town).
Someone must of liked my sense of humour because about a week later
I got a phone call saying I was on the guest list for the London Show!!
Far out, I didn't believe it for days because I didn't take the call,
my Mum did (but it happened, TC, i.o.u.4 Life mate !). So folks, never
give up and always believe things can happen... I went, It was superb,
I met John McGeoch, we shock hands and chatted, I met Ted, I met Allan,
and I made a brave attempt to talk with Johnny. He was ok to me, he
didn't know me, so he wasn't sure, anyhow, I met him and I still can't
believe it all happened...
Fantastic!
After London the tour set off around America, then would return later
to UK for Reading 92. But before this, Lydon had been asked play a double
bill with James at Alton Towers. I think if I remember correctly, Tim
Booth kept trying to talk John into doing the show. In the end he did,
and it was set for July 4th 1992. Anyway, I was very lucky once again
to be Invited to a second show.
We arrived, it was overcast, bit of rain, but fuck that, it didn't matter!
I'd arranged to stay in the North Stafford Hotel where John McGeoch,
Allan Dias and Ted etc were all staying. When I arrived I walked into
the hotel reception, I remember like it was yesterday, there was John
McGeoch, I went up to him and started talking to him, I had only met
him once and I'm sure he didn't remember me, but he still spoke to me
like we had known each other for months, he was a very friendly person
and a great guy.... Moving on, we left our hotel to head to Alton Towers
just a few miles drive. If I remember correctly, Galliano were due to
play about 3pm, but high winds brought down some of the stage backing
in rehearsals or something like that! It almost killed someone on Stage
I think! I can't remember fully, anyway, I think they cancelled and
pissed off!
By now I'd collected my ''Backstage'' passes from a kiosk Ted Chau had
told me to go to, he said, ''Don't worry dude, ya names on the door,
your coming in'' (in a Rock & Roll manner, of course). I collected
the two laminates and off we walked to the front of stage area, looking
for the stage access area. It was very funny, the backstage passes were
on the black string ropes round our necks, and as we walked past all
these young girls, they were asking me if I could take them Backstage
with us''? Of course we couldn't, but, it was great to do a 'Bill &
Ted's' type thing of holding up the passes and saying ''Sorry girls
access denied" to all of them!!! It was superb and I felt famous
for... umm... 5 minutes!
Anyway, the weather was still shite and so PiL were brought forward.
Just as we got backstage to see the show, Lydon and band had launched
into the set, with the awesome 'Love Song'. Lydon was wearing a truly
'Cool as Fuck' Chicago Bulls Red & Black Shell Suit. He Looked the
fucking Dogs Bollocks! With that amazing energy he brings, he then went
from left to right of stage grabbing at his bollocks like he does, racing
around in song, bringing the whole stage to life. It was amazing and
the crowd went fucking wild!! People were going mental, there were plastic
water bottles being throw up in the air!
The rest of PiL's performance shook all that watched it. They were such
a brilliant live act. They then kicked into 'Criminal', again another
good song with massive energy, giving Lydon chance again to fool around
some more, and perform at the very best I think I've ever seen him.
He was on top-form all day, it was Impressive stuff. Other songs I remember
were, 'Rules & Regulations' & 'Cruel'. I think Lydon delivered
'Rise' and again, the crowd went mental, joining him in the usual "Anger
is an Energy", 'Disappointed' was great too. It's been a long time
since this gig in July 1992, but I can honestly tell you I saw PiL do
something quite unique that day, PiL rocked big time, period.
They finished the set came off Stage and me and my mate shouted over
to Ted, "Hey Dude were here"! He greeted us like the great
bloke he is and then we all went to the backstage area where there was
a few porta-cabins put in for the bands on the day, a marquee or two
for food and drink etc, plus seating, and of course, that Rock Star
Fridge full of cold beer in the Porta-Cabin for PIL. I walked in the
door and John Lydon was sitting on a chair right in front of me, he
had a can of beer in his hand and was laughing and joking with John
McGeoch. I went up to Lydon put my hand out to him and Said, "That
was excellent, I'm with Ted...'' He looked at me with those eyes, paused,
I keep my hand out and kept eye contact (a brave move !) He had to ''change
hands'' cos his beer was in the wrong hand ! (Doh !) but we shook hands
and then I walked to the end of the Porta-Cabin a very happy man I can
tell you... (I've only just recently found out that Lydon doesn't shake
hands with everyone, because of headbutting etc, so he won't shake if
he doesn't know anyone). So I felt Very Lucky... Cheers John, I'll always
remember that, a big thanks dude, you made my day and I'll never forget
that...
Phew ! There you Go, it was a long story folks, but I'd like to end
with one final memory...
When PiL were Backstage, after a bit, while we'd all been talking and
that, I sensed that Lydon was gonna ''move'' along with all the others
in the band too. So I said to Ted that I'd call a taxi and meet them
all back at the hotel for drinks later. But at that moment, John McGeoch
said to me ''Don't be soft'' (or something like that) ''Come with us
in the Tour Bus'' and so we did! On the way back we all sat near the
back of the tour wagon with McGeoch singing all these daft, but good
old rock songs, he got all of us involved, singing away! It was fantastic,
he was the leader of the singing if you get me! John McGeoch was great
guy and I will always remember what he did for me on that day...
We all met up with Lydon at the Malt House Hotel where James were holding
an aftershow party for friends and family. It was great, we got drunk,
I talked with Allan, he's a crazy guy, well funny bloke, and a top man...
I sat with McGeoch and talked ''Music''... I asked him lots of questions
about being in The Banshees, what was it like? How did he get on with
them etc? He also told me a very funny story about how he'd had a tough
time sometimes, and found himself living above a Fish and Chip Shop. He'd
always smell them cooking fish in his sleep or something! He was a nice
man, and I enjoyed meeting him, I'm glad I did. I really loved Siouxsie
and the Banshees, so I was keen to talk ''Music'' with John, because
his history was vast. I enjoyed the things he told me, I felt lucky
to have met him. He will be missed... I
spoke with Rotten again and told him he was great on stage, he liked
that and we laughed! It was great party and we all sat around a table
till about 5am getting pissed! Lydon was the last man standing I think!
The Hangover was awful the next day but I tried to take on all the rides
Alton Towers had back then, I felt sick as fuck, truly awful, but, the
memory of the whole event was superb and still sticks in my mind like
it was yesterday. I was lucky enough, again, to go to Reading with them
all, minus Allan, who I was sad to hear had left, with Russell Webb
taking his bass, oops, I meant place!
Reading '92 was superb. Lydon is a true star, but never ever a rock
star, he'd hate that wouldn't he? He'd never wanna be Sting or Mick
Jagger would he? Lydon, you are one of kind and we won't see another.
Like you said on stage, and I watched him say it, from the side of the
Stage...
"There's not many good British things left are there? But, I'll
tell you what, I'm fucking one of them'' ! Then he said laughing, ''Not
bad for an Irish bloke eh?"!
John Gorman
PiL at Alton Towers, Melody Maker, July 1992 © unknown