In
1982 Britain was invaded by four men from
Jacksonville, U.S.A. Like the Four Horsemen
of the Apocalypse, those four desperadoes
of Blackfoot swept across the British
Isles taking all before them. This Dog
was lucky enough to take them on at Newcastle
City Hall, where part of this recording
came from. Until that night I had heard
of Southern Rock, and was the proud owner
of several 'Lynyrd Skynyrd' albums. I
had seen them blow my beloved ‘Rolling
Stones’ off the stage at Knebworth, and
then touring as support with ‘Golden Earring’.
I had seen 'The Skynyrd' just about finish
off the career of the Dutch band. I mean
how do you follow ‘Freebird’?
But on that dark and windy day in Geordie
Land (man, it blows a gale up there, freezing
my Southern English bones to the core)
seeing Blackfoot in the flesh, whipping
the notoriously difficult to please Newcastle
crowd into a frenzy, made me understand
what it was all about. Attitude. Before
I met Blackfoot I thought Jack Daniel's
was the President of Texas (well, I got
that bit right); Snakebites were what
you got from angry Anacondas; pussy was
an affectionate name for next door’s moggy;
and Tai-Wan, Tai-Pei, and Thailand were
all the same place. It was also about
that time that I realized how much my
parents had learned in between me being
14 and 21. (I just hope my young daughter
learns that her parents cannot actually
be as stupid as she thinks). Blackfoot
were the band that made a generation of
Geordies grow their hair long, wear Cowboy
boots, start drinking alcohol other than
Newcastle Brown Ale, and realize there
was a Rock 'n' Roll world out there aside
from ‘The Animals’ and ‘Lindisfarne’.
In other words it was an education, a
privilege, and a revelation to see these
guys go about their business. You knew
it was going to be a special night when
you arrived at the City Hall to see the
Blackfoot tour bus outside emblazoned
down one side, in big red letters, was
the legend ‘Liquor in the Front and Poker
in the Back’.
As soon as Blackfoot hit the stage they
owned the place. Unlike the neutron bomb
this bunch knocks the building flat and
leaves the people standing stunned in
awe. There was no warning. They just hit
the stage, plugged in, and mugged you.
In the middle of the stage was the huge
Ricky Medlocke - part redneck, part God
- as he belted out the lead vocals ripping
solos out of his axe with the venom mixed
with joy only a man completely in charge
of his Karma can do. Next to him sharing
lead guitar duties (there was no rhythm
guitar in Blackfoot, definitely two lead
guitars) was Charlie ‘Daddy Long Legs‘
Hargrett, high stepping out to the edge
of the stage to grin, nod, and leer at
the bewitched rabble. All out of our seats,
drunk on the heady intoxicating cocktail
of Rock 'n' Roll, Blackfoot was letting
us have.
As with all good bass players the most
sinister member of the band was the silent,
but deadly Greg T. Walker, who locked
each song down with his gut wrenching
bass. Then behind the bins was Jakson
’Thunderfoot‘ Spires, and if you really
need to find out why he was called Thunderfoot,
just listen to opening song 'Gimme, Gimme,
Gimme', and you know.
When you’re around these dogs you do
not want to come out with silly words.
So if you need to say anything spell it
like B.A.L.L.A.D.S., because there is
nothing like that in this band’s repertoire.
This is music to rock out to, let your
hair down, and let go - enjoy yourself.
The music has more teeth and venom than
a pit full of rattlers and once you've
been bitten you never want to find the
antidote. Do not expect any words of wisdom
in the lyrics, it’s all about being on
the road, drinking, passion, sinning,
and having a real good time. All of ‘Blackfoot’s
best songs are on this disc, on what has
to be the ‘livest’ recording ever released,
the audience becoming the fifth member
of the band. The final two songs of the
set 'Train Train' and 'Highway Song' (Blackfoot's
own version of ‘Freebird’) clocking in
at 15 minutes, are unstoppable and impossible
to follow, leaving the Geordie fans singing
the Newcastle anthem ‘Howay the Lads‘
to their new found heroes.
Wounded Bird Records have finally got
the rights to release this album worldwide.
Amazingly it was only given a limited
release back in 1982 as a British first-time
round on vinyl, but it has finally been
released on C.D. and a very good job Wounded
Bird have done with the production. It
still sounds as fresh as if it was recorded
yesterday. A must have for any serious
lover of Rock 'n' Roll.
Of course it was too good to last, but
that tour in 1982 Blackfoot's only headlining
tour of Britain will remain in the minds
of all that were lucky enough to see them.
Ricky Medlocke has now joined his brothers
in the re-formed ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd’ while
his old band mates play under the banner
of ‘The Southern All Stars’, America's
version of ‘Pop's Pattaya all Stars’.
Get some Blackfoot, we are unlikely to
see their like again.
Pawed
by Mott The Dog
Re-mastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
