31/7/2015 The Vibrators @ The Hope & Anchor

I think this is my first visit to the Hope & Anchor this year and I find changes are afoot. It's business as usual in the ground floor bar and I'm pleased to find real ale on tap at reasonable prices. Downstairs where the bands play it's a different matter... The room is unrecognisable from my last visit and the bar has been moved yet again - it's now opposite the door as you go in and it's much smaller. This is not good when the room is busy. There is no sign of the old standby Newcastle Brown Ale either, so I have to keep running back upstairs when I want a drink. The stage has been moved to the other end of the room and is now equipped with a shiny new state-of-the-art PA system. The whole room has been completely refurbished in a similar 'modern' style to that seen in many pubs as they are refitted these days and turned into Gastro-pubs - and like those pubs all the old character that made them special has been stripped out of them. The old 'pub rock' vibe and character of this famous venue has been ruthlessly homogenised. I think this is the first event to take place since the refurb and they haven't even bothered to put signs on the toilet doors - leading to a lot of confusion for people who aren't familiar with the venue! Obviously a lot of money has been spent on modernising this small music venue - and yet the state of the toilets is disgusting! It's a pity they didn't sort them out while sanitising the rest of the place....

This sold out show is part of the Rockaway Beach series of club events, and tonight's event is in aid of the Rock 'n' Roll Rescue charity shop in Camden which is run by Knox of The Vibrators.

Ironically, although plenty of money has been spent bringing this well known venue up to date with state-of-the-art PA and lighting systems - the music from the bands tonight is very much from the past, with one band playing music from the early 1970's and the other band themselves dating from the mid 1970's. There is only one support band at this special 'One off' show - tonight we get to see the first ever performance from The Glitter Bombz.

If some of this new band look familiar it might be because they feature members from The Derellas and Healthy Junkies. The latter have a Glam influence, but this new band takes things right back to the classic Glam Rock days of the early 1970's with an all cover set.

It's 'Glam bam - thankyou mam!' all the way with this lot - with classics from Bowie, Slade, T-Rex, and even the Runaways. This is a lot of fun!

All too soon the Glitter Bombz set is over and the place fills up for the headliners.

I've seen The Vibrators a few times over the years, but never with anything approaching the classic original lineup that recorded the brilliant 'Pure Mania' album - a punk classic that is right up there with the first albums by The Clash, Damned, and Sex Pistols.

I actually think it is a finer collection of songs than any of them and 'Pure Mania' never got the recognition it deserved. However, the Vibrators set starts with the current three piece version of the band featuring drummer Eddie as the only original member along with ex-No Direction bassist Pete and punk rock 'n' roll journeyman guitarist Darrel Bath.

This version of the band plays some cuts from 'Pure Mania' as well as some of their more recent material - they are still touring and recording even now. Then comes the bit most of us have been waiting for - the newer members leave the stage to have their places taken by the people who wrote and recorded the band's debut album - it's the first time they have played together in 30 years!

Bassist Pat Collier doesn't appear in my pictures due to the crowd and the fact that he spent the entire set leaning against the wall at the side of the stage with an amused Charlie Watts style grin on his face. Singer/guitarist Knox was in the band until recently so is familiar with both the old and newer songs in the set. Like Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis hasn't played in the band for around 30 years and has been more recently doing in his words "that singer/songwriter acoustic shit". He says it's good to be back playing rock 'n' roll again though.

After blasting through a few of the old 'Pure Mania' classics like 'Yeah Yeah Yeah', 'Sweet Sweet Heart' and 'Baby Baby' etc Pat Collier leaves the stage and another 'special guest' is introduced - it's Gary Tibbs who stepped in for the Vibrators second album 'V2' after Pat left the band.

More old Vibrators classics are cranked out, including hit single 'Automatic Lover'. There are a few technical problems with Knox's guitar, and Ellis makes a remark about it being some rubbish one out of Knox's charity shop as he says he never has problems with his own guitars! To be honest at times it looks like a bit more rehearsal time would have benefited the band as there is a bit of messing about and time wasted between songs when they have problems with equipment. They play OK overall though and seem to be enjoying themselves. To be fair, in spite of the shiny new PA system none of the bands get a good sound tonight and I don't think it's their fault.

Knox remains on stage for a few songs as the newer members of the band return - Eddie remains behind the drum kit for the entire show as the only original member - he's a real powerhouse and really seems to be the heart of the band as the member with the longest service. He also appears to have weathered the years far better than the other band members and is the only one who doesn't seem to look much different to how he did back in the beginning.

For the last part of the show the band return to their current slimmed down three piece lineup - with Eddie still thundering away on drums. I don't really know any of the songs they are playing by this stage, and some them are virtually brand new. This is the tightest and hardest the band have played all night - as if they really have something to prove - that they are still valid. And as these three members continue to tour and record together they sure are. Darrel in particular is really on fire by this part of the night! It's good to see him getting back to his old punk rock roots, although he's always been a rocker at heart even though he has been down more of a (mostly electric) singer/songwriter path in the past. At this stage of the night the current Vibrators have turned into an out and out rock 'n' roll band and Darrel is playing his heart out - I've never seen him this fired up before. I can't help thinking 'What if....?' when I see this guy rocking out - he really should have been a big rock 'n' roll star and I don't think I've ever seen such a 'natural' player.

It's been a wonderful night and great to see the original members of The Vibrators back playing together - a sight I thought I'd never see after missing them first time round. This reunion was intended to a a one-off for this special charity show, but the band announced tonight that the original members will be getting back together for another show at a larger venue nearby in Islington next year...

PS: You will be able to see The Glitter Bombz much sooner than that.