29/7/2023 BelleFest @ The Underworld

This is a difficult one. The late Belle Star was a much loved and respected figure on our underground rock scene in  London: Drummer, mixer, producer, and DJ - he was great at all these things. His sudden loss was totally unexpected and came as a shock to our scene. Some people just knew Belle as a DJ - particularly at the Glam club Decadence, but he wore many hats. I knew him best as a musician and saw him in a quite a few different bands over the years - mostly in Lilygun and Maleficent in more recent times, and last in Bexatron. The latter band evolved into Glitter Kick who were his current musical focus and he had recently finished recording their debut album. Sadly he died before playing his first show with this new band, but he had finished recording his drum tracks. As well as his renowned skills behind the drum kit he was also an excellent sound engineer with a very good ear for getting a good mix.

Belle was a charismatic and popular figure on London's underground Glam Rock scene - and also a very glamorous figure in his own right - if he was in a room everyone would notice! He was well known for his strength and having a very loud snare drum sound, but also as a very nice and kind man - I have never heard anyone say a bad word about him. He will be greatly missed by many and his family and friends have arranged this event at a tribute to him.

Opening the evening were the wonderful Glitter Kick. Formed from the ashes of Bexatron. who also featured Greg and Belle later to form Glitter Kick. They were a fun band who I only saw once at the New Cross Inn but wanted to see again. Sadly they split up before I managed to as singer Bex decided she didn't want to do it any more. So the remaining members got a new singer called Roxi who I had seen a few times in the past fronting a band called The Transmitters. They rebranded as Glitter Kick and seemed to be about to step up to the next level. An album was recorded - with Belle recording and mixing as well as playing the drums. Then, before the band could play their first gig tragedy struck. And now with tragic irony Glitter Kick play their first ever live show without and as a tribute to their much loved drummer.

There is an unknown dep drummer, and no one I speak to seems to know who the extra singer is or why he is there. He seems totally superfluous and totally upstages Roxi - who is more than capable of fronting a band on her own.

Glitter Kick turn in a good performance - in spite of their extra member distracting from what they are really about. 

They are an excellent live act with a good selection of catchy pop/rock tunes and also an entertaining and engaging singer.

I very much look forward to hearing the band's completed album featuring Belle on drums - which has apparently already been recorded...

Next up are another (of many) bands of which Belle has been a part of.

Dark. Heavy. Goth. This is Nosferatu.🦇

Next things take on a different but very London vibe.

Flash Mob consist mostly of members of the infamous King Lizard and feature many faces well known from London's trashy Sleaze Rock scene of the first ten years of this century. We got a few minutes of rock mayhem and chaos - exactly as expected!

 

After the previous carnage things calm down with Anna Christina along with David Ryder Prangley of Rachel Stamp performing a touching acoustic song specially written as a tribute to their friend Belle.

Things soon get louder again when Belle's former band Killing Miranda take to the stage.

Their fearsome Goth/Industrial Metal noise blasts out into the confines of The Underworld and the band appear to be taking no prisoners.

Next on the stage it's David Ryder Prangley & Friends.

Many of whom are familiar, and some less so.

And finally DRP returns to the stage again with the band he is most associated with - Rachel Stamp.

I can think of no finer act to pay tribute to Belle - even though he wasn't actually in this band...

...but this band's drummer Robin Guy and Belle were great friends who often helped each other out with gear issues and depped for each other at gigs.

Rachel Stamp are a flamboyant and gripping live act with some banging pop/rock tunes.

I think Belle would have been proud and happy to see this big sendoff from his many friends.

A fine finale and salute to the much loved Belle Star - he will be greatly missed.