19/3/2010 Zodiac Mindwarp, and an unexpected guest...

Subject	Zodiac Mindwarp, and an unexpected guest...
PostedDate	3/19/2010
	Rather a bizarre night at a venue I've never been to before. Pipeline is a rock bar near Liverpool Street station, but rather an odd place. For a start, it doesn't look much like a 'rock' bar due to the decor - it's mostly white instead of the usual black. It's very much a rock themed place in spite of this - check out coolest gents toilet door I've ever seen: There are quotes from 'Ace Of Spades' painted on the wall too - someone is obviously a big Motörhead fan! The clientelle is a very odd mix as well. There are city 'suits' who've obviously dropped in for a drink after work nearby - who knows, maybe they even like rock music in spite of their innappropriate attire? There are the usual rockers as you'd expect, chavs too - and gay nazis! A girl tells me later that the 'gay nazi' is actually a copper! Another surprise for a rock bar or music venue - they actually have a selection of real ales on tap! I'm starting to like this place.  The main reason I'm here is to see the infamous Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction. There are some other bands on earlier - G'N'R tribute act Guns 2 Roses (who are pretty much as you'd expect) and a terrible band who get up just to play one song. Badly. After they have murdered 'Ace Of Spades' it's time for Nemhain. They've certainly polished up their act since last time I saw them and the lineup changes have produced a much tighter band. Can you spot the musician who looks like he's in the wrong band? Finally it's time for the headliners. Zodiac Mindwarp & Co are still a good band - in fact they are particularly good musicians - some of whom can be seen playing with rock rock covers band Metalworks. Cobalt Stargazer (among his other musical alias's) still deploys his trademark customised 'Sleazgrinder' guitar. The band's set includes some new material from their latest album, as well as the expected hits like 'Backseat Education' and 'Prime Mover'. However, the night still has one more suprise in store. The last song in the set is their 'biggest' song - but tonight it's not sung by Zod himself. A startling figure bounds onto the stage to take lead vocals on 'Prime Mover'. None of us are sure exactly who he is at first, but he definitely has 'rock star' written all over him. He looks familiar from somewhere, and has the natural onstage charisma of an Alex Kane or Dave Lee Roth. Some people are born performers and just 'belong' on a stage, and this is definitely one of those people. Yes - it's Adam Ant! How the hell he ended up doing this in a small club type venue I don't know.  It was obviously planned beforehand though, and a few people were 'in the know' for sure. He might have only sung one song, but was a great performance! The guy may have had his problems over the last few years, but when he gets on a stage he has still got 'it' - that star quality and stage presence. Maybe he's plotting a comeback - there has since been another low profile appearance by Adam Ant at The Scala - with Rachel Stamp as his backing band. Some higher profile 'Adam Ant Pirate Metal Extravaganza' shows have now been announced, with another date at The Scala - which sold out in no time while I was without internet.  It will be interesting to see how these shows go... PS: A couple of nights later Adam Ant turned up at the Metalworks gig at The Monarch in Camden and sung 'Prime Mover' and 'Born To Be Wild' with the band!