The Brook, 466 Portswood Road, Portswood, Southampton SO17 3SD
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January 2010 @ The Brook

The former Dr Feelgood guitarist returns to The Brook after the triumphant Mad, Bad and Dangerous tour.

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When rock'n'roll was shaken from its pre-punk complacency by the emergence of Dr. Feelgood, it was their guitarist Wilko Johnson who excited most attention – not only for the startling violence of his stage performance (which was to inspire countless imitators and become one of the classic images of rock'n'roll) but also for his guitar style which combined the roles of lead and rhythm guitar in driving riffs and a stuttering machine gun frenzy which altered conceptions of 'guitar heroics'. As a songwriter too – from early Feelgood favourites like 'Back in the Night' to the power and poetry of 'Dr. Dupree' and 'Sneaking Suspicion' he has proved himself one of the best and most original exponents of rhythm'n'blues styles this side of the Atlantic. The list of '70s New Wave bands who acknowledge the influence of Wilko and the Feelgoods is extensive and includes The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Boomtown Rats, and across the Atlantic The Ramones and Blondie (who spent a whole night at a New York party wearing out their specially imported copy of the Feelgood's first album, 'Down by the Jetty').

After his abrupt departure from Dr. Feelgood in 1977 Wilko formed his own band, and over the next few years worked with several personnel of varying degrees of musical accomplishment and mixed moral character. In 1980, while continuing to work with his own 3-piece, Wilko entered the ranks of Ian Dury's brilliant Blockheads, co-writing writing several songs with Ian and featuring on the 'Laughter' album. Then in 1985 the Block's sensational and much loved bassist Norman Watt-Roy joined Wilko, and when Monti took over the drums in 1999, the classic Wilko Johnson Band had arrived. They have never been off the road since and have startled and blasted audiences from Helsinki to Madrid, Aberdeen to Istanbul, Toulouse to Tokyo. Monti's stool at the drums has recently been taken by the much revered Dylan Howe, also of the Blockheads, and this has raised the band to an even greater level of musical mastery and manic brilliance.

In 2008 the highly acclaimed film director Julien Temple set out to make a documentary film about the birth and all too brief phenomenon of Dr. Feelgood. 'Oil City Confidential' was premiered in October 2009 to very great critical acclaim and has lead to a recent frenzy of interest in Wilko, the eccentric star of the film.
Watch out! Some surprising developments are afoot....

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Mick Slacker & Co's tounge in cheek tribute act just gets better and better.

The BOG ROLLING STONES have earned a reputation as one of the most authentic sounding tribute acts around. Satisfaction's always guaranteed when these long haired boys come home to the Brook!

Their tongue in cheek humour, wigs, stripy trousers and boundless energy make them an act not to be missed. The question is.....would you let your daughter go???

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The Smyths

Formed in 2003 and impressing audiences ever since, The Smyths are an authentic & loving tribute to the music of their heroes, The Smiths.

During their first 18 months, The Smyths built their reputation by playing to sell-out crowds in many venues across London, including regular appearances at "Quarry", the celebrated club night for Smiths & Morrissey music.

2005 saw The Smyths widen their horizons and play to passionate audiences across the UK & beyond, including a successful tour of the Netherlands. They were invited to headline the world's first "Smiths conference" which saw hundreds of Smiths fans from around the world flock to Manchester for a weekend of Smiths activities. 2006 has seen The Smyths joined on stage by 80's legend Frank Sidebottom and return to packed audiences in some of Europe's premier venues

With a repertoire of hits from over 20 years, the band's set ranges from the early Smiths singles such as "What Difference Does It Make?", "This Charming Man" & "How Soon Is Now" all the way up to hit songs from Morrissey's triumphant "Ringleader Of The Tormentors" album. A Smyths concert will feature all those hits as well as B-sides, album tracks and any other Smiths or Morrissey song the crowd request that night.

The Smyths are a brilliantly accurate & thrilling live tribute act.

Within years 'Blue Monday' was born! This seminal release was to become the biggest selling 12" single of all time every year until CDs were invented. In an appropriately altruistic move, the money made from this single was donated to local charities including a project building a home for Spanish children. The band also used some of the money to fund the development of an innovative all-in-one inflatable boiler suit for the 1987 Olympic Gymnastics Team. Initially these efforts were met with ridicule, but then later – derision and scorn. Fortunately the accompanying backing music went on to chart as the seminal 'True Faith'. The next two years were spent learning how to take drugs.

After the surprise success of the seminal comedy record 'Fine Time', New Order had found a niche and were on top of the ball. The following year they went on to invent rap music with the release of their only number one hit – the seminal 'World In Motion (St Beardos Fire)'. A true crossover hit, appealing to both New Order fans and novelty football record buyers. However, this could be considered the pinnacle of their achievement as without the services of Des Walker and comedian Dave Allen they've never since matched this success.

The next three years were spent denying accusations that the band had split up. This was emphatically disproved with the release of the seminal hit 'Regret'. Then they split up.

After seven years of petitions, threats and court actions, New Order were finally forced by the public to stop releasing solo albums and get back together again to inspire and innovate yet another generation. And the seminal album 'Gut Ready' proved to be their best return to form yet. Yes! New Order back in their pomp !

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The World's Only Official Live Tribute Band To Marc Bolan & T.Rex

CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF MARC BOLAN'S 65TH BIRTHDAY &
COMMEMORATING MARC BOLAN'S 35TH ANNIVERSARY
1977 - 2012

On 16 September 1977 the world lost one of it's most original, flamboyant and charismatic rock'n'roll stars.  Marc Bolan's life was cut short after that fateful early morning car accident which would end his life - he was still only 29 years old.  Although Bolan released many successful singles and albums throughout the 1970s, two songs epitomise Bolan's status as the ‘King of Glam' – ‘Telegram Sam' (which sold 500,000 copies within the first two days of release), and ‘Metal Guru', both of which were included on the iconic album in 1972 called ‘The Slider'.  Later in the year, on 8 September 1972, one of his most memorable and distinctive records that would inspire future generations was also released, entitled ‘Children of the Revolution'.  40 years on, the song has become legendary, along with the name Marc Bolan….

T.Rextasy have now been gigging around the world for 20 years, a career that ironically out lives Marc's very own T.Rex.  The band are now accepted as the world's only official live tribute band dedicated to Marc Bolan & T.Rex, and the only band endorsed and approved by Marc Bolan's family, estate, original        ex-members of T.Rex, and Bolan's catalogue management.  Due to their passion, musical ability, longevity, and attention to detail, they are consistently described by many as ‘beyond the boundaries of tribute'.

They have, with their ‘Marc Bolan' doppelganger lead singer/lead guitarist, Danielz, signed with Columbia Records, Madman Records, and Liberation DVD, won the accolade of ‘Best Live Tribute Band in the UK on BBC1, and performed at the original Billy Elliot premiere party, filmed for ‘Arena' on BBC TV.  Over the years they have toured around the world from Europe to Japan and have performed at many Arena venues in the UK (such as Wembley Arena, and Birmingham's NEC). They have played alongside many of the 1970s original contemporaries such as Wizzard, Cockney Rebel, Slade, Sweet, and Ian Hunter, to name a few. In September 2007 they played to 40,000 at the BBC Proms Night at London's Hyde Park, and later headlined their own sell-out concert at the Shepherds Bush Empire with their special guests including Marc Almond (Soft Cell), Gloria Jones (Marc's girlfriend songwriter/singer), and Shakin' Stevens.  

The band have also accepted invitations from ex-members of T.Rex such as Mickey Finn (original percussionist), Marc's son Rolan Bolan, and Bowie/Bolan producer Tony Visconti, to play alongside them in past special anniversary concerts.  Dino Dines (original keyboardist), a long serving member of T.Rex even joined T.Rextasy and remained with them until sadly passing away a few years ago…the list goes on…

Expect T.Rextasy to play all of Bolan's biggest hits, such as ‘Ride a White Swan', ‘Jeepster', ‘Telegram Sam', ‘New York City', ‘Debora', ‘Teenage Dream', ‘Hot Love', ‘20th Century Boy', ‘The Groover', ‘I Love To Boogie', ‘Get It On', and of course ‘Telegram Sam', ‘Metal Guru', and ‘Children of the Revolution'.  The band plays totally live without the aid of any backing tracks, recreating the music, performance and excitement of those heady and outrageous times of glam rock. 

Truly a rock'n'roll concert for all ages - if you would like to know exactly what a Marc Bolan concert was like in the 1970s, this gig is for you!

T.Rextasy – awarded the accolade of ‘The Best Live Tribute Band in the UK' by BBC1 TV.

 ‘They're the closest you're ever going to get to the real thing'
- Bill Legend (original T.Rex drummer)

‘T.Rextasy are the tribute act who break all the rules by being bloody brilliant.  Danielz is an exact replica of Marc, he's uncanny. 
- The Independent on Sunday

‘Danielz is a curator of Bolan's life, a perfectionist protector of the legacy – T.Rextasy play with a poignant, flamboyant skill.'
- The Observer

"Danielz looks and sounds uncannily like Bolan and has dedicated his life to the man" – The Times

"Danielz is more than a career lookalike.  Here we have a serious guitarist with the animal grace of early Bolan and the clear unequivocal love of the music"
– The Stage

"Danielz just freaks me out!"
– Mickey Finn (original T.Rex percussionist)

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Get Dexter

Get Dexter are a 4 piece Indie/Pop band from Southampton, formed in early 2007 but started seriously in early 2008. The band has performed at many venues across the area and 2010 is going to be the year for seeing newer and bigger places. With reviews from around Southampton telling the public to look out for this band in the future, and being compared to such high acts as the Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand and even the Beatles, you're sure to not be disappointed by their highly energetic performances and great musical ability. The band is Charlie James, Rob Franklin, Ben Clift and Reece Davies.

Melodramas

IN-CONT-IN-ENT . . . ? ! ! It's more like which continent in this instance….

It would be fair to say these boys were somewhat apprehensive at the thought of playing 3 continents in one month, having never gigged outside of their native Hampshire before! As the worlds already met them… we thought it only right that we introduce to you:

Colossal in Kuwait …. Auspicious in Australia .… Superlative in Southsea
Everything about this band is as dramatic & stylish as their name suggests. In the last month alone ,this band of young English gentlemen, who just happen to span the Southampton / Portsmouth divide with some gusto.. (two from each City) have, by invitation, played Festivals in Europe, Asia & Oceania . . . .

Having formed less than 18 months ago & never having played outside a Hampshire venue, let alone a festival, they took on their incredible worldwide debut with a class that has left industry and fans alike Agog and aghast

It's been a dramatic year... "These guys are incredible, it's sunshine music. It's upbeat and just makes me want to clap my hands.They've got so much energy on-stage, I just know they're going to be huge" BBC Radio One

"Raising two fingers to the sloppy and arrogant sounds of bands like Babyshambles and Larrikin Love, Melodramas are raising the flag for smarter and better artists. Displaying truly classy sound, they are certainly one of the better bands out there" www.rockpulse.co.uk

"Frontman Matt Woolway has the rock star swagger down pat and the band have the tunes to back it up. An enigma of a line up" www.callupontheauthor.com

Melodramas' short story has, unsurprisingly, been dramatic. Having formed in the summer of '08, the band decided to test their material at the prestigious 'Showcase' competition, even though they had never previously played live. After victories in the heats and semi final, they were crowned best new band of 2008 in front of a 600 capacity crowd (only their third show).

An early demo recorded during the competition sold out immediately and the band showcased their extended talents with a DIY video for one of these tracks (Pretty Little Pictures, budget of £10.50).
In a continuation of this theme, the band insisted on hand-making all the cases for their début release, when offered a deal by indie label Jelly Maid Music. Melodramas also insisted on the tracks being recorded live. The label agreed on both points. With the help of kind words from the press, EPone sold out.

Following shows with major label artists such as Flamboyant Bella and The Strange Death of Liberal England, Melodramas were invited to play three continents in under a month with appearances at SouthseaFest (UK), KuwaitStock (Kuwait City) and One Movement Festival (Perth, Australia). The latter also included an exclusive set for Rolling Stone.

Yogo Kid

Yogo Kid are a four-piece group from Winchester and surrounding hellholes. Growing up on the bad streets of King Alfred's capital has given them a mean, medieval demeanour, which they bring to their music, however with a distinct absence of lutes.

They blend Metal, Blues, Jazz, Pop and half a pound of self-raising flour to create powerful and catchy tunes and deliever them straight to your ears.

Thinking For Tuesday

"Well crafted and catchy with an experimental and diverse edge."

THE BAND
• Karen Conway: Lead Vocals
• Tom Langston: Guitar & Backing Vocals
• Will Jenkins: Guitar & Backing Vocals
• Barny Booth: Bass
• Chris Andrews: Drums

Thinking For Tuesday are a melodic rock band formed in November 2006 thanks to the wonders of the internet and a friendship formed around music and a love of guitars. Each member joined following a history of playing in different bands with the exception of Karen, who made the break from musical theatre to write rock music and has never looked back.

Their combination of catchy vocal lines, impressive instrumentals and a vibrant live set, has earned them a number of credible support slots in the past and a building reputation throughout London and the South. The band boasts a repertoire of radio-friendly songs with an innovative edge thanks to their range of influences.

With the release of their debut album, Holding For A Reason, in June 2009, the band are going from strength to strength.

Originally formed in 1954, then called the Swingsters. A while later they were joined by Wayne Henderson and Hubert Laws who, alongside Joe Sample became known as the 'Jazz Crusaders' .

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Formed in 1994 to keep the music playing on, and it is what the name implies - the original line-up consisted of the band that played Lola (apart from Ray and Dave), together with singer/guitarist Dave Clarke. The current line-up is the band that played Come Dancing, still with Dave Clarke covering for the Davies brothers.

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The iconic British rock band, The Kinks, are often cited as one of the most important and influential rock bands of all time.

Their first hit, You Really Got Me, in 1964, broke new ground with driving power chords and Dave Davies' distorted guitar sounds, and created a template for many bands to follow in a rock and roll development which led variously to heavy metal, new wave and grunge.

Later work saw the band's style change to more melodic songs, highlighting Ray Davies' lyrical and observational skills in songs like Sunny Afternoon, Dead End Street and Waterloo Sunset.

Although the band's popularity in the UK waned in the 1970s, they found new commercial success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and returned to the UK top 20 in 1983 with Come Dancing. The Kinks continued as a recording and gigging band until 1996, when the Davies brothers went their separate ways with solo careers.

During the band's 32-year career, there were some changes in personnel, Pete Quaife, the original bassist, was replaced by John Dalton in 1969, and keyboard player John Gosling was added in 1970. Following the two Johns' departure in the late 1970s, Jim Rodford became the Kinks' bassist (after a short tenure by Andy Pyle) and Ian Gibbons took over on keyboards. Original drummer Mick Avory left the band in 1983, to be replaced by Bob Henrit.

The Kast Off Kinks formed in 1994 to keep the music playing on, and it is what the name implies - the original line-up consisted of the band that played Lola (apart from Ray and Dave), together with singer/guitarist Dave Clarke. The current line-up is the band that played Come Dancing, still with Dave Clarke covering for the Davies brothers.

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Back by popular demand, after their sell-out show last year, No Jacket Required, the UK's ultimate Phil Collins Tribute, bring their spectacular show to The Brook, featuring a full Brass Section, Percussion and Backing Vocalists, re-creating the excitement of the 80's & 90's stadium shows.

 "One of the best shows we've seen in years"……. "It's almost not right to call them a tribute act, they're so much like the real thing"……..just two of the comments from people who saw them at their sell-out show on Valentine's Night @ the Hawth in Crawley.

They play all the Phil Collins hits from down the years, Against All Odds, You Can't Hurry Love, Easy Lover, In The Air Tonight – you know them all - and they even throw in some Genesis too!

Tours have taken them as far afield as Luxembourg, headlining a festival in front of 5,000 people, and touring the UK to sold-out theatres.

Everyone who has seen them on previous tours has raved about their authentic re-creation of the stadium shows of the 80's and 90's, which saw Phil Collins become one of the decade's biggest-selling artists with worldwide hits such as Another Day In Paradise, You Can't Hurry Love and the classic In The Air Tonight. No Jacket Required ARE the UK's ultimate Phil Collins Tribute band.

The line up is exactly the same as how Phil presented his live shows, with a full brass section, percussion and backing vocalists. "One of the best shows we've seen in years"……. "It's almost not right to call them a tribute act, they're so much like the real thing"……. just two of the comments from people who saw them at their sell-out show on Valentine's Night at The Hawth, Crawley, West Sussex last year.

"It's a full two-hour show which features all the hits, plus a few album tracks from down the years – and we throw in a bit of Genesis too!", said Collins soundalike Dave Whitehouse.  Dave is now in his tenth year of "being" Phil Collins, making him Britain's most established tribute vocalist to the former Genesis frontman.  From his vocal style to his on-stage mannerisms, Dave's performances capture the powerful and emotional qualities of Phil Collins, while his stage presence has reminded audiences everywhere of the 'Golden Years' of the multi-award winning singer and songwriter.

The No Jacket Required History

Drummer Graham Goacher, a long-term "serious" fan of Phil Collins and his music, first raised the idea for the band back in 2002. He approached two other music colleagues, guitarist Vic Chase and bass player Chris Peddie-Burch, and the band was born.

When it came to the keyboards role, Kevin Stuart was always going to be the man for the job. All three had already worked with Kevin on other musical projects and so he was the natural choice. Kevin's work with a singing four-piece also meant that he brought some invaluable backing vocal expertise to the group.

Together, the four members worked on the structures and sounds of the songs from Phil Collins' album Serious Hits... Live! until the foundations of a show were in place. They were just missing a Phil Collins!

The band next approached lead vocalist and Phil soundalike Dave Whitehouse, who was already well known on the tribute band circuit as the frontman for the Genesis tribute Invisible Touch since 1998. Having seen him perform in Chiddingfold, Graham and Vic knew that Dave was the final piece of the jigsaw, and he was thrilled to complete the line-up of the core band.

The sounds and atmosphere of the massively successful eighties and nineties tours by Phil Collins was faithfully recreated with the addition of the NJR Horns in the Spring of 2003.  With this complete line-up, No Jacket Required had become a ten-piece band and were ready to take the show out to the general public.

In the summer of 2005, Dave was approached by Opus 78, a Big Band in Luxembourg , to front their tribute show to Phil Collins, a show later transmitted twice on TV in mainland Europe.

No Jacket Required are well-established and still progressing – featuring the country's most established Phil Collins tribute vocalist, a superb band with backing vocals, a four-piece horn section and now also a professional percussionist. They have been performing Phil Collins' shows for over three years and sell out venues across the UK. And as you have just read, they are as experienced a live band as you could wish to see on the tribute circuit. As a fan said to us after the sell out Capitol Theatre show in Horsham recently, "To call you a tribute band is not a fair description – you're so professional, you're as good as the real thing!".

The band is constantly adding to their repertoire of authentic arrangements, and this year is no exception, with new numbers being added to the shows, and brass enhancements to some of the Genesis numbers.

"Backed byan outstandingly accomplished cast of musicians, for over two hours No Jacket Required gave a committed, dazzling and highly entertaining display which exceeded my highest expectations.  This was a Seriously Fabulous evening!" – David Dunnington, Genesis Forum.

So that's the No Jacket Required story so far. We're sure though, that there's a "long, long way to go…"

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Article Taken from the marvelous Wikipedia - With Thanks

Arriving on the back of punk rock and a gymnastic performance on The Old Grey Whistle Test, his first single, the half-spoken love song "Really Free" reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart. It would be his greatest success for some time. The song earned him a five album deal with Polydor Records, who viewed him as a punk rather than merely an eccentric. His first album, recorded with Wild Willy Barrett, was produced by Pete Townshend but sold only fitfully. The follow-up singles fared no better despite some imaginative promotion, which included an offer for Otway to come to a buyer's house and perform the single if their copy was one of the few from which the vocal had been omitted. Otway's and Barrett's only other UK chart success came in July 1980 with "DK 50-80", a modest #45 hit.

Turning solo, and despite poor record sales, his live audience remained loyal, due to Otway's manic energy and the very real possibility of physical injury during renditions of songs such as "Headbutts". When his music career faltered, the resourceful Otway diversified by co-authoring a play, Verbal Diary. He created a role for himself playing a disorganized, likable twit, and by playing himself to perfection, he found other work playing the same character in commercials on the television.

His 1990 autobiography, Cor Baby, That's Really Me (subtitled Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure) was a study in self-deprecation, and his touring continued to sustain him. Within weeks the book outsold almost all of his albums. In 1992 Otway appeared at GuilFest. In 1993 he was able to draw 2,500 fans to a gig in London and, in 1998, 4,000 celebrated his birthday with him at the Royal Albert Hall, coinciding with the release of Premature Adulation, his first album of new material for over ten years.

By then, Otway had realised he could use his fanbase, who were in on the joke, to engage in minor publicity stunts. A well-orchestrated grassroots campaign saw his "Beware of the Flowers Cause I'm Sure They're Going to Get You Yeah" voted the seventh greatest lyric of all time in a BBC poll. In 2002, when asked what he wanted for his 50th birthday, he requested "a second hit". A concerted drive, including a poll (scrutinised by the Electoral Reform Society) to select the track, saw "Bunsen Burner" — with music sampled from the Trammps song "Disco Inferno" and lyrics devised to help his daughter with her chemistry homework — reach number nine in the UK Singles Chart on 6 October, and earned Otway an appearance on Top Of The Pops, BBC Television's flagship popular music programme. To encourage fans to buy more than one copy each of the single, he released three different versions. The flip-side of "Bunsen Burner — The Hit Mix" was a cover of "The House of the Rising Sun" recorded at Abbey Road Studios and featuring 900 of his fans on backing vocals, each of whom was credited by name on the single's sleeve. Thanks to this second hit he has now been able to release his Greatest Hits album. Commenting on the fact that the title of this album is now in the plural, Otway said that he was very proud of it, having "finally got it (the 's') on the right side of Hit".

Otway currently tours as a solo act; as a duo with Richard Holgarth (also of Eddie and the Hot Rods); and often with his Big Band which includes Murray Torkildsen, Seymour, Adam Batterbee and guest keyboard player Barry Upton. Throughout 2005 and 2006 Otway teamed up with The Hamsters and Wilko Johnson as part of The Mad, the Bad & the Dangerous tour. A DVD of the tour was released in 2007.

He also delivers occasional (humorous) lectures on the theme, "Making success out of failure".
A world tour was planned in October 2006. Otway, his band and 300 fans were to embark on a world tour with gigs in Las Vegas, Sydney, Shanghai and Dubai. However, due to insufficient numbers (150 signed up) the tour was cancelled.

Otway rejoined Wild Willy Barrett for a UK tour from August to October 2009.

Otway now has a motorcycle club of dedicated fans called Beware of the Flowers MCC. Members are all Otway fans that also ride bikes.