This review
of the London show comes from www.music-news.com
It was
a night full of nostalgia for fans of 70’s British hard rockers Heavy Metal
Kids, who introduced a new band line-up at their London debut.
To
get the evening going, London’s very own L.A.M.F. (a Johnny Thunders tribute
band) got the crowd into party mood. With Quireboy Paul Guerin on bass, the set
was comprised of L.A.M.F.s own material as well as various cover versions ranging
from ‘Chinese Rocks’ (originally composed by DeeDee Ramone) as well
as ‘Too Much Junkie Business/Pills’ (somewhat ironic, given the fact
that David Johansen and band played a London gig that same evening!).
Next
on stage were ex-Quireboy Guy Bailey’s new band The Peckham Cowboys (read
separate review). With L.A.M.F. playing beforehand and Phil Martini in the audience,
the night seemed to belong as much to the Quireboys clan as to the Kids.
Then
it was time for the much-anticipated Heavy Metal Kids (a name taken from the 1961
William S. Burroughs novel ‘The Soft Machine’) and being the main
act of the evening, they lured original fans as well as curious newcomers into
the venue.
Original band members Keith Boyce (drums), Ronnie Thomas (bass
& vox) and Cosmo (guitar) were proud to reveal the mega talented Justin McConville
(guitar, vox & keyboards), as well as the most appropriate frontman the band
could have wished for since the late Gary Holton... John Altman (aka 'Johnny Rio'
and EastEnders’ 'Nasty Nick')! While at first it seemed a little strange
looking at the stage thinking, “Here’s a well-known actor from a popular
soap…”, Mr. Altman turned out to be a worthy and forceful ‘replacement’.
The same can be said for McConville, cutting a lean figure that oozes rock.
This
October marks the 25th anniversary of Holton's death and with Altman having been
a friend of Gary's (plus having worked alongside him in the iconic film Quadrophenia),
he feels that being able to perform in Gary's place is the greatest form of respect
he could ever pay to his departed friend.
The
Kids treated their fans to a set that seemed to go on forever, playing a range
of tracks from their 1974 debut album ‘Anvil Chorus’ and the 1977
‘Kitsch’ album. So much for the nostalgic part. The band furthermore
performed songs from the more recent ‘Hit The Right Button’ album
(2003) as well as a selection from the forthcoming new album ‘Uncontrollable!’.
Wearing
a long black leather coat during the first few numbers, John Altman’s energy-driven
performance ensured that sweat was dripping in no time and the crowd lapped it
up (symbolically speaking of course). If the newly formed Heavy Metal Kids might
have been a little nervous about their London debut, then they sure didn’t
let on to it.
There were quite a few highlights during the set, one being
the wicked title track from the eagerly awaited ‘Uncontrollable’ album.
With its tongue n’ cheek lyrics (“My mother doesn’t like the
way I eat my bread and jam, she thinks I’m a delinquent but I don’t
give a damn. She’s the one who made me exactly what I am… Uncontrollable!”).
If the rest of the album sounds like this, the Kids should be on to a winner.
The night finished with the classic ‘Delirious’ and judging from the
applause, fans old and new took the revised Heavy Metal Kids rather serious indeed.
