11 November 2010 (gig)
14 November 2010
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 their hardcore 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.
(© Pic of John Altman by B. Clarke / 2010)
