Band

9th April 1985

Tower Ballroom; Birmingham

1985. Absolute excitement at seeing my favourite band of the time New Order play live.

This would be the first time I would see them. 

Took a train to Birmingham New Street with my friend Will. 

I was a nervous young chap at that time and not used to travelling about too much. 

Got to the venue and saw The Stockholm Monsters as support. Not quite sure what to make of them. 

Lead singer/guitarist having to slowly move his fingers from chord to chord on the fret board with the fingers of his other hand. Unconventional and not too tuneful either if memory serves. 

As the night went on we both began to worry that we would miss our last train (11pm). 

(Will's dad was meeting us in Worcester to take us the last leg home).

Our taxi arrived outside the venue. Still no sign. Just as we despondently made for the exit the lights suddenly went out plunging the hall into total darkness and the huge, booming chords of Sunrise came thundring through the PA. 

No words necessary; a quick 180 turn and back into the darkness. 

Sorry to whoever was driving the taxi that night; missed a fare. 

Such a great night. Stayed until the end. Well we had nowhere else to go. No encore (we thought). Hall was half empty when they came back on saying "this is for those who stayed". Straight into Confusion and the perfect close to a memorable night.

Ended up sleeping on Birmingham station in the waiting room at the end of the platform. Cold and damp but worth it.

(No doubt our regulation wear of raincoats and mohair jumpers kept us toasty) 

I bought a bootleg tape of the night a few months later. 

Have seen them several times since but nothing comes close. 

 

Thanks Will (wherever you are)