Anyone of a certain age must surely feel a slight twinge of sadness at learning of the death of the former world darts champion Jocky Wilson. Back in the 1980s, he was the real face of darts for those of us who weren't proper fans, but enjoyed a bit of unlikely entertainment, especially if it had Sid Waddell commentating.
His death will presumably prompt retellings of the time when Dexys Midnight Runners were on Top of the Pops performing Jackie Wilson Says in front of a massive picture of Jocky. This tale is generally trotted out to prove how ignorant the BBC can be on occasion, so it's worth noting the real story: it was actually a joke on the part of the band, and the Top of the Pops crew went along with it.
Showing posts with label Dexys Midnight Runners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dexys Midnight Runners. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Monday, 13 February 2012
We Need to Talk about Kevin
I don't normally approve of old bands getting together again, let alone of them releasing new material as though we're interested in anything other than nostalgia.
But Dexys Midnight Runners are different. They released so little material - just three albums and a handful of non-album tracks - that anything would be welcome.
I first saw them back in 1980, supporting the Specials at the Lyceum, and saw them most recently a few years back for a reunion gig at the Festival Hall. And they're simply magnificent.
I've never experienced anything quite like that last gig - the sense of trepidation when the lights went down, as if the whole audience had stopped breathing so they could pray for Kevin Rowland, and then the sheer relief, the joy and the love, when he came on stage and was so evidently sane, sharp and on top of his game. And his image, dressed like a Marseilles sailor in the 1930s, was wondrous. Which is important, because this is Kevin Rowland we're talking about.
So I can't keep a huge grin from my face, as I hear the opening couple of minutes of the new Dexys album and realise that they still possess the kind of beauty that no one else gets near:
But Dexys Midnight Runners are different. They released so little material - just three albums and a handful of non-album tracks - that anything would be welcome.
I first saw them back in 1980, supporting the Specials at the Lyceum, and saw them most recently a few years back for a reunion gig at the Festival Hall. And they're simply magnificent.
I've never experienced anything quite like that last gig - the sense of trepidation when the lights went down, as if the whole audience had stopped breathing so they could pray for Kevin Rowland, and then the sheer relief, the joy and the love, when he came on stage and was so evidently sane, sharp and on top of his game. And his image, dressed like a Marseilles sailor in the 1930s, was wondrous. Which is important, because this is Kevin Rowland we're talking about.
So I can't keep a huge grin from my face, as I hear the opening couple of minutes of the new Dexys album and realise that they still possess the kind of beauty that no one else gets near:
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