Post by wingsj0 on Dec 27, 2005 21:42:31 GMT
MUD At The Brighton Dome UK Tour 1974 - By Paul Clakrson
I was 17 years old in 1974, having left school the previous year. At the time I was all long hair and flared jeans. I still loved all the music from the sixties, especially the Beatles but other groups and types of music were dominating my teenage years. I was heavily into what we called ‘Progressive Music’. Bands such as Genesis, Yes, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd covered the walls of my bedroom and belted out from my speakers.
I had already met my future wife to be, Pam and although we shared some music interests, Pam did like the chart groups. She liked the Sweet and Slade so during April 1974 I was taken aback when she asked if we could go and see Mud. Music credibility was quite a thing in the early 70’s, if you were a fan of the likes of Led Zep, how could you be seen going to a Mud concert. Well, this time love conquered credibility and as Pam was always willing to accompany me to see my ‘heavy’ groups, I felt it was the gentlemanly thing to do and go with her to see Mud.
Mud were Rob Davis on Guitar; Les Gray vocals; Ray Stiles on Bass and Dave Mount on Drums.
In the early 70’s the charts were a lot different to what they are today. Today the charts are aimed at the very young and there really isn’t any room for anyone else. As an example some of the number 1 songs during 1974 were by artists such as Slade, Donny Osmond, Wizzard, 10cc, The New Seekers, The Simon Park Orchestra and Peters and Lee. There was something there for the old and the young alike. My type of music very rarely made the charts as acts like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd concentrated mainly on albums.
When I saw Mud they were in the middle of their most successful chart period.I can remember on the night of the concert that the Dome was full. The audience were of all ages and there seemed to be a number of youngsters with Mud ‘scarves’. I had never seen this before, only at football matches. I have always tried to keep an open mind where music is concerned and although I had my reservations about this gig I was looking forward to it. I don’t really remember any of the less well-known songs of the evening but I do remember Mud playing ‘Tiger Feet’. It had recently been number 1 in the charts it was obviously well known and the audience loved it. The management at the Dome theatre in the early 70’s were very quick to ban or stop
any concert if the crowd did not sit down. On this occasion they continually asked the audience to remain in their seats for the entire performance, a bit different from today but it didn’t deter the crowd from dancing in the aisles, even me. Mud played all of their hits ‘Crazy’, ‘Dynamite’, and ‘The Cat Crept In’. If my memory serves me well I think that they opened the 2nd half of the show with ‘Born To Be Wild’. I was pleased that I went to see Mud, they were great and I had a good time.
The 70’s were a great time for music, acts as diverse as the Wombles to Queen were there for all to enjoy. Mud played a huge part in the 70’s charts and eventually had a Christmas number 1 in 1974 with ‘Lonely This Christmas’. This of course made sure that they would be played every Christmas on the radio along with Bing Crosby and Slade. Mud will not be forgotten for a very long time.
The Dome in Brighton also played its part in the music of the 70’s. Acts such as David Bowie and Led Zeppelin played there but little did any of these acts know that a few short weeks after the Mud concert a certain group from Sweden called Abba would win ‘The Eurovision Song Contest’ on that very stage and then go on to dominate the rest of the decade. That’s another story…..
Paul Clarkson
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.
I was 17 years old in 1974, having left school the previous year. At the time I was all long hair and flared jeans. I still loved all the music from the sixties, especially the Beatles but other groups and types of music were dominating my teenage years. I was heavily into what we called ‘Progressive Music’. Bands such as Genesis, Yes, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd covered the walls of my bedroom and belted out from my speakers.
I had already met my future wife to be, Pam and although we shared some music interests, Pam did like the chart groups. She liked the Sweet and Slade so during April 1974 I was taken aback when she asked if we could go and see Mud. Music credibility was quite a thing in the early 70’s, if you were a fan of the likes of Led Zep, how could you be seen going to a Mud concert. Well, this time love conquered credibility and as Pam was always willing to accompany me to see my ‘heavy’ groups, I felt it was the gentlemanly thing to do and go with her to see Mud.
Mud were Rob Davis on Guitar; Les Gray vocals; Ray Stiles on Bass and Dave Mount on Drums.
In the early 70’s the charts were a lot different to what they are today. Today the charts are aimed at the very young and there really isn’t any room for anyone else. As an example some of the number 1 songs during 1974 were by artists such as Slade, Donny Osmond, Wizzard, 10cc, The New Seekers, The Simon Park Orchestra and Peters and Lee. There was something there for the old and the young alike. My type of music very rarely made the charts as acts like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd concentrated mainly on albums.
When I saw Mud they were in the middle of their most successful chart period.I can remember on the night of the concert that the Dome was full. The audience were of all ages and there seemed to be a number of youngsters with Mud ‘scarves’. I had never seen this before, only at football matches. I have always tried to keep an open mind where music is concerned and although I had my reservations about this gig I was looking forward to it. I don’t really remember any of the less well-known songs of the evening but I do remember Mud playing ‘Tiger Feet’. It had recently been number 1 in the charts it was obviously well known and the audience loved it. The management at the Dome theatre in the early 70’s were very quick to ban or stop
any concert if the crowd did not sit down. On this occasion they continually asked the audience to remain in their seats for the entire performance, a bit different from today but it didn’t deter the crowd from dancing in the aisles, even me. Mud played all of their hits ‘Crazy’, ‘Dynamite’, and ‘The Cat Crept In’. If my memory serves me well I think that they opened the 2nd half of the show with ‘Born To Be Wild’. I was pleased that I went to see Mud, they were great and I had a good time.
The 70’s were a great time for music, acts as diverse as the Wombles to Queen were there for all to enjoy. Mud played a huge part in the 70’s charts and eventually had a Christmas number 1 in 1974 with ‘Lonely This Christmas’. This of course made sure that they would be played every Christmas on the radio along with Bing Crosby and Slade. Mud will not be forgotten for a very long time.
The Dome in Brighton also played its part in the music of the 70’s. Acts such as David Bowie and Led Zeppelin played there but little did any of these acts know that a few short weeks after the Mud concert a certain group from Sweden called Abba would win ‘The Eurovision Song Contest’ on that very stage and then go on to dominate the rest of the decade. That’s another story…..
Paul Clarkson
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.