Buzzcocks, Leeds Academy. Playing their first two albums back to back on the ‘another bites’ tour, the Buzzcocks were supported by the Lurkers. The Lurkers, with judging by the age of the band, only one original member – the singer/bass guitarist played for 35 minutes. Their songs were a mix of older songs, a cover of a New York Dolls song and some off their new album. I didn’t know their original material, and the newer material grabbed me the most. They were a good warmup, but the singer who talked quite a bit between songs, noted that punk would be better listened to after a few more beers … the gig started very early.

The Buzzcocks, playing Another Music in a Different Kitchen, Love Bites and some of the other favourite tracks not on those albums, kicked the gig to another level. The sound was up, the energy and the lights brought the gig to life. With two original members Shelley and Diggle, we had discussed earlier which original members were crucial to the band. For me the singers voice of Shelley, and for Ru & Dave both interested in drumming, the drummer – who wasn’t present. The young drummer though was good, very good. After a few songs from the lesser known album Another Music in a Different Kitchen, good to hear some great tracks that I didn’t know by the band, Ru headed into the mosh pit area. Gone were the ideas of standing at the back, and now we were in the centre of it, the tribal drumming getting our middle aged bodies moving – memories and sensations of gigs from many years earlier making us start to dance to the high energy music. Unlike some punk bands, the Buzzcocks hadn’t slowed down with age – the music sounding far better live, than on compilation CDs – it was great to be there. The mosh pit was largely thronged with skinheads battling away, they were going down, and off came the glasses into a pocket – only to be broken shortly afterwards. Maybe they weren’t skins, maybe just balding 40+ year old men, I couldn’t see clearly, but the energy was there and we battled together while keeping dancing. Shelley and Diggle were clearly loving it, Shelley with a very slight wry smile, and Diggle clearly very exuberant. Shelley had come on looking like a graying middle aged banker, but looks can be deceptive as he again reclaimed his position as a player of still very exciting music 20 years later.