Diamond Head: The Limelight Club, Crewe 11/07/01


It's Acoustic...a review by The God of Thunder

I have to confess that, as a fan since The White Album's original vinyl release, an acoustic Diamond Head gig initially filled me with trepidation. I wanted to go along and see what was what, but it didn't seem quite right and I wasn't sure that it would be the same as I remembered.
As a precursor, I excavated my early '80s memorabilia from the box in the basement where my wife allows me to keep those things. Looking at my red, Diamond Head sweatshirt (which is four years older than my eldest daughter!) wondering how the Hell it ever fit me, I remembered the last time I saw them live. Actually, it was two times - one pretty much right after the other, in the summer of 1981: the first in Bradford, at St George's Hall; the second, at Tiffany's, in Leeds.
I remember, going to the first gig because I had "The White Album", and Borrowed Time had been released - I was heavily into going to see live bands then as now -. and I was impressed how good they were live. Whilst Colin Kimberley and Duncan Scott kept order and provided a strong backbone of rhythm, Sean Harris' vocals soared (and were quite astonishingly good compared to many of his contemporaries) and Brian Tatler's white Flying V chugged one minute and howled the next, always controlled and precise. The resulting overall sound showed a maturity way beyond their years and Diamond Head seemed destined for greatness.
The second time I saw them, it was in a much smaller, hotter, sweatier venue and they were absolutely electric. I got a spot, up front, just to the right of centre-stage. Next to me was a young lad about my age, who was really into the band, head banging so hard throughout that gig that I was sure he was going to split his head open on the stage. He was so into it, that that particular image has remained with me, in spite of all the concerts I've been to, and all the head banging I've seen. Now, twenty years later, talking to Brian, after last night's show, (just as I did twenty years ago) I mentioned the Tiffany's gig and he told me that that particular show was the first time that one Lars Ulrich saw Diamond Head live. Now, I don't remember what the young lad next to me looked like, all I remember is that he had a great night of much head-banging!
However, I have taken a major detour along Digression Boulevard and now, I must take a left, back onto Reality Drive, and get back to the present before you all ossify.
Twenty years later: The year 2001. Crewe - a town known for its railway station and...well, it is known for its' railway station. The Limelight Club. The band take to their stools behind the video screen, which starts to retract, the lights come up and, three men with acoustic guitars begin to play a song which I do not recognise. I check myself. Diamond Head? Yes, I'm in the right place. These chaps do look like Sean Harris and Brian Tatler, and the other fellow must be Floyd Brennan, this is Diamond Head. And then, I recognise the words...I'm listening to "It's Electric"! Oh, I don't know about this...I'm feeling major weirded out by this point.
The song ends, the cognoscenti clap, everyone else follows after a slight time delay. It is very disorienting at first. The next song "Lightning to the Nations" is not quite such a shock. By now you're getting a feel for what is happening. They have not just sat down turned off the amps and performed the songs "unplugged", they have put a great deal of time, effort and care into rearranging and re-inventing their material. And you know what? It bloody well works! Once the weird effect of not being able to recognise anything when they start to play it, you actually start to get into the whole effect and it becomes a voyage of rediscovery and it is absolutely amazing.
As the set progressed, I found myself becoming more and more entranced by this treatment - I knew the songs, yet I didn't. A stunning "Out of Phase" was followed by "In The Heat Of The Night", "To The Devil His Due", a virtually unrecognisable "Sucking My Love", an absolutely awesome "Ishmael", "One More Night" and the highlight of the show, "Makin' Music", before finishing off with "Home" and "Run".
After some insistent cheering, they returned and treated us to an impressive new song "Forever 16" which, if you are of a similar age to the band members, you understand the words, perfectly. The evening was, suitably, brought to a close with a breathtaking rendition of "Don't You Ever Leave Me."
After a short while Sean, Brian and Floyd came out to mingle with the fans, sign albums, posters (and in my case, a serviette) and share their chip butties - like the true gentlemen they are.
There are plans afoot for a CD of the acoustic material, a reformation of the original line-up for a special 25th Anniversary show, and more live, acoustic shows. At the moment, they are doing these shows because they are enjoying it and, to judge by the crowd in Crewe, so are the fans. But, make no mistake, the performance may be acoustic, but "It's Electric", make no mistake about that.

Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
Thursday, 12 July 2001







Thanks to Mathieu Deflem for the above photos. For his full set of pictures visit his home page.