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Things they Said About The Glambusters..........
Thursday, July 19, 2007
BBC Somerset Review
Review: Glambusters
John Higgins
The Glambusters played at the King Arthur pub in Glastonbury on Friday
9 June 2006. BBC Somerset reviewer John Higgins went along to the gig
to check it out.
The Glambusters effortlessly transported me back to the giddy days of
1973, when the almost cartoon-like glam-rock acts were a regular feature
on Top of the Pops.
This was a gender-bending time, when performers wore sparkly costumes
made from Bacofoil, ridiculously stacked heels, garish makeup, chest
wigs and bad mullets, and it was often unclear if the boys really were
boys.
Despite this glitz, the glam music itself was fairly simple stuff: crunchy-guitar
sounds delivered with catchy melodies, combining bubble-gum pop with
early rock 'n' roll.
This was a time when many of the best tunes were written by Nicky Chinn
and Mike Chapman, an incredibly prolific songwriting duo who churned
out by the bucket load stomping pop-numbers, that incorporated thundering
choruses, sub-tribal drumming and memorable sing-along parts.
Yet sadly, despite these and other timeless classics, it seems to remain
a largely ignored, and (I can't see why!) ridiculed genre, despite having
heavy influences on punk, hair metal, goth, and I suppose even recent
bands like The Darkness.
Ill-fitting flares and bare chests
With tongues planted firmly in cheeks, the Glambusters escorted the
King Arthur's punters on a nightmarish trip down memory lane, treating
us to a whopping 30-or-so numbers.
The male members, Nobby Holder, Matt the Hoople and Cozy Towel, with
their big heels, big haircuts, big attitude and big bellies, certainly
looked the part. The required ill-fitting flares, bare chests, gold
lame and awfully applied mascara ensured that, in the traditional style
of say Sweet or Slade, they managed to look like a couple of blokes
who'd just finished laying some Tarmac, and a lorry driver.
Meanwhile their female vocalist, Audri Quattro, who could model herself
on the only well-known female member of the incredibly male-dominated
genre, namely Suzi Quatro, alas reminded me of a less-glamorous version
of the spooneristic Kenny Everett character, Cupid Stunt, paired with
Cher during one of her bad-hair days.
Despite hitting the occasional flat note, and with little stage space
to perform in, the guys did a pretty good show of entertaining us. Two
sets of covers encompassed just about every song from the glam age (apart
from the ubiquitous Christmas singles, which still get dusted off and
released after 30 years, and any Gary Glitter numbers).
Bassist Nobby, who co-founded the band, is the most extroverted member,
pulling off a fine impression of Gene Simmons, while, if you squinted,
guitarist Matt bore a reasonable likeness to Slade's Dave Hill, but
maybe the hat helped.
Diminutive drummer Cozy, who is the backbone of the rhythm section,
and quite an adept drummer, was actually taller sitting down, although
luckily his platform heels and big hair made him look nearly four-ft
tall.
Glam-tastic
From the opening number, Ballroom Blitz, which in my opinion is the
number one glam-rock anthem, they included in their repertoire Monster
Mash, Little Willy, Mama We're All Crazy Now, Living Next Door to Alice,
I Love Rock 'n' Roll, Major Tom, Telegram Sam, School's Out, Tiger Feet,
C'mon Feel the Noise, and plenty more, before culminating in an excellent
extended version of Norman Greenbaum's one-hit wonder, Spirit in the
Sky.
During this number, Nobby and Matt took the opportunity to wander around
the pub with their radio mikes, even venturing behind the bar and eventually
outside the inn, for an extended jam in the road, that no doubt entertained
a few passing badgers, the odd rat, and maybe even a crusty or two.
From tonight's performance, these guys from the Yate area are glam-tastic
and definitely worth checking out should you get the chance, although
as Nobby told me after their set, this is really a hobby and they only
play maybe once or twice a month.
As far as tribute acts go, they don't take themselves too seriously,
yet are competent musicians.
They certainly got my toes tapping, my hips shaking, and encouraged
me to give my air guitar an... err... airing.
(John
Higgins. BBC Radio Somerset)
- "Thanks for standing in at short notice! I'm so glad the other band cancelled, you guys were brilliant!! I'm gonna book you for a gig every month!!! (former landlord of The Brunel pub Bristol)
- "you
look like my mother in law; she's been dead a year!" (Comment
by a guest at a wedding to Cozy)
- "I love your top!...And your belly!" "My dad loves that sorta music...So do I"(Very nice young lady, Cat and Wheel, Jan 08 aimed at Cozy)
- "My son got so excited when he knew you were coming back, I had to give him extra medication!" Landlady (Riverside Inn, Cheddar)
- "The GlamBusters - they gave me tinnitus!" Drummer (ex. Circle of Blues - co support band at the Wurzels gig, Sparkford Inn, Somerset)
- "The GlamBusters night is one of the highlights of the year ... everybody gets dressed up for the occasion, and the band adds to the atmosphere by wandering amongst the audience by virtue of their radio-controlled guitars and mikes. The band are now extremely well-known in the area, and played some of their very early gigs here." "Dressing up is all part of the fun", assured landlord Paul Chamberlain, adding "and it's compulsory for staff!" Landlord, Cat & Wheel, Bristol (extract from feature article "Moles Brewery Underground" issue 7)
- "Outrageous glam rock covers band with musical tastes & dress sense firmly rooted in '72. This technically brilliant but disturbed band spend as much time putting on their make-up as playing." Quote (taken from www.entsweb.co.uk)
- "She's Hot!" - A quote from a member of the audience referring to Audri Quattro. (Dowty Social Club, Tewkesbury - on the hottest day of the year!)
- "Are you straight?" (Directed at Cozy by a punter at the Borough Arms, Weston-Super-Mare - although, could probably be applied to any one of us!)
