Here's another set of pictures from the archives that I thought were long gone.
This was the first UK date of the 2003 Euro tour. The first UK date since 1993 in fact. I couldn't believe my luck when these gigs were announced.
I got into the band in 92, as a 13 year old with no interest in popular music, and depleting interest in a lot of the rock and metal I had been listening to previously this was just what I'd been looking for. One year later they were gone.
In all fairness this may not have been one of the 'classic' line ups. The two greats for me were the Kings Of Punk line up and the last line up before the split in 93, but I didn't mind a great deal. At this point Pig was still in the band but not in a touring capacity, it would have been nice to have seen him also.
My (now) wife was visiting me from her home town of Dallas, I had planned this trip a couple of months earlier and got us a cheap but beautifully olde looking B&B in Nottingham. We got into town, checked into the B&B and headed down to the pub where the gig was held. As we approached the Old Angel I heard the band sound checking upstairs. I was excited to hear the opening chords of Hangover Heartattack. We entered the pub and shortly after bumping into my old mate and mega PI fan Andy shocker, Jerry A appeared at the bar to get a drink. I didn't say a word. I understand that in the world of punk rock the general idea is that the bands, the fans, everyone involved are all on the same level, except I always felt that PI were heroes of sorts, for allowing me to see the light. I always enjoyed the honesty, humour and brutality of the band and to be honest, didn't really know what to say.
About an hour later the gig started. Tiny Elvis supported and they grew on me as their set went on, and the more we saw them play on the tour. Their CD is still a favourite of mine.
After Tiny Elvis played, PI started to take the stage. Jerry seemed pretty inebriated and I soon found out that Andy shocker had offered him a sip of whatever bottle of spirits he was swigging a short while before, and apparently jerry finished the last three quarters of the bottle. That would explain a lot. They opened with Out Of the Picture. It's actually my favourite tune for 'em to start with. Slow and atmospheric at the start and then bang...controlled chaos. Nice. A couple of lines in Jerry drunkenly and swiftly swung the mic stand into the crowd, I just managed to knock it away from hitting my wife. She looked concerned as she wasn't used to the savage beast that is PI. After about 35 - 40 minutes someone in the crowd threw a glass bottle on the stage which promptly smashed. This annoyed Chris, the bass player and he picked up the half smashed weapon so he could launch it back at the idiot in the crowd, to stop him causing even more problems the guitarist grabbed his hand and got his own hand sliced up in the process.
Show over.
After Jerry asked the trouble-making fellow in the crowd if he was ready to die the band dissipated. Jerry sat slumped on the stage looking confused and angry, yet still drunk. I asked what had happened to the guitarist, if he'd gone to hospital but he didn't know too much.
Afterwards we made our was outside followed by Jerry. After a brief chat and a picture with the man we made our way back to our lodgings to shower away the sweat.
Luckily I managed to get a video recording of this which I plan on sharing either here or on youtube at some point soon.
Good times and on with the pictures...
Photo's can be found
here.
