All  a Band  should be....

If you happened to notice your local was somewhat devoid of people-oids the other Saturday, well, me darling’s, that's coz the world an’ his granddad were crammed into the Pied Bull, Liverpool Road to wave bye-bye to a truly wondrous rock n’ roll band – We’re Only Human (shame about the name etc)

And there was yours truly, stuck at the back catching the occasional glimpse of those one time potential pin-up boys in between the heads of disgustingly tall people! (Anyone for a Rock Against Tall people gig!)

Straight into the a guaranteed to get you bopping “Get up and Dance” followed by endless helpings of meat n’ potatoes rock n’ roll garnished with delicate touches of mid-70s glitter. Mouth watering rock n’ roll!!

I can’t express how good it was to see guitarist John Rollason boogie up to vocalist Alan Hammonds to share the same mike….just like Jagger n’ Richards, Johanesen n’ Thunders, Stewart n’ Wood and Tyler n’ Perry……, sigh, ya don’t see many moves like that any more….an’ I even forgot to throw in Bowie n’ Ronson!

One of the gig’s highlights (and there were lots!) was a cover of the Stones song “Stupid Girl” which was closer to the more bitchy Ellen Foley version. But then, Marc Bolan’s "We love to Boogie" was deliciously apt for this particular Saturday night.

And so, after a somewhat lengthy bash at rock n’ roll, We’re Only Human kiss the stage goodbye, taking with them a band that possibly personified everything that I personally think a band should be.

To think, when I was a mere slip of a lad at 13, I used to be glued to Top of the Pops praying that Mott The Hoople might put in a platform booted appearance, quite unaware of the fact that it was possible to see my glam heroes live at a gig.

What was a gig? I think Alan, John, Les and Tarky captured some of what was missed. No messages, except, maybe “get up an dance”. Here’s hoping for another farewell gig.

Do you remember the Saturday gigs?....I do.

Ray Mathew -

Twilight Capers  - The Islington Gazette - 1982