12 TIMES
HUE AND CRY
Talented, soulful, and still going. Particularly good acoustically.
11 TIMES
BARENAKED LADIES
Comedic Canadian funsters still on great form. Plus ex-member Steve Page as a solo artist.
SQUEEZE/GLENN TILBROOK
Eleven gigs overall. See below for 6 Squeeze encounters going back to 1978 and 5 solo shows by Tilbrook. Glen’s son Leon turned up supporting Wishbone Ash, somewhat strangely.
10 TIMES
SCOTT GORHAM
7 with Lizzy, 3 with Black Star Riders.
UFO
Long-lasting rockers. Technically retired after 50 years but strangely still gigging. RIP Paul Raymond and Pete Way – both gone to the great gig in the sky.
WISHBONE ASH
Historic early pioneers of the twin guitar approach, and inspiration for my purchase of a Flying V in the first place. Incarnations of the band are now split between Andy Powell’s version, which he maintains is “the authentic one”, with a lawsuit childishly insisting that Martin Turner’s version be billed as Martin Turner (Ex-Wishbone Ash). They are both excellent and we are eminently capable of working out who is who whilst still enjoying the music. Current match stats are 5-5 to each band, an admirable draw. Martin Turner is now 78.
9 TIMES
NINE BELOW ZERO
Good time London blues band. Always a laugh. Dennis Greaves used my mate Dave’s crutch as a bottleneck at the 100 Club. A metallic one. He had broken his leg.
STRAY
Rediscovered in 2010 and still gigging after 50 years. First saw them support Rush at the Hammersmith Apollo for £2.00 in 1977. The last two gigs I have persuaded them to encore with One Night In Texas, a track covered by my old band Radio Ferret in 1978, with the incomparable Graeme Leno on bass.
THUNDER/LUKE MORLEY
Left-handed Flying V-playing Luke Morley, going back to 1997. Includes him and drummer Harry James turning up at the Half Moon to play Free and Bad Company covers with Robert Hart.
8 TIMES
DR. FEELGOOD
From Wilko to the current line-up, classic pub rock. First seen in 1979.
JIM KIRKPATRICK
Multi-talented and charmingly humble guitarist. 4 times in FM, once in Band of Friends, once in The Sweet, once with Sari Schorr, and once solo.
KING KING
Big Scottish bloke in a kilt playing brilliant blues rock with his slightly smaller brother.
RIVAL SONS
Still Californian. Still shouty. Rising from the Borderline to packing out Brixton, The Roundhouse and the Kentish Town Forum. Top stuff, but the guitar and drum solos are getting longer and more indulgent.
7 TIMES
BAND OF FRIENDS
Rory Gallagher tribute band run by the ever-cheerful bassist Gerry McAvoy. Now featuring the excellent Jim Kirkpatrick of FM, or the phenomenal young talent Davy Knowles. RIP Ted McKenna.
DEF LEPPARD
Full throttle rock experience. Worth every penny. 9 times if you include Joe Elliott’s Down n Outz and Phil Collen’s ManRaze.
MARCUS BONFANTI
Many incarnations here – as a solo artist, in Jawbone, Saint Jude, fronting Ten Years After, and playing for Johnny Hates Jazz. Truly eclectic.
MOSE ALLISON
Hilarious observational jazz/blues pianist. Brilliant. Sadly died in 2016.
THIN LIZZY
Obviously the 1976 twin guitar line-up was the classic. You had to be there.
6 TIMES
BON JOVI
Guaranteed good time and masters of big venues.
BRYAN ADAMS
Still pumping out the hits. He can rock hard, despite the cheesy ballads.
DEL AMITRI/JUSTIN CURRIE
Bittersweet Scottish crooner, sometimes with his mates.
FRANCIS DUNNERY/IT BITES
It Bites man still noodling after 30 years.
GIRL
Glam rock – long since gone.
HALL AND OATES
A bit soft soap, but with good soulful moments. Daryl can’t hit the high notes any more.
SQUEEZE
All the way back to 1978 – a 50-year run.
STEVIE NIMMO
Twice solo, 4 times in King King.
THE 45s
Clapham/Brentford pub band I followed insanely in the 80s.
5 TIMES
BLACKBERRY SMOKE
Brilliant Southern-fried rock. Too country for rock, too rock for country.
THE BLACK CROWES
First seen in 1995. Somewhat variable. In the early days they could noodle incessantly in extended jams. The 2022 rendition of Shake Your Money Maker was a welcome straight rock outing.
CHAS N DAVE
Twice supporting Clapton, another supporting the Quo, and two office parties, courtesy of working on Courage Best.
CROWDED HOUSE
Neil Finn on his own, with his brother Tim, in Crowded House, or even Fleetwood Mac.
THE DARKNESS
Always good for a laugh, especially when Hawkins sails onto the stage astride a pair of giant comedy breasts. 6 times if you include his strange hiatus project – the bizarrely titled Hot Leg.
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS
Numerous iterations, but you can’t not have fun at their gigs. Front man Barry Masters was held together by chewing gum and ale. I once had a conversation with him at the stand-ups in a bizarre venue in Torrington. Sadly died October 2 2019.
ERIC CLAPTON
Boring old bastard who barely speaks to the audience (see Paul Weller). Including guest appearances with Sheryl Crow and Buddy Guy, one of whom he slept with.
GLEN MATLOCK
Three times with his band, once with The Sex Pistols and once with Suzi Quatro.
GLENN TILBROOK
The Squeeze man is humorous and highly talented. It’s like he’s playing in your kitchen. Add in Squeeze performances and I’ve seen him 11 times. I once provided backing backing vocals to Pulling Mussels From A Shell outside Dingwalls when we were all forced to evacuate the premises.
GIRLSCHOOL
Still going. Female rock – a down and dirty experience. I interviewed them for Blitz magazine in the early 80s. RIP Kelly Johnson.
MICHAEL SCHENKER
The best Flying V player ever?
ROACHFORD
Alone with a keyboard, with his own band, or fronting Mike + The Mechanics.
THE SWEET
Ball-breakingly high harmonies and surprisingly heavy riffing. Andy Scott’s presumed white wig has now been proven to be all his own hair, which he claimed was transplanted from his bollocks.
TAJ MAHAL
Lived-in blues supremo complete with gravelly voice.
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
Hairy, shouty rock, with seemingly ever-changing personnel. Now triumphantly reformed after a hate-fuelled alcoholic hiatus.
4 TIMES
AEROSMITH
King rockers from Boston.
BUDDY GUY
Charismatic blues veteran. Still belting them out, usually dressed in polka dots.
ERIC BIBB
Likeable blues guy. Tells long stories.
DIRTY HONEY
Fast rising Californian Aerosmith-a-like heavy rockers.
FM
Consummate AOR rockers. Still going 40 years on.
JAMES HUNTER
Journeyman blues guy who supported Bo Diddley and other greats 2000-2005.
JOHN MAYER
On his first album in 2002 for £8.00, jamming with Billy Joel, on his own at the O2. Arrogant but talented. Enormous hands.
JOOLS HOLLAND
A bit of a corporate gig these days, but he’s a hell of a talent, especially when jamming with others.
NO DICE
Little-known and now defunct rock band we followed in the late seventies.
RONNIE WOOD
With The Stones, Rod Stewart and on his own. Still rocking.
STEVE MANN
Talented keyboard player and guitarist. 3 times with Michael Schenker, once with Lionheart. Plays a Flying V.
THE SKIDS
First seen nearly 40 years ago. Still going.
T’PAU
Voice still cranking out. Classic AOR.
TRAIN
American rockers now sadly gone disco.
WILKO JOHNSON
First seen 40 years ago when he had plenty of pep. Sadly his last gig was excruciating. RIP.
3 TIMES
BIG BOY BLOATER
He’s not getting any smaller, that’s for sure. Originally with the Southside Stompers 25 years ago, he now has The Limits as his backing band. Good value swamp blues.
BILLY JOEL
Tons of hits. High quality. Top professional.
BLACK STAR RIDERS
Scott Gorham, Ricky Warwick and other revolving personnel. Increasing tendency to play too fast and too loud – a trait that detracts from the tuneful songs.
BLUE OYSTER CULT
Slightly odd US cult rock including perverse themes of dominance and submission.
THE BLUETONES
1998-2003 Britpop people. Still going.
BRAVE RIVAL
Up and coming Portsmouth band. Unusual that the women in it outnumber the men.
DAVID LEE ROTH/VAN HALEN
Various combinations – always good. Eddie was one of the best, and Steve Vai’s double neck heart guitar had to be seen to be believed.
DEBBIE HARRY/BLONDIE
Everything from jazz to pop – still going.
DEWOLFF
Bonkers and brilliant Dutch trio.
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
Ragged Alabama boys who are angry about almost everything.
FLYING COLORS
Consummate supergroup who can play anything.
GUN
Rough-arsed Scottish rockers, still going.
IRON MAIDEN
Early days at the beginning of the 80s. Not bad value for 3 or 4 quid.
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
Excellent blues guitarist with a raspy tone and a great set of pipes.
KEB MO
Smooth blues player. Good guitarist.
KIM WILDE
Brixton Academy in 1985, including the sound check, once in Beziers Bullring in France where someone set off a tear gas canister, and once in London, 2025. A forty-year span then.
LYNYRD SKYNYRD
Pretty much the same set for years and years. Classic though, and no true original members left, unless you count Rickey Medlocke in various guises, after his extended sabbatical with Blackfoot.
PAUL RODGERS
Once with Bad Company, twice on his own.
ROBERT CRAY
Once in 1991, once in 2005, once in 2025. Every 15-20 years then.
RUSH
Hairy, high-voiced Canadian prog rockers, now retired or dead.
THE RUTS
Full throttle Hounslow punk. RIP singer Malcolm Owen, who I met.
SAXON
The original NWOBHM biker rockers. Biff’s voice is so loud he doesn’t need the PA system.
SILVEROLLER
Big hair scouser on vocals with a different guitarist every time.
SONS OF LIBERTY
Hairy Bristolian rockers who think they’re from Tennessee
STAR CIRCUS
Up and coming rock band with shades of Thin Lizzy and ELO. Twin guitars everywhere, a female bassist and some excellent tunes.
STATUS QUO
Down down deeper and down, whatever that means.
STEVE WINWOOD
Twice on his own and once with Eric Clapton celebrating the life of Ginger Baker.
THE BEAT
Once at Oxford Poly, where we got in free by pretending to be their brass section, once at Milton Keynes supporting Bowie, and once at The Jazz Cafe. Strange combination…
THE PRETENDERS
Various guises. Chrissie Hynde always good value.
THE STRANGLERS
Supported them in the early eighties. Down In The Sewer was the classic.
WALTER TROUT
Liver collapse survival merchant who completely relearned to play – fluid as ever, but he will keep banging on about his near-death experience, which is only of limited interest once you know it.
PAUL WELLER
Boring old bastard who barely speaks to the audience (see Eric Clapton).
WHITESNAKE
Farewell tour as Coverdale hits 70. They had much more feel back in the 80s with Marsden and Moody – now it’s just full throttle bludgeoning all the way.
ZZ TOP
And/or Billy F Gibbons.
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