VIVE LE ROCK AWARDS 2023

What a blast at the Vive Le Rock Awards 2023, more than making up for the fact that the event was postponed three times due to the Pandemic! Live performances were interspersed with the award-giving (see image below for the full details of the awards) The spectacular finale was the performance of the Lords of The New Church with Michael Monroe taking the place of dearly departed Stiv Bators. The entire evening was a surreal array of famous faces and household names from the Punk Rock and 2 Tone world.

 

Eugene Butcher, Vive Le Rock’s editor came on stage to welcome everyone, reminding us to support the Magazine who, along with everyone in the industry, do this for the love of the music and not for the money. He enthusiastically introduced Vive Le Rockers who presented star-studded lively renditions of covers led by Paul-Ronney Angel of The Urban Voodoo Machine, stalking his way across the stage with a Spanish Spaghetti-Western vibe a la Andy McCoy, and members of The Jim Jones Revue/All Stars (see image lower down for full details of the sets).

Fans of Classic Rock were delighted to get live versions of ‘Emergency’, ‘Bomber’ and ‘Please Don’t Touch’ (the three songs that made up the St Valentine Day’s Massacre EP Girlschool recorded with Motorhead as Headgirl in 1981) with none other than Girlschool’s Kim McAuliffe on vocals wearing her original Headgirl t-shirt and Jax Chambers, Girlschool’s guitarist, bringin’ the first Hard Rock element tonight.

Their stage chops, confidence with the crowd, glamour and enthusiasm infused the party atmosphere and were the first hints we were in for a very special night. Eugene Butcher and Beki Bondage of Vice Squad joined in for good measure. There was a bit of a comedy moment when everyone was on stage waiting for Kim, and Jax announced Kim was in ‘the loo’. Kim is not the last person to miss their cue this evening with many being waylaid in the backstage bar.

Following the recent passing of Nora Lydon – Johnny Rotten’s wife, Millie Manders and Rich Ragany’s Mik Gaffney kept up the energy with iconic Sex Pistols track ‘God Save The Queen’.

 

Beki Bondage was the glamorous compère. She appeared to get quite a few curved balls as she is handed the wrong envelopes and the persons getting and receiving the awards don’t always appear when announced. She handled it all with good humour and jokes, and no one minds. Once the word goes out backstage that the awards have started, things start to go more smoothly. Highlights of the first tranche of awards: famous face Neville Staple of The Specials getting the Roots award (presented by Lee Thompson of Madness) and Bob Vylan, possibly the youngest performers on stage, certainly the youngest to actually get awards (for ‘New Blood’), declaring in their typical controversial style that they are here dressed in “heavenly white” to save the genre!!!

Jim Jones took up the mantle on stage for a popular version of ‘I Put A Spell On You’ in the second Vive Le Rockers set. Bad Barbee continue the nostalgia with lively versions of ‘Iko Iko’ and ‘Sonic Boom Boy’.  For me, though, Beki Bondage stole the show, demonstrating her impressive pipes for a superb version of ‘Lucille’. Norman Watt-Roy and Laurie Wright finished off the all star jams in style with ‘Roxette’ (Dr. Feelgood).

Memorable moments from the remaining awards include Norman Watt-Roy being honoured for his ‘Services To Music’. Terry Hall got the Icon award posthumously and was lauded by Rhoda Dakar for his efforts to recognise women in the industry and affording them opportunities which could be thin on the ground in a male-dominated industry. ‘The Cockney Rejects’ snagged the Lifetime achievement award. They celebrated with a short, but highly enjoyable energetic set of ‘Paper Tiger’, ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Bad Man’.

What a nostalgia kick with Neville Staple performing a set of good length of Specials’ hits including ‘A Message To You, Rudy’ and ‘Ghost Town’. His wife’s energetic SKA dancing reminded me of the old days of Top Of The Pops. I was amazed to find I still knew all the words.

And the piece de resistance the long awaited performance of Lords Of The New Church with Michael Monroe on vocals who attacked this performance of Lords’ Classics (‘New Church’, ‘Livin’ On Livin’, ‘Dance With Me’,‘Russian Roulette’ and ‘Method To My Madness’) with characteristic energy that would evade most twenty somethings. Rest of the band include Dave Tregunna (also Sham 69) and Brian James, original members. Terry Chimes (who rehearsed with the Lords in the 80s) from The Clash took the drums: the original drummer Nicky Turner also taking part on backing vocals. Rat Scabies from The Damned appeared mid set and presented Brian James with his Pioneer award, before Rat took the drums for Damned Cover ‘New Rose’ and, all too soon, it’s the finale ‘Pills’ (Bo Diddley).

The sense from the crowd that they were witnessing a historic moment loomed large and it was more than a little lively right at the front. This performance was the main reason I had to be here, come hell or high water, and it did not disappoint. It was the first time in a long time that I wasn’t in the pit, so it was a lovely change to be able to be at the front with my friends for the whole special night. (As such, I only have a few I phone shots taken under difficult conditions, but have used these rather than official shots from the pit as being at the front of the audience was a big part of the whole experience for me, no doubt about that.)

I heard this may be the last Vive Le Rock awards. Let’s hope that’s a scurrilous rumour as it is definitely a highlight of the year!

Words and Live i-phone Shots Dawn Osborne