Brian
Kotz was in support band Back
To Zero. Here are his recollections of the
evening, which was their 20th gig:
We were bottom-of-the-bill to The Cure (headliners) and Joy
Division, it was a late agency add on for us. The two bands'
debut albums, "3 Imaginary Boys" and "Unknown Pleasures"
respectively, had been released during the previous weeks.
It was the first time that we'd really played with bands who
weren't part of our scene (the 1979 MOD Scene), which made
it interesting, and it was the first time we'd played at a
seated venue.
We weren't sure how well we were going down after the first
number, so I immediately exhorted the punters to get up and
move around a bit, which had an immediate positive reaction,
and I really enjoyed our set.
Then came JD. I was sitting right by the side of the stage
in the wings (yes, the place really did have old-time
"wings")! watching them, and I have to say that I have never
witnessed anything like it before or since. It may not have
totally been what I was into at the time, but Curtis, and in
fact the whole band, were mesmerising to watch and listen
to, whole banks of sound washing over me.......and the crowd
were mesmerised too. Do you know something? Not one person
in the auditorium applauded after any of their songs, BUT,
this was not indifference. I could see the crowd from where
I was positioned, and they were totally agog at the
spectacle. I'm sure that those who were there are still
talking about the gig until this very day. Some members of
our concern thought that we'd gone down better because we
induced dancing, but that was totally missing the point.
Whilst we were packing our gear away, One or two of the
band, (I think Sumner and maybe Ian Curtis himself)
complimented us on a good set, and told us that they were
looking forward to playing in London the following night
because they'd be supporting John Cooper Clarke - indeed
they did, according to a gig list that I've just found. I
must admit that I can't remember any of the individual songs
they played that night - which means that I don't have an
immediate recollection of seeing them do "She's Lost
Control", dammit!
I was a voracious collector of ephemera from all of our
gigs, whenever I could nab something, but unfortunately I
don't have anything from that night - probably because we
weren't mentioned on the flyer or some silly reason like
that - it goes without saying that I wish I had.
We'd seen The Cure soundchecking, but were back in the van
heading towards London by the time they were playing their
set. During the recording of the reunion album in 2003, I
heard Sam tell a friend of mine that he thought they were
"fantastic" that night, not too sure how he worked that one
out, as he didn't see them!
