Phil Smudge was there: I was 16 just out of
school. I paid on the door, the only other thing I can
say about the night was it was electric for a pub gig
and Rat Scabies from the Damned was there stood at the
bar memorized.
Melanie Couldrey sent us these memories: I'd
seen them on Something Else on TV the week before -
first time I'd heard them - so knew it was going to be
good but still I was shocked at how strongly they hit
me. Very intense, very intoxicating, especially for
someone who hadn't been to that many gigs. The two songs
that I recall particularly are Insight, where there
seemed to be some kind of weird visual sparking effect
from the guitar, and Atrocity Exhibition, which felt
like the whole experience for me in one song. "This is
the way, step inside": ok I will! I went off to uni a
week later and spent the whole first term telling anyone
who'd listen that they needed to go and see Joy
Division.
