LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

On October 27, 1984 the kids of Belfast came out in droves to see Johnny Thunders play live at Queen’s University’s McMordie Hall. This was Thunders’ first trip to Belfast and the 70 min recording (taken off the soundboard that night) captured Thunders playing one of the most passionate shows of his tragically short life. Perhaps it was the energy of the Belfast kids - looking to rock n’ roll as a brief respite from the every day reality of their violence-torn city - that brought out the energy that night, but whatever it was Thunders’ and the crowd’s mutual appreciation can be clearly heard in the stage banter with the audience. Ex-Tribesman Keith Yon and ex-Clash Terry Chimes form a tight rhythm section on most of the tracks, except where Thunders can be heard playing a few rare acoustic tracks like “Eve Of Destruction” and “You Can’t Put Your Arms”. Great liner notes by Brian Young.