On This Day 04/11/1986 Moody Blues

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On this day, 4 December 1986, rock band Moody Blues played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on their Other Side Of Life UK tour.

In 1986 they enjoyed renewed success with their album The Other Side of Life and in particular with the track "Your Wildest Dreams" – a US Top 10 hit (and No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary singles chart for two weeks).

The song's video garnered a Billboard Video of the Year award after being frequently featured on MTV. It was the first of three albums with producer Tony Visconti, best known for his extensive work with T. Rex and David Bowie, who together with synth programmer Barry Radman delivered a modern sound the Moodies had been seeking in order to remain competitive with their pop contemporaries.

Review -Phil Nifield - South Wales Echo

The Moody Blues performed live at the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986, which raised money for Birmingham Children's Hospital. The band played four songs, and later provided backup with Electric Light Orchestra for George Harrison. Other performers included Robert Plant and former Moodie Denny Laine (whose set included "Go Now").

On This Day 28/11/1989 Lyle Lovett

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On this day, 28 November 1989 American country singer Lyle Lovett played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall. He had earlier in the year released his third album, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. Lovett won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the album.

He signed with MCA Records in 1986 and released his eponymous debut album. He sang harmony vocals on Nanci Griffith's The Last of the True Believers album (1986). While typically associated with the country genre, Lovett's compositions often incorporate folk, swing, blues, jazz and gospel music as well as more traditional country & western styling.

Review - Mick Tems - South Wales Echo

On This Day 13/11/1985 King

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On this day, 13 November 1985, new wave band King played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.

The band was formed from the remnants of Coventry rock-ska band the Reluctant Stereotypes, along with producer Paul Sampson.

After the Reluctant Stereotypes, singer Paul King formed the Raw Screens, who perfected their act and style to what Paul King and his manager Perry Haines called "Multi Tone", a reference to "Two Tone", and then, in 1983, relaunched the group as band King from the surname of lead singer Paul King.

As lead singer, Paul King wore a mullet haircut and spray-painted Doc Marten's Boots– a look described "like the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".

The band released two UK Top 20 albums on CBS, both produced and mixed by Richard James Burgess, who also played drums on most of the debut album Steps in Time (the second LP, Bitter Sweet, saw Adrian Lillywhite on drums).

Both albums were certified gold and produced five hit singles, the most successful being the UK No. 2 hit, "Love & Pride". "Love & Pride" was King's only single to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 which peaked at No. 55 in September 1985.

Despite a year of success, the band split up in 1986. In 1987, Paul King released a solo album entitled Joy,produced by American producer Dan Hartman. After that, he briefly worked as a VJ for MTV.

On This Day 30/10/2014 Steve Hackett

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On this day, 30 October 2014, former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on his Genesis Extended 2014 World Tour.

Hackett released his first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte, while still a member of Genesis in 1975. After a series of further solo albums beginning in 1978, Hackett co-founded the supergroup GTR with Steve Howe in 1986. The group released the self-titled album GTR, which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and spawned the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind".

When Hackett left GTR in 1987, the group disbanded. Hackett then resumed his solo career. He has released albums and toured worldwide on a regular basis since.

Hackett's body of work encompasses many styles; in addition to his work in progressive rock, he has explored pop, blues, world music and classical music on his solo recordings. According to Guitar World: "Hackett's early explorations of two-handed tapping and sweep picking were far ahead of their time, and influenced Eddie Van Halen and Brian May."

Setlist

Dance on a Volcano

(Genesis song)

Squonk

(Genesis song)

Dancing With the Moonlit Knight

(Genesis song)

The Return of the Giant Hogweed

(Genesis song)

Fly on a Windshield

(Genesis song)

Broadway Melody of 1974

(Genesis song)

The Fountain of Salmacis

(Genesis song)

The Musical Box

(Genesis song)

I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)

(Genesis song)

Horizons

(Genesis song)

Firth of Fifth

(Genesis song)

Lilywhite Lilith

(Genesis song)

The Knife

(Genesis song)

Supper's Ready

(Genesis song)

Encore:

Watcher of the Skies

(Genesis song)

Myopia / Slogans / Los Endos

On This Day 13/09/1985 Saxon

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On this day, 13 September 1985, heavy rock band Saxon played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.

Formed in Barnsley in 1975 as one of the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM), they had eight UK Top 40 albums during the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums.

They had numerous hit singles on the UK Singles Chart and experienced success all over Europe and Japan, as well as in the United States.

During the 1980s, Saxon established themselves among Europe's most successful metal acts. The band tours regularly and have sold more than 23 million records worldwide

In late 1983, Saxon left their French record company Carrere they signed with EMI Records in 1984, with their first release on the label being Crusader.

Though still heavy, critics felt the album had a more commercial sound, and fans began to wonder what direction the band was taking. Despite its commercial sound, the title track became a fan favourite.

The album sold over two million copies and the 1984 world tour "The World Crusade" was a success both in Europe and America. In the US, the band toured with Accept as their special guests, as well as supporting Mötley Crüe for some shows of a yearlong tour.

On This Day 03/07/2005 Amy Winehouse

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On this day, 3 July 2005, singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.

She was known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, reggae and jazz.

A member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during her youth, Winehouse signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and soon recorded a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers.

Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released on 20 October 2003. Produced mainly by Salaam Remi, many songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, Winehouse co-wrote every song.

The album received critical acclaim with compliments given to the "cool, critical gaze" in its lyrics.

Winehouse's voice was compared with those of Sarah Vaughan and Macy Gray, among others.

Adele has credited Winehouse's success in making her and fellow British singer Duffy's journey to the United States "a bit smoother."

Lady Gaga credited Winehouse with paving the way for her rise to the top of the charts, explaining that Winehouse made it easier for unconventional women to have mainstream pop success.

Raphael Saadiq, Anthony Hamilton and John Legend said "Amy Winehouse was produced by people who wanted to create a marketing coup. The positive side is that it reacquainted an audience with this music and played an introductory role for others. This reinvigorated the genre by overcoming the vintage aspect."

Other artists that have credited Winehouse as an influence and/or for paving the way for them include Bruno Mars, Tove Lo, Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Paloma Faith, Lana Del Rey, Sam Smith, Florence Welch and Billie Eilish.

On This Day 19/12/1985 The Alarm

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On this day, 12 December 1985, Welsh rockers The Alarm played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on the band’s Strength Tour.

Initially formed as a punk band, the Toilets, in 1977, under lead vocalist Mike Peters, the band soon embraced arena rock and included marked influences from Welsh language and culture. By opening for acts such as U2 and Bob Dylan, they became a popular new wave pop band of the 1980s.

The Alarm's highest charting single in Britain is 1983's "Sixty Eight Guns", which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. Their 1984 album Declaration, which contained "Sixty Eight Guns", peaked at number six on the UK Albums Chart.

Tour Setlist

• Deeside

• Declaration

• Marching On

• Howling Wind

• Knife Edge

• Dawn Chorus

• The Deceiver

• The Day the Ravens Left the Tower

• Third Light

• Absolute Reality

• Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke

• One Step Closer to Home

• Walk Forever by My Side

• Spirit of ’76

• Blaze of Glory

• Strength

• Encore: Sixty Eight Guns, The Stand (Prophecy)

• Encore 2: This Train Is Bound for Glory, We Are the Light

On This Day 22/11/1984 Gary Numan

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On this day, 22 November 1984, Synth legend Gary Numan played Cardiff St David’s Hall on The Berserker Tour. Support was provided by Hohokam and Larry Lieberman.

Released on 9 November 1984, Berserker iwas his first album to be released under Numan's own record label, Numa Records.

Gary Numan's recording contract with his previous record label Beggars Banquet had ended with the release of 1983's studio album, Warriors. Disillusioned with record companies, Numan decided to create his own record label, Numa Records, to give himself full control over his recordings, production and marketing. Numan was now free to take his music into a harder direction without interference.

Berserker presented a harder synth, hi-NRG-inspired rock sound than Numan's previous studio albums, with an abundant use of sampling and the distinctive sound of the PPG Wave synthesiser. It developed on the electro-funk sound of Warriors, marking a change from the prominent fretless bass on his previous three studio albums but retaining the female backing vocals and occasional saxophone.

Lyrically, the album has a haunting, dystopian theme.

The poignant track "A Child with the Ghost" was Numan's tribute to his friend and former bassist Paul Gardiner, who died in February 1984 from a heroin overdose. The track was also covered by the duo Tik and Tok on their studio album Intolerance (which featured Numan) the same year. The industrial undertones of the Berserker album would be more fully explored on Numan's next studio album, The Fury (1985).

Numan appeared on the cover (and throughout the subsequent tour) as a white-skinned, white-clad "Iceman" with blue makeup and hair. The album was named after a series of science-fiction novels by Fred Saberhagen, which Numan had read at school.

Gary Numan -Vocals      Rrussell Bell -Guitar, Tambourine, Keyboards, Violin, Guiro, Drum Pads   Cedric Sharpley -Drums & Congas      John Webb -Keyboards & Saxaphone      Chris Payne -Keyboards & Viola      Andy Coughlan -Bass, Drum Pads      Karen Taylor -Backing Vocals

Setlist - The Berserker Tour Concert

01 - Berserker

02 - Metal

03 - Me! I Disconnect From You

04 - Remind Me To Smile

05 - The Secret

06 - Sister Surprise

07 - Music For Chameleons

08 - The Iceman Comes

09 - Cold Warning

10 - Down In The Park

11 - This Prison Moon

12 - I Die: You Die

13 - My Dying Machine

14 - Cars

15 - We Take Mystery (To Bed)

16 - We Are Glass

Encore 1.

17 - This Is New Love

18 - My Shadow In Vain

Encore 2.

19 - Are 'Friends' Electric ?