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 ?