picture courtesy of Gavin
Ross
(click on picture to read translation)
Considering one of the Frances hottest Rock'n'Roll venues, from your ( at Rock et Folk ) point of view, though not many bands have played there since the Who in '73 and Gallagher in '74. This night it was not sold out and we were barely 800 but true Rock'n'Roll fans.
The first act was an American
band the Boogaloo Band. The set starts at hundred mph with "
Honky Tonk Women " vocals handled by the drummer. The whole set
is very strong the band gave us some of the most devastating
Rock'n'Roll witch the crowd enjoyed for the most part.In
addition to the song 'Carol' by Chuck Berry, re-invented the
'Boogaloo Band' way, they finished with an even more
enthusiastic cover of 'I Don't Need No Doctor' that Steve
Marriott himself would have praised. And all in all we were left
breathless and wanting more.
At the end of the first act it was time a visit to the snack bar
set for ice creams and sodas as we patiently waited for the band
we all had come for.
Picture Courtesy of George Rab
He arrived on stage all dressed in yellow, holding a splendid guitar. As soon as Marc walks on to the stage, the shiver of the Rock'n'Roll rattles the room. This true Rock'n'Roll show will illuminate with 'Boogie' rythm, Marc's knowledge of how to work an audience to fever pitch, and still there will be those simple moments. His vocals and guitar style let you know he is influenced by the likes of 'Gene Vincent' and 'Chuck Berry'. It also showed that he has learned from the masters and is an excellent guitarist with his own unique style. T.Rex gave the audience what they wanted : The Hits, from 'Get It On' to 'Telegram Sam' through 'Hot Love'.Every musician in the band got their solo moment but this was Mr. Bolan's concert/audience and he knew it. Marc ended the show on a high note and the audience let him know with a rousing ovation. The show was a giant thrill and truly was a gas.
In conclusion, I will simply say that two days later at the same place was a scheduled concert by Status Quo, known as the inventors of Boogie (?). The band did not show up and left 5.000 fans waiting in vain. After the announcement that the concert was canceled a small riot ensued. There were Quo fans who had been there waitinghe guys who had been there waiting for 19 hours, and had come from South-west , having spent 31 F ( ie £3 or 5$ ) in ticket price.
Tell me what is better the guy who plays in front of 800 people and gives his all and so much joy to his fans this man/band called T.Rex, or Status Quo which it seems doesn't care about their 5.000 fans but still earn gold ? Think of it, and whenever you speak about Status never forget what happened at Toulouse on February 7th 77. Please publish this letter, I think it will inform your readers of the privileges some bands allow themselves.
I hate Quo ! Long live to Rock'n'Roll, and the Stones, They are the only worth.
written by J.-P. Cayre
Toulouse
22 years later I found JP Cayre and chatted with him. He said that the number of 800 for the audience was over estimated and that was surely less. But Marc gave all and even threw tambourines to the audience just as he used to do in Great Britain or the USA, something he did not in Nantes.
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I owe a special Thank to Rick Dalvano who not only helped with this page translation to English but also through the whole construction of this site.