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Do music lovers really need policing by licensed thugs? The thing I most like doing is seeing a good live gig. For the last few years I've been spoilt by the likes of the Nashville, Hope and Anchor, Marquee and even the Lyceum, where you can enjoy yourself — that is stand, sit or dance where you like.
Never once have I seen a fight or any such problem at a gig, and that includes the punk groups I've seen. As a number of the bands I like have now "progressed" to playing to larger audiences than the pubs, I've been persuaded back to the Hammersmith Odeon and its ilk. To be extremely upset.
First, I saw the Rats at the Hammersmith Odeon on their "Seasonal Turkey Tour." No Christmas spirit here. Apart from the rather odd feeling of being so far away from the band because of the size of the place and the restrictions of the seats, the overwhelming presence of bouncers with blue track-suited arms folded challengingly ruined the gig.
I dared stand up just before the Rats came on stage. "Sit down or get out," snarled a bouncer on my left. Luckily everyone stood up as the group came on stage, so he couldn't carry out his threat. Bob Geldof was great enough to overcome this bad atmosphere to a certain extent, but it was still upsetting to be continually aware of people being forcibly removed from the aisles and back to their seats. Is this what music is all about?
Next, the Lewisham Odeon to see Ian Dury. I had a front row seat this time (highest price ticket) but on the extreme left of the row. Sitting in my seat I literally could not see the performers on stage. Perhaps the odd head on the right. Any attempt to stand up was met with a bouncer pulling me down again, verbally, when not physically. Finally, after several cajoling and near-tearful discussions during the abysmal supports, the bouncers made a deal — me and my mates could stand up when the Blockheads came on stage. And they did allow us —about 20 of us — the rest were still guided back to their seats. I won, but at the expense of again ruining the atmosphere. And I had paid £3.50 to be "allowed" to actually see them! Big deal. What difference did it really make to those bouncers whether I stood up or not?
The last straw for me was Christmas Eve at the Dominion. Elvis was marvellous, faultless, the Voidoids good and John Cooper-Clarke unbearable — but this latter probably more due to the bouncers dulling my sense of humour and enjoyment than any fault of his performance. I arrived fairly early and sat in my front-row seat, this time central with a great view of the stage.
Three bouncers, paid louts, amused themselves in front of me by pretending to fight among themselves, swearing loudly (no, I'm not that straight, but they were really offensive), finding it funny to break a beer-plastic (you can't call them glasses, can you?); and one in particular pointing proudly to his knuckle-duster ring and attempting to chat up a girl on her own with the line "See that? I can do a bit of damage with that later." What upset me most was that this extremely unpleasant person who enjoyed fighting was being paid to indulge his favourite antisocial sport. And we didn't need it. Just before Elvis came on I stood up. The height of irony, was the bouncer who said "You can't stand up now. You can stand during the fourth number, which will be 'Watching The Detectives' when Elvis will say 'stand up'." Apart from the fact that "Detectives" was not the fourth number, this bouncer could not see the pettiness of what he was saying.
Of course we all stood up when the Attractions came on stage. But we were only allowed to stand immediately in front of our seats. Six inches forward and I was swiftly tapped on the shoulder. Gradually some of us moved the six inches, but many others were trying to dance and enjoy themselves with a stern-faced bouncer directly in front of their faces. If Elvis feels that an audience that doesn't dance doesn't deserve an encore, then he is being very unfair to a lot of people. If he wants people to dance then he should shun venues such as the Dominion.
Perhaps his forthcoming gig at the Palais is a step back in the right direction.
As far as I'm concerned (and I can't be the only one can I?), three potentially excellent gigs were almost ruined by the unnecessary and doubtlessly expensive presence of bouncers who enjoy their work too much. Is this what the ideals of new wave have come to? If companies are worried about possible damage to their property, and probably to a lesser degree people being hurt in fights, then can't they employ their bouncers to keep a low profile, ready to move in if trouble starts, instead of standing aggressively in most of the audience's vision? All of us are there to enjoy the music and usually to dance or at least to stand up and move to the rhythm. At the Clash gig at the Lyceum on December 28 my enjoyment was not threatened by any bouncers. If they were there, then I didn't see them and if they had to do anything then they must have done it subtly and efficiently. If the Lyceum can manage this then why not others?
Writing this has been cathartic, but is not enough in itself. Can't something be done to change the way most bouncers operate (are operated?). Don't the bands themselves have any say? After all, if we can't enjoy ourselves at gigs, then we won't go again, will we? And bands are nothing without the support of fans.
— Sheila Hornsby, London W.14.
LP WINNER.
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