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John Robb ‘Do You Believe In The Power of Rock n Roll?’ - Book launch tour

Norwich Arts Centre Wednesday 24th April 2024

If you came looking for an explicit answer to the question, ‘What is the power of rock’n’roll?’ you might have left a little bemused.  In fact, you would have come away with a lot of unanswered questions. 

 

For example, why did John Robb say at the start of the show that Punk Rock had ruined his life?  Sure, it got him a punch in the face from a passing bus driver for being a punk.  It did mean that his right ear lobe has never healed up from his self-administered ear-piecing experiment using a needle, a bowl of boiling water and a bottle cork, but all-in-all, here stands a man who seems very much together, in great company, with some really interesting friends, some of whom join him on this tour.  This evening he is joined by Andy Cairns from Therapy? who proved to be a raconteur par excellence, another great Irish storyteller.

 

My question to the audience would be, Do you believe in the power of doing what you are told, meeting your parents’ expectations and keeping your nose clean? Because on stage tonight is a man who would have probably struggled with aspects of such a life, but looks in mighty fine shape for walking a different path.  Drinking tea (these days) and being a vegan (since his youth) have done the man no harm at all.  Let’s put it like this, John Robb’s body ain’t doing any mouldering. 

 

What John Robb’s talk demonstrates is that having the courage to try creative things because they are exciting, not worrying too much about the how and what, but just starting with what you have to hand is all you need.  The how and what evolves with experience.  His first magazine, Rox may have been hand scrawled, Xeroxed and glued-stick-stuck together, but from that Punk DIY attitude has come a best-selling book of 180,000 words about the underworld of Goth culture that is published by Manchester University Press and selling very well indeed, thank you. In fact before the show even began, Robb had run out of copies as he sat in the foyer chatting to Andy Cairns, greeting members of the audience and signing what copies he had.

 

In my interview of John Robb earlier in the week, I gleaned something of how John thinks and operates and what he is up to these days, but the show revealed much more about the life of this punk rocker, wordsmith, entertainer and all-round good bloke.

 

I would have loved John to tell us more about his life in Blackpool and what was going on when Punk Rock kicked off.  As it was, we got some brilliant examples of music's power, such as the magic of discovering with his school pals The Buzzcocks’ Spiral Scratch EP and the inspirational idea that some Manc lads had made their own record, without being signed to a record label.  The release of Ever Fallen In Love (with Someone You Shouldn’t‘ve)? which sparked passionate desire among teenagers around the country to write songs and play guitars was just as important to putative punks. It is enlightening when Robb draws his perceptive line from Glam Rock and pop-chart smashes to  the melodious punk tunes of Pete Shelley's band, which were definitely Punk in attitude and execution.

I enjoyed the Blackpool Rock message that ran through the body of the show. The Ian Anderson one-legged stance was beautifully demonstrated (I suspected a yoga influence).  The account of his interview with Anderson of Jethro Tull (and from Blackpool) was delightful.  I have had a similar conversation with Mark Eitzel (American Music Club) about the teachers at the school we both attended, so it amused me to think of punk John Robb sitting down with hippy icon, Ian Anderson, fifteen years his senior.  But do I really have to try those two early Jethro Tull albums (again)? Insert tears of frustration emoji here. I must, apparently.

 

I would have liked to learn more about how remote and disconnected living on the edge of Blackpool was, which is remote in itself, a place that people go to, but are not expected to come from.

The first part of the show gradually moved onto anecdotes of meeting the stars and John’s proximity to significant moments and people in rock (and world) history.  Curt Cobain’s mum answering the phone, the fall of The Wall and a dust up with Liam Gallagher and his gang, interviewing Patti Smith.  All were  thrilling moments for a man pursuing his interests, not knowing what he was letting himself into, then admitting knowing less the more he found out.  Beware people who claim to have the answers; all we know is that there are more questions than answers, I was reminded.

 

I feel that the first part of the show revealed John Robb caught between drawing connections, sharing understanding of what he has experienced, raising questions and dispensing a little wisdom versus a  sense that Robb felt he ought to be telling stories of significant moments in rock history in which he appeared. I preferred the connections and questions elements of part one, rather more than the I was there moments.

 

I was captivated by what Robb had to say about the significance of events, rather than the details of events themselves.  We had before us a doer and a reflective thinker and it was what he reflected on where he does so well, with modest humour and a great turn of phrase.  John Robb’s wide interests are barely touched on during the show, but when he did talk about dinosaurs and the Cern Particle Accelerator one could tell that he just loves life and that exploring ideas, finding out new stuff excites him and that enthusiasm is infectious.

After a shortened break, due to this tour-standard over-run of Part One, John returned to the stage with Andy Cairns. 

What Andy Cairns had to say about growing up in sectarian Northern Ireland under what was, by any definition a military occupation, was fascinating.  Punk Rock was doing for him, in a small village not far from Larne, exactly what it was doing for the slightly older John Robb, on the opposite shore of the Irish Sea. 

 

A move from Antrim, a decision his parents made to enable their sons to grow up in a safer space than the dangers of living in a Loyalist sectarian estate, combined with the Punk DIY ethic, ensured that Cairns and his musical mates eluded recruiting officers of the criminal gangs exploiting under-occupied youths hanging about on street corners.  It was wonderful to hear that the power of rock'n'roll connected his band members across the poisonous divide of sectarianism.  So, Therapy? emerged from the safety of their bedrooms and garages to become a band known and loved around the world. 

This part of the show was superb. Observing a skilled interviewer keeping the devoted and deep-thinking, articulate musician rolling, was worth coming for alone.   

 

Both these men live with the DIY attitude that Johnny Rotten demanded of punks everywhere, when he stared into the TV camera and snarling at the So it Goes audience “Get off your arses!” I paraphrased here, but I wasn't living in the Granada TV area in 1977.

 

Back to the 21st Century,  I was a little concerned when chatting in the deserted pre-show bar that not many people had turned out, but I had forgotten that when shows are seated at the Norwich Arts Centre, the audience all rush in and bag the best seats and very often stay in them all evening, rather than head to the bar.  It was a relief to see so many places taken, as this gig was really enjoyable.

 

There was a healthy line of people to speak to John Robb post-gig, where he was making mail-order sales for signed copies of his books.  He had under-estimated how many copies he would sell on the night.  Which kind of sums up this once slightly-shy kid from Blackpool, who dresses up in all sorts of finery, looks the part and connects with people and connects people through the love of music, remaining modest about his progress all the while.

Finally, I concluded after this show, that music's ability to connect people is the power of rock and roll. That is one question answered, I believe.

The John  Robb Do You Believe in the Power of Rock n Roll? tour continues through out the UK. Follow the link for more details. 

~

 

Spencer Ide

 

24^th April 2024