Cardiff Panthers
Saturday May 24, 2014 :
For a band that is etched firmly in Newcastle rock and city history to reform after a number of years brings enough excitement to awake the hardest of music critics, fans and even the odd punter who was to young when the band first went around. For Peter de Jong, Mark Tinson, Jim Porteus and Phil Screen, it was a golden opportunity to capitalise on the growing market of nostalgia for post 50 year olds wanting to relive the golden years of newcastle pub live music.
The Heroes story has been told a million times over the years, starting in ’77 when Porteus rejoined with Tinson, Screen and new front man De Jong forming the band. A regular act around Newcastle including the infamous Star Hotel. For many years urban myth had the guys fuelling and starting the famous riot. That myth has since been proven wrong but in between that Newcastle had produced a first class rock act. As a young 14 year old I can remember the band playing at my school dance much to the anger of a dinosaur principle who didn’t want “those louts encouraging the students.” I still remember that night almost 40 years later. Somewhere between ’77 and ’81, the guys fitted in numerous gigs and even the odd appearance on Countdown. In those days Newcastle even had a top 40 which the guys reached twice, and their only album still takes pride of place in my collection. After ’81 the band went their separate ways with Screen and Tinson joining Swanee, and De Jong and Porteus playing in a number of Newcastle acts. There was the odd reunion but nothing permanent. The timing was right, the stage was set and the guys were formally together again for one night.
Walking into the auditorium I was wondering would the crowd be fifty or five hundred? I was hoping for the later and was excited to find out it was almost a sell out. I must say kudos to Kim from Rock City, a big gamble but one that paid off. The bill included locals Dai Pritchard, guitarist from Rose Tattoo, and original Screaming Jet, Grant Walmsley.
Entering the stage and starting the show with album track ‘Tongue Tied’ featuring Tinson on lead vocals, the guys did not look back. De Jong is the consummate showman, a true lead frontman and master craftsman playing and walking around in the crowd. A number of album tracks were featured including ‘Back to the Loving’, ‘Baby’s Had a Taste’ and the unofficial Newcastle anthem ‘Star and the Slaughter’. There were of coarse some teasers, new material and the promise of a new album. The songs, including one instrumental, were very well received and left you wanting more. For me the highlight was the bands cover version of The Who classic ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’. The encore saw Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson join Walmsley and Pritchard for a version of the Stones classic ‘Brown Sugar’.
The band was tight, from Screen on drums to Porteus on bass. The guitar work of Tinson and De Jong was music to the aged crowd’s ears. Overall it was a very satisfying gig and hopefully not the last we will see of these local guys. Something to be well and truly proud of, Heroes and Newcastle.
Reviewer and Photographer: David Jackson
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