A video courtesy of Karen below:

Set consists of three old Molly classics, Two covers and Two Brand new numbers

Entrance fee is £3 (Bargain)

Band Line up

Steve Hawkins (Vocals)
John Antcliffe (Guitar)
Nic Wastell (Bass)
Gregg Ellis (Drums)

Start Time:
Friday, 22 January 2010 at 21:00

Location:
Sumo Leicester
Street:
54 Braunstone Gate
Town/City:
Leicester, United Kingdom

Official release below.

After Wacken Rocks Brazil, the Brazilian spin-off of the famed Wacken Open Air in Germany had to be defered indefinitely, now also the two German spin-offs Wacken Rocks Seaside in Aurich, East Frisia and Wacken Rocks South in Rieden, Bavaria, which were supposed to take place in two weeks from now, had to be postponed to the end of August. According to the organizers this is due to the high ticket sales and the bureaucratic and infrastructural problems that go along with this. The entire statement reads as follows:

“Due to the strong demand for tickets, the local authorities of Aurich have changed the legal requirements on short notice. As a result, both the festival ground and the camping area cannot be used as planned. For the reorganisation that has now become necessary, additional areas are needed – but are not available, since they are in agricultural use during May.

For this reason, the organisers are forced to postpone the Wacken Rocks Seaside in Aurich from May 21st to 23rd to August 28th to 30th.

As a result, Wacken Rocks South in Kreuth/Rieden has also to be postponed to August 27th to 29th, since all artists were booked to appear at both events.

We kindly ask for your understanding and will make up for it by getting additional high class acts and surprises on the bill. For starters, Doro has confirmed her participation!

Of course, all tickets remain valid!”

“As it happens I found my way to the facebook group from chromemolly.com but the idea that you might be doing stuff again is an intriguing one. As to where I saw you, some of this may or may not ring bells, but twenty years on I suspect none of us have perfect memories.

The reason I found chromemolly.com is because I was talking with someone about going to a venue in Poole a long time ago, and started looking up some of the bands I saw there. I wouldn’t expect all this to have stuck in anyone else’s mind after all this time either, though I should probably send it to Nic too now I’ve found he’s also on here.

I first saw Chrome Molly at Mr C’s in Poole in June 1987, which was a narrow upstairs bar with a low stage at one end. That particular gig obviously left some sort of impression on me, and the next gig within striking distance to appear in the Kerrang! gig guide was a sunday night in Salisbury the following February. Salisbury Arts Centre is a medium sized converted church building, all high roof and big arched windows, and one of the first times I’d travelled much outside my local area for a gig, two big shows in London excepted.

At some point just after the support band Nobody’s Fool finished their set, I saw some or all of you and the gushing teenager I used to be proudly told you that I’d cycled thirty miles there to make the gig, to surprised and positive reactions. At some point during the set, a certain lead singer introduced the next song by saying something along the lines of “this bloke here, he’s come a long way on a bike for this gig, so this song’s for him…” and after the gig I spent half an hour eating some of your cold pizza and chatting with the band upstairs/backstage before cycling home and getting an earful about where had I been since I left for work at 7 that morning. Rock n roll!

By that autumn I was in Liverpool at college, and come the day you were playing a gig in a basement rock bar there that didn’t last very long, I bumped into the four of you in HMV in the afternoon – you still knew who “the bike guy” was when I introduced myself, except of course Tim who had replaced John in the band in the meantime.

After the gig that evening, I bought Slaphead when it turned up in the shops, and that was probably about the last I heard of Chrome Molly apart from I think an ad in Kerrang! for a tenth anniversary gig in Leicester, which at that time I was in no position to get to.

Twenty years later, I’m still going to more gigs than ever, but it’s probably stuff like those early shows where I first found out how surprisingly accessible and friendly people can be offstage that got me hooked on more than just listening to records. Chrome Molly for me was more of an exciting live event than a recordings thing, and while I’d welcome a new album if one happens, I’d also look forward to another gig. Having stayed at my mate’s house in Leicester for a gig a few weeks ago, I do know my way there if there’s a gig I can get to, even if I won’t be cycling this time.

In any case, I guess I’ve just never grown out of being a fan, even if my tastes have broadened over the years, and if I get a chance this weekend I’ll have a dig through my spare room – I’ve a feeling there’s a vintage CM setlist or two and maybe some other stuff. I know there was a fanzine interview going on backstage after that gig in Salisbury, and it wouldn’t surprise me to find that my copy of that is still buried in a box.”

Martin Cherries

The sahnd o’ the north is a ferret wi’ a cowd.

The sahnd o’ the south is a bleat abaht the froth on a larty.

The sahnd o’ the Midlands is a rhythm. 

From ‘eadstocks at collieries to foundries mekkin iron, the beat in the ‘eart of the country – in proper England – is metal on metal. It’s the pulse of the industry that med an empire an’ an echo in the thots of men ‘oo shaped a world, from Newton to Shakespeare to Tolkien. It’s the steel in the spine of evry Midlands youth ‘oo ever stud up for ‘is ideas. 

Yer cahn’t grow up in the Midlands wi’aht feelin’ it movin’ in yer blud. ‘Earts pahnd in time wi’ it; souls sing melodies arahnd it, an’ days are lived at the pace it sets. 

If the sahnd o’ the Midlands cud be seen, it’d be the ‘ammer of time on the anvil o’ the eternal.

And if the sahnd o’ the Midlands cud be fused inter four youths frum Leicester, it’d luk like Chrome Molly. Only prettier.�

Check back soon

Steve