Einsturzende Neubauten - London, 1983

Einsturzende Neubauten's first gig in London was one of the most amazing spectacles of performance art , visual thuggery & ear splitting cacophany ever seen in London. It was held on a muggy summer's evening, in a strange little community hall in South London - the setting was as weird as the gig.

Once inside the punters were locked in and the heaters turned on to full power. This factor, combined with the fires onstage, made it the most uncomfortable gig I've ever been to. Added to this were angle grinders covering the audience in sparks, and Blixa Bargeld (lead singer) smashing bottles into huge iron plates, with the shards of glass showering the audience. The other problem was that there was so much humidity, thanks to the heaters and lots of sweating bodies, that the camera lenses continually fogged up and that made it really difficult to get a clear pic.

I don't know if anyone lost an eye that night, but I can't imagine anything like that gig being allowed today. Public liability and OH&S rules would prohibit a band like Einsturzende Neubauten ever playing anywhere.

The Virgin Prunes - London 1983

The Virgin Prunes were one of a spate of goth bands emerging at the time, but they were characterised by elaborate props.

They were very theatrical, but unfortunately were very much style over substance. I've got a few of their early releases, but I cannot remember any of their songs.

They had a great stage presence though.

Fad Gadget.

These shots were taken in London in 1982. He was an early client if Mute Records, and was criminally under-rated as a performer - he was a brilliant musician. He had Alison Moyet as his backing singer, was a great performer and he used all sorts of props on stage, including shaving cream and horse hair (as fake pubic hair).

It was easy to understand why he was also an early favourite subject of Anton Corbijn, another NME photographer.

Edwin Starr

These photos were taken at a very small gig in in London's West End, in 1983.

There was only a small crowd, but everyone there was waiting to hear him sing "War". The entire crowd joined in to help sing the lyrics "what it is good for?" and it was one of those one in a lifetime opportunities to see a great performer belt out one of the best known anthems.

Nick Cave & The Birthday Party.

Jeremy took these photos of Nick Cave & The Birthday Party in London in 1983. They were enormous at the time in London, but still the anti-Australian feelings in London, of some of the punters at the gig (going home on the Underground), kept him keep his mouth shut to avoid being targetted as an unwelcome Aussie in their midst. The night these shots were taken, Jeremy was mistaken for a member of Duran Duran (which was not an insult!)