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It's
difficult to put this one into words as there
probably aren't words yet in the dictionary to
describe what we witnessed last Friday night.
Simply astonishing. This is being talked about
amongst the greatest Friars gigs
ever
and every bit as amazing as the original 1982
Kid Creole Friars gigs. China Crisis returning
to Friars for the first time since 1983 more
than played their part too with a brilliant and
very well received set. Everything smiled on
us.....BBC TV coverage in the afternoon, the
party balloons, a big audience, two bands so hot
they almost spontaneously combusted and smiles
on lots of faces.
So
that is it.......the last ever Friars Christmas
Party and the last gig in this brief
resurrection of Friars Aylesbury in its 40th
anniversary year. And in the words of Kid Creole
himself.......OH
WHAT A NIGHT!!
We'll keep
this page updated as stuff comes in.
PRE-MATCH INTERVIEWS.....KID
CREOLE........CHINA
CRISIS
SPECIAL........including interviews and live
footage from the gig
HERE
THE GALLERY
HERE
SETLISTS
HERE
REVIEW
HERE
YOUR VIEWS
HERE
From the
bands.....
Kid Creole
- All the
planets were aligned ..... I had something to
prove ..... and I proved it .... thanks to the
gods and to the delicious Coconuts and the
musicians and to my chanteuse (Elvira Jones)
....and thanks to my right-hand man Bongo Eddie
[the only original member still standing -
besides me) - a true survivor. It was, in fact,
the apotheosis of teamwork ........
when the show was over .... I returned to my
dressing room .... I took a long look at myself
in the mirror .... I sighed ....
I admired what I saw ... I admired what I felt
.... Yep, my shit is still together!
................Next .....
THE SETLISTS
Kid Creole: As
below
China
Crisis:
TBC
Kris Needs
1980s Sound System:
The Oneness Of Ju-Ju - African Rhythms/Ozo -
Anambra/Eddie Kendricks - Girl You Need A Change
Of Mind/Aural Exciters - Emile [Night
Rate]/Taana Gardner - Heartbeat/MFSB - Love Is
The Message/Salsoul Orchestra - Ooh I Love
It/Dinosaur L - Go Bang/Erotic Drum Band - Plug
Me To Death/Castle Beat - Deputy Of Love/I Shot
The Sheriff/Began Czekic - Burnin’ Hot/NYC Peech
Boys - Dance Sister [Bio-feedback]/James White &
The Blacks - Contort Yourself [August Darnell
Remix]/Grandmaster Flash - White
Lines/Dominatrix - The Dominatrix Sleeps
Tonight/Johnny Dynell & New York - Jam
Hot/Suicide - Diamonds, Fur Coats, Champagne/The
Ronettes - Winter Wonderland/New York Spice -
Set It Off/Material - Bustin’ Out/Blondie -
Rapture/J. Walter Negro & The Loose Jointz -
Shoot The Pump/David Bowie - Let’s Dance/Chic
- Good Times
Additionally,
who else spotted Let There Be Drums by Sandy
Nelson.....just like the old days!
THE FANS
Some of the
feedback we've had!
David
Stopps, Friars promoter
Kid Creole's
performance was beyond belief. One of the best
nights ever.
The
webmaster:
I was lucky
enough to see both the Friars gigs by Kid Creole
in 1982, two of the greatest gigs in my life
ever...what would they be like in 2009? I
needn't have worried. They and China Crisis were
on inspired form and the magic was there. Two
amazing bands and we were so lucky...this KC big
band does not do many gigs but they were so up
for proving that they could be as good as they
were before. They managed it effortlessly. Huge
respect to China Crisis - a great set and great
blokes too.
There is a
thriving
Friars community on Facebook
with hundreds of
members!
Here's a
selection of comments:
"What a great night, we need more nights like
this on our doorstep, have only just been able
to get a taste of what you guys had back then."
"Sore feet from dancing too much -sore throat
from singing too much -sore head from drinking
too much -what and AM-AZ-ING NIGHT!"
"Well done Friars! Kid Creole & the Coconuts
were on top form. I was there 27 years ago, KC
never changes, the still the main man after all
those years, total entertainment. First time
seeing China Crisis, Brilliant!'
KRIS NEEDS REVIEW
Christmas started early on
November 27 when Kid Creole brought his
immaculate hits, some Las Vegas glitz and the
unbridled funky energy of New York’s legendary
early 80s club scene to the Friars stage in one
of the most remarkable shows the town has
witnessed in years.
Or not since the last time Kid
Creole and the Coconuts appeared at Friars in
1982, which David Stopps announced from the
stage as perhaps, ‘the best Friars gig ever.’
August Darnell, aka Kid
Creole, was fronting a rare appearance by his
entire 14-piece band, including the Coconuts,
MC-percussionist Bongo Eddie, horn players,
uncannily Hendrix-like guitarist Marc Anthony
Jones and stellar rhythm section of bassist Oroh
Angiarna and drummer Dave Imby. The Friars stage
has rarely witnessed such uncut funk in its
purest form as the band set up the sinuous,
liquid groove which underpins much of Creole’s
work, building unbearable tension with seemingly
minimum effort, stoking the crowd for first the
entrance of the girls in their jungle outfits
then The Kid, sporting pink zoot suit, panama
hat and two-tone shoes.
The atmosphere was euphoric
as the enraptured crowd joined in with hits like
‘I’m A Wonderful Thing, Baby’ and ‘Stool
Pigeon’, interspersed with songs from Kid
Creole’s new ‘Anthology’ CD. He is a star from
the old school, mixing Cab Calloway flash while
drilling the super-tight band with James Brown
precision. The between-song vignettes with the
girls and turquoise-suited foil Bongo Eddie
added a touch of vaudeville straight from New
York’s Harlem Apollo many decades ago
‘Of the three 40th Anniversary Friars Aylesbury
gigs we presented in 2009, this was the most
ambitious,’ said a delighted David Stopps. ‘The
Kid Creole big band are scattered all across
Europe and August had to pull them all together
for this one date in England. We both wanted to
recreate the memories of those two amazing 1982
Friars performances 27 years later. It was a
risk but we needn't have worried. The
combination of the Kid Creole big band and the
Friars Aylesbury audience ignited an atmosphere
of well-being that if anything exceeded 1982.’
Earlier in the evening, China Crisis, who
appeared at Friars in June, 1983, played a
well-received set of dramatic ballads while, as
DJ, I played records which were setting fire to
New York’s clubs during Kid Creole’s initial
rise. Balloons and streamers added to the
atmosphere.
This most spectacular show
was the third and last of the gigs held to
celebrate Friars’ 40th birthday.
There was a tangible sadness when it was over,
especially as this historic, gig-perfect venue
now only has demolition to look forward to
[Rumours were flying that it could become part
of the new Sainsbury‘s site].
David summed it up,
‘Today there are only two types of people in the
Aylesbury area. Those that were there last
Friday and those that weren't. I think the
former group will carry this gig with them for
the rest of their lives.
‘A big thank
you to all those that helped put this together
and a special mention to the Aylesbury Vale
District Council who have been so supportive of
the brief return of Friars Aylesbury 40 years
after its inception'
THE GALLERY
All
pictures: Mike O'Connor and
©
2009 www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk except where
noted
Special
thanks to Neale Wareham, Mary Payne
Hey, it's
the Christmas party!
Getting
ready for the great night out - the scene early
afternoon.
Pictures
above: Mike O'Connor
One balloon
net ready for Operation Christmas Party
Friars
legend and DJ for the night Kris Needs with the
webmaster.
David
Stopps and the webmaster.....aka Mickey Mouse
and Desperate Dan!
We met a
Friars fan who was there in 1982....it said so
on his T shirt
Pictures
above: Mike O'Connor
China
Crisis played a blinder:
     
Pictures
above: Neale Wareham
Pictures
above: Mike O'Connor
Picture
above: Neale Wareham
Picture
above: Mary Payne/Radio London
Receiving
their Friars Heroes Award at the end of a
brilliant set.
Pictures
above: Neale Wareham
Here's Mr
Creole in full flight, back on the Aylesbury
stage after 27 years away.
Don't take
my Coconuts
A happy
Bongo Eddie
Pictures
above: Mike O'Connor
Pictures
above: Mary Payne/Radio London
Even the
fans got involved!
   
Pictures
above: Neale Wareham
Pictures
above: Mary Payne/Radio London
And
rounding things off nicely with a well deserved
Heroes Award and into the Friars Hall of Fame.
Pictures
above: Neale Wareham |
