Well it was to Belgium I went for my third Pistols gig in as many months and with a good line-up beforehand.

Missed most of vintage Belgian punks The Kids but what I heard was pretty good.  Buzzcocks on after that and they always deliver.  All the classic songs with Steve Diggle playing up to the guitar hero image which was great fun climaxing in him smashing half the stage up.  Don't think Pete Shelley was impressed though!   

New York Dolls next and I have wanted to see these ever since they reformed.  A bit hit and miss I found but what was good was great.  Looking For a Kiss and Jet Boy were spot on.  Tribute to Thunders came in Johnny's You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory.  Nice touch. 

Then to the main reason I was here. The now familiar tones of Dame Vera rang out but shame, I missed Pretty Vacant 'cos a couple of fellas seemed to take offence at me singing along to TABAE so by the time the band walked onstage fisticuffs had ensued and I was rolling about on the floor but hey, it sounded good! 

After that it was all the way with great song after great song.   Probably enjoyed Problems and Liar more than anytime I've heard them live.  John was in his green leafy outfit whipping the crowd up to make more noise and good at it he is too. His fun stuff is also evident with the now par for the course 'Would you like to see my tits?'  before showing his arse etc.  Steve's guitar sounded the bollocks, especially on No Fun, with Paul and Glen as tight as ever. I'm loving the way John lets the band jam on before he decides to come in with the vocals.  Whether or not he's remembering the words or just playing about I dunno but it works for me.  On Baghdad he sang Belsen at one or two points and the Allah stuff seemed to divide the crowd but the name of Bush doesn't. 

The band were on fine form and enjoying it too.  Anarchy was an extended hand clapping version again, GSTQ rocked just like Bodies and Holidays, Silver Machine like Roadrunner were the final encore and sounded great.  Before that what else?  Oh it doesn't matter.  Everybody knows the set now and they did it all bloody great.

Now since I missed the last train a point to doss down somewhere had to be found. Was it worth it?  Oh yes. Until Hammersmith....