Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

Weapon of Peace
/Route Master Band
The Robin 2 Bilston

As I said in my blurb a month or so ago: "Weapon of Peace" were a band I got to see a couple of three times back in the day, firstly because the drummer Clive Brown went to the same school, and I went to simply check them out, and then later on when they were supporting UB40. They were young - had a message - were damn fine band - took a wrong turn and were gone - those were different times. Now we're living in a time of constant musical reunions re-visitations and rejuvenations which usually fit into one of three categories: the great, the good, and the horrid. Two years back Wolverhampton's "Capital Letters" fleetingly returned after a thousand nights of slumber, last year Bristol's "Black Roots" came in from the cold. Now it's the turn of Weapon of Peace. So whilst the thousands of nondescripts, celebrity wannabes and self obsessed bods frolicked in the mud and drizzle at Glastonbury (Arts) Festival I made my way over to Bilston in search of something of a rare commodity nowadays - honesty.

Bilston, in case you didn't know, is the capital of the Black Country and one of the only places left in this great and glorious country of ours where honesty can still be found. Bilston is honest in its style. It's a place where the mullet hairstyle is not only still in vogue but also a symbol of high civic status. Bilston is also honest about its passions. The Labour club proudly advertises up and coming events featuring live bouts of wrestling. It might not be Mick McManus versus Les Kellett but it shows that the people of Bilston like what they know, and know what they like. You may be forgiven for thinking you've entered a time warp - it's not that simple.

Bilston folk, who are invariably diminutive, are also honesty in their speech. They NEVER whisper or even talk, they only SHOUT! Why is this you ask? Well it's because in The Black Country since the Industrial Revolution generation after generation of the venerable populous has had its hearing irreparably impaired by the ear splitting blow of the steam hammer upon hard tempered metal. Our aural sense has been genetically deadened. This is why the vocals of Noddy Holder and Slade and Roy Wood and Wizard were forged here, and why a plethora of ROCK bands are still able to thrive on our hallowed ground. For some in The Black Country extra VOLUME needed for the others the ability to concentrate and LISTEN has won the day. Either way honesty is at the heart of the intention.

This ability to listen is borne out at the Robin 2. Over the last thirty years (and some) I've visited too many venues in this nation and witnessed many varying qualities of sound. There are several venues (mentioning no names) where decades have past but irrespective, the sound has always been crap. Now even though the Robin 2 in Bilston may not be viewed by the professional musical journalist (spit) as the greatest venue in the Western World I can honestly say that I have never been to a gig here when the sound has been anything less than immaculate. Tonight was no exception.

When I arrived "Route Master Band" were on. They'd evidently come by bus. Coz there was a red double decker Routemaster parked on double yellow lines outside the club. I shit you not! Little Brinsley Forde was on the back seat sitting next to Melvyn Hayes - ok so I made that bit up. Anyway The Route Master Band who are fronted by a solid and sequined lady were flowing majestically along as I sloped into the venue and sidled up to the bar to cash in my vouchers for a litre of Red Bull. The lad who served me was decked out in a "Ramones" T shirt - you know the one - Rocket to Russia. As I handed over my Ka$h I nearly did a very silly thing and I had to quickly bite off what was on the tip of my tongue. I was about to ask him if he was "going tonight". And he'd have replied. "Where?" And I'd have said "to see "Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg" at the Ink Club in Brum, he doesn't come on until well into the small hours". But he'd have looked at me with a major Blank Expression and said "Who's Marky Ramone?" So I'm glad I said zip. Honesty ain't always the best policy, kids nowadays just wear stuff without the slightest idea of who or what it is their wearing. They call it a "fashion statement" or some shit like that.

The Route Master Band breezed on demanding to be listened to -I listened - sort of a Lover's Rock with a slight detour into roots every now & the when the opportunity presented itself - They did a couple of covers too near the close, "Concrete Jungle" (not The Specials one) the Robert N Marley OM track (obviously) and "Love is Automatic" by Marcia Griffiths. "Concrete Jungle" is an unreasonably tricky track to pull off, and I'm not sure they got it, bloody brave though, pinning it down is one thing getting the vibe right is another. But "Love is Automatic" they certainly did pin down, and wonderfully well too. So The Route Master Band played Bob, & then Marcia - no not Bob & Marcia - ahhh no one reads this stuff anyway.

Weapon of Peace came on around 10.30pm, with the spine of original members still intact: Clive Brown on drums, Clyde Taylor on keyboards and Mick de Souza on rhythm and taking full charge lead vocal duties. They kicked off with "Jah Love" from their eponymous debut and an hour and fifteen minutes later they finished with their debut single "Children of Today". Folk danced, folk listened - coz there was something worth listening and dancing to. Most of the set was made up of stuff from their 1981 debut LP, the likes of: "West Park", "No Time to Scream", "Know yourself", "Don't Sit Around" - but there was also "Standing on the Edge" from there 2nd LP "Rainbow Rhythm" and the B side "Misty Rhodes" in there (which you should be listening to now).

Weapon of Peace displayed a lot of poise for being newly reformed - with the original three being augmented by bass, Bonna Brock on guitar, percussion, two sax players and extra female vocalist it was their musicality and the musicality of the songs that struck me. They seemed to have grown into their old sound. A mightier Weapon of Peace. Definitely. Music, captured and contained on a wax disc is a wonderful thing, but if it lies around for too long it just becomes a dusty old document, that can be lost or forgotten. Weapon of Peace blew some fresh clean air into the back catalogue tonight and made the music live once more, lets hope they stick around, FORWARD!

Old, new & blue (the old Flexipop flexi from way back when)

I made my way over to Birmingham for Marky Ramone - I'd had my Reggae, now I needed my Punky.