Ahhhh, the Bunnymen.

How does it feel to be loved? How does it feel to pack The Concorde to the doors just to do a pre-Glastonbury warm-up and extended soundcheck? how does it feel when it all goes tits-up and the and the instruments pack up after the 3rd song?

Some people really can get away with murder. After a 15 minute ramble (sorry Ian - you have no future in stand-up comedy) and a dignified "we're just going off for an interval whilst we sort it out" bar-break, we're back, and it finally comes together.

To be fair - this was billed as a warm-up and showcase for new songs, and NOT part of the eighties revivalist trip that the big promoters are creaming it in with. Ian McCullouch still looks about 25, still wears very, very good shades and still dances like your drunk dad at a wedding - and yes - he STILL has the horniest voice in pop.

Will Sergeant still plays like a demon. He's the only man since Keith Moon who can get away with a bowl-cut and might possibly be Jack White's dad.

It must be a bit strange when you can plug away for 20 years and consistently produce new and powerfull material, and then it's always the same 5 songs that bring the house down. 'The Cutter', 'The Killing Moon', 'Lips Like Sugar' and 'The Back Of Love'... They probably define a period in time now, more than just the band. 'RUST' always brings a fist sized lump to my throat and I defy anyone to watch the first 5 mins of Donnie Darko without the hair on the back of their head tingling.

They made about 600 very hot and bothered people very happy (with a few false starts) and it was funny to see McCullouch in a sunnier and more comical frame of mind than we are all used to. This may have had something to do with being 'big' enough to have a special roadie to bring your pre-lit joints up onto the stage for you. And I wonder what that lad said to him when he climed on stage and whispered into Mac's ear, and I wonder if he broke his neck when he jumped off into the crowd.

I'm pretty sure they dont need to keep writing and performing, but I'm glad they do - and there may even be a few more blinding tracks left in them. If you want to do your bunnymen homework I suggest www.bunnymen.com or www.ianmcculloch.com, and to live the whole thing again, almost, try 'Live In Liverpool' (2001).

p.s. Best comedy moment, hats off to the wag at the back who requested Billie Jean. None of us expected him to ACTUALLY SING THE BLOODY THING!
 
words: Rich