The Sweet: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
We want Sweet… We want Sweet!
All right fellas – Lets Go! The Sweet were in Brighton for the first date of their huge tour. A massive night of memories and blockbuster hits!
The Sweet: Chalk Live, Brighton 25 November 2021.
The Sweet, sometimes also shortened to just Sweet, are a British glam rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s. Their best known line-up consisted of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker. The band first achieved success in the UK charts, with thirteen Top 20 hits during the 1970s alone, with “Block Buster!” (1973) topping the chart, followed by three consecutive number two hits in “Hell Raiser” (1973), “The Ballroom Blitz” (1973) and “Teenage Rampage” (1974).
The Sweet: Andy Scott Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Are you ready Steve, Andy, Mick
I loved the Glam era, Bowie, T Rex, Roxy, Sweet, Slade, Suzy it was a magical time for music and Top Of The Pops was in its element usually promising one of those bands on a Thursday Night on BBC1. I never saw the original Sweet play live back in the day. I Did catch Brian Connolly’s version in the 90’s at a Bognor 70’s weekender. This was shortly before his untimely death back in 1997 aged 51. He was a shadow of his former self but his voice was still strong and clearly enjoying performing.
SWEET: The line up 2021
Andy Scott on various guitars and vocals.
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Paul Manzi – lead vocals,
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Bruce Bisland on drums and backing vocals.
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Tom Cory on vocals, lead guitar and keys.
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Lee Small on Bass vocals and some of the Steve Priest phrases!
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The Glam era of music was varied and exciting. Lots of bands shone briefly, many were one hit wonders. Not The Sweet! They started out under the guidance ofย songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and record producer Phil Wainman. They achieved their first hit with “Funny Funny” in 1971 and they just kept on coming!
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Andy Scott is obviously very proud of this newer line-up, and took great pains to introduce everyone. It was clear he was delighted to be back on the road, in front of a large sold out crowd and doing what he does again at long last. However, he made mention of his age and apologised that tight Covid related procedures would mean he, and the band would not be able to come out and say hello as usual. I don’t think a single person minded. They were playing it safe and no one could blame them for that. They were here, and playing…
The Set:
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
There was quite an age range in the busy venue which was great to see. Many concerts in the city in recent weeks have been down in numbers maybe due to shows being rebooked or people nervous about the pandemic. The lights dimmed and smoke drifted across the stage – The intro to Teenage Rampage fired up as the guys took their positions on the stage.
Time for Action…
The start of what promised to be an incredible gig tonight as the guitars started up was the instantly recognisable Action.ย A cover of New York Groove, originally performed by Hello, was next. A song written by English singer/songwriter Russ Ballard, and Ace Frehley also racked up a hit with his interpretation.
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
A track from Desolation Boulevard was up next with Burn On The Flame and then into another massive hit Hell Raiser. I have to say Paul Manzi is a hugely talented rock vocalist and gave it everything tonight. The speed of the set powered us along as we were treated to a later release The Six Teens. This was incredible! The bass man, Lee Small is a talented bass-player, the almost trademarked vocals and harmonies are on point. A look at Andy Scotts set list had the songs on there, but also which guitar to use. He had half a dozen guitars lined up beside him.
And The Man At The Back…
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
A shout to the powerhouse, the building shaking drumming of The Sweet veteran, Bruce Bisland. The man at the back hammered his kit for the near 90 minute set. Superb, and I don’t think he stopped smiling the whole night. Now as well as well as those massive tunes and hits, the band powered their way through some heavier breaks with Windy City, Defender, and a superb live rendition of the bands latest single Everything.
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
During Set Me Free, plectrum clenched between his teeth, Andy picked up an empty tin can producing some awesome sounding guitar scrapes!
For the members of the audience who remember the hey days and the young members of the audience who knew the material or were just curious there was plenty of chances to sing along to Wig-Wam Bam, Teenage Rampage, and Little Willy.
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
A classical break for the keys as Love is Like Oxygen was split with a segued section from Fanfare For The Common Man (Emerson, Lake and Palmer). And this gave Tom a bit of time to let loose with a tidy flurry of notes from his keyboards.
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
A VIDEO!
Encore! Blockbuster!
The Brighton Chalk voices once again raised as one to a crescendo and joined in with the band for their encore. The Sweet drew a breath and then set about delivering blinding versions of Blockbuster! and Ballroom Blitz. Phew!
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Sweet made numerous appearances on U.K. and European TV shows such as Top of the Pops and Supersonic. In one performance of “Block Buster!” on the Top of the Pops Christmas edition, Priest aroused complaints after he was wearing a German military uniform!
The Sweet: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The cops are out…
Tonight the joint is jumping, Chalk, and the joints are creaking! The police sirens beginning to wail which introduced that inevitable double-whammy of Blockbuster and Ballroom Blitz, combined to make this trip into town a trip down memory lane. Truly a night to remember.
Are you ready Steve….. Andy…..
The Sweet are on the WWW here, get some Action!
And Finally
Thanks to Andy and The Sweet for a top night.
Thanks to:
From humble beginnings The Gig Cartel has grown into one of the UK’s major concert promoters – The Gig Cartel
They work hard promoting live music on the south coast – Black Rabbit Productions
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