Mud: Tiger Feet live in Worthing!

MUD: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Mud – LIVE, with Telegram Sam. The Factory Live, Worthing 20/12/2024

Glam rock live in Worthing. Proving that there is still a tiger in their tank! Mud, Mud Glorious Mud – LIVE!! Featuring original founding members Ray Stiles and Rob Davis, the iconic glam rock band MUD crept into Worthing, where they promised to perform their number one hit Lonely This Christmas as well as other major hits such as Tiger Feet, Dyna-Mite, Oh Boy and many more!

Since the sad passing of Les Gray and David Mount, the last show performed with the original line up dates back to 1978. After 38 years the current band played just a few selected shows in 2016, and tonight they were back at the Factory Live, in Worthing.

Pre Show:

It was great to meet up in the dressing room before the gig. The band sitting and relaxing before the show. Rob and Ray pulled up a chair for a catch up. Ray said there were going to be some surprises for tonight’s show. And that was all he would tell me. They had mixed up the set list a bit. We chatted away for a while, I said “Oh, I wanted to ask you about” and they both replied in unison “yes we know”. It was about the parody version of Lonely This Christmas presently riding high in the Official Charts Company download charts; it is number as we spoke. I said the song has beaten Wham to the top spot on those charts. They reminded me that this song has now been banned twice by the BBC! The original was banned during the pandemic for obvious reasons. They liked the new version, the vocals sound pretty close to the same as Les Gray. They both appreciated the context and that it is a charity release.  Ray then asked if I wanted a three second interview about The Hollies. Naturally I said “Yes Please”. Ray smiled and said “OK, we are not playing live anytime soon”, and that was it, an exclusive! We chatted about The Sensational Alex Harvey band, and how Mud, supported the band in Glasgow and Alex shared the same goals as Mud with their music, to play and have fun!

The Set!

The Hippopotamus Song’ by Flanders & Swann ushered the guys to the stage, “MUD, MUD, Glorious MUD!”

Though times have moved on since their heyday, I was about to discover the band wholesomely retain the fun of the original Mud whilst faithfully recreating their hits of the 70s.  Lonely This Christmas sees its 50^th anniversary of its release. 50 years!!

MUD: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The set opened up with Ray giving a heartfelt and poignant mention to their departed friends Les Gray and David Mount. Then it started! An often forgotten song, the guitar slides from Rob and 5,4,3,2,1! Into the classic L’L’Lucy. I loved that track and owned it on 7’’ vinyl.  It was written by Stiles and Davis, so it was just great to see the writers perform their song live.  OK, then sticking mostly with the 70’s for most of their set of foot tapping music. What a great band they were/are! Loved the tango tempo for Crazy, also utilised for the follow up, and next to be played, single release Hypnosis.

MUD: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Back then we had Sweet, Suzi, Slade, TREX, Hello, Alvin and so many more. We may age but this music is timeless! And, tonight MUD went above and beyond to prove just that. By the end of the set no one was sitting down. We had our thumbs jammed into out belt buckles, or side pockets shuffling our shoulders to Tiger Feet and The Cat Crept In! And, let us not forget the four step dance routine. This was a special trip down memory lane for us all, those heady days, school days and Top Of The Pops from the 70’s.

During the set we were reminded, and quite rightly about Robs more recent achievements. Grammy award-winning guitarist Rob Davis has enjoyed life as a legendary songwriter. We were played short excerpts of his penned hits such as Can’t Get You Out of My Head for Kylie Minogue, Groovejet for Sophie Ellis Bextor, I Need a Miracle for Coco Star and Toca’s Miracle for Fragma.

We were handed track after track of feel good, foot tapping music. We also heard some wonderful various back stories from Mr Stiles. Dyna-Mite, he told us this song was offered to Sweet, but they turned it down! One Night, Secrets That You Keep we up next.

Surprise number 1, on drums tonight was original Glitter Band drummer, Peter Phipps. The drums started and Mud hit the unmistakeable strains of Angel Face. A blistering, great fun rendition that went down well with the sold out crowd.

OK, surprise number 2 that Ray had mentioned, the wonderful harmonised Oh, Boy! Ellie Hope from Liquid Gold (Dance Yourself Dizzy) replicating her original vocal slot. Superbly done. The harmonies were top notch.

Keith Read, guitar, and a long time friend of the guys, struck up the notes on his guitar and sang the  Eddy Cochran Cut Across Shorty cover. Some real dirty good old rock and roll! Great job Keith.

And so, onto surprise number 3! Mud just kept on giving tonight. Ray gave us a look back to a time when Mud had disbanded and what they had been doing. Ray has been a member of the legendary Hollies for the past 31 years and produced their last two studio albums. He mentioned a band called Taboo, and he invited his wife Anne Stiles to take to the stage, they both were in that band. We were then given two all-out classics, Love Is A Battlefield and Play That Funky Music.

Another familiar face from when I was invited to cover The Hollies, along with Ray Stiles, was a fellow Scot Ian Parker on keyboards. He was full of mischief tonight and some superb key pressing.

For me to hear Rob replicate the sound of some of those 70’s guitar riffs was what it was all about, he nailed it perfectly. No massive flairs or huge earrings tonight. The Stacked heals, wide jacket lapels, huge flares and a degree of eye catching outfits were en vogue back then. But, he was wearing a green tartan suit as last seen on the old videos for Crazy. No brothel creepers tonight, but a tiger skin patterned pair of Convos. He nailed it perfectly. His fingers shaping the bends for Rocket, one of my favourite MUD tracks about a certain Abigail Rocket-Blast! Hearing this one was a set highlight for me. The tone, speed and quality matched my prized 7” single. I used to play along to this one on my guitar…badly!

MUD: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The wild The Cat Crept In was upon us. This was another huge hit for the band from 1975.

Lonely This Christmas continued to document a remarkable period for Mud, with those stomping rhythms, superb guitar riffs and good old fashioned pop writing. It also ensured its regular playing on the radio etc every year. Everyone joined in with this one.

MUD: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

What was to become their signature tune Tiger Feet had been a massive hit in 1974, The finale was, of course the one and only Tiger Feet! Everybody was up for this one. Some fine audience participation and hands swaying. A brilliant ending to the set and a joy to be there and be part of it.

The band MUD notched up seven singles in the UK Top 40 in 1975 totalling a massive 42 weeks in the top 40, the most by any artist that year. And, tonight we heard them all.

MUD: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

We got what we expected, a high-energy performance with plenty of audience participation, often feeling like a fun, nostalgic Christmas party atmosphere. The sound quality from The Factory Live team was spot on, it was clear, well balanced and plenty loud enough!

A Mud gig is well documented and remembered for their lively stage presence and infectious energy, often getting the crowd dancing and clapping along. Ray said “we aren’t as young as we used to be”, well Mud you certainly didn’t show it tonight. It was a firecracker of a performance. Oh Boy!

MUD: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The audience in The Factory seemed to be made up of all ages and there seemed to be a few Mud T-shirts proudly on display.

Ray, Rob and the band put on a shamelessly slick, nostalgic and memorable performance. They haven’t lost their touch as they took us through the set. The set was interspersed with some fabulous band banter and warm humour.

The glorious 70’s was an interesting time for music. We had acts as diverse as say Clive Dunn to The Rubettes to the magnificent Queen and then later punk. It was all out there for us all to enjoy. Mud played a large part in the 70’s charts back then and got that Christmas number 1 in 1974 with ‘Lonely This Christmas’. This of course made sure that they would be played every Christmas on the radio along with the newer parody version, Crosby, Wizzard and Slade.

Sadly all good things have to end and end it did. No-one left the Factory without having seen a great show from one of the biggest groups of their era and loving every second of it. Mud, same place next year? We will all be there!

A Video!

Merry Christmas Mud and all the best for 2025 x

Telegram Sam

Telegram Sam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Telegram Sam were the support for tonight. As the name suggests they are a T.Rex tribute outfit. Now the music of T.Rex and Marc has been close to my heart since the launch of Electric Warrior.Telegram Sam is a band with a rich history of musicianship. The band’s experience spans many years and many bands, most recently all coming together, celebrating T Rex music.

Telegram Sam delivered an exciting show, fronted by Noel Ashton, with the whole band bringing their vast experience of performing all the hits of Marc Bolan and T.Rex.They had a short slot, but they packed in plenty of Bolin’s material. Kicking off with Metal Guru, then some Solid Gold Easy Action.

The sound was very convincing and the musicians played with such enthusiasm and talent, it was impossible not to surrender to the charm of Telegram Sam.

Also in the set was I love to Boogie, Hot Love, Get it on and closed with 20^th Century Boy. Nicely done Telegram Sam!

These guys were a great choice for the support slot.

“Automatic shoes give me 3D vision and the California blues.”

And Finally…

Huge thanks to Ray and Rob and Mud, Anne Stiles and Ellie Hope
Thanks to Telegram Sam

Safe to say we all had a great time at The Factory Live. All the staff were very helpful and welcoming as they always are. Thanks to Gerry and Stephen for looking after me . This is a great venue for music, comedy or Blues on a Sunday afternoon! Nicely done guys! Experience The Factory Live! A 285 capacity live music venue situated in the heart of Worthing on the South Coast. They recently announced they were awarded Live Music Venue of the year in West Sussex 2024/2025. Congratulations from Scene Sussex, well deserved. I have had many great times there, and look forward to more visits.

Words and photos by Ian Bourn.

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