The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The Mission
The Mission live at CHALK in Brighton 12 April 2022.
The Mission had selected Brighton to drop in for a special Warm Up Show. This was a cracking night of live music for the capacity crowd.
The Mission (known as The Mission UK in the United States) are an English gothic rock band formed in 1986. Initially known as The Sisterhood, the band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams (both from The Sisters of Mercy), soon adding drummer Mick Brown (Red Lorry Yellow Lorry) and guitarist Simon Hinkler (Artery and Pulp). Aside from Hussey, the lineup has changed several times during the years and the band has been on hiatus twice.
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The band’s catalogue consists of ten main albums (God’s Own Medicine, Children, Carved in Sand, Masque, Neverland, Blue, Aura, God Is a Bullet, The Brightest Light, and Another Fall from Grace), with several complementing albums, compilations, and other miscellaneous releases.
During this period, The Mission enhanced their reputation as one of the best and most exciting live bands in the world. They won themselves countless accolades. They have quite a history including highlights such as seven sold out consecutive shows at the Astoria Theatre in London! They have headlined the Reading Festival twice. They have also played alongside The Cure, U2 and Robert Plant.
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
I have to say it was no surprise to learn that this show was a sell out. Fans started arriving early due to the early start. The band fondly regarded or indeed worshipped by fans had arrived early to catch Salvation live, and now they waited. The music from The Mission started to flow in 1986 with debut album God’s Own Medicine, were back in Brighton and were here to take those aforementioned fans in Chalk in Brighton were about to grab their fans and take them on an exciting journey across their back catalogue. This was detailed as a special warm up show. So glad they chose Brighton!
The Band:
Wayne Hussey on vocals and guitar, Simon Hinkler on guitar, and Craig Adams on bass. A new man at the back on drums was Alex Baum.
Wayne Hussey on vocals and guitar
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Simon Hinkler on guitar
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Craig Adams on bass
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Alex Baum on drums
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
This was a show to leave you speechless! It is well known, by those who know, the band with Hussey has not earned the title of cult just for its physical music releases, but, as were about to be reminded, also for being a top class live outfit.
As The Mission don’t have a new album on release they just they fired up a cracking set brimming with classics, we did get some newer material dropped in. And we did get a few of the big numbers aired in Chalk during the precious 90 minutes on the stage.
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The sound in Chalk was crystal-clear, nice, and loud without being painful. Every note and word could be heard. It was all well mixed to produce a treat for the ears from the first song Beyond The Pale to the last song, Tower Of Strength. The only thing that impacted the set was the over indulgent use of the smoke machine causing a few of us to cough, and meaning the band were at times just silhouettes with the strong backlighting.
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- The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Hussey is a great frontman; he really seemed to be enjoying himself during his time on the Chalk stage. Songs such as the opener Beyond the Pale and Naked and Savage were full of atmosphere and The Mission drama.
I love looking back from the photographer’s pit into the crowd. Just great to see the front rows full of happy grinning faces, when the smoke cleared. The Missions very own congregation joined in with passion as they took part with the vocals and there were many arms stretching toward the stage, many with a mobile phone attached. Their engagement fired up the crowd from that first track.
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The band “returns” to the stage twice to give rousing versions Blood Brother – Hungry As The Hunter – and Swan Song. They then came back to perform Butterfly On A Wheel – Crystal Ocean and the climax of the evening, and the last song, Tower Of Strength. This closed proceedings and ended a classic faultless performance.
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Mr Hussey and his band of musicians seem to be still looking forward and, I guess, as long as fans continue to turn up in sizeable numbers as they did tonight, the good news is that there is no reason for them to stop playing.
The Mission: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
And Finally:
Thanks to The Mission – who are on the WWW here.
Thanks to Chalk
Thanks to the Brighton and Hove Music Team
Words and photos by Ian Bourn
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