I was still 17 at the time and this would be my first trip to a gig in London ON MY OWN ! True, I had earlier seen Alvin Stardust at the Taunton Odeon, but my grandad gave me a lift so that's another story !!

News of the concert was announced on radio 1, during a feature on SWEETs return on "Newsbeat". Quick as a flash, my cheque (£2.50?) and SAE were winging their way to the theatre...no credit cards then ! I was nervous about the journey but for SWEET I had to be there! This was my first (and sadly only) chance to see the fab 4 - having been too young for their last tour and a fan since the tender age of 11.

I worked at Waitrose in Leighton Buzzard and had to catch the train to Euston. I didn't finish work until 6 so travelled straight down in my work clothes. Brown shirt, brown tie brown trousers.... all hidden under a brown double breasted raincoat...very Rock 'n' Roll !

I'd made a "Love Is Like Oxygen" badge which I proudly wore. Someone actually wanted to buy it off me outside the Odeon ! True, the merchandising was poor - just a few touts selling rubbish.

The lights dimmed, "Action"s intro throbbed, the crowd roared. Was this it?

Was it really happening? An apparition came into view. A pale jacket and long blonde hair shimmered in the darkness. Brian even raised his arms like a crucifix to complete this holy vision. I was dumbstruck...

Reality juddered back in when I realised everyone was running down the aisles to the stage. But they were... Andy now all hairy 'n' serious to my left. Steve, red 'n' curly to my right. Short haired Mick behind a gleaming kit up at the back. And Brian moving and working like I'd never seen him before. It seems stupid to say this but I was really surprised at how good a frontman Brian was. I'd only seen TV appearances in cramped studios or heard his voice on crappy vinyl.

I don't think I drew breath for the first 4 numbers. Thankfully the pace eased off an edge with California Nights. Strange triangular obelisks revolved to form a cine screen for west-coast Americana. Were there some potted palms on stage also ?

Mick took off into an impromptu solo. Everyone around me went mental. I never cared much for "Golden Arm" as I was a riff-mad teenager with the attention span of...well, a teenager. Hearing Mick play for real was just euphoric...

I remember "Cocaine" thinking how terribly grown up SWEET were, playing respectable music.

Andy played a guitar solo with a beer can. From more recent gigs I assume it was in Set Me Free.

Brian wore a fringed suede shirt that he removed towards the end. I was relieved to see he wasn't fat as the pop press cruelly implied a few years earlier.

The obelisks revolved to form a city skyline for "Windy City". During the quiet section some guy behind me hollered (right in my ear ) PLAY SOMETHING HEAVY!!! He was so loud Steve heard him from the stage and shushed him.

I was higher than 4th of July for days after. With no video, little merchandising and an apathetic fan club, I only had the briefest of TV appearances to cling to for SWEET memories. That, and reading the album covers hundreds and hundreds of times. It was the best gig I have ever seen (all the more poignant following the split) and my life will never be as perfect as it was that night.....

Happy Days...

John

My very grateful thanks to John for putting this together. What we still lack is a really good recording and some pictures of the event. If you have any you'd be able to share then do get in contact. The background pic here appeared following a tip off from John and verification from Jan Achmann. Below is the form it originally took on the cover of a hits album that appeared sometime back