The LYCEUM - January 1981 - a review by Jordy

I had been buying Sounds (the Rock Music weekly paper), ever since I had found out there was a review of Sweet's Hammersmith gig in it. Unfortunately I had missed it but continued to buy it every week anyway.

It was through Sounds that I found out Brian had left in '79, and apart from the (very)occasional album review Sweet were never mentioned. Then at the end of 1980 I saw something to make my heart stand still: an advertisement for Sweet at the Lyceum Ballroom  on 4th January 1981.

I couldn't believe it. I was 17 now (I was 14 when I went to see Sweet at Hammersmith), and didn't bother about asking my parents if I could go. I WAS going to go. I quickly phoned some friends and asked them if they wanted to go they said they did so the next day I sent off for 4 tickets, and practically slept by the letterbox until they dropped through the door .

So on Sunday Jan.4th  me, Nig, Jo and Paul got the coach from Norwich to London. Jo had arranged with some of her friends for us to stay the night . We spent the day wandering around and headed for the Lyceum at about 4pm.  All day we had been discussing what songs Sweet would be playing, not knowing if they would play the old stuff now that Brian had left. When we got to the Lyceum  we heard the synth intro to Action during the sound check and our hopes were raised that more of the old stuff would follow. People were already queuing up. We had something to eat and a couple of pints, we didn't look under 18! and headed for the gig. While we were waiting I overheard someone say, "I hope Brian doesn't still have his long blonde hair" What a shock they were going to get!! The doors opened and we ran in. This time I was more prepared, we went straight for Stage Right (Andy's Side) and were lucky to be right at the front. The two support bands came and went, (The Minutes and the Dumb Blondes, Duran Duran had pulled out.)

Then as the lights darkened I couldn't believe I was about to see Sweet again, and just didn't know what to expect. Suddenly there they were, walking on in the dark.The spotlight hit Andy and he said : - "It's been 3 years since we last played England, so tonight were gonna have
a F*****g  good time". Then straight into Ballroom Blitz, and lights and flash bombs, with Steve and Andy both singing lead. Burn on the flame followed, I realised I had hardly drawn breath. Then came Restless and Burning/Someone else will. All the rock material, it was fantastic and right in front of Andy too, so I could watch what chords he was playing. (I was trying to learn all Sweet' songs on guitar). There were two new tracks, Hey Mama and Two into one won't Go from an album not then released, I made a mental note to look out for it. Then it was the turn of Done me Wrong Alright and the faithful Gibson 335, which Andy hung in front of the PA during his solo. It was absolutely brilliant. Steve was on fine form and sang most of the songs. Mick was superb as ever and did a blistering drum solo, before throwing his sticks out into the crowd. They finished with Set Me Free. Then came back for Sweet FA, where Andy smashed his Strat before leaving the stage.

It was fantastic, even though Brian had left  the band, we still felt it was a brilliant night. My ears were ringing like hell and I couldn't hear a thing, but I didn't care, I had seen Sweet for a second time.

Andy Jordan