Memories of the 1978 HAMMERSMITH GIG by Jordy

Memories of the 1978 HAMMERSMITH GIG by Jordy

I was only 14 and a friend of mine (we were the only Sweet fans in the whole school!) came running into my class to say he had two tickets for SWEET at the Hammersmith Odeon in London! My stomach dropped - I knew I wouldn't be allowed to go to London as I lived ,and still do, in Norwich. I went home that night, and as casually as I could, announced to my parents that a friend of mine had tickets to see Sweet in London and could I go? I quickly added that we would be staying with his aunt and uncle. My mum said YES!! I couldn't believe it, and the next day I told my mate.

A week later we were on our way, taking the day off school for the dentist!! ho ho!! We got to London, met his aunt, and tried to eat the meal she'd cooked; not a chance! It wasn't till we got to the Hammersmith Odeon that I believed it; we went in and there was what was left of the Levelheaded display. I vaguely remember the support, a busker almost, who sang a song about a Oneball Wizard. Then he went off to chants of "we want Sweet" and after what seemed like an age the lights dimmed, the curtains opened, and the synth intro to "Action" began. Then, BANG!! there were lights and smoke bombs and SWEET there on stage. My mate shouted: "It's them!" and although we were in row F I can remember climbing over about two rows of seats. It was fantastic; then came "Yesterdays Rain" and "Ballroom Blitz". I remember "Lady Starlight" and "Californian Nights" with the film of surfers behind and two palm trees at the edge of the stage. There was a huge roar as "Love is like Oxygen" started, followed I think, by "Fox on the Run" and "Air on a Tape Loop" with Mick's superb drum solo, then the blistering end - "Set me Free, Sweet FA and the brilliant encore Windy City", at the end of which Andy kicked his beer can into the audience.

Afterwards I couldn't speak. The next day on the way home on the train we relived the whole night and tried to remember the running order.