Len Bright Combo / Wreckless Eric

[Alf Bentley]

I'm aware that this is probably a minority taste, particularly among younger posters, so am fully expecting zero response to this, but....

 

Off to see the first Len Bright Combo gig since 1986 in London tonight - and am "buzzing, Daddio", as I believe young people say.

 

The Combo only existed for about a year, but the fact that their 2 albums were changing hands for £100 recently tells you something. In truth, the 2nd one ("Combo Time") is a mixed bag - some excellent tracks, some fillers - but the first one ("Len Bright Combo presents the Len Bright Combo") is one of the greatest albums ever produced....and certainly the best involving the great Wreckless Eric, and he's done some good stuff. The Combo are Eric, plus the rhythm section of the Milkshakes (Medway garage/rockabilly band from the 80s with Billy Childish on vocals...told you it was a long time ago).

 

The gig tonight is sold out, but they're re-releasing the Combo albums, and Wreckless will be playing solo at the Musician on Sunday 15th December.

 

Here are some Youtube clips of the Combo for anyone interested:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpKEhl9ohw0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyXMv2eA79M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2BG-E8ZI68

 

...and Wreckless:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSjwl8lHEVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ6O8NrLsSY

[jgtuk]

Thanks for the memory.. Saw them by accident in Leeds in 85/86 (can't remember exactly) on a mad week away. 

[Alf Bentley]

For anyone who's interested (so that'll be jgtuk and me, then), someone has posted the entire Len Bright Combo gig on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA9Bpyy8UvY

 

An outstanding performance after all these years (27) - it was emotional. Loved the repartee at the into, too:

Eric: "We're Crosby, Stills and Nash"; Man in crowd: "Well, you aren't fvcking young!"....Bruce: "Just cos we've been off the scene for a couple of months, doesn't give you the right..."

 

Wreckless Eric (guitar/vocals in the Combo) plays the Musician, Clyde St, Leicester tonight - and is reportedly due to play a lot of Len Bright Combo material, together with some of his solo classics - he mainly performs with Amy Rigby (his missus) these days, and they are still producing good new material. Massively under-estimated artiste, old Wreckless (partly his own fault as he used not to be much good at self-marketing and developed a bit of an image as a novelty/comedy performer, whereas in reality he's a very talented songwriter, musician and performer).

 

Right, I'll shut up about Wreckless and the Combo after this ....unless someone else has something to say!