theluxordream3

The cost of gigging crisis

part one: 1977

Saw Hawkwind in June 1977 (opening band: Motorhead)

pretty cool huh?

Cool or not my interest here is purely financial.

We note Brock was charging £2.25.

This was fairly average for 1977

and considering Hawkwind were lugging around Atom Henge

and funding Robert Calvert's excesses

I consider it a reasonable tariff.

Our 2nd 1977 concert is Peter Gabriel:

Still a (pre-Biko) upper-class jerk he thinks it's fine to charge £2.80.

N.B. Despite the crappy ZD row position,

me and my mate Mike Knowles snuck down the front

and actually watched from about row six!

MAGIC, if a tad expensive for schoolboys on £1 a week pocket money.

Moving on...

Van der Graaf Generator:

Touring the, then new, album 'The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome'.

Probably the best gig of the three.

And, at £1.50, they win the (admittedly subjective)

Titus Luxor Award for 'People's Champion 1977'.

regards

Titus