Not so much a gig but a rally, and one that's gathering momentum by the day.  A campaign to bring justice for the 96 people who lost their lives going to watch a football match. Whilst trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of life of loved ones the families and community had to deal with a newspaper that printed lies about events on that fateful day in Sheffield and a Government who have fudged and dodged questions ever since. To this day the then editor of The Scu... sorry Sun newspaper Kelvin Mackenzie has never retracted one word of the editorial he published nor apologised for his decisions to run false stories. A government who've been accused of a whitewash have yet to admit they fucked up! The handling of the fall out and the way a whole community was castigated and demonised is still to this day an utter disgrace.  Sure an apology will not bring back the lives of the 96 but it might go someway to right the wrongs that were heaped on the supporters who were vilified by a scummy red top and Tory Government when they were the victims of this tragedy and not the cause. 

Tonight was the first night of the ad hoc tour assembled in support of the ongoing justice campaign and the rumoured bill had certainly got the juices flowing here at URHQ.  The word on the street being that Mick Jones; yeah he of The Clash! One of THE pivotal figures in a movement that helped change the face of rock 'n' roll forever was going to play songs written and performed by his band for the first time in over 30 years!

Walking into an already respectfully full venue opening up tonight were the Farm, not a band I was familiar with except for their monster hits 'Altogether Now' and 'Groovy Train'.  They were never a band on my rock 'n' roll radar if I'm being honest but in fairness tonight they sounded pretty good and opening with the aforementioned 'Groovy Train'.  Singer Paul Hooton explained how important tonight's rally was as he was there that fateful day and those lies had directly affected him and how now was the time to ramp up the campaign for justice. After a brief half dozen songs topped off with the anthemic 'Altogether Now', which seemed appropriate as football rivalries were being put to one side for a worthiest of causes here.

The Farm were then joined on stage by a singer songwriter I was familiar with due to his 80's hits with the Mighty Wah!, Wah! and him being a one time Dead Man Walking - Yup Mr Pete Wylie. He still possesses a soaring voice full of attitude that immediately fills the room before proceeding to run through his best songs littered with some top-notch banter from the Scouser.  He's soon joined onstage by tonight's 'special guest' and local rock star the unassuming James Dean Bradfield from the Manic Street Preachers who sings lead vocals on a stonking version of 'Come Back'.

Wylie then introduces a new song called ' The Day That Margaret Thatcher Died' which brings a cheer from the now almost capacity crowd gathered before him and the guy really sounds like he means every word that pours from his mouth. Rightfully peeved at the Thatcher government of the time and passionate about the Don't Buy The Sun Campaign that evolved out of the whole sorry tale. There was also time for him to squeeze in a few verses of the Johnny Thunders classic 'You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory'. 

Although the mood is jovial on stage the message is prominent and very real - These guys are playing for free on this tour because it's a campaign they feel so passionately about.

Joining Wylie on stage during his set was the major pulling factor - a certain Mick Jones, who strolls onstage in a neat blue safari suit and straps on his white les Paul before making the hairs on my arms stand up as he signals to the band to strike up the intro to 'Train In Vain'. Suddenly I along with everyone else present am in punk rock heaven. Not having played some of his Clash songs for over 3 decades we are treated to a sparkling selection of classics as the impressive Farm are killing it as house band. The place is jumping and swaying to the beautiful tones of 'Bankrobber' sung by Farm frontman Hooton as Jones distinctive vocals ring out the harmonies to the jolt of his legendary guitar sound. Wylie takes the vocals for the Jones penned classic 'Stay Free' as the crowd sing back ever single word and lap up this once in a lifetime opportunity. As the venue heats up Bradfield rejoins the fray for a run through 'Clampdown', which now makes it seven! Yes seven guitars on the one stage (it's like Lynyrd Skynyrd never existed). This isn't a nostalgia trip we're going through though because The Clash songs still hold relevance today and almost sound like they were written yesterday. Joe Strummer isn't forgotten either and more than one reference is made to his South Wales connections and strangely enough t was also in this University the last time I ever saw Joe Strummer play live. The band revs up a stonking version of 'White Man In Hammersmith Palais' and also adds an unscheduled 'Janie Jones' to proceedings before ending the night with a Band Aid stylee 'Altogether Now'

I'm proud to proclaim I was here to witness such a momentous night. Music has always been a powerful tool for change and tonight the six strings were fired up for a campaign that will roll and gather momentum until finally justice for the 96 is delivered. Thank you The Farm, Pete Wylie, John Robb, special guest James Dean Bradfield and most of all thank you Mick Jones for doing the right thing and playing such important songs for such an important cause. Open the enquiry and tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

Music is a passion not a fashion and tonight was a treat - rock 'n' roll without any airs and graces and not the slightest bit of rock star bullshit anywhere. Thanks chaps! 

http://www.contrast.org/hillsborough/

http://dontbuythesun.co.uk/site/