Ray's Gigs

Daily news and reviews of gigs bars clubs restaurants product launches films theatre fashion shows books art galleries hotels competitions interesting places to visit ...and much more!

Sunday 24 April 2022

Saturday 23 April 2022. THE MISSION live at Shepherds Bush Empire. The Mission play the second of two shows at this venue on their UK tour. I have seen these goth rockers a few times since 1993. In late 1985 Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams left The Sisters Of Mercy and, after enlisting the talents of Simon Hinkler and Mick Brown, formed The Mission and in early 1986 embarked on their first European tour, supporting The Cult. They released 2 singles independently, both reaching No.1 in the UK alternative charts, before signing a worldwide record deal with Phonogram (now Universal). Their first single for the new label, ‘Stay With Me’, went straight into the UK chart at No. 30 followed by their debut album “God’s Own Medicine” at No. 14. Over the next eight years the band released six more albums and had a further 13 hit singles including anthemic classics such as “Wasteland”, “Tower Of Strength”, “Beyond The Pale”, “Deliverance” and “Butterfly On A Wheel”. Total worldwide album sales to date have now well exceeded four million. THE ROSE OF AVALANCHE are the support on this UK tour. They have released several albums, and actually supported The Mission on their 1986/1987 tour. ----------- Level 3 is closed tonight and Level 2 is half empty. Lots of goth rockers dressed up in their trademark black clothing. THE ROSE OF AVALANCHE arrived on stage at 8.15pm for their 30 mins set. They played a good set, with some nice dual guitar sounds. THE MISSION arrived on stage at 9.20pm for their 1 hour 45 mins set. The band still feature three original members, only the drummer is not an original. Singer Wayne Hussey is playing one of those beautiful white Gretsch guitars on several songs. Lots of dancing in the front stalls area, and there are a couple of songs where the fans throw confetti in the air, and a couple that feature human pyramids in the crowd where a group of fans raise someone to fully stand on shoulders and they stay their for the entire song. I always thought that goth was a Northern thing, popular in places like Leeds. During the show Wayne Hussey asked the crowd "Who is from London?" and "Who is from outside London?". The latter got much more cheers as the loyal Mission fans do follow them around. Some songs sounded a bit samey , but overall a good show. At the end of the show 70 or 80 loyal fans posed for a group photo. Full setlist played by THE MISSION tonight... Tadeusz (1912-1988) Beyond the Pale Hands Across the Ocean Into The Blue Met-Amor-Phosis Naked and Savage Sea Of Love Severn Like A Child Again Grotesque Butterfly On A Wheel Wasteland Deliverance (male and female standing on shoulders the entire song) Encore: Within the Deepest Darkness (Fearful) The Crystal Ocean Swan Song Encore 2: Tower Of Strength (two females standing on shoulders the entire song) ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Bass player GUY PRATT is currently playing UK shows with Nick Mason & his band. Random fact of the day...Guy Pratt is the son of actor Mike Pratt, who was in a great 1970s tv show. Mike was best known for his role as Jeff Randall in the late 1960s ITC detective series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) alongside Kenneth Cope and Annette Andre.