Here we have New Wave of British Heavy Metal legends Girlschool caught live from the Camden Palace back in December 1984.
Now for the first time the show is issued on CD in a new CD/DVD set.
We all know Girlschool don’t we. Those girls full of attitude and energy who burst on to the NWOBHM scene with such no-nonsense classics such as Emergency, Demolition Boys, Screaming Blue Murder, Hit and Run and others.
By the time 1984 came around, the band’s fortunes had taken a hit with the disappointing Play Dirty the previous year and the departure of talismanic guitarist Kelly Johnson.
Then things started to look up again with a revised line-up including the arrival of guitarist Cris Bonacci and Jackie Bodimead who took vocal and keyboard duties.
Allied with signing with a major label (Mercury) who, seemed keen to push Girlschool in America, the stars appeared to be aligning.
Add to that a new album – Running Wild, which would be released early in 1985, the ladies took the stage at Camden Palace in December 1984 with the new line-up to blaze through a set of mainly classics though with a sprinkling from the upcoming Running Wild album.
The concert was filmed for TV and as a useful promo for the new album.
All the familiar spiky energy is present as Girlschool blaze through the fourteen song set leaving nothing on the stage. They always knew how to deliver live. And that’s captured here.
Now as well as the DVD to watch, a CD version is included in this double-disc package. So you can watch or listen as you see fit.
Here’s the audio for the classic Hit and Run:
Pick it up And enjoy a legendary NWOBHM band. This brought back all sorts of memories for me from the many times I saw Girlschool back in those days and earlier.
>> GIRLSCHOOL RUNNING WILD LIVE IN LONDON ON AMAZON <<
A quick note about the Running Wild album. Seems that Mercury were indeed keen to push the band in the States. The music was a change of direction generally from the no mucking about in your face no compromising stuff to a much more “radio friendly” melodic approach geared towards the American market.
Indeed – Running Wild was originally released in America alone if I recall correctly.
Girlschool remain active today and released the excellent Wtfortyfive album a couple of years or so ago.
If you may not be familiar (or would like to reconnect with) the classic earlier Girlschool stuff – check out the Bronze Years box set in which you have the albums Demolition, Hit and Run, Screaming Blue Murder and Play Dirty.
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