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Last update September 2012-
The Knebworth Park Festivals.
"The Return of Knebworth Fayre ."
June 22nd 1985.
Deep Purple , Scorpions, Meat Loaf , UFO, Mountain, Blackfoot , Mama's Boys, Alaska.
Recordings and Setlists .
Although it appears that audience recordings exist for almost all of the event and BBC FM recordings exist of substantial portions, it wasn't all that easy to track down setlist information for the more minor acts and even some of the top billers such as the Scorpions. Deep Purple's set has been widely circulated , and now all the sets seem to be out there if you search for them in the blogosphere.
The event was not filmed ( rats !)
Recordings are presented in the running order of the day , starting from the beginning of the concert.
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Mountain
Leslie West is one of the overlooked guitar players from the 70's. Leslie West, like Clapton, was weaned on the blues, but he also had the taste for improvisation. Long looping chord changes and manic picking were interspaced with delicate touches to produce a style unlike any other.
Leslie West has always had a unique sound, instantly recognisable. He coaxes sounds from a simple body, neck and pickup that seem impossible to duplicate. Of course, there is a secret to his style, and it's called 'feel'. His most famous work, of course, was while partnered with Felix Pappalardi (original bass player / producer) in Mountain. Mountain was unique in that they had two lead vocalists: West and Pappalardi. West's voice mirrored his playing: gruff, raunchy and ballsy. Pappalardi's style was more flowing and smooth, better suited for ballads, but the few tunes in which they traded-off or harmonized vocal parts (For Yasgur's Farm, a tribute to Woodstock and Travellin' In the Dark) are classics.
After Mountain (and Pappalardi's untimely death), West went solo, releasing a number of fine albums: 'Why Dontcha' and 'Whatever Turns You On' with Jack Bruce, and 'The Leslie West Band' and 'The Great Fatsby' by himself.
The newly reformed Mountain had just released their latest album, Hard Times, before appearing in front of the 70,000 strong crowd at Knebworth. With Nicholas Mark Clark on bass, the two remaining original members of Mountain, West and Laing, blasted out a cracking set.
Leslie West was dressed in a 'fools' sequined suit and showed signs of a frayed temper when the P.A. equipment could not deliver the goods. The most memorable song for me was "Theme from an imaginary western" containing that beautiful guitar solo.
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Meatloaf looking pissed off © Henry Cobbold, Knebworth House |
Meatloaf
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UFO
To everyone's surprise Phil Mogg revived the name UFO in 1985 with former members, Paul Raymond and Paul Gray, plus ex-Magnum skinsman Jim Simpson and Japanese guitarist Atomic Tommy M, for the album 'Misdemeanour', which was a brave attempt to rekindle former glories by fanning the old UFO flame with its superlative guitar work. Though it received excellent critical acclaim, and despite an astounding performance supporting Deep Purple at Knebworth Park in the Summer of that year, success eluded them. They inevitably all went their separate ways and 'Misdemeanor' ended their long standing relationship with the Chrysalis label.
We waited expectantly for UFO, the one reformation which seems somehow healthy and natural. We get UFO in triumph, the UFO of old and their set of immaculate, entertaining rogue rock. Mogg prowls in the silly, yellow tights, howling expertly through "Love To Love", "Blinded By A Lie", "Lights Out"... trading centre-stage with Tommy M and always aware of and open to the crowd. The sun shines brightly and briefly, the tide of bottles waver and UFO turn in a performance to relish. They're gone all too soon to the strains of "Doctor, Doctor", and I wanted so much more.
U.F.O 6-22-85 Knebworth Fayre
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The Scorpions
The Scorpions did not agree for their set to be recorded and broadcast so audience tapes are the only record of their set .We have not been able to find a full setlist for their show , or any cover art from any audience recordings. Can anyone help ? Dom Winter writes
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6-22-85 Knebworth Fayre
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Purple at Knebworth links
( external sites )
Brian McPherson's pages on Knebworth 85
Deep Purple Net Collection of images.
More info about this concert can also be found at the Knebworth House site .
Contents.
Can we get a witness ?
We have been endeavouring to collect as many recordings of the artists that featured at these concerts as possible, so we can effectively review the performances, provide set lists and band line-ups. Any info displayed on these pages or which is sent to us for review remains the copyright of the contributor and the Archive makes NO PROFIT from its use. The intention is to also display as many personal histories of the festival as possible for the benefit of readers of the site and we welcome all written contributions, no matter how long or short.
If you can contribute in any way, with tapes, reviews , photos or personal histories, please Contact us.
Knebworth Concerts 1974-85
Knebworth links
