PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
At the end of Stampede’s set i posted on my facebook wall “Stampede stampeded Manchester” and they certainly did with a fantastic 6 song set opening for Y&T on selected UK dates.Rewind to the beginning of the evening and Stampede opened the show in fine style with Shadows Of The Night from their 1982 ep Days Of Wine And Roses to a small but appreciative audience which grew as the set progressed.Their stagetime was 7.15pm,probably too early for some as there were road closures in Manchester due to a Conservative party conference so i expect there was as much hot air there as there was in the Academy 3.It really was humid and the onstage cool air fan seemed to give Reuben Archer’s hair a life of its own as shown in my photo at the top of the page.
If Stampede is a new name to some then they were formed in 1981 by Reuben Archer and his step son Laurence Archer,taking their place in the early days of the NWOBHM movement.I saw quite a few of the bands in the early 80’s but Stampede somehow eluded me so i was very much looking forward to this gig.Next up was Having Fun,a track off their latest album A Sudden Impulse,a mid paced rocker with a few “na na na’s” to get the crowd singing along.Days Of Wine And Roses was next,taken from their 1st ep of the same name.Another newie Send Me Down An Angel was next with a huge chorus and,if the band do not mind the comparison,reminded me of UFO in their heyday.The set concluded with 2 more songs from the 1st ep,Missing You and Moving On.An excellent performance,the whole band were smiling so were obviously enjoying themselves.
At one point in the show Reuben mentioned that Stampede were actually on the same bill as Y&T at the Reading Festival in 1982!It just goes to show that you cannot keep a good band down.The band tonight consisted of:-
Reuben Archer-vocals.
Laurence Archer-guitar.
Chris Clowsley-guitar.
Colin Bond-Bass.
Steve Graystone-drums.
Stampede called it a day in 1983 but reformed in 2009 and with the new album out now,hopefully will go from strength to strength and i look forward to seeing them again at the Hard Rock Hell festival in December at Pontins,Prestatyn.The remaining dates with Y&T are:-
Slade Rooms,Wolverhampton,Oct 11th.
The Brook,Southampton,Oct 12th.
The Garage,London,Oct 14th.
Stampede discography:-
Days Of Wine And Roses ep 1982, Polydor records.
Official Bootleg Live Album 1982 (recorded at 1982 Mildenhall/Reading festivals),Polydor records.
Hurricane Town album 1983,Polydor records…….remastered in 2006 on Rock Candy records.
A Sudden Impulse album 2011,Grind That Axe/Rock Candy records.
Manchester Academy 3 setlist:-
Shadows Of The Night.
Having Fun.
Days Of Wine And Roses.
Send Me Down An Angel.
Missing You.
Moving On.
