Ever wish you’d been born ten years earlier? An unusual phenomenon perhaps but while I’ve got you, please allow me a moment’s elaboration. In my case, emerging a decade sooner would have seen my formative years immersed in the nation’s Beatlemania thrall instead of the fab four as a fading memory, my early teens coinciding with glam, my late teens punk and post punk instead of hair metal…..bah!
Fortunately, veteran punk stalwart, author and, TV pundit, the supremely affable John Robb is able to fill in some of the blanks for me in his enthralling spoken word show taking its name from his 2023 book, his collection of pieces from forty years of music writing. Dismissing the myth that if you remember so much, you weren’t really there, most importantly, Robb, a self-confessed music obsessive comes across as a true fan and in truth, has forgotten more about pop than most of us will ever remember; the aficionado’s aficionado if you like, really important for those of us who have been touched, moved and inspired by all things rock and roll.
Robb is in an ebullient mood enjoying a pre-show cuppa, enthusing “‘Liverpool last night nearly sold out”. Saying that, Robb did admit an element of educated guesswork to the show format “I didn’t know what people would listen to, but they seem to like it”. Ostensibly preaching to the converted on this current tour is in stark contrast to Robb’s most recent book “The Art of Darkness - The History of Goth”, taking over a decade to come to fruition. Despite the musical oeuvre seemingly in vogue at the moment, it wasn’t always that way, Robb explaining “Initially it was really hard work to get anyone to publish, then I found one who would do it and just when they were about to put it out, suddenly another two books turned up!”.
Talking about how Goth has stood the test of time Robb adds, ‘WIth any culture there’s always about twenty completely different things that sort of collide. I guess if you were going to trace [Goth] back to anybody it would be The Doors. Later on, it became more art rock and what annoyed me was all those bands getting terrible reviews because they dressed up a bit. Actually, they were quite experimental, doing something completely original.”
Tonight, Robb is also receiving his own portrait courtesy of local Leeds painter Linda Cooper, inspired to commission the work after attending last year’s Art of Darkness Q&A session at Jumbo Records in Leeds. Titled “Tribal John Robb”, the 24 x 24 canvas has a first nation feel to it, expertly capturing Robb’s distinctive punk appearance.
The Membrane and Goldblade frontman is also chief cook and bottle washer on this current tour, performer, manager and selling all the merch himself throughout a couple of dozen rapturously received spoken word dates. His aforementioned opening musical odyssey followed by Robb chatting with a different special guest in every town, testament to the Louder Than War founder’s well-established network of friends and collaborators built up over many decades in the music business. Tonight’s visitor is Stranglers’ frontman Baz Warne, now a Leeds resident sharing his captivating tale of yet another music nut who ended up fronting one of punk’s most celebrated outfits, giving the Guildford pub rockers new lease of life in the twenty odd years since he joined, enabling them to celebrate their golden anniversary this year, a staggering feat considering most bands starting out in that era would have snapped your hand off at the thought of being famous for fifteen minutes. Most in attendance are clearly fans themselves, keen to soak up Robb’s stories of rock and roll discovery with feet in both camps, performer, and critic, granting Robb his unique perspective.
Further spoken word dates are planned across the summer festival circuit and with fingers in other pies including ecological jobs (Green Britain Academy) and a music and gaming crossover initiative (Borders Blurred) Robb is a very busy man indeed. Long may it continue.
Words by Michael Price
John Robb official