When Dick Taylor and Phil may formed the Pretty Things back in 1963, it was said, that the Rolling Stones seemed like a nice teaparty at the church compared to this lot, due to their dark image. And singer Phil May was known as the man with the longest hair in the whole of Europe. It was their excessive stage shows, which let them become something special. And those first years in the early sixties, were also their most successful ones. Laten in 1967 they wrote the first rockopera ever, named 'S.F.Sorrow'. Actually the Who tooke their inspiration for Tommy outta that. . The Pretty Things  carried on to create great music, but the huge success didn't come. Changing line ups and long breaks  kept them away for becoming superstars.  - But..... they are still here, and they can name themselves as the longest running rockband of Great Britain. Still in the band from then is Dick Taylor and Phil May, the two founders, and also Wally Alan and John Povey, who are also on the spot since 1966, which is almost a lifetime. And 4 years ago, last time in Munich, even Skip Alan was still with them. 

However, time has gone quickly, and  here they are again, fit as ever. Yeah okay, at least as fit as the physical condition lets 'em be. They've got their new album 'Balboa Island' in the luggage, but also a great supportact, we all know as - (The Crazy World of...) Arthur Brown.
And one thing is for sure, tonight, at least 75% of the audiance are very curious about Arthur Brown, because of not having seen him playing live for such a long time. Be honest, most of us, who know Arthur, - know only one song, which is  of course 'Fire' . A great song, which has been adopted by german Heavy Metal band The Krupps for a superb coverversion in the ninetees. And Arthur is with them, also in the videoclip. Great stuff. 

But back to tonight,when the Malchicks, a duo from southeastengland, consisting of Scarlett Wrench (voc./Harmonica) and George Perez (git/voc) start off. They are covering wellknown songs from the sixties. And they have a debutalbum out named 'To Kill the Mockingbird'. Not bad at all, but also not overwhelming or even innovative. That's the reason, why the couple does not get too much of an attention.

And there he comes, the grat Arthur Brown, very unconventionel, dressed up like a mummy, stepping thorughout the audiance with a knocking noise, while his buddy Nick Pynn has already started the set with a brilliant acoustic guitar performance. Jes.... the glitter suit still fits him very well and he's got a great shape with not an inch of fat on his body. Yep, for 65 years of age, he truly kept himself free of rust. He's moving fast and still got a voice of a young god. Halleluja, who'd have thought about that...?!!! Only the hair has got a bit thinner over the year, but who cares....

Did you actually know, that Arthur Brown once was the big idol of Alice Cooper and later on, the idol of Marilyn Manosn, who in a sense copies him anyway. Arthur actually shot to fame back then, because of his excessive fireshows and because of appearing naked. He also played in some movies, also in the rockopera Tommy by the Who. And he interrupted his carriere for a while for medition. In 1994 Arthur suffered a stroke, and it took him a while to get on his feet again. Shortly after, he did this new version of 'Fire'  together with the Krupps. And at the live performance of the Pretty Things Opera 'S.F.Tomorrow' he acted as the storyteller in 1998. 
Now Arthur Brown is back again on stage and with his music. and he is doing more than just well in each way. He is still fit, sings like an nitingale and knows exactly how to puts himself into scene. At the highpoint 'fire' he climbs up on the balcony high above the heads of the audiance and afterwards walks thought the crowd. 'I Put A Spell On You' does also well,so do many other songs. And his collegue Nick Pynn is a class for himself. - Yes, it's great, it's hilirous, and hopefully he'll be back soon again...  
http://www.arthurbrownmusic.com/

And now Ladies and Gentlemen – The Pretty Things – once again live in Munich....

... and off we go... Phi May slightly reminds me on Eric Burdon in the first two seconds. And you honestly can't deny a certain similarity. Black suit, white shirt and sunglasses, that's what the whole band looks like. It's showtime for the, once wildest rockband from swinging London of the early Sixties. Yeah, maybe Dick Taylor doesn't neccessarely look like a wild rocker, but he proves, that he can still rock and lets the barbiedolls dance along. And some grandsons in the audiance keep swallowing their bubblegums because of such a surprise. - Phil shows a bluesy side as well, not without a check smile in his eye.

Arthur & Phil old friendship doesn't get rusty, does it...?!

Yes indeed, Mr.May seems like Casanove after the rise out of the youth fountain of Hermes. Alone with him in a cosy atmosphere,.... girls I wouldn't put my hand for him into fire. It's the peppers which still sits in his butt what's up to stage presence. And yes, they are getting Mr. Arthur Brown up on stage once again to celebrate a good old time Rock'n'Roll Also the rest of the band sacrify themselves for a Pretty Things poker. The setlist is a Greatest Hits mixture with some new stuff, which wants to be promoted. 

By the way this new record 'Balboa Island' is really worth a listen. Oh by the way, John Povery is off the shore for this tour, because of family reasons, but he's not out of the band. However, the gig of the Pretty Things is a journey into  past with a high potention of nostalgy, and not a moment of waste and dust.
Here the icebear is dancing with the pinguin. And I can  honestly say, despite to some other dusty and filthy oldiebands, the Pretty Things are still up to date, like they sing in the big hit: 'Don't Bring Me Down'..... - yep I do believe this straight away,..... 
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pretty_Things