...and yes, they were known as the baddest Rock'n'Roll Band next to the Rolling Stones in the Sixties. This band held up the image and every chlichee of the genre, what ever you can think of. Somebody once said: The Beatles were the faves of every mother, the Stones a just about bearable drag, but the Pretty Things were hated. Media didn't dare to name 'em an frightning example. But therefore the youth loved them.
Today, apart from the fact, that there are only 2 original members left in the band, the Pretty Things are still very much alive and more or less a solid institution, still playing some great music for pure entertainment.
There is one more thing I want to mention. There are 2 different kind of Oldierockbands nowadays. There are the one's where you get immidiately the impression, that this is a tired, old band, who should rather call it a day. And there are the one's , who are still rockin', despite an advanced age. I mean, let's take the Rolling Stones. The, currently biggest rockband in the world with a huge cult status is still touring around the world,agee 65+, though they certainly don't need it moneywise. But they are still doing it with all of their hearts. 


anno 1967

The Pretty Things are also enjoying kind of cultstatus. They are on the road for more than 40 years and still make good music, giving everything live on stage. They just don't own the former image anymore. Well we all don't get younger, do we? - but therefore much older and a bit more sensible, what's up health etc. By the way, the comparison with the Rolling Stones ain't fetched from to far away. So guitarist Dick Taylor was first in the Stones, before he left to form the Pretty Things. 
During all these years of the band's existence (with a short break) there have always been the two musical heads - Dick Taylor and singer Phil May. All other musicians were constantly exchanged over the years. Although the group could never connect to the success of the early years, the put a lot of influence on other musicians. Robert Plant, who later became the singer of Led Zeppelin, studied the show of the Pretty Things already as an unknown guest in the audiance. David Bowie was a fan of the band and covered 2 Pretty Things tunes 'Rosalyn' und 'Don't Bring Me Down' for his 1973 album 'Pinups'. The style and behaving of the first drummer Vivian Prince, who later became a Hells Angel, after trying a successless solocarriere, influenced Keith Moon of the Who. - In generelly the appearance and image of the Pretty Things became kind of an idol for many punkbands of the Seventies. 
Anyway, no new album has come out since 2007's 'Balboa Island'. But this circumstance did not stop the band from touring. And not much has changed since their last visit in 2007. More to that later....

As first of all, it's the Fuzztones, who start off the evening. 

This indierockband was founded by singer Rudi Protrudi in New York in 1980. Next to own compositions, the band put also their focus on coverversions of almost forgotten songs from the Sixties. That's what gave them an indie cultstatus, Garage punk meets Psychodelic rock is the official description. I'd rather put them into the independent corner. - But we better leave this - thinking in draws. Everybody should make his/her own mind up. From the original line up, there is only singer Rudi left. The rest of this line up here is going on since 2006 and consists of:Mike Czekaj(Drums) Lana Loveland (Keyb.), Lenny Silver (git), Screamin Bo(Bass) und Vince Dante (Git).

In any case, the Fuzztones celebrate their 30th anniversary this year. That's why they are exensively touring. The new studioalbum 'Preaching For The Peverted' will be released a little delayed in January 2011. But at shows of this tour you already purchase the CD. I personally find this band and their music pretty interesting with their rather unusal style. It's that kind of rockmusic, what makes you listening, because it's not day to day music. On the other hand after a while it becomes somehow monotone. The about 350 people who have gathered here tonight react more or less laid back and are not quite sure what to think about it.  

In each case, the Fuzztones are an interesting experience, but it didn't let me jump out of my Doc Martins, if you know what I mean....
http://www.fuzztones.net/


Okay, and here we got our youthful oldies, and to repeat myself from above, they are not tired at all.  

Both Dick Taylor and Phil May are the best prove, that you can still rock, when you're in the middle of your Sixties. They are accompanied by Frank Holland, who we know from last time. Then there is Jack Greenwood (drums) and newbe George Perez, who came in for Wally Alen. Both could easily be Dicks and Phils kids. By the way, Perez did play in the Malchicks, who supported the Pretty Things on their last tour. In our case here both generations are going on very well with each other. The older part of the band stay in for quality and experience, and the young dudes spread their physical energy. 

The set is a journey in time ,whereby the Blues is dominating. The newest song is 'The Beat Goes On' from the 2007 CD 'Balboa Island', recalling the spirit oth wild sixties praying the Blues. The band pays tribute to the Blues in form of a Muddy Waters track named 'I Can't Be Satisfied' and the Robert Johnson classic tune 'Come On In My Kitchen'. Every Blues lover, knows, what I'm talking about. Apart from that we get to hear songs from their album 'S.F.Sorrow', which had been the very first rock opera beeing written back then. Inbetween Dick Taylor is taking the vocal mic to perform the track 'Baron Satureday'. Over all, the Pretty Things put their focus on the music of the early days, which still sounds up to date due to it's modern arrangement. Meanwhile the audiance has completely woken up and even the older generation jumps along to the tunes of the former wildest rockband of the Beat generation. 

The party is flowing and the sparkle between stage and crowd is not to stop. There is only one little point of critics on tonight's show of the Pretty Things. They do not play their biggest hit 'L.S.D.' and the other fave tune 'Buzz The Jerk'. But on the other hand and due this really satisfying show, these 2 songs only get missed by some insiders. The question, why those 2 songs haven't found their way on the setlist today, is simply answered by Dick Taylor later on: „oh, I just can’t hear ‚em anymore“.- 
Last comment of mine: The Pretty Things have once again shown, that despite a loss of hair and little beer belly, no drop of energy has been lost. Well done, I'd say again... and whatever the Rolling Stones still can manage, - the Pretty Maids can still do at least the same.... 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pretty_Things

PS:
At least the twinkle in his eye still does remind on the bad reputation of the Sixties :-)))