The La Folie UK Tour 1981.

[PaulinLondon]

I thought it might be nice to discuss this particular tour.

Tonight and tomorrow night, 28 years ago, would have been nights off for the band with the next gig at Norwich University on 14 November 1981.

The tour schedule appears to have been as follows :

LA FOLIE TOUR

11.11.81 The Granary, Bristol
14.11.81 Norwich University
15.11.81 Birmingham, Odeon
16.11.81 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens
17.11.81 Hammersmith Palais
19.11.81 Southampton,Gaumont
20.11.81 Nottingham Rock City
22.11.81 Edinburgh Playhouse
23.11.81 Glasgow
24.11,81 Newcastle City Hall
25.11.81 Manchester Apollo
26.11.81 Liverpool Royal Court
27.11.81 Bradford St. Georges Hall Link 2
28.11.81 Sheffield Lyceum
30.11.81 Ulster Hall, Belfast
2.12.81 Loughborough University
3.12.81 Bath Pavilliion
4.12.81 Rainbow Theatre, London

My first ever Stranglers gig was on this tour at the Hammersmith Palais and it will have been 28 years ago next Tuesday, 17 November. It was an astonishing night and a life changer. I was MiBBed

I was also lucky enough to be with good friends and see the band again for a second time at the Rainbow on 4 December.

Two amazing concerts of which various aspects I will never forget.

Over to you.





PS. £3.50 for a Stalls ticket at the Manchester gig on this tour.




£3.50

[theraven1979]

I would probably give one of my testicles to have seen some of these gigs

Jim

[villainblack]

I would probably give one of my testicles to have seen some of these gigs

Jim

I was at the 3rd night at Birmingham Odeon , managed to skip the bouncers in the rush to the front, nasty bastards at the Odeon

[dan-electro]

My first gig was at the Edinburgh Playhouse on the 22nd November. Had been a fan since late 1979 but wasn't old enough to go and see the band live until the 'La Folie' tour. Great gig, to see the band in the flesh was an amazing feeling after only seeing them on record covers and on TV on "Rockstage" (missed them on TOTP singing 'Thrown Away'). Always remember the strobe lighting during 'Tank' simple but great affect which I think featured on the back cover of the 'La Folie' album. Also remember a police officer sitting in one of the private boxes to the side of the stage watching the gig!! Managed to get the bootleg of this gig, not the best recording but has sentimental value.

[Homer]

I was at Newcastle & Manchester Remember being involved in a car smash on the way home from Newcastle and ended up staying the night in someone's daughters bedroom, sorry to say she was away at Uni Must have been very naive tho, picked up by some random guy, a estate agent who lived above his shop and me and my mate spending the night there ........ mad He dropped us off at the railway station tho. It was a tuesday night and my wife, then girlfriend, was off on a wednesday and had a right cobb on when I got back lunchtime'ish ...... then back off again to Manchester

[APOLLO79]

[gjinblack]

I would probably give one of my testicles to have seen some of these gigs

Jim

I've still got two coz I was there!

[MULLY]

I was in attendance at (obviously!!) the Ulster Hall gig in Belfast. This was the third visit to Belfast (or fourth if you include the cancelled gig in '77 - but I don't!!) and my third time seeing The Stranglers. By 1981, I had left the troubled streets of inner-city Belfast to attend University in Coleraine - incidently where The Stranglers first played these shores, the night after the aborted gig in the capital!!

I travelled back home for the gig by train that afternoon, dragging along a couple of MiB virgins and a fellow fan from Scotland (who was also attending the New University of Ulster). As we trundled along the tracks we started delving into our carry-outs and once disembarked at Botanic Station, we headed straight into Robinson's Bar (my favoured pre-gig drinking emporium and a short dander from the venue). Further liquid nourishment was quaffed until it was time to depart gig-ward. It was on the walk around to the gig that I realised I was slightly the worse for wear and was ever so slightly pissed!!

Memories of the gig are very sparse (see above) - I do remember that the La Folie figures were not in attendance, the support were possibly local band Big Self, we stood near the back of the hall (as the two women in our company were wary off all the big bad punk rockers), the set was probably brilliant and I did manage to get a few photos when I ventured away from my chums during the evening.

Post gig we all returned to my family home to crash and next morning departed after a cooked brekkie (courtesy of my dear Mum) and caught the train back up to student-ville.

Shamed that I can't remember more of the night - one of the few 'missing' Strangler nights in my memory banks - but another episode in my 'Strangler career'. Great times.

[richinblack]

this would have been my fourth time seeing the band - having caught them on the Raven & MIB tours. Anyhoo, got to Norwich UEA where we saw the soundcheck and met all four of the boys. I remember being starving hungry and asking Jet if i could have a sandwich from the giant platter in their dressing room to which he replied 'sorry mate, I don't work here'!

Norwich was where - deep breath now - JJ kissed me. Well, in that Euro kissing both cheeks way that our continental cousins have. Can't remember the banter, but I was with a girlfriend and we were chatting to him pre-the gig about something or other. Obviously I've never washed my face since. Norwich was a great gig, as was Manchester. The band in all their pomp.

[theraven1979]

Fantastic guys - This has got forums gold written all over it.

Jim

[Hibby]

I remember this one, I was at Bath, some how managed to end up on stage for a brief sing along with Hugh before being hurled back into the mosh pit. fantastic night simply unforgetable.

Hibby

[Toiler On The Sea]

23/11/81: GLASGOW APOLLO

revisited?