These Infinite Spaces

It was some weeks later when Andrew told us the news - we were going to support The Radiators at Promises. I was about to experience the highlight of my rock career.

In my early teens, every guy I knew loved The Radiators, though I talk to people 5 years younger than me and they've never heard of them. They were a pub rock band with a bit of an alternative feel. What made them more attractive to our young selves was that they had been effectively banned from the radio because of obscenity in their lyrics.

I remember being over at mates place listening to "You Have The Right To Remain Silent" after his parents had gone out. Songs like "Comin' Home" and "17" were so exciting - more edgy and adult than anything I'd heard. And now I was going to play with my childhood heroes. The local paper even ran a little article on us to promote the gig - I still have it somewhere.

Andrew was especially excited - he had loved the band when he was a kid, and their lead guitarist had given him amplifier buying advice when he was just 12. His taste had moved on a bit and his favourite band was now Aerosmith, but it was still thrilling for him, as for us.

I remember that gig so well. Promises was a little nightclub in Sylvania (there seemed to be a lot of little nightclubs around the Shire in those days). The venue wasn't all that large, and it was absolutely packed from before we went on. I guess there must have been 200+ people there. I'd been to see Nick Barker and the Reptiles, and the Hummingbirds in that venue, and I promise it wasn't as crowded.

We did a 50 minute set and the whole place was jumping, everyone was right into what we were doing. I remember a couple of pretty girls crushed up against the stage, clapping and cheering and waving at us. Who are all these people? I wondered, not for the first time. But I wasn't complaining.

We finished the set with "I Love Rock 'n Roll" I think, and left the stage to thunderous applause and cheers. The Radiators were out the back tuning up. The whole crowd began chanting "We want The Catch!", over and over again for a couple of minutes. "That's a good reaction," said one of The Radiators. "Go do another song, boys."

Up we went again and did an encore, and I can't remember what it was. I was floating by this point, it was the most extraordinary experience. We went back into the club and watched The Radiators then went home, with a ringing head and a singing heart. It was my purest taste of the rock and roll dream, and it was sweet, so so sweet.

I didn't know it at the time, but it was one of my last gigs with The Catch.