The punk V2 who was a bgs boy spat on JJB. JJ quickly and rather adroitly hit him over the head with his bass. The crowd did not throw cans. They threw tankards made of glass with handles in those days was called a handle. There was a rain of beer glasses and whatever people were drinking. to express the dismay at JJ B’s seemingly unprovoked attack.
The lads up the back throwing the handles had not seen V2 spit on JJ B. One either Hugh Cornwall or Jet Black was hit solidly right in the middle of the forehead by a flat trajectory 30 m throw. ….which prompted the band to walk off…kicking their instruments over etc on the way… the audience lapped it up thinking it was part of the show …There was a quick enquiry amongst the audience as to where the band was staying (when we realised they were gone) and the answer was soon at the park Royal hotel down on Alice Street. The 500 or so Decided to go to the park Royal and express the disquiet that the Stranglers had walked off early. The police special branch arrived very quickly and many people were arrested at random and ad hoc…
ReviewThis was the Stranglers first tour of Australia in 1979. This gig on the tour and the band's experience while in our town would later provide the inspiration for the song "Nuclear Device" you know "Brisbane men stay at home all night because I've outlawed all of the vice". The show was in a pub crammed with about 500 people and the band walked off after about 30mins then got involved in a fight with some (about 20) of the crowd. Jacques unstrapped his bass and was wielding it as a weapon against the more crazed members of the audience. Earlier Jet Black was knocked senseless while playing under a hail of full beer cans. Hugh was gobbed on continuously throughout the show and copped a few beer cans himself. David fared better being able to hide a bit behind his keyboards. So an eventful evening but not much of a show and a disappointing night for most in attendance especially the band.
The photo here is a very rare shot of the actual mayhem at the gig and I have also included a blurry scan of what the papers said afterwards. This was a gig that left a mark on me, the city, the band and everyone lost. Ha, just noticed I am in this photo somewhere trainspotters. Images stolen ("talent borrows...") from the facebook page of the, not so secret now, group page of Brisbane Punks.