The Hillsborough Justice Tour rolls into Liverpool, Getintothis’ Luke Traynor reports from a night of unbridled passion.
‘We’re not doing this for the money – we’re not getting paid. We’re doing it for the campaign – we’re doing it for justice!‘
These were the words of a buoyant Pete Wylie which acutely summed up the tone of this triumphant but poignant night.
Despite the gravely serious pretext of this gig, smiles littered the faces of the Mighty Wah frontman and his brothers in arms Peter Hooton of The Farm and Cast‘s John Power during nearly three hours of unbridled optimism.
They like the crowd packed into Mountford Hall, feel as if this campaign for the 96 Liverpool football fans who died at Hillsborough could be on the verge of something truly significant.
The Farm.
That said, anger was never far away and in a week when odious former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie once again ended up red-faced, the tabloid hack was the butt of many a well-directed jibe.
You’d Better Scream was dedicated to the ex-Sun boss while The Day That Margaret Thatcher Died was typical of the anti establishment fervour on show.
There were plenty of hits, of course, with Power’s vocal still in great nick to pull off Free Me, Sandstorm and Alright with Pete Wylie‘s Heart As Big As Liverpool the tune that prompted hands raised in one big unified salute.
No surrender. The fight for the truth. The shouts of “justice” were regular punctuation marks between songs as Peter Hooton declared: ‘It just shows what you can achieve when football fans stick together.
‘We knew they were lying bastards then and what’s being exposed now through the phone hacking – they are starting to believe us!‘
John Bishop
This was always going to be the most resonant date in the mini UK Justice tour, even given the shock Stone Roses appearance in Manchester.
Our surprise guest was funnyman John Bishop who was affectionally bullied into ditching the wisecracks for the guitar and a discordant singalong of Daydream Believer.
Billy Bragg, the ultimate union man, lended more weight to a political evening, but the night was suitably brought to a close by the Clash‘s Mick Jones and pals.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go followed by London Calling was proof that the Reds ain’t shifting and it’s time for Westminster to stand up and be counted.
Pictures by Dave Munn.
Getintothis on Ian Brown and John Squire uniting for the Justice Tour.
Getintothis reviews Don’t Buy The Sun/Hillsborough Justice gig at the Olympia.
