Sounds - Aug 18th, 1984
YOUNG BLOOD/DI'ANNO review at Dingwalls:
YOUNG BLOOD'S singer: "OK Dingwalls are we gonna rock tonite?" Audience: no reply. "No, no, gno, gnaw (lapses into Mancunian accent), that's no good. Are you out there?" (Wonders where he's heard that before!) Some cheers. Audience participation was at a low ebb at Dingwalls that night. Young Blood were good - not brilliant, but good. The guitarist introduced each song in a Quiet Riot-esque fashion, though his LA accent needs some further elocution lessons! Some attention could also have been paid to his guitar heroics, although a second guitarist or a vocalist would have improved matters somewhat.
The bass player, he of the not-so-recent fruit bowl hair- cut, looked as though he had actually choreographed opening his mouth whilst moving from one leg to the other. I believe the generic term for this is 'posing'. The lyrics, by contrast, left something to be desired. They created a pseudo- macho image, emulated in such lines as "This is the night . . . the night I'm gonna give her one!" and songs like 'Wine, Women And Sex'. Even Dumpy, who never made it past the bar has more finesse than this.
Di'Anno was a completely different kettle of fish. Paul Di'Anno himself seemed no less than ebullient to be on stage at last in England. You would be too if your hairline was receding as fast as his. In fact, his general guise as Toad of Toad Hall - note the authentic waistcoat - did not go unnoticed. "It's me, I'm back!" he sang. I think everyone had already surmised this. With a line-up of no less than two lead/rhythm guitarists, a bass player, keyboard player and drums. I expected something a great deal heavier than I heard.
Probably the easiest parallel to draw soundwise is to Jefferson Starship. The songs were good, the lyrics were clever (no cheap innuendo here), the sound was clear, but what the band lacked was an individual style. OK, Di'Anno's voice is distinctive and, more importantly established, but where the hell are the budding guitarists ready to lay the ever-present critics in this world flat on their backs? Where is that individuality that a new rock group in the '8Os needs for eminent success? Evidently the answer is: just under the surface. Despite Di'Anno's many apologies for problems that the audience didn't even notice, the band were well received, and I don't think anyone will forget their version of the Animals' 'Misunderstood'. "Unfortunately, Gary Moore's done this too", Di'Anno said rather dejectedly. Never mind Paul, at least Iron Maiden haven't tried it!
RICHARD CLARE - Sounds
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