This was a gig that I was very worried about covering; we do say, have always said, Rifts is about supporting live music in the north east. Now it wasn't long ago that Rifts wouldn't have even considered giving any time to a tribute band as both myself and Val considered them just cashing in on people's fond memories of classic bands and usually not being very good anyway. But, you see, we were taught a lesson by those heavier than heavy metal rockers Maiden England that not only can you be bloody brilliant musicians and love the band you are emulating but that you don't have to be in it just for the money (money is a term not a lot of live bands come into contact with!!!).

Try me, take me for a little while
Before it's over and you leave me with just a smile
Tell me why we're never more than strangers
Tell me why the feeling never goes . . .

Where was I? Oh yes, supporting live music in the north east. Now, I know just a tad about UFO as I have been a fan since, well, let's just say, quite a while. Not just a handful of bootlegs adorn my UFO collection and I treasure the vinyl sound as well as the digital re-mastered CDs. Some bands are to be left alone and hailed as masters of classic music that has had its time and cannot be resurrected. For those who have followed Rifts as a magazine may remember my review of UFO several years ago (may indeed recognise the same headline - although the original band never actually introduced themselves like this at the City Hall!). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, to me, trying to duplicate UFO is a no-go. Leave it. Leave well alone; unless you're f**kin' brilliant. Unless you're that bloody good your music can stand up to some heavy, very heavy, criticism!!

You can come to my place and sleep on the couch
Lots of people do it and we won't leave you out . . .

If it wasn't for Colin (yep, that guy again), we may have ignored this band altogether. They never got in touch with Rifts so we would never impose ourselves on a band that didn't ask for our publicity. But Colin's description did actually include the word 'awesome'. And one thing me and Val have learnt about Colin over the years Rifts has been running - he doesn't exaggerate. He tells it as it is. Whether it hurts or not. So if you don't want the God's honest truth, you better not had ask Colin.

Oh no, my life's in miniature
I've been here forever
How much more can a poor boy take
When all he needs is an even break . . .

We found out that UUFO (pronounced double ufo) has two members of Nobody's Fool (guitarist Dave and bass man Paul - Dave adorned the cover of Rifts issue No.5 - see photo below) and drummer Paul (who I am afraid I insisted calling Dave on the night) from the stupendously brilliantly underated No Class (who did the most spectacular concert in aid of Rifts at The Office way back when and voiced their wish to play all night!!) and last, but certainly not least, vocalist and guitarist Richie (ex Shine and Mr Snake and the Reptiles) who, I am chuftily pleased to report never forces his voice at any time, just lets it flow - just like the master himself. The musicianship throughout was faultless and as the JD flowed and I took more and more photographs I promised myself a second visit was definitely in order - but this time forgetting Rifts and just getting off on some superb classic UFO.

Richie met Paul and Dave when he opened at Stormin' the Castle - when Shine was dressed in suits. Dave reckons they must have been the bravest band the Castle had ever had on the bill!!

Like the story says, these boys are bad
So keep out of shhhhhooting range . . .

I'm not gonna list the songs they played - sorry Val (she diligently tapes snippets from every song for our track listing) because if you are a UFO fan you know just what they played and just how many classic tracks they have to choose from (and yes, they are learning more all the time) they plan to introduce High Flyer,Try Me and Profession of Violence very soon. (I'm looking forward to their rendition of Try Me with trepidation as it's one of the few songs that really moves me and needs to be played with care and feeling - not to mention the right pace).

But I'm sure you know exactly where I'm coming from when I say within seconds of the lads taking to the stage the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end! Now, that doesn't happen unless your body (and mind, if mine wasn't under the influence of JD) recognises something extremely special.

It all started with: Will you please welcome . . . from England . . . UUFO.
And then into Natural Thing and straight into Out in the Street. Yes, somebody had done their homework.

This can 't be love, she wears me like a second hand suit
What I thought was heaven don't look so cute
So here it is, a cruel surprise
Another crock full of lies . . .

And they had achieved A+ in every subject tonight.

That teasingly slow intro to Doctor Doctor had me screaming, but reservedly. Both Val and myself have, from day one, realised we must never act in a way to bring disrepute or ridicule to Rifts. We do treat the magazine seriously; but I was oh so close to lettin' go on hearing that opening riff . . . as any UFO fan will know it's very difficult to remain composed when hearing THAT intro!!

She walked up to me and really stole my heart
and then she started to take my body apart . . .

One thing I did notice - and the lads in the band were even surprised at this so it was probably my imagination - but when the lads played the really early stuff like One More for the Rodeo and Lettin' Go it sounded, well, oldish and atmospheric. And when they launched into some of the newer stuff from the Mogg/Way album or Pushed to the Limit from Walk on Water it sounded so clean and . . . digital. Impressed? Indeed I was!

Maybe now your time has come . . .

One omission that stood out was Love to Love but like Richie pointed out later; they will undertake that only if the sound is absolutely spot on. With not having keyboards they need the guitars to attain that ambient sound. So many subtleties in that song can only be appreciated if the acoustics and sound are perfect and so you know that if you hear that song the band consider the sound at that gig ideal!

Mother Mary would you ever really feel the same?
Would you try to understand a white colonial boy?

I could rant and rave about how bloody good this band were; I could recant how when Val started to say something just seconds into the opening powerful riffs of Lights Out I cut her short very sharply. And that's something you just don't do with Val - that's if you like being attached to your testicles. But suffice to say if you are even slightly considering going along to see this band, take it from me, you will not be disappointed. The lads have nothing to prove, they are not youngsters out to impress or to make a name for themselves. They know that there is little or no chance of being plucked from the north east live music streets and whisked off to fame and fortune. They do this for the honest and best (and simplest) of all reasons - they all adore UFO and get a rush from playing their songs. And if they can make an audience happy along the way then that is a bonus.

The interview we got was interspersed with people leaving the Office and congratulating the band for a mind-boggling concert, being so satisfied with UUFO that they had no wish to catch Dressed to Kill upstairs. In fact, myself and Val were invited to cover the Kiss tribute band but were so knocked out with the UFO tribute that by the time we'd done with them we'd missed most of the Dressed to Kill concert anyway!! (That concert, by the way, was sensational, no photos I'm afraid cos by the time I got upstairs I just couldn't get anywhere near the front!.) One guy who came up to thank the band for a brilliant gig had come down from Blyth. Dave on guitar said "God, all that way? Hell, I wouldn't travel that far to see me."

To be something, to be with you
I don't know where I'm going to . . .

I found out that the band have sometimes taken to the stage rather, er, inebriated, which in my findings usually means that they are confident in their abilities, love what they do, and have a professional and laid back attitude - in essence they do a f**kin' awesome gig!!!

Bass man Paul is soon to leave to play in Sticky Fingers and although UUFO have a couple of lads lined up . . . if anyone is interested please get in touch with Rifts and we'll pass on your interest.

This review © Nige of Rifts Magazine - 2001 (The issue pictured here features Dave's previous band Nobody's Fool the front cover)