Brett Callwood
Alt-rock/power-pop veterans the dBS are re-releasing their debut album and to celebrate drummer Will Rigby told us about great shows he’s seen over the decades.
Will Rigby: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain/Basque Autonomous Community, summer 2003. Azkena Rock Festival with Ray Davies, Jayhawks, The Cramps, and many others (I was performing with Steve Earle and the Dukes).
The headliner was the Stooges. Both Asheton brothers and Steve Mackay on sax, all from Funhouse. Mike Watt on bass with a paperback book in his back pocket. and of course the incomparable Iggy. He was as wild as always. Rubber-legged all over his body. The version of “Real Cool Time” was way better than the original recording. Scott Asheton’s drumming made it completely authentically the Stooges. Raw power indeed.
But the greatest single thing I ever saw in rock was the sight of five thousand Spanish fans pogoing in time with each other to “I Wanna Be Your Dog”. Yep, it was the audience as much as the music. My jaw was dropped and still does when I think of it. Spanish fans are the most enthusiastic I’ve seen anywhere. I was on the side of the stage, and when Iggy came off, I saw him jump into the back of a VW Beetle with a beautiful woman and speed away. As it should be. My memory is that the car started moving before the door closed.
It was almost as exciting earlier that day when Ray Davies went into “Victoria” in Vitoria, the crowd went nuts and sang along on the chorus. Loud.
Or was it the Faces in 1971, around the time that “Maggie May” was a big hit? They swung and were cool and had the perfect amount of shambolic-ness. Loose and tight at the same time. Rod was as good a performer as anyone I’ve ever seen. Shame he didn’t stay that way. I was fifteen and highly impressionable, and that silver guitar of Ron Wood’s has stuck with me. Can’t remember what they played but “Maggie May” for sure. That was an alchemical band. ❖
The dB’s debut album Stands for Decibels re-release will be out on June 7.