Echo & The Bunnymen and the KLF, March 1990

The legendary Reverberation festival

In March 1990, Echo and the Bunnymen unveiled their new lineup. Characteristically contrary, they didn’t choose an established venue for the launch but a community centre in Bootle, a working-class suburb north of the city. The series of gigs were part of a festival organised by Martin Dempsey, who fans of Liverpool music will remember as a member of Yachts and the Mel-o-tones, among others.

The festival was called Reverberation, which also turned out to be the title of the new band’s new LP.

Here are some preview pieces from my Liverpool Echo column, followed by the Melody Maker review. The hint in one of the Echo pieces that “some of the Bunnymen's famous or just eccentric friends might turn up” referred, of course, to the KLF. (Bill Drummond of the KLF was, of course, the Bunnymen's manager in the early days and, along with Dave Balfe, ran the Zoo label that put out their first single.)

Hop to it… Bunnymen live again!

Liverpool Echo, Tuesday January 16, 1990

THE new-look Echo And The Bunnymen are all set for their first live appearance — and it will be in Bootle.

The band have got a three-night series of gigs planned at Marsh Lane Community Centre in early March.

The exact date depends when they begin recording their new album. And they will be playing songs from the forthcoming LP live for the first time.

The typically unpredictable choice of venue came about when the group heard that Marsh Lane Community Centre has been going through a bad time and is trying to re-establish itself on the music circuit.

"It helps us," explains Will Sergeant, "because we want to play the new songs before we record them, and it helps them. I don't understand why it's had such bad press, we went down there and it was great.

"It seemed the sort of place we're looking for. We don't want to play in the centre of town with a lot of trendies standing around."

It's almost two years since the Bunnymen — still with Ian McCulloch and Pete De Freitas — played their last gig. “We're really excited," says Will, "But it's going to be a bit weird — it's not like doing a gig when you've done the record and people know your songs."

But we can expect to hear some old songs as well as the ones from the new LP. There will also be — as you'd expect —"the odd cover" and maybe even a few songs from singer Noel Burke's old band Vitus Dance.

Centre of attraction

Liverpool Echo, Saturday January 20, 1990

THE DATE has been fixed for the Bunnymen's debut gigs at Marsh Lane Community Centre.

They are to take place on March 15th, 16th, and 17th. Tickets (at £2.50 members, £3.50 visitors) should be on sale early next week. You can get them from the centre itself or from local record shops Soundtracks (New Strand), Reaction and Probe.

And the event is taking shape to become something special.

Local musician Martin Dempsey (who works at the centre as a music development officer) is putting together an event that will Include one or two local support bands (Benny Profane have already been confirmed for at least two nights), a psychedelic light show, and a disco from TCR's Music Doctor who will also MC the event.

There is also a strong possibility that some of the Bunnymen's famous or just eccentric friends might turn up and also get involved.

"It's quite likely that odd things will happen," says Martin.

And just to prove that it's more than a gig, the event now has a name: Reverberation.

"The dictionary definition Is quite interesting," says Martin, "As well as everything else, it also means to echo."

The name will not just be used for the Bunnymen appearances.

The centre is hoping to make the special event a regular occurrence with dates already pencilled in for the next one in April.

It will be a major fund-raising event - and a happening, promises Martin.

The Bunnymen event is a chance, he says, to "test the water" but he thinks the time is right for the centre to get more adventurous.

"It's always been used as a regular venue but we're trying to upgrade it and put on not just local bands but indie bands and people with more of a name."

In fact, there's a new band on tonight, Holiday For Strings, which includes ex-members of Black and the Christians.

Going live

Liverpool Echo, Tuesday March 13, 1990

THIS week's gigs by Echo And The Bunnymen at Marsh Lane Community Centre could be the start of something big — for the band and for the venue.

For the band it is the first live appearance by the new line-up ... in fact their only live appearance anywhere until the new album is finished. The band are just waiting for a producer before they go into the studio to start recording.

For the centre it is the beginning of a new era and a higher profile in the music business. This week's festival — including 22 bands in seven days — should be the start of a six-weekly Reverberation festival to include big names as well as local bands.

And the new music developments at the centre will be an incentive for the big names to turn up.

It is already becoming appreciated locally as a good regular venue, and is also involved in music workshops training young local musicians. Once the bands are good enough they are offered a support slot at a gig, an admirable move and one which more local venues should follow.

But the most exciting development is the new recording studio which is currently being built at the centre. Once that is finished, it means that they can offer any band who plays a gig there the chance of a good quality eight-track live recording.

Martin Dempsey, musician, DJ and now a community music/youth worker with South Sefton Arts, is in charge of the project and says: "There are no facilities anywhere else with a venue and a studio and rehearsal rooms all together. There is nothing to compare with this."

And with a whole range of related activities being added — discos, graffiti walls, film screenings — as well as the centre's sports and social activities, the place has a lot to offer. There are even plans for a compilation LP and a record label.

The idea is to encourage music-making in the community — and be good enough to bring people in front outside. "This is where things can happen," says Martin.

ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN

MARSH LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE, BOOTLE

MELODY MAKER, March 31 1990

IT doesn't exactly feel like a Bunnymen gig, but there's something going on here. It's not quite the low-key gig it could be, despite the out-of-town location and 300 capacity. As far as Bootle is concerned, it's a festival. And it's got most of Merseyside's muso population in the audience.

Nobody is quite sure what to make of it at first, and not sure what the band are going to make of it either. It takes getting used to, as much for those on stage as those watching. There are moments during the first night when the only possible verdict is, "It’ll be nice when it's finished". By Saturday, with both band and audience relaxed enough to be lively, there are no doubts except to wonder when they are going to phase out the old stuff.

It feels like a new group. It's as tentative as a new group on its first gig, as confident as a group with 10 years behind it, and as odd as something at odds with expectations. It's not just an old group with a new singer (Noel Burke), a new drummer (Damon Reece) and a new fifth man who's "always been there really" (Jake Brockman). It's a new group with the power to be a great one, covering someone else's songs and finding they fit like a glove. If s not quite what you expected but it couldn't be anything else really.

Old and new songs glide into the set. "Zimbo" transcends "cover version", Noel Burke caresses the words of "The Killing Moon" and it sounds as if you've never heard them before. And it looks like the most natural thing in the world. He has a voice that makes singing sound easy and a casually commanding presence that fits perfectly into place.

And there are the new songs, with, on first hearing, promises of excellence. The best combine clarity and creativity, pause and pace and passion. The differences between new and old Bunnymen come from the voice, and the way the songs are more structured. The similarities remain in certain sounds and power; the occasional opportunity to go wild. Noel Burke has the sort of voice that can do something to you, and Will Sergeant has always played the sort of guitar that can do anything. Put them together and the Bunnymen could be a pop group again.

It still doesn't feel quite like Echo And The Bunnymen. But it feels like the start of something.

Back in the 21st century

Following last year’s sold-out gig in Liverpool, Noel Burke and “the lads from St Vitus Dance” have announced more Reverberation shows in the UK this autumn – marking the 35th anniversary of Reverberation LP. They’re playing Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool.

Echo and the Bunnymen interview

Here’s the interview I did with the Bunnymen the year before.

Listen to the Bunnymen and the KLF

Here’s a recording of Echo & The Bunnymen with The KLF doing What Time Is Love? Live At Marsh Lane Community Centre, Bootle 16th March 1990.