Thursday 19th September 1985

[Pughie]

I’ve just found this gig poster on the Strawberry Switchblade Facebook page.



This date doesn’t appear on the Erasure Gigography page,so it seems this one is a mystery,did you go?

If this date of 1985 is correct this precedes the Western Star Dominoes Club, Bristol which was why they had the Fleece gig just before the Forest gigs to mark there first gig,looks like this wasn’t the case.

http://www.erasuregig.com/

[kwerty]

That's not our Vince Clarke, that's Vince CLARK (no 'E') with his band 'Ex Yazoo'.

[Pughie]

That's not our Vince Clarke, that's Vince CLARK (no 'E') with his band 'Ex Yazoo'.

Aaah Ex Yazoo I remember them they had a couple of hits “Do Go” & “Everyone’s Diary”

[MikeyC]

That's not our Vince Clarke, that's Vince CLARK (no 'E') with his band 'Ex Yazoo'.

Aaah Ex Yazoo I remember them they had a couple of hits “Do Go” & “Everyone’s Diary”

Don’t forget the big hit “Winter Lives.”

[kwerty]

I doubt many can remember the Ex Yazoo singles 'Only Me' and 'This Side Of Love'

[MikeyC]

Don’t forget the standout tracks “Good Connection” and “Bring Your Love Up (Didn’t I).

[Pughie]

An update,it was 1985 and seems to be one of the first Erasure gig on record.

Please don’t be offended by the criminal ticket price!…….£2.

The venue ‘Smokeys’ which as seen here was later called ‘The Waterfront’

[Pughie]

This story seems to have more up its sleeve,this 2nd gig on the same day,thanks again to the Strawberry Switchblade FB page (via Simon Skinner at the UEC for finding info)

[Tin Soldier]

75p!

Oh, if I only had a time machine...

[Pughie]

…. And now photographic evidence of the night,with both Strawberry Switchblade and a very young Erasure.(Vince is just edging into the photo on far left)

Photo thanks to Strawberry Switchblade fan club via Simon at UEC



Info from FaceBook post
Strawberry Switchblade and Erasure at Jars Discothèque, Brechin, Scotland on 19 September 1985 - 40 years ago today!

Strawberry Switchblade had released their electropop cover of Jolene two weeks earlier, the same day as Erasure's debut single Who Needs Love Like That. They were so unknown that they're just billed as 'Vince Clark ex Yazoo'. 75p a ticket!

Both bands were on a promotional tour of personal appearances at night clubs and on this day they went together to two clubs 12 miles apart - Jars in Brechin and Smokeys in Arbroath.

Neither single became a hit. It would be a year until Erasure's 4th single, Sometimes, was a smash and started their epic success. Sadly, Strawberry Switchblade wre headed the other way - Jolene turned out to be their last single in the UK.