As midday approached, we found out that only around 100 people were going to be let in to the gig - so a really small, as well as exclusive, affair. We were about 70th in the queue, but obviously the front was being infiltrated by attempted queue-jumpers all the time. We eventually got in, and picked up the wristbands and free Babyshambles t-shirts that acted as our tickets for the show - the last of our group grabbed his t-shirt when there were 4 left.
We were told to meet for the gig at Koko at 2:30pm. As Koko holds around 1500 people, we immediately started to suspect that the show would probably not actually be there, unless it was in a side room or bar. Over a celebratory lunch and few beers, various possible alternative venues were suggested - Pete Doherty's flat of course being the preferred option. The fact that we were one of 100 people to get into this Babyshambles gig only slowly sunk in, but it was a very exciting few hours as we waited.
Arriving at Koko, there were a few dozen people queued up along the side of the venue, all wearing their green t-shirt tickets. MySpace people were walking up and down the queue filming and taking pictures of all of us, as well as running a few interviews. As 2:30pm became 3pm, lots of rumours started flying around the queue - that the band were not turning up, that we were being taken somewhere else, that it was really a Libertines reunion, and all sorts of others. Then at about 3:15pm, a big bloke with passes around his neck, came out of Koko and started hailing taxis in the street next to the venue. The first cab parked up, was sent to the front door, and the first five people in the queue jumped in, being filmed as they went. Very exciting, and the fact that we had no idea where we were going, made it even more so. Whilst waiting for our taxi, we found out that only 90 people were in fact getting into the gig, plus another 30 staff and guestlist. Amazing.
Our cabs arrived, and we were taken to a small venue at the other end of Camden, called Studio 88. Nobody would tell us where we were going, not even the taxi driver, and the 5-minute ride through Camden was full of very high spirits. When we got out of the taxi, we were filmed and interviewed again by MySpace, it was a bit like a load of VIPs arriving at an event, the way the cameramen and photographers sprung into action when our taxi arrived. Once that was done, we were ushered into the building, through the bar, and into a tiny cellar downstairs. To get into the room, we walked past an absolutely tiny stage, and the whole room was the size of a decent living room - possibly the smallest room I have ever seen a band play in.
Shortly after 4pm, there was an influx of guestlist people at the back of the room, and we could just about see something happening at the top of the stairs in the venue. About 15 minutes later, Babyshambles bounded down the stairs, Pete Doherty said hello, and they immediately started playing Fuck Forever. The tiny room was absolutely rammed, there was literally not an inch of space in there at all. Pete was going mad, the crowd were screaming and singing every word, and it all got even more riotous when Pete dived into the crowd.
After Fuck Forever came Killamangiro, which made the venue erupt even more. The sound was technically awful as the band were basically just playing through their amps, but being so close to the band kind of meant that it didn't matter too much. When Albion started as the third song, I was just stood there thinking "wow, this is incredible". The performance of Albion in particular, answered the constant suggestion that Babyshambles aren't all that good at writing and playing songs, and are more about Pete Doherty's antics.After those first three songs, the band played Back From The Dead, during which I spotted Kate Moss at the back of the room, with her daughter on her lap. Most strange.
The fifth and final song of the set was The Blinding, which in fact the band got about a minute into before Pete Doherty went completely mental. He picked up his amp and threw it into the audience. That was followed by half of the drumkit, and then by a couple of cymbals. When the drumkit went into the crowd, I kind of thought that would be game over for the gig, and indeed it was. After throwing the remainder of the stage into the audience, Doherty legged it up the stairs and out of the venue, followed by the rest of the band. An incredible end to the show, which apparently had only been due to last for 25 minutes anyway - I guess they just couldn't be bothered to finish the last song, so decided to trash the venue instead! Much more fun!
Here is the Daily Mirror Review of the gig from the following day's paper, which captures what happened with great tabloid shock and horror! The NME Review tells it a bit more calmly. In all we spent just over 3 hours queuing to see this show, half in the morning at the wristband exchange, and the other half waiting for cabs, and for the band to appear on stage. In return, we were treated to a 25 minute set of the most amazing intensity, and one that truly what rock and roll legend is made of. An absolute pleasure to have witnessed it, and the queueing led to a nice suntan too!
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