Simon Rushworth
@ Newcastle City Hall, November 17 2008
When Extreme last toured the UK Justin Hawkins was an impressionable kid dreaming of super stardom and developing one of the most outrageous warbles in rock. In the 13 years since Gary, Nuno and the boys pitched up on this side of The Pond the former Darkness singer has lived that dream, endured a nightmare and picked himself up to perform again. Thank God.
The world of music would be a poorer place without the happy-go-lucky Hawkins and his natural talent for coaxing something out of even the most sceptical of crowds. New band Hot Leg might be knee deep in 80s hair metal nostalgia – all tight jeans, garish basketball boots, neck scarves and head bands – but they kick ass. At one point Justin joked the quartet had to give their music away because nobody buys it. But that won’t be the case for long.
Next month’s single I Met Jesus might actually cost money but on this evidence it’s a price worth paying. In the thick of a set showcasing more contrived guitar solos than an Yngwie Malmsteen master class this was the song which, more than any other, finally convinced former Darkness fans to become Hot Leg converts.
As ever Hawkins is hugely entertaining and fair play to the lad – he wasn’t ever tempted to dip into that hit-laden back catalogue. It would be easy to give Hot Leg the cold shoulder. But you’ll be kicking yourself if you do.
And so to Extreme. Wow. rushonrock has been privileged to witness a slew of classic comeback gigs in 2008 from White Lion at The Cluny to Whitesnake in Glasgow and Def Leppard at a dingy little hole in Islington to Metallica at Leeds. But this show by Boston’s finest was, without doubt, the highlight of a landmark year for live music.
Those of us who caught Nuno with Satellite Party arrived at the City Hall safe in the knowledge that the boy could still play – albeit in checked brown slacks which wouldn’t have looked out of place on Rupert the Bear. But what about Gary Cherone? During Extreme’s chart-busting heyday he boasted some of the finest pipes in rock and the pressure was on to revive former glories.
Well Cherone did more than that. Right from the start his range was stunning and on new single Star it was easy to remember just why Eddie Van Halen hand picked him to front one of the biggest acts in the world. Decadence Dance gave Cherone the chance to blow away the cobwebs and a killer version Monster maintained the momentum.
So back to Mr Bettencourt. In a different era you could imagine the proud Portuguese tucked away in the back streets of Lisbon perfecting the art of Fado – the traditional guitar style which has become the heart and soul of his colourful home nation. Watching Nuno sat on his stool with only his semi-acoustic friend for company it was if the rock god had been transformed into a folk hero.
And of course Extreme’s biggest hit owes everything to a guitar hook straight from Bettencourt’s southern European roots. More Than Words may have morphed into Stairway To Heaven for one tantalising moment but after that delightful false dawn the band’s signature tune was delivered with tear-jerking aplomb.
Get The Funk Out preceded a mixed bag of an encore but by now nobody cared. This was a party which looked set to run and run – with Hot Leg clapping along from the balcony like kids in a sweetshop. And did we mention the lead singer of rising punk rock stars Dirty Rock And Roll sang every word to Hole Hearted with the glazed look of a 14-year-old girl? It was just one of those nights.