In the mid 1980s – just after I moved to London the Thatcher Government was trying to get rid of the GLC because it was run by Labour and actually card for the welfare of the people who lived in the capital! As the time for abolition approached the GLC started to spend its money on events to publicise the lack of jobs and the dangers to the environment – they put on some good events, wish they been able to carry on!
After being dragged from pillar to post at the one in Victoria Park a few weeks earlier by my friend I decided to go to this one on my own! At least I might get to see the bands if I did! Although if I recall correctly I did bump into an old friend and spent at least some of the day with him.
I don’t remember much else except it was a glorious sunny day and there were lots of beautiful women around! I’ve looked on the internet and to be honest have drawn a blank – you’d have thought someone would have taken some photos. I did find a setlist for John Martyn though – see below!
I don’t think I ventured far from the main stage all day and my gig list says I saw all of the acts. This was the only time I saw Gil Scott Heron and I wish I could remember more about his set. I’ll add that to the list of bands I saw before I really got them! I think I left during the Malopoets having bought a packet of green stuff off a black bloke in the crowd!
John Martyn Setlist:
Don’t Want to Know
Johnny Too Bad
Sweet Little Mystery
Root Love
Could’ve Been Me
Big Muff
One World
Mad Dog Days
Solid Air
John Wayne
Dealer / Outside In
I was there too with a group of friends I lost touch with in the late 80’s as we all drifted away and moved on. As you say, a beautiful sunny day and like you it was the only time I saw Gil Scott Heron (who didn’t at the time have a record deal and who later descended into a circle of drug abuse and prison). I wonder if you remember that John Martyn had a large Joint stuck on the headstock of his black Strat which a roadie walked off with after handing John a Les Paul Gold Top. John yelled at him to bring it back. I remeber that was also the first day I had a Samosa! We didn’t move much from the main stage and were centre mid field where the sound was very good. I remember there were some fantastic unscheduled buskers between the stalls including some Peruvian brothers who were busking their way across Europe playing superb traditional Peruvuan music. I also went with the same friends to the GLC free gigs in Battersea (The Men They Couldn’t Hang, Ravi Shankar, The Communards, OMD, and Aswad amongst many others) and the one at Hounslow Lammas. That was a small one with Loudon Wainright III appearing. We aimed to go to the Walthamstow one but the weather was awful so we sat in The Albany in Twickenham and decided to go to the cinema in Richmond and the pub afterwards instead. I think we saw Witness. Great days. I saw John many times but that was one a particularly great set.