Bizarrely today I was reminded of this rather bizarre gig incident in the early 1990s. I had only been at the North West Evening Mail for a few weeks and I was enthusiastically photographing local gigs for the paper.
Having said that I was not expecting the singer of the band to launch himself in my direction. As I recall we rolled around the floor of the venue for a minute or so before he stepped back on stage to pick up his guitar to get back on with the show.
For the record I escaped relatively unscathed and, on reflection, it was a decent gig. The only similar experience I have had was when the singer of the band Gallows threw a mic stand in my direction which narrowly missed my head.
But here is the original review by my friend and former colleague at the Mail Rob Gardner.
REVIEW: Top of the bops! Mr Ray’s Wig World, Eddysons, Barrow, Friday.
I HAVEN’T actually laughed at a band for a very long time. Most indie gigs are very glum affairs with gangs of morose lads shuffling about with their guitars dangling around their knees.
Liverpool’s Mr Ray’s are different. They swing their guitars around their heads and their pants around the stage.
It makes a refreshing change for things to actually happen at a gig, though Evening Mail photographer lan Duncan might disagree.
Halfway through the set he was eagerly snapping the on-stage antics when Colin descended from the dry ice and set about him.
He rolled him over a couple of times and then got back to fiddling with his guitar.
Mr Ray’s sound like a Jump Jet on take off, a swirl of screeching guitars.
On Friday when someone shouted: “You don’t know any chords do you?” Colin replied: “No but you’re down there and I didn’t pay to get in.”
ROB GARDNER
From The North West Evening Mail on Monday, August 17, 1992.
Ian Duncan Media 
I was always very inspired by the NME-style writing of ‘Rob’ Mike Gardner, who did it so effortlessly. Great photos, mate, of a time and a place.
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Yeah I was very much in the NME style of music photography around that time. And yes Rob did that style of reviews so effortlessly. It was just so bizarre to be tackled by the lead singer and then he picked up his guitar as if nothing had happened. I did like that venue under its various guises…
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Great memories mate. Of photography, music, writing and lay out.
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Many thanks for the photo and review, a great night and certainly one that stuck in my memory. Sarcasm indeed ! Congratulations on your portfolio. 🎶🏁😘Colin / Mr Ray’s Wig World
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Cheers Colin and glad you like the pic and the review. Unfortunately I do not have an original print so the best I could do was from the cutting. It was indeed a memorial night that is for sure. Take care mate, Ian.
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