X-UFO - Bolton 2012

X-UFO, live at Railway, Bolton, 17 February 2012

The debate over tribute bands and bands that tour with few or no original members will run for ever. Is it really Queen without Freddie, Lizzy without Phil? There can be no definitive answer. So where does that leave X-UFO? To begin with they make no pretence or claims to be UFO, they are exactly what the name says, three ex members of UFO in Danny Peyronel, Laurence Archer and Clive Edwards, plus Rocky Newton, with almost ten years service with Michael Schenker to confirm his pedigree. These guys played the music, wrote the music and as they are keen to point out, are back because they still love the music.

Opening with Let it Roll, it’s clear from the outset that X-UFO just want to rock. The first half of the set then consists of songs from the albums that Danny, Laurence and Clive contributed to. Natural Thing, Highway Lady, Can You Roll Her from No Heavy Pettin, along with Love Deadly Love, Back Door Man and She’s The One from the underrated High Stakes and Dangerous Men era. With Danny concentrating on lead vocals and fronting the band, there are virtually no keyboards used and it is to the credit of Archer’s outstanding playing and the solid backbone of bass and drums that the songs sound as full and strong as ever with this, musically three piece arrangement.
A nod to Rocky’s past with Armed and Ready and the classics then come along, Love to Love sees Danny shouldering a keyboard for the first – and only – time, Only You Can Rock Me gets the crowd singing along as ever . Highlight of the show though is a stunning Rock Bottom – showcasing Archer’s talents as he out does Michael himself, with a solo incorporating his own style whilst still managing to remain true to the power and pace of original. Encores Lights Out and Doctor Doctor end the show, although the band then further delight the audience with an impromptu Shoot Shoot.

X-UFO will no doubt continue to have their critics, making claims of rip off and cashing in. But if you want to see some hugely talented and well respected musicians playing the songs that they wrote, together with a few other classics you won’t go wrong here. Pete Way’s appearances on stage with them at a couple of gigs on this tour can only give them more credibility. All the band happily take the time to chat and have a pint with the punters after the show. With plans to include a couple more track from High Stakes in future sets, and even write a few new songs of their own, it’s clear that X-UFO plan on being around for a while yet. And why? Because after thirty odd years of this, they still love playing – and on this showing, they’re still bloody good at it too.

Ian Parry