Final rehearsals in Norwich, 13th November 2011
And that, as they say, was that. Although the pictures don't show it, it was a highly charged atmosphere at Plug Studios. All of us were quiet before we started the last run through. Allison was there making sure the visuals were okay and we could see them as we played. The closer to the end of the set we got, the more emotional we got, at one point Carols' voice cracked which set me off. Plus looking at all the pictures of you lot as young punks, it just makes you want to put your arm round them and give them a great big cuddle. It also puts a lump as big as a fist in your throat. If I make it through this last night without cracking it'll be a miracle. That all being said, the rehearsals went really well, we've got a really nice set which hopefully will please everyone. Feel free to shout along.
I'm gonna try my damdest to make this a proper night, I've got two very special friends performing on the night and I'm really looking forward to it - and crapping myself of course! Thank you so much for your words of support on here, I'm sorry but at the moment I can't reply to every individual comment, it's not disrespect, just that there's so many and time is whizzing by. Thanks also for the lovely photos you sent, we'll use as many as we can. Brains going dead, can't think of what else to say apart from see you there - through tear filled eyes. Till Saturday.
Getting down to it
Spike and Gizz both wondering when the change comes
Quick tea / fag break
Carol giving it her all
After a long day time to relax with a well deserved drink
Evie re-arranging the set list
November 14th, 2011 - 19:30
Sadly, ill-health prevents me from seeing the last outing but I will remember Bristol until my dying day. You’ve got a great team behind you (give Gizz & Spike my love) and I’m sure it will be everything you hoped for and more. Good luck and thanks, again, for everything you & CRASS mean to me.
November 14th, 2011 - 20:02
hi steve,sorry i cant get down to london for the last supper i know you will have a great night hope to see you up in Scotland next time all of you have a great time take care.Derek
November 14th, 2011 - 21:38
Your new dogs nice,have you watched bull terrier vs cat on YouTube it’ll bring a smile to your face.good luck on Saturday i can’t wait
November 14th, 2011 - 23:40
REALLY CANT WAIT ..THO AM SURE ITS GOING TO BE A SAD FAREWELL KNOWING THIS WONT BE DONE AGAIN
November 15th, 2011 - 20:20
Several months ago, I saw you perform in Cologne, and I was thinking to myself “November is still so far away”. Waiting and waiting, so long ’till November. Now that the final day, the final gig is approaching rapidly, I can’t imagine what’s going through your head, the excitement and tension must be killing you. See you Saturday!
November 16th, 2011 - 14:17
CANNOT WAIT!!
November 17th, 2011 - 17:59
Hi Steve
Me and my daugther are down for Saturday – “on a mission” from South Wales. I was about her age when I started listening to Crass now we both get to see the last performance of the music. I’m not quite sure why but it has a neat circular feeling about it. Bursting with excitement mate. See you saturday.
Bill & Megan
November 19th, 2011 - 09:03
Hello Steve, long time no speak. Have a good night tonight Steve, I imagine everyone there will love it, just as I did when I saw Crass at the 100 Club in the early 80s’. Been reading your book, and I’m really pleased that you didn’t fluff over the Conflict parts, and you told the honest truth. I’ve been asked many times over the years, what was it like being in Conflict, and when I told people, I could see on their faces that they didn’t know whether to believe me or not. Now I can go to my grave knowing that I’ll not be seen as probably a liar. I just gave them the truth, as you have. Thanks so much for that.
Cheers and good luck,
Chris Parish.
November 20th, 2011 - 19:56
Hello Steve , Just to say you did make it a proper night. I could see you were nervous when i see you walk through the pub earlier in the evening .However it was a great night, all the band members were excellent and the gig will live in the memory for a very long time. Thank you. All the best . Paul
November 21st, 2011 - 05:30
..shepherds bush empire full of balled middle aged men screaming like girls when Penny Rimbaud and Eve Libertine took to the stage with steve is truly something to behold.. .. specially eve’s entrance to sing ‘shaved women’..i swear the smell of urine was palpable in the air from grown men wetting them selves with delight..i in celebration like all men in there 43rd year crowed surfed to the front to got thrown over the barriers on my arse..
November 21st, 2011 - 13:20
shame i missed it.sounds like a proper good night-tom,rather than screaming girls,wouldn’t it have been more like ‘screaming babies etc etc ‘.
November 21st, 2011 - 15:55
Thanks Steve for one of the best gigs ever,up there with the clash from ’82.Brilliant to meet you too,even though i was a bit stuck for words! This can’t be the end,the band is too good and one of the best fun gig crowds-you got to come back somehow,and i owe you many beers if you ever pass through Byfleet. Good luck with what comes next,i’ll definitely support you,cheers again…
November 22nd, 2011 - 10:20
Hey Steve and all!
I was at at the last two SB gigs and there was no way I was missing this.
Amazing gig!!!I now have some nice rib and elbow bruising from the barriers.
Setlist was perfect!
It was obviously very emotional for all of you.I don’t think any of you left the stage without shedding a tear…
Steve – so nice to meet you just to say thankyou in the pub just a few hours before the gig.
A special thankyou to:
The children for the intro to Big A Little A – that was amazing! =)
Penny and Eve for all you did on the night.
The lifeboat crew (that must have been daunting standing in full gear in front of us all…
Your work is appreciated.
And Thankyou to Allison for giving me the setlist sheets at the end of the gig.I must have just been lucky and had longer arms than most. =)
Have fun in whatever you do everyone…
You’ll be missed.
Wiggz
November 23rd, 2011 - 21:35
Hi Steve,
How’s it going? I hope you don’t mind me using the comment section as a means to try to contact you. I didn’t see any way to send an email and, well, was just hoping that a comment (despite being public) might serve the same function. Here’s to hopin’ I’m a prof. of anthropology at Indiana University in yankeeland (and obviously an aging punk). Aside from long having a great sense of respect for Crass and the anarcho ideals attached to it, I now have a legitimate reason to see if you could let me borrow an hour or so of your time. It’s kind of a long story, but I’m writing a book on the history of the punk movement in Lima, Peru. Yes, I know, I know…you are not Peruvian and may or may not have knowledge about the scenes in Lima or elsewhere in South America. But this is precisely why I’d like to talk to you (briefly I promise). I’m interested in finding out what kind of knowledge (or lack thereof) UK and US punks had of punk scenes in Latin America back in the 70s/80s generally, and Peru specifically. I also thought it particularly important to consult with those involved in Crass and the anarcho-punk scene because of the more directly political and radical anti-statist ideologies involved. The Lima scene developed in the early 80s in the context of effectively what was a civil war between the Marxist/Maoist Shining Path insurgency and the Peruvian state. So, Peruvian punks found themselves in a very charged political context and the music/art and politics of the punks reflected it very directly. In short, in addition to talking briefly about what knowledge you or others in the early scene might have had about Peru/South America I’m really curious what your more general thoughts are on the linkages between punk and radical or anti-state politics. Is there a chance we could set up a brief chat/interview? Maybe via phone or skype? Just so you know I’m legit. here is a link to my profile at my university: http://www.indiana.edu/~anthro/people/faculty/greene.html And my email if you are available and can contact me is: lsgreene[at]indiana.edu or just go through the contact form at my link. I’d greatly appreciate it. cheers, shane