Thinking recently about my most influential teacher reminded me of the best music act
I ever saw, which was while I was at the same school. This was Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come
(strictly speaking ‘Kingdom Come with Arthur Brown’) at the Chalk Farm
Roundhouse, which thanks to a partial listing of Arthur Brown’s gigs I find happened
on 11 February 1973. The concert was a
benefit for Nicaragua, though whether this was to provide relief for the devastation
caused by the December 1972 earthquake, or to assist the Sandinistas’ fight
against the Somoza dictatorship, I don’t know – probably the former, but
possibly the latter, as there was a strong movement in this country at the time
protesting against the reactionary government in Nicaragua.
It was one of a number of gigs I attended at the
Roundhouse during the early- and mid-1970s.
These were on Sundays, from 2-10 pm, and each featured a number of
acts. So what made Arthur Brown’s set so
memorable? It was thanks to someone who
was generally referred to as Jesus. He
attended all these events and wandered round in the intervals wearing a Kaftan
and weirdly with what was essentially a mullet, handing out nuts to the
audience. He looked vaguely biblical,
and was clearly a good egg, hence the nickname.
It was also amusing to say ‘thank you Jesus’ when he handed you a
snack. During performances he would
often jump up on stage to dance, and as it was Jesus, and everybody knew who he
was, this was tolerated and bands took little notice. The general atmosphere at the Roundhouse was
very laid back.
On this occasion Brown was giving a sterling
performance when Jesus climbed up in his kaftan and began dancing at the edge
of the stage. Instead of ignoring him
though, Brown began dancing with him.
They were very close together, then Brown pulled Jesus’s kaftan off
him. That could have been awkward, but
mercifully Jesus was wearing underpants.
Brown got him down, face up, and was lying on top. Then Brown shouted (and this is what made the
day so memorable) ‘I’m going to fuck you, Jesus’, whereupon he simulated having
sex. This went on for probably only a
few seconds though it seems longer in memory because I was gobsmacked, then
Jesus got up, put his robe back on and the set continued. I’m sure this was not pre-planned, but Jesus
was relaxed about the whole thing.
Brown was on a roll because he refused to finish and
the band just kept playing. It is
possible artificial stimulants were involved.
After a massive overrun the management turned the electricity off,
whereupon Brown stood there defiantly shouting ‘give me power’, echoed by an
enthusiastic audience oblivious to the impact Brown was having on the day’s
schedule. Eventually he gave up and the
band exited the stage, leaving my sensitive teenage soul scarred by the sight
of a man pretending to rut another, underpant-clad, man. Astonishingly Arthur Brown, in his mid-70s,
is still performing; one of rock’s great survivors. Jesus’s fate is unknown.
