I'm sorry to say that I have never seen TPE live, just treasuring the bootlegs and live recordings I've managed to get hold of (in addition to the rest of the TPE recordings) over the years.

So judging by the bootlegs and the way TPE play/perform on those... i've gotta go with the last period of TPE. Imho they managed to keep the groove, the wild and energetic performance, all the way.

Best live era, Fireproof.

I'm not going to vote simply because I don't think any period was necessarily better than another. I first saw TPE in May or June 1985 at an end of term garden party at Brighton Polytechnic (needs adding to concert list!), where they were playing under a gazebo (yep, not a marquee but a cheapo gazebo) in front of about thirty people at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, which was a bit surreal. Even then they were something special and I remember 'Can't Stop' and 'V2' really stood out. Saw them several more times over the years and finally at the Grand. I was standing just behind John throughout the gig - well, until he went to play the encores. A brilliant, emotionally charged night. So, a live career that maintained its excellence throughout.

man... now I'm jealous.... bugger bugger....

Perhaps TPE will reform one last time just for you! And for everyone else, of course. Is that the impending news?

thesociablemisanthrope wrote:

Perhaps TPE will reform one last time just for you! And for everyone else, of course. Is that the impending news?

Now that would be cool, but I don't know.

"Almost" got Steve and the Anodyne/Marfa Light band of his to play a one off gig here in Norway, some years ago, but it all faded out due to circumstances out of my control. Still pissed when I think about it...

I saw the band live for the first time in Sept 88 at UEA Norwich and
was blown away by how good they were live.
Subequently saw them in 1990 in Sheffield and for the last time in 93
in Nottingham (not rock city, small venue and only about 100 in the crowd for that one)
Have got the seen and unseen video (anyone know if this is available on dvd?) which i think is from 88 and is a great show. Steve Macks onstage energy is phenomenal!

was lucky enough to see them 14 times and the Reading Festival 99 was my favourite too


however, for me the best period was in between Chemicrazy and Fireproof, lots of new songs, a band at the height of its powers



still annoyed that I didn't get to the final concerts cos I was on exams......

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I never knew a rubber doll could be so hard to please

saw them loads of times over the years, stunning every time, although that said the last couple of years they were on fire! Like gareth i'm still peeved that I never made the last gig (Birth of my Son), got the T Shirt though!