For those unaware, The Quireboys started their career in the mid-1980s at London’s Marquee Club and quickly built up a steadily growing fan base in London and the surrounding area. It was only when the organizer of the prestigious Reading Festival announced in 1987 that the band would only be allowed to perform if they changed their name that The Queerboys finally became The Quireboys.

In 1989, they performed at the Hammersmith Odeon before Guns N’ Roses and made a name for themselves beyond London with joint performances with Hanoi Rocks and Yngwie Malmsteen. Without having released a single album, the band soon played their own headlining shows.

When Sharon Osbourne took over management, The Quireboys were signed to EMI for their debut album A Bit of What You Fancy. The record was a hit, especially in Japan, and the Quireboys’ sleaze rock also struck a chord in the US. They toured there with L.A. Guns, Soundgarden, and Iggy Pop, among others, and rocked every big festival in their native England.

With Spike (vocals), Guy Bailey (guitar), Guy Griffin (guitar), Nigel Mogg (bass), Rudy Richman (drums), and Chris Johnstone (keyboard), The Quireboys stormed the stage of the WDR Rockpalast in the Live Music Hall in Cologne for the first time on April 4th, 1990. The evening’s program naturally included songs from their formidable debut album.

Seventeen years later, on October 18th, 2007, The Quireboys accepted WDR’s second invitation to perform at Rockpalast as part of the popular Crossroads Festival at the Harmonie in Bonn. Apart from Spike, Guy Griffin was the only musician from the A Bit of What You Fancy line-up still on stage.

Jimi Crutchley had taken over the bass from Nigel Mogg. Paul Guerin (guitar), Pip Mailing (drums), and Keith Weir (keyboard) completed the lineup. We are The Quireboys ... and this is rock ’n’ roll! Spike announced at the beginning of the concert and by now, it was clear to everyone where the musical journey would take them.

CD 1: 2007
Louder; Misled; The Finer Stuff; Tramps And Thieves; One For The Road; Roses And Rings; This Is Rock ’N’ Roll; Mona Lisa Smiled; There She Goes Again; Hey You; Sweet Mary Ann; 7 O’Clock; I Don’t Love You Anymore; Sex Party

As aforementioned, opened by an introduction that not only confirms who they are but that what they are going to sing was genuine rock ’n’ roll, they open their 2007 set on the rocking duo of both Louder and Misled, the guitar blues rock of The Finer Stuff and the brilliantly energetic Tramps And Thieves and then we get the mid-tempo balladry of One For The Road and both an aching rock yearn that travels through Roses And Rings and the raucous This Is Rock ’N’ Roll.

Up next is one of my own personal favorites in the rhythmic rocker Mona Lisa Smiled and that gives way to the blues-rock of There She Goes Again, before we are brought forth their rip roaring top track Hey You, the sing-along track Sweet Mary Ann, the 2007 set rounding out on the melodic 7 O’Clock, the love song I Don’t Love You Anymore, coming to a close after the on stage band introductions, on the vibrantly upbeat Sex Party.

CD 2: 1990
Misled; Man On The Loose; Whippin’ Boy; Roses And Rings; Long Time Comin’; Sweet Mary Ann; I Don’t Love You Anymore; Sex Party; Take Me Home; Hey You; There She Goes Again; 7 O’Clock; Mayfair; I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man; Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)

On a flashback recording from the early 90’s that pays homage to one of the most under-rated bands of that era, they open on the rocking Misled, the throaty rock of Man On The Loose and a gritty Whippin’ Boy, before they give us the aching rock yearn that travels through Roses And Rings Roses And Rings, the genuine rocker Long Time Comin’ and the sing-along track Sweet Mary Ann, the love song I Don’t Love You Anymore, and then the vibrantly upbeat Sex Party is brought to the fore.

Up next is the languishing beauty found driving the excellently formed Take Me Home which is itself backed by their rip roaring top track Hey You, the blues-rock of There She Goes Again before we are delighted to entertain the melodic 7 O’Clock, the set rounding out on the rambunctious Mayfair, a totally f**ked up version (in their own words) of I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man, closing on a Rolling Stones classic, their boisterous rendition of Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker).

The DVD features all the same tracks plus as a bonus has a very revealing interview with Rembert Stiewe in 2007 (Rockpalast) where he admits the band could have continued onwards, released more albums and been in the music business for many more years, had it not been for all the bs of the world that they were a part of.

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