First NMA Experience

[BlueBeat]

Left school in '80 but shortly before that a friend of mine claimed to have seem a band called New Model Army at the Victoria Hotel in Keighley, the name stuck in my head. Sometime later two guys (band members?) tried to sell me a 'demo' tape of a band called New Model Army (that name sounds familiar?) in The Albert, Keighley one Friday night, it was getting close to last orders and I only had a couple of quid left so I declined. Only a year or two later in the Funhouse (I think) I heard a song played which through the drunken stupor I thought was called 'Gary The Bastard' I had to have it! Finally found it on an album called Veangeance by New Model Army (that name again!) and the rest as they say is History.

[Barty]

I believe in Justin, I believe in Victor, I believe in Gary the Bastard, Gary the Bastard, Gary the Bastard. very funny mate - that's made me smile!

My first memory was an art lesson at school in 1987 - we could bring our own music in as it was the sixth form(!!) and this dreadlocked, bearded fellow pupil called Babs (damn good lad) played Heroes. I've loved them ever since. Didn't see them until Leicester De Monfort on the Impurity Tour (October 19 1991 from memory) and then a couple of days later in Aston Villa Leisure Centre. I was amazed to see all the Following with their green kitbags having washes and cleaning their teeth in the bogs - hardened musos one and all. Ventured near the dreaded circle when they kicked off with Whirlwind, received plenty of bruises by the time Justin began the chorus so quickly moved to the side. After getting on for 40 NMA gigs now, I can honestly say no band has the magic they do. Absolutely amazing and I could watch them every night!

 

[Stoney]

Ha ha!!!!!!!! That was me getting washed in the lavs!!!!! We did get some pretty odd looks I admit! Newport was the same aswell. You're in the leisure centre, they have warm water don't they? Bingo!!!!!!
Otherwise it was motorway service stations. You should see the looks we got in those places! These days they'd probably call the police on us! lol
Happy days indeed!!!!!!! That whole tour was one of my happiest times full stop!!!!!!

[kat808]

Saw them on top of the pops ... thought they were terrible :-)

Some years later my sisters boyfriend, Vince, kept bringing his NMA tapes round and I loved it.  Took me a while to realise it was the same band.  Saw them for the first time in '89 at The Reading Festival.  Have seen them countless times since .. Still my favourite band .. and I still wear my leather with the Ghost of Cain artwork on it

My sons first experience of them was when he was born .. had no rest for the wicked playing :-) Took him to his first Army gig at Rock city last friday .. hes the same age I was at my fist army gig ..sweet 16

(and he enjoyed it too)

[maggieloveshopey]

My first was on BBC news many years ago, probably about 83-84.  Not really about the band more a piece about the sales of clogs and NMA influence.  can't remember what was played in the background but it caught me slightly, then a few years later i heard Green & Grey and from then there was no looking back

I totally remember this! Thought I'd made it up, as years ago I had a letter in the NMAFC magazine asking about it, but the reply described me as "Slightly tonto....". I reckon it as T&C era though, as I seem to remember a clip of the Stupid Questions video alongside it

[maggieloveshopey]

Met Fluffy Wytch in 1989 and at some point she got me hooked.
Did not get to see them until 1998 Portsmouth Pyramids (I had an amazing ability to find out about the gigs several days after they happened)

Now trying to catch up for all the time and live experiences missed

I was at that Pompey gig - living there at the time which made it a great kick off to the Strange Brotherhood tour. If you remember someone climbing up a pyramid ready for a bit posing at the beginning of what he thought was Before I Get Old only to hurriedly scramble down when he realised it was WWTG....that was me

[df]

I'd listened to the music through the 80's but being a pup had no real way of getting around, then back in december 91 NMA came to my home town and things kicked up a pace

[Stoney]

I'd listened to the music through the 80's but being a pup had no real way of getting around, then back in december 91 NMA came to my home town and things kicked up a pace

Which gig was that?
Brum', Chester, Chippenham, Bratfud (that's just how we roll hombre'! lol), Brixton, I forget the others....... it'll come tho........ happy days!
it was fuckin' cold sleeping in the van I tell you that much!!!!! Oh my god........

[burningark]

i didnt  listen to them much in the early days , my girlfreind was into them and all the political stuff so after a few months i  slowly started to pay attention - the bomb dropped when i bought ghost of cain on cassette but by this time i had swapped girlfreinds and the new one hated NMA but she didnt last  but my love for  NEW MODEL ARMY did  and still does  , every day , and my wife likes em nearly as much as me BINGO  

[Stoney]

i didnt  listen to them much in the early days , my girlfreind was into them and all the political stuff so after a few months i  slowly started to pay attention - the bomb dropped when i bought ghost of cain on cassette but by this time i had swapped girlfreinds and the new one hated NMA but she didnt last  but my love for  NEW MODEL ARMY did  and still does  , every day , and my wife likes em nearly as much as me BINGO  

good choice then!
My mrs had in her vast collection of Gothness
New Model Army - History (and a ton of comp tapes) and MISFITS - Walk Among Us (the best record by them and in my all time top 3 still!).......... I was hooked..........
Justin James Stone followed along in a coupleof years!!!!!!!!!!

".........tryin' for a clan of our own...!"

[burningark]

i didnt  listen to them much in the early days , my girlfreind was into them and all the political stuff so after a few months i  slowly started to pay attention - the bomb dropped when i bought ghost of cain on cassette but by this time i had swapped girlfreinds and the new one hated NMA but she didnt last  but my love for  NEW MODEL ARMY did  and still does  , every day , and my wife likes em nearly as much as me BINGO  

good choice then!
My mrs had in her vast collection of Gothness
New Model Army - History (and a ton of comp tapes) and MISFITS - Walk Among Us (the best record by them and in my all time top 3 still!).......... I was hooked..........
Justin James Stone followed along in a coupleof years!!!!!!!!!! when we was doing a name shortlist for our second child -sex unknown - top of my boys name was sullivan ahaahahhahaah - but we ad a girl  - violet eloise

".........tryin' for a clan of our own...!"

[burningark]

when we was doing a name shortlist for our second child -sex unknown - top of my boys name was sullivan ahaahahhahaah - but we ad a girl  - violet eloise

[Stoney]

when we was doing a name shortlist for our second child -sex unknown - top of my boys name was sullivan ahaahahhahaah - but we ad a girl  - violet eloise

That is THE most original name I ever did hear of!!!!!!! Brilliant, wish I'd thought of it!!!!!! Genius sir!

[burningark]

cheers mate

[burningark]

a good few years ago me and my wife went to see joolz do a poetry gig at the old angel notts , it was in a small room upstairs and i sat and watched her do her stuff for about an hour or so and didnt pay any attention to the bloke sitting next to me , when the gig had done we left  and my wife turned to me and said - did you know who was sitting next to you - NO WHY - it was  justin sullivan -  WHAT A **** I AM - SHE NEVER LETS ME FORGET THAT