The Charlatans – Live At King George’s Hall, Blackburn – 1990 – BBC Radio 1
If you’ve been visiting this website for the past few years, you’ll know by now The Charlatans are one of my favorite bands. I’ve said it a million times, but they were the ones who restored my faith in music in 1990, and gave me renewed faith and hope that there was a lot of great music on the horizon. And I don’t say this as just a fan of their albums – I arrived at this enthusiastic assessment after seeing them in concert on their first U.S. tour, playing to a packed house at the Hollywood Palladium. They reminded me of everything I enjoyed and was passionate about in music. They were the breath of fresh air, and I never forgot it. They also became the band I measured everybody else who came after them against – the 90s were a great decade, but it was The Charlatans who kicked it off for me.
The Charlatans formed in the West Midlands in 1988. The current line-up comprises lead vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist Mark Collins, bassist Martin Blunt and keyboardist Tony Rogers.
All the band’s thirteen studio albums have charted in the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart, three of them being number ones. They have also had twenty-two top 40 singles and four top 10 entries in the UK Singles Chart, including the hits “The Only One I Know” and “One to Another”.
Fortunately, The Charlatans are still together; albeit with some personnel changes, but still with Tim Burgess fronting the band and just as fresh and vibrant as ever.
Tonight though, it’s The Charlatans during their early phase; together just one year and playing a gig at King George’s Hall in Blackburn in 1990. Captured and thankfully preserved by The BBC.
Here’s a reminder of the band during those pivotal early days – the audience is wildly enthusiastic, and for very good reason – they were brilliant.
Play very loud.