The midway gig of a week long tour of the UK by the Sputties. With four non Degville gigs already behind them (to mixed and sometimes inaccurate reviews), the band arrived in Sheffield to play a gig at The Casbah, which is actually a super little venue, much better than you'd think judging it's exterior.

A quick chat with JZ and two support acts later, SSS arrived onstage about 11.30. The King Of Rock and Roll was first and it sounded, well, fuckin' fantastic. Neal confidently took over the vocal duties in his own way. Throughout the set there was lots of laughing and audience participation. I can't remember the order but we got 21st Century Boy, What Sputnik Wants, Original Freekster, Amazing Lover, Everybody Loves U, Jayne Mansfield, Slave Trade and F1-11.

There was no piss taking of Martin at all, actually they wished him well onstage in front of everybody. Neal apologised for Martin's absence and explained the difficulties of suddenly having to take over the role of lead vocalist as well as his normal function in the band. He asked to be forgiven for any fuck ups that occurred. He needn’t have worried. The man gave 150% (they all did), it really was a great gig and the sense of fun continued with the three song encore, Atari Baby with the "ooh oohs" supplied by us!!, THEN the biggest grin I've ever seen on their faces as Roi Robertson (a future star if I ever saw one) of Mechanical Cabaret took over vocals for Soft Cell's Sex Dwarf. Man you should have been there. My only criticism of the night was the poor turn out for such a great show. Guess there ain't no pleasing some people. A great version of Suicide's Ghost Rider finished off a superb evening and after a chat, some photos and autographs we left, very, very happy (and pissed off as knew I wouldn't make another gig on this tour).

I had my nephew Andy with me at this show. He'd seen Sputnik last November at the acoustic set at Wembley. He didn't let Deg's departure stop him coming to a proper SSS gig and he really enjoyed himself, a new Sputnik convert. If he can do it, then so can you.

Special greetings to all the people I spoke to on the night, most of the names I've forgotten but hey, would you expect anything else from me?

LADY PEN AND THE GHOST RIDER

QUICK HUG FROM PEN

DISTRACTIONS ALL AROUND

DJ POSES WITH THE BAND

WITH MY NEPHEW ANDY

JOINED BY THE BIZARRE INGREDIENTS CREW

MY LAST HUG FROM JZ

COYOTE WITH HIS SUPER COOL ULTRA REAL SHIRT