This was going to be an interesting night, the debut of Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronik, Martin’s new 2 man electronic duo group with no guitars. Just think Sigue Sigue Sputnik ala Suicide and you’ll get a pretty good idea of what it was like.

I was a little nervous to be honest. I love the wild rock n roll guitar, although it’s not what the Sputnik sound is about totally. How was it going to be, a gig with no guitars at all?

Saxilby, just outside the city of Lincoln here in the U.K., was the place chosen to try out this all new project. Good job too as it allowed me to bring along my son, Doc Jnr, who’s been wanting to see Martin perform for a long time now. As he’s only 10 I was thinking it would be a few years yet before he had the chance but the venue has a no age restriction so along he came.

We got there about half 7, we being me, Doc Jr, Shy Girl and Annie. Martin and Jo (the other half of the duo) were already there, as was Lynn. I introduced Jnr to Martin then we had quite a chat about all sorts of things before they went off to prepare for the show. I’d been asked if I would look after the merchandise stall for the evening. It was fun flogging shirts and CD’s and to be honest a lot more sold than I thought they would.

Several old school fanSSS eventually turned up, including two I’d never met before. Dodger from bonny Scotland and Dean from Hull (I think). Also there were SputnikFred, SputnikBiker and Plastique who I had not seen for a very long time indeed. It was fun getting caught up again and lots of stories were told. What do you expect from a group of such Sputnik anoraks as we were described as at one point.

Anyways the show itself.

Well they came on about 10.20pm. Both looking superb. Martin dressed the same as The Purple Turtle show back in May but thankfully without the breasts this time. Jo was in USA stars and stripes trousers, black and white t shirt, goggles and a sparkly green had. They were both adorned with CD’s which I thought looked really effective and slightly reminiscent of Martins outfit at The Royal Albert Hall all those years ago.

Before they started, Martin dedicated the evening to his Mother, who has recently passed away.

And then, straight into Rockit Miss USA. I looked at the other fans, they looked at me and the note of approval was written over everyone’s faces. It took me about 30 seconds to realise that I wasn’t going to miss the guitar sound from this latest incarnation of the SSS phenomenon. It rocked, the bass line thundered all the way through. I instantly regretted that Jayne Mansfield wasn’t on the cards at this show as it would have sounded awesome. Some of the tracks have had new wrinkles added to them. Movie samples are back and Love Missile F1-11 has quite a Frankie feel to it and was much better than the one played in London in May.

The full set was

ROCKIT MISS USA
TEENAGE THUNDER
21ST CENTURY BOY
SUCCESS
SHES MY MAN
SEX BOMB BOOGIE
LOVE MISSILE F1-11
ATARI BABY

After the set there were calls for more although only these songs have been prepared so far so they went back to Rockit Miss USA. After that a bit of a surprise when Martin dedicated a song to a special young man, pointing out Doc Jnr. The song was Planet Bi, which is one of his favourites from Prophet of Freak so he was well happy to hear. Then came 21st Century Boy again which Jnr got to sing some of into the microphone.

All in all they played for about half as long again as they planned too. Bottom line is it’s brilliant.

Like I say, I adore the original Sputnik sound. Nothing else still has sounded anything like it, but I for one and very happy for this electronic project to run alongside the Sci Fi SuperStars. And Jo is such a nice bloke, although very tall, I’m short enough already he made me feel like a midget.

After the show both guys worked the room chatting to everyone, posing for photos and autographs. The 80’s disco before and after was OK but the DJ was a last minute replacement and had been left very little time to plan anything. I gave him a copy of Prophet and Martin was dancing around with everyone to that and the other music. Ever the showman.

They were still going strong when we left about 1.30am. Lynn and Fred and all the others partied right through the night I’m sure. I hope he can play there again.

DOC JNR WITH LYNN

THOUGHT I'D BETTER GET IN ON THE ACT TOO

OUR GIRL ANNIE

GETS ABOUT DOESN'T SHE

THE ROLES WERE REVERSED AFTER THE PURPLE TURTLE, ME AND SHY GIRL I.E. I WAS ON DIET COKE ALL NIGHT, SHE, ER, WASN'T

DEAN AND DODGER

ROCKIN' WITH DEAN, WHY IS EVERYONE TALLER THAN ME?

ME WITH PLASTIQUE, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY STILL CALL HIM

ANOTHER ONE WITH THE BOY DEAN

SO UNPLUG THE JUKE BOX AND DO US ALL A FAVOUR. ME WITH THE LEGENDARY SPUTNIKFRED

THE HOMECOMING QUEEN GOT HER TOP SIGNED AND SHE WENT HOME WITH IT ON THE NEXT DAY

AT THE BAR WITH DODGER, I ALWAYS LOOK DRUNK EVEN WHEN I'M NOT

DODGER, LYNN, JO AND ME

AT THE BAR AGAIN WITH ANNIE, WE'VE BEEN PROPPING BARS UP SINCE WHITBY 2000

FANTASTIC PHOTO, DOC JNR AND MARTIN

AND AGAIN, LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

SEE WHAT I MEAN

HE'S A SUPERSTAR

AND BACK TO THE BAR ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH SHY GIRL

SPUTNIKBIKER, MARTIN AND SPUTNIKFRED

FATHER AND SON, THE PROPHETS OF FREAK

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK WE SALUTE YOU

I ENDED UP WITH A LOT OF PHOTOS OF THIS FELLA

PROVING THEY KNOW HOW TO PARTY

I F*****G CRIED WITH LAUGHTER WHEN I SAW THIS PHOTO. I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT WAS BEING SAID

SPUTNIKBIKER AND SPUTNIKFRED

HE WAS ONLY POSING

MARTIN SHAKING HIS THANG AFTER THE SHOW

MY OTHER FAVOURITE PHOTO OF THE NIGHT

WELL THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT BABY

DOC JNR WITH MARTIN AND JO

DOC JNR WITH MARTIN AND JO

ME, DOC JNR WITH MARTIN AND JO

AND AGAIN

SHY GIRL WITH JO'S HAT

THIS PUTS ME IN MIND OF A CLOCKWORK ORANGE FOR SOME REASON

DOC JNR WITH JO'S HAT

BLESS

LAST SHOT OF THE NIGHT AND IT'S BLURRED. HADN'T SEEN THESE GUYS SINCE SHEFFIELD 2003 AND STILL CAN'T REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE

PINCHED AFTER THE SHOW

JNR'S SIGNED SET LIST