OK OK so this wasn't an actual Sigue Sigue Sputnik gig as such. It was, in fact, the Sputnik's first ever acoustic only set as part of the first day of the annual Wembley Music Fair. Even so, I thought I may as well report on it the same way as a normal SSS show so to have a permanent record of it.

The band were at The Exhibition Centre from mid morning, signing copies of the Tony James poster that's been available for a while. And there were plenty of takers for them too. It was a shame there was no actual Sputnik merchandise for sale on the day as I'm sure they would have sold truckloads of everything. While we were there Tony showed us the artwork for the forthcoming "Ultra Real" release, which is due to be put on Sputnikworld sometime in the week. I thought it was rather good, Japanese style animation of a girl with a space bass, maybe a kind of progression from the "Flaunt It" sleeve. Hope there are some new photos of the band in there too somewhere, meant to ask Tony but I forgot. The band signed and chatted for about an hour then left to get ready for the acoustic set.

About 100 people gathered towards the back of the room as Sputnik took to the stage. Tony took over the vocal effects job from Jenny and spent the entire set sitting behind the sequencer. Martin took centre stage complete with a stunning pink suit and lyric sheets in case he forgot the words to the new songs. Neal sat with his acoustic guitar, complete with cool shades, blue suede shoes and cowboy hat.

With no delay they launched into Love Missile F1-11 and Sex Bomb Boogie. Any doubts as to what an SSS acoustic set would sound like were instantly swept away. Both songs, to me anyway, sounded great, even more identical than on the original recordings perhaps. They worked really well and got the crowd going in no time flat. Martin urged the crowd forwards to the front of the stage between the two songs, which just about everyone was glad to do so. Next up were two songs from "Ultra Real". SSSelebration, even in this form still comes over as a real Sputnik sing along anthem while Amazing Lover seems to be what Atari Baby, Dancerama and How Do You Dream Little Caesar were to their respective albums. I loved it (I would being a soppy git at heart) but something tells me some of you are gonna hate it. It was back to basics next as Jayne Mansfield was performed with all the usual enthusiasm and interaction from the crowd, hell it seemed everyone there was a Sputnik fan. Was gonna yell out Hey Jayne Mansfield Up The Arse but I restrained myself, it really wasn't that kind of gig. The rockers continued through Mystery Train and The King Of Rock N Roll, Mystery Train sounding much better than on the actual recording in my opinion while King Of Rock N Roll contained all the energy of the original and was performed in a Bolan/Stardust vein. The Last Time was a Rolling Stones cover that I'd never heard of although I have now heard it by both The Stones and The Who and Sputnik's version was up there with both of em and I hope its on the new album. Finally an impromptu performance of Ultra Violence which was really funny as Martin just could not remember the lyrics and then a superb version of Atari Baby (although not a seventeen minute concept version that Neal threatened).

And that was it. All the way through Tony put some great effects on Martins voice while Neal’s guitar work was awesome. Martin led the whole thing like the true showman he is and his yellow half moon tambourine was a nice touch too. During The Last Time, Neal sang that this could be the last time that Sputnik played acoustic.

On the basis of this set I sincerely believe it won't be.

Afterwards there was one further short singing session during which they guys posed for a few photo's with us which was rather nice of them I thought.

And then they were gone. The most surreal moment of the day for me was on the way home. On leaving the Music Fair we stumbled upon Tony James, in the shadows of two towers of an abandoned Wembley Stadium walking a small and rather cute poodle who looked dead pleased to see him. Now that was truly a pure moment of rock n roll!!!

POSTERS AND AUTOGRAPHS

THEY WERE KEPT REALLY BUSY THIS DAY

SPUTNIKFRED'S DAUGHTER WITH THE BOYS. SHE'S GROWN UP A BIT SINCE THIS WAS TAKEN.

WITH THE BAND WEARING MY BELOVED 21ST CENTURY BOY T SHIRT, REALLY MUST GET A NEW ONE.

SHUT UP MARTIN!!!

ME, SPUTNIKBIKER AND CARLA WITH THE MIGHTY SPUTNIKS

THE OTHER DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE, THE ONE AND ONLY DR. BONES

WITH PEN BOTH LOOKING VERY DRAINED AFTER THE SHOW

HERE WE ALL ARE, NIC COMLEY, SPUTNIKFRED, PEN, DR BONES, MARTIN, TONY, NEAL, JONATHAN NURSE, ME AND PAUL M*A*D

DAMN WE ARE A FINE LOOKING BUNCH