Have The Police bust prejudice?
To say The Police gave an arresting performance and the Remoulds can bring in at the Fulcrum last Wednesday would be a little bit of an underestimate.
This three-piece outfit, who have had such success in the States, delighted a rock-starved audience with some of the best new wave music going around.
Why, oh why, was this the first rock or new wave band to play at the Fulcrum since the Community Rock Concert starring local bands in December.
The Police, who at present are drawing in crowds similar to Elvis Costello and the Attractions, in the United States have not yet reached the Top 20 here But past single, 'Can't Stand Losing You', and the present on the A & M record label 'Roxanne' put to shame most of the rubbish currently going under the label of the new wave in the pop charts.
Hordes of pogoing people screamed with delight at the excellent rhythms from the guitars of Andy Summers and Sting.
The only criticism is that the group is a little short of material hanging out the songs a bit in the middle and 'Can't Stand Losing You' was repeated.
The Police, who have played only two gigs in Britain and are now returning to the States, attracted rock press from all over Europe to the Fulcrum.
But the fact the concert took place in the Fulcrum at all must be some sort of a miracle knowing the current opposition of the management there.
How Mr. Eric Fowler, general manager of the Fulcrum can say rock bands are bad for business is quite beyond me when the Thames Hall was packed for what, is in fact, a relatively unknown band.
Obviously Outlaw Concerts, who organised the event in conjunction with the large record group A&M, were felt to be a competent management because Mr. Fowler said only competent organisers would be allowed to hire the hall.
Mr. Fowler said there was not, in fact, a policy to exclude rock bands from the Fulcrum although he was personally against them.
If a local group like Robert and the Remoulds can bring in more than 450 people for a rock concert and a relatively unknown group like The Police well over 1,000 surely the Fulcrum should investigate this market potential more fully.
As for The Police well they can only surely rise and rise if they manage to take it easy for a few weeks and write some material. A special mention too for whoever was doing the lights which was pretty impressive at times.
(c) Slough & South Bucks Observer
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