Lights

It's late and I'm channel hopping and there, on telly in front of me, is the NME Awards 2008 outdoors show on some channel or other. Lads on stage with guitars and drums and a singer shouting into the mic in an out-of-tune aggressive stylee, music by numbers and lots of lights. Big spectacular lights. Lots of lights.

It makes me think of my 'Born To Boogie' DVD by Marc Bolan and T.Rex with the bonus material of the concert footage that was edited and included in the 'Born To Boogie' film. Just Marc, Mickey and the lads on stage playing and he is a mesmerising sight, eyes riveted on Marc as he moves across the stage... and no lights worth speaking of. Marc had charisma and talent and wrote and performed some of the best songs ever. A light show would probably have detracted from the Bopping Elf.

And SLADE? Have you seen any of their live footage? They didn't need lights - they still don't. It's the music and their presence and, at least back in their heyday, the sound of Nod's voice telling us to stamp our feet. Who needed lights?

Punk wasn't well lit, it was gloomy in little venues, but it had power. In their fabulous shows in November the Pistols had minimal staging and lighting. If you've got the music, the power, you don't need the lights. Lights can enhance and add excitment but don't rely on them.

Oh. It's the Kaiser Chiefs, the band on telly with the big light show. Who'dathunkit?