Sham 69

 

Sham 69 - Bedford Esquires 4th April 2026

• Jimmy Pursey - Vocals
• Dave Parsons - Guitar
• Dave Tregunna - Bass
• Spike T. Smith - Drums

This was my first time at Bedford Esquires, with two more visits coming later this year. The evening kicked off with support group Knock Off whose passionate and angry sounding songs fit right in with what was to come.

I first saw Sham 69 back in 1979 at Sham's Last Stand at London's Rainbow Theatre. My recollection of that gig is pretty hazy. What I do remember is that it lasted only about twenty minutes before a stage invasion involving hundreds of skinheads brought proceedings to an abrupt end. If you're interested, you can read more about that infamous night here.

Bedford Esquires is an intimate venue where you're right on top of the band and you really can see the whites of their eyes!. There's nowhere to hide, and that's exactly what makes it such a great place to see live music.

Jimmy Pursey still comes across as a bit of a miserable sod, wearing that familiar bemused expression that he's had for years. But beneath it all, I suspect he's quietly proud to look out and see those once rebellious teenagers now sixty somethings still united, still singing every word, and still proving that the spirit of Sham 69 lives on.

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