Twenty Flight Rockers drew inspiration from 1950’s rock and rollers such as Johnny Kidd, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran (their name was a tip of the hat to the latter), along with the energy of punk to create a high octane sound that straddled both genres effortlessly. In an age when music was highly tribal and genre divisions were rigidly enforced it found the band well ahead of the curve, releasing several solid singles that seemingly confused an era more concerned with synthpop and Hazel Dean. However, whilst much music from the 1980’s now sounds dated and very much of its time, Twenty Flight Rockers have retained a freshness, and if proof were needed look no further that Live ‘85, a set that captures the band at their blistering best and untouchable, even after four decades.

Captured on 6th June at The Bell Inn, London, Live ‘85 is a recording that perfectly encapsulates the excitement of a rowdy gig. There’s been very little retrospective tinkering with regards to overdubs and has plenty of dirt under the fingernails, meaning that Live ‘85 is akin to standing directly in front of the stage with the hum of the amplifier tickling your ears and the bass thumping your chest. The only (minor) drawback is the space between the songs that breaks the live spell somewhat, it would have been nice if all the songs had been spliced together, a notion given credence by the one/two punch of opening couplet ‘Punishment & Crime’ and ‘Weekend Revolution’. Delivered with rapidity and flowing seamlessly, it not only makes the perfect introduction to a gig but a fine way to make the acquaintance of Twenty Flight Rockers. Tough and sinewy but also melodic and earwormy, it’s a sound that’s anthemic and built for the biggest stadiums, and Twenty Flight Rockers are playing like a band who are certain they’re going to get there.

I imagine that if Generation X had continued into the 1980’s they’d have sounded a lot like Twenty Flight Rockers, vocalist Gary Twinn bearing (more than) a passing resemblance to Billy Idol (whilst drummer Mark Laff actually served time in Gen X). Yet they also predate Idol’s forays into cyberpunk and what Tony James would do with Sigue Sigue Sputnik, the seeds of which can be found in cuts like ‘Your Fashion’, whilst their crossover appeal is very much evident in ‘Young Man’, a track hard enough to appeal to rockers, psychobillies and metalheads in equal measure. It’s a quintessentially English brand of rock n’ roll that the band ply; they sing about Cadillacs but also tower blocks and late night escapades in London. Guitarist Ian Mckean has a deceptively simple style whilst drummer Mark Laff and bassist Jeff Vine operate with a tight-but-loose, almost jazzy, vibe to ensure that their songs really swing, the band cutting the figure of a rowdy street gang (which they pretty much were).

Live ‘85 offers a tantalising glimpse of what could have been had the cards been shuffled differently; in an alternative, fairer, reality the Twenty Flight Rockers could have achieved in the States what The Stray Cats did in Britain. Yet, there’s still time, the band have reformed and playing The 100 Club on 30th October, but for now here’s the band at the peak of their powers, Live in ‘85.

• Live ‘85 is released via MR Records.

Track List:

1. Punishment & Crime
2. Weekend Revolution
3. Fall In Love With You
4. Tower Block Rock
5. Everybody Knows
6. Dreams That Kill
7. Real Pain
8. One Man Town
9. I Love To Rock & Roll
10. Your Fashion
11. Young Man