Biggles - review by : Bruce Johnstone-Lowe

Glastonbury Festival 1999

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th June 1999
Worthy Farm, Pilton, nr Glastonbury, Somerset, England
£83

Green Roadshow Bandstand, Saturday 26th / Croissant-Neuf Stage, Sunday 27th June

After a night of guarding a back gate, I was wandering round the Green Fields in a daze when I heard this crazy version of Salty Dog coming from the bandstand. I wandered over to be greeted by the bizarre spectacle of the Biggles Band. To take a bunch of acid heads from the home for deranged bit part actors, dress them up from the shelves of an 'Age Concern' charity shop, give them instruments and let them loose at Glastonbury sort of gives the first impression.

Two things quickly stood out, one was that was actually some decent music underneath the outfits and fooling around, and secondly, there was quite a crowd forming, who really seemed to be enjoying the act.

The band worked their way through some jolly numbers like 'Jollity Farm' and a punk masterpiece, 'I Like My Auntie May.' Things turned a bit surreal when by chance half way through a very uncomplimentary version of 'The Laughing Policeman,' three, nine foot tall policemen on stilts walked up to the bandstand, and joined in.

Several more numbers followed, including what must be the world's worst cajan song. The music was in the vain of Bonzo Dog, but it seemed a lot more light-hearted and inspired.

They finished the set to hearty applause from a good-sized crowd that had gathered. Despite a modest PA system and a lot of noise, Biggles had put on a good show, proving themselves masters of the corny gag, and that they were half decent musicians as well.

On Sunday, a friend and I arrived early at the Croissant Neuf tent to get a good seat for the Biggles Band, only to find it empty. A few people wandered in as the band finished getting ready, and then it started. The first we knew of it was the sight and sound of a madman playing a sort of tune on a hose pipe followed by an enormous guy waring a kilt and pith hat clashing cymbals while they walked round the Greenfield outside the tent.

This sort of set the scene for the rest of the act. I had seen them on the bandstand the day before and enjoyed the act, but on a proper stage with decent sound gear, they were superb. Nothing was sacred. Every type of music that I revered from my long gone teenage past was duly slaughtered by them. Ones that stood out were 'The Whaling Song, an OTT version of the jilted john type folk song that made my eyes sting with laughing, and two unbelievable punk numbers about Auntie May and multiple substance sniffing. Elvis got the bullet, along with Tom Jones, The Rhonettes and many others. Between the numbers, if you can call them that, were some offerings of pure philosophical introspection/outright twoddle. Even more impressive than the humour was the fact that they kept it up for well over an hour.

During the show, the tent had rapidly filled up, mostly from passerbys who heard the laughter. It is a long time since I have seen a crowd enjoy themselves as much as that mob. All to soon the show was over, and the good mood they had created lasted me through another six hours of gate guarding.

This year I enjoyed many of the bands, and most of all, I will remember the Biggles Warband with affection. If they are on next year, do go and see them.