Back to the 80’s band ignites nostalgia in Berko

When the soaring pop ballad The Power of Love cut through an eager audience waiting for the start of a concert at Berkhamsted Civic Centre on 2 May, we knew this was going to be a memorable night of 80’s music nostalgia, as the band’s lead singer Lee Reboul promised, Lyn Drummond reports.

Formed in Cambridge 15 years ago, Back to the 80’s band has grown into one of the region’s top tribute acts. Founded by Kevin Beecroft, Phil Watts, Ricky Barker and Nigel Driver, the band quickly became a standout act on the live circuit. Now featuring Phil Watts (guitar), Ricky Barker (bass guitar), Mark Gordon (drums) and Lee Reboul, the band is renowned for its neon vibes and fun shows.

While most of the group remain around Cambridge, Lee now lives in London where he works as a professional singer. Phil is also a professional musician, with a successful solo career and background as both a songwriter and performer alongside leading artists. Ricky and Mark bring decades of experience from performing and recording in numerous bands in the UK and overseas.

Mark, who is originally from Hemel Hempstead, told Living: ‘Their pedigree speaks for itself. Over the years they have shared stages with 80’s icons Go West, Jason Donovan and Chesney Hawkes, as well as performing as the backing band for chart star Sonia.’

A standout at Saturday’s event was enthusiasm for interaction. This included audience volunteers being asked to sing on stage. The women didn’t miss a beat or lyric, in their rendition of The Human League synth-pop band’s best selling UK single of 1981, Don’t You Want Me. As The Human League has two women who sing a prominent part of that song, and Back to the 80’s has no female singers, ‘we use it as an opportunity for audience participation,’ Mark said.

The 30 songs of the 80’s the band chose for the concert were mostly familiar to me but, in some cases, not the message that was intended.

For example, the Elton John 1983 hit I’m Still Standing was written by the British musician and the lyricist Bernie Taupin from John’s 1983 studio album Too Low for Zero. Although the song is often seen as a statement of John’s resilience, Taupin wrote the lyrics with a specific person in mind.

Taupin has been reported as embracing the public’s interpretation of the song as a universal anthem of survival against adversity, with the song functioning on two levels: as a personal, sharp-tongued farewell to a past love and as a widely adopted anthem for anyone overcoming hardship.

Back to the 80’s ended with Simple Minds’ Don’t You Forget About Me. It was written and composed by the record producer Keith Forsey and the guitarist Steve Schiff for the teen film The Breakfast Club.

Simple Minds initially declined to record it, preferring to use their own material, but accepted after several other acts also rejected it. The result was a break-out 1985 hit for the Scottish band, reaching No. 1 in both the United States and Canada. It also got to No. 7 on the UK singles chart.

What this concert gave me was a tantalising snapshot of a decade in which lyrical content began to explore more complex themes such as societal issues and the restless exuberance of youth, with bands like Duran Duran and The Human League pushing the boundaries of traditional rock music.

It left me wanting to know more about the lyrics. Not as a filler over a catchy beat but the message. The soul of the song.

Contact Maggie Procopi at info@berkhamstedentertainment.com for programmes.

Photo: Audience members join the band on stage to sing Don’t You Want Me.