Justice Tonight Tour – Origins of Band

In July 2011 I was asked to get involved in playing a fundraising gig for murdered Fazakerley teenager Jamie McVey at the Olympia in September.  At the same time, I was considering holding a ‘Don’t Buy The Sun’ gig as the News of the World had just ceased to exist and the pressure was mounting on the Murdoch empire over power corruption and lies! When Billy Bragg released his track ‘Scousers Don’t Buy The Sun’ my mind was made up; we had to organise an event and invite Billy to perform!

Steve Rotheram the MP for Walton was already committed with promoter Dave Pichilingi to the Jamie McVey Memorial concert so we held a meeting at his constituency headquarters to discuss the concerts.  During the meeting I suggested that we try and combine the two concert ideas as we would both be asking similar groups to perform. James McVey, Jamie’s dad was fighting for justice for his son just like the people affected by the Hillsborough tragedy.  It was agreed at the meeting that we approach the Hillsborough Justice Campaign to see if they would endorse a joint concert.  They did and the wheels were in motion.

We approached Billy Bragg but his diary was unfortunately full with all the alternative dates we gave him so then I contacted my mate Andrew ‘Davo’ Davitt ex-of Breck Rd who was in touch with major acts in the music industry through his work.  He contacted Paul Weller, James Bradfield from The Manic Street Preachers and also Mick Jones from The Clash & Big Audio Dynamite.  All showed interest but after about a week Davo rang me saying Mick Jones wants to do it and he wants to play some Clash songs with The Farm & Pete Wyle – The Justice Tonight Band was born. There were no plans and no real strategy; we would play this concert as a one-off as a tribute to Jamie McVey and an appeal to re-invigorate the ‘Don’t Buy The Sun’ campaign and the call for Justice for the victims, and survivors of the Hillsborough tragedy.  Tom Watson MP the scourge of the Murdoch Empire was contacted through Steve Rotheram and he immediately agreed to attend and address the capacity audience.  His speech on the night was short and concise and he praised the people of Liverpool for making a stand against The Sun and the Murdoch emphasising that it had given him ‘inspiration’ to do the same!

The concert and atmosphere surrounding it was truly remarkable.  It was the first time Mick Jones had performed Clash songs for many years and for weeks after he was still enthusing about it.  The feeling of hope and togetherness in the audience was unique that night.  It was like a throw back to the political rallies/concerts of the Thatcher era.  Mick said it reminded him of why he had picked up a guitar in the first place to protest about injustice!  It made him feel alive again and said he wanted to take the concept on the road to show his support for the 96.  He said it was what The Clash would have done!

All who attended the concert commented on the spirit of hope in the audience that night, it was as if we had been in a long dark tunnel over Hillsborough and now there was a glimmer of light at the end of it!  Mick Jones was sensational that night it was as if he had sprinkled some magic stardust over the stage as his natural enthusiasm and smile shone through.  He read John Robb’s review of the night on his Louder Than War website a couple of days later and declared ‘that’s the best review I’ve ever had.’  For someone who had been in arguably the greatest band ever that was some statement.

SJM promotions were contacted to see if they would get involved with the Justice Tonight band and arrange concerts around the UK.  SJM are one of the biggest promoters in Europe and had just sold out three days in HeatonPark with the Stone Roses the fastest selling concert ever.  The phone call came – ‘count them in’ they would do the UK tour and waive their fees!  THE JUSTICE TONIGHT TOUR WAS ON!