Ok - so what sort of crowd do Bauhaus attract since that memorable night in July at Hammersmith Palais 23 years ago?

Goths – that’s for sure – plenty of Goths – we were expecting them – the pub next to the Academy a sea of black (with hint of pink and purple) and the smell of hair gel (could there be any better venue for the boys return than Brixton?). Mohicans – no surprise – anything unusual they’re up for it. Fat balding men – sure – we’ve all added a few pounds since that heady night. Skinheads with tattoos – maybe. But 2 guys stuck out – one guy wearing a light blue Pringle golf jumper (please!) and the other in a Dayglo cycle jacket – listen pal there’s a f**king dress code here and it’s black ok – put a little effort in for Christ’s sake.

8.30 and there’s nerves in the air. The girl next to me faints – understandable - we’ve all waited a long time for this and the excitement is getting too much. However the evening starts to go wrong – a few “normal” looking people take this as their cue to chatter, wibbbling on about rubbish to complete strangers. “I was there 23 years ago you know” – well I was and I didn’t see you there pal. “ I’ve got Bauhaus tattooed on my left shoulder” – right – like I can really see it under your sheepskin jacket, dear. The bloke next to me tells me he saw the Kennedys in 1984 – I tell him to “f*** off” – like I care!

The lights go down and there’s a prerecorded bass line playing as an intro. It’s the loudest bass I’ve ever heard – I fell like my teeth are going to come out. It plays for 10 minutes – the tape finishes once and they have to restart it.

Cue Bauhaus or rather Daniel Ash. looking resplendent with a pony tail on top a la Sigue Sigue Sputnik. He stands alone belting out the opening riff to Burning from the Inside. Cue Murphy – on top of a speaker – looking great , contorting his body, with a touch of Jeremy Thorpe to him. How can one so thin sing so deep? David J walks on – timeless – has this man aged in 20 years. And then Haskins with his drums – belting the beat out like a machine gun.

So I’m thinking they’re going to pay the same set list as 83 but then they’re straight into “ In the Flat Field”. Is there a better choice of second number – I doubt it. “Bored, I do get bored” – don’t think so.

The third one is a new one I think – Murphy seems embarrassed and sings it from inside the left speaker – is he mad? But the 4th one’s up and we’re back on track “In fear of Fear”.

I lose track after that – it’s something like:

She’s in Parties
Passion of Lovers
Kick in the Eye
Hollow Hills
Rosegarden Funeral full of sores
Hair of the Dog
Stigmata Martyr
Dark Entries

There’s encores and then 3 more encores with Murhy in a red trench coat
A cover of Joy Division’s Transmission
T Rex’s Telegram Sam
And their version of Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust

Joy Division, T Rex, Bowie – I can’t think of 3 better artists to cover

The final encore is of course Bela with Pete in dark cape. It’s the iconic track and your best - but I preferred when you didn’t play it live and kept it in your locker. I thought pantomime as Pete hammed it up and that’s shame.

Could they have played others – maybe Lagartija Nick or Slice of Life – but I’m being greedy.

I saw 2 things tonight I never thought I would see at a Bauhaus concert – Pete smile and a Simple Minds sing-along from the crows at one point. I guess we all get old some day.

Bauhaus – Rest In Peace.