Gig review: Public Enemy, Glasgow

Chuck D, left, Flavor Flav, center, and Professor Griff, standing right, of Public Enemy perform during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in LA. Picture: AP

“EVERYBODY put their fists in the air, and salute the legends of hip-hop,” came the instruction as Public Enemy entered.

ABC

****

It was a salute especially well-earned in light of the New Yorkers’ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction last week – a success especially sweet for one of the most political and controversial bands of the past three decades.

As Public Enemy’s dynamite-voiced MC and leader Chuck D introduced the group – DJ Lord, a bassist, drummer and guitarist and two trademark uniformed S1W dancers/security men –someone was missing. Flavor Flav appeared a few minutes later, his oversized clock medallion missing because, he claimed, he’d given it to the hall of fame. “Even though they got my clock,” he announced, pulling out a jumbo timepiece, “I still got another one.”

It was one moment among many that proved Public Enemy’s remains a show unlike any other – as confrontational as it is funny. Not to mention very, very loud. Welcome To The Terrordome began one run of songs that included some of the most iconic in hip-hop, from Black Steel through Bring The Noise, Don’t Believe The Hype and Fight The Power.

We could probably have done without Flav’s dodgy slap bass and drum solos, but they were apt at a gig that refused to take itself too seriously. Harder Than You Think’s defining line “thank you for letting us be ourselves” was bellowed by Chuck and Flav, as the crowd gave clenched-fisted salutes in farewell.