| Dexys Midnight Runners' pure and passionate live perfomances have always been an integral part of their story. By the time they secured a recording contract in 1979 Dexys had already established themselves as a formidable live act - uncompromising and incomparable. At a time when Punk was giving way to Ska and New Wave, Dexys' shows harked back to the sweaty soul revues of the late 60's and yet at the same time pointed forward to a "new soul vision". With live sets calculated to bring the audience up on a high and then take them down again, Kevin Rowland in particular was willfully antagonistic towards audiences - no prisoners were taken - especially where hecklers were concerned. The music was punctuated by phrases like "If you find yourself feeling the force, don't be afraid to enjoy it." and "People call us arrogant - but just because we know we are right, it doesn't make us arrogant." With tour names like "Straight To The Heart" and "The Intense Emotions Revue" Dexys sent out a clear message that these would be no ordinary 'rock concerts' - and few who saw those shows will ever forget the experience (see: Dexys Spring 1980). After the first Dexys line-up disintegrated it seemed inconceivable that the new recruits could match their predecessors in terms of power and passion, and yet their "Projected Passion Revue" performances are regarded by many as the greatest ever Dexys shows - culminating in the legendary 'Old Vic' concerts. As 'Come On Eileen' brought Dexys international fame and fortune they played to packed audiences on their next tour, entitled "The Bridge" but again proved they were no ordinary band by re-working many of their familiar songs into virtually unrecognisable 'Celtic' versions (see: 'This used to go like that'). Whilst by this time many of the band were little more than hired hands, the theatrical element to Dexys shows was as strong as ever and they contained many hi-lights such as the slowed-down version of "There There My Dear". When Dexys returned to the stage in 1985, it was with a very different line-up and a different type of show. (seeComing To Town) The emphasis was far more on musicianship than the histrionics of old - and even Kevin's performances seemed comparitively restrained. However the live interpretations of the "Don't Stand Me Down" material and updated classics were trully breath-taking and the point in the show when a policeman took the stage to interview Kevin about his "burning" was as brilliant as it was bizarre. After those shows Dexys made one more live appearance - on Jonathan Ross' "Saturday Zoo" show back in 1993 - when they performed "If I Ever" and "Manhood" before withdrawing from the scene for a further ten years. For details of 2003's successful comeback tour see Dexys 2003.  Forward to list of live recordings | 
