Photograph by Ian D.Hall

Originally published by L.S.Media. September 11th 2009.

Twenty five years after Marseille last played the Cavern, the band made a triumphant return and rolled away the void that had been created when they decided to call it a day. A band that in all honesty should never have been allowed to fade away.

Some people might find it hard to believe that this was a band that was at the forefront of the start of the genre of The New Wave of British Heavy Metal and enjoyed much success, touring with some of the biggest names around and winning the first coveted battle of the bands competition.

With four of the original members (guitarist Andy Charters, the ever youthful bass player Steve Dinwoodie, Neil Buchanan on guitars and Keith Knowles on drums) being joined on stage by Nigel Roberts (replacing previous vocalist Paul Dale) there is every chance that this band will be back amongst the big boys of heavy metal before too long.

Thankfully the five strong group have lost none of their edge or drive that they had when they were younger as they proved as they opened up the night with Live Now Pay Later and the infectious Rock You Tonight which had the audience immediately joining in and urging the guys on.

Other tracks that received a long overdue airing were You’re a Woman, the incredible The Can Can and the sublime Lady of the Night.

Vocalist Nigel Roberts wowed the crowd by announcing that a new studio album, the first since 1984’s Touch The Night, was nearing completion and would be released around the turn of the year. In the mean time though they continued on with the set and introduced a new song cunningly titled Raise Hell, which on first listen deserves to have the airplay it demands.

Marseille finished an excellent set with the wonderfully titled The French Way and the brilliant Some Like It Hot.

The band came back on for a welcome encore of the stunning Motherly Love which had the audience cheering loudly and longingly for a swift return.

Marseille play the Roadhouse in Manchester on the 7th November and are one of the bands at this years Hard Rock Hell Festival in Prestatyn on the 5th December alongside Queensryche and W.A.S.P.

Ian D. Hall