Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons/Absolva –
The Waterfront, Norwich, Thursday, 27th March, 2025
Tonight promised to be a performance of 'Rock Heaven' as Phil Campbell celebrates the legacy of one the most missed stars of all time. But first we get Absolva, a band I know nothing of.
Absolva are from Manchester & have been around since 2012. They have delivered 6 acclaimed albums and I am expecting big things. After the opener, it is clear that I will not be disappointed.
The band consist of Christopher Appleton (Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar), Luke Appleton (Lead/Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals), Martin Mcnee (Drums) & Karl Schramm (Bass/Backing Vocals). The presentation is powerful, professional & pretty much perfect. After almost every song we are reminded that we are watching Absolva.
 Absolva 27 03 25 - Photograph 12 |  Absolva 27 03 25 - Photograph 8 |
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They looked like Rock stars & as you will see they posed giving me the chance to get some great photos. When you see a band you are unfamiliar with, it can be difficult to pick up the titles and individuality of the songs that are played. What I can say is each song was played and delivered with energy and gusto.
Absolva have the performance but not one song has remained in my memory. Their brand of Hard Rock / Melodic Metal maybe lacks identity and individuality. That is not a criticism & is potentially my fault as my knowledge of the material was sadly lacking.
 Absolva 27 03 25 - Photograph 23 |  Absolva 27 03 25 - Photograph 22 |
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What I am trying to say is Absolva were great on stage, I want to see them again, they were perfect for warming us up ready for the headliners. I really enjoyed the performance. Just to remind you they were ABSOLVA!
Setlist: Iron Fist/Damage Case/Going To Brazil/Orgasmatron/Rock Out/Metropolis/ Born To Raise Hell/Smiling Like A Killer/We Are The Road Crew/Lost Woman Blues/R.A.M.O.N.E.S/The Chase Is Better Than The Catch/Ace Of Spades/Killed By Death/Heroes (Bowie cover)/Whorehouse Blues/Bomber/Motorhead/ Overkill.
What is there left to say about Lemmy? He was simply a ROCK icon who did things his way. Motorhead were truly one of a kind, maybe underappreciated, but like so many things, 'You Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Till It’s Gone)'. Motorhead's music transcends generations and genres.
Nobody else has more of a right to play Motorhead’s music than Phil Campbell. He was at Lemmy’s side for over 30 years, playing guitar on 16 studio albums beginning with 'Orgasmatron' in 1986 and ending with 2015’s 'Bad Magic'.
When Ian Fraser Kilmister left this planet to join a long list of others it signified the end of Motorhead. Ten years on, Phil Campbell & his Bastard Sons honour that legacy with a tour that celebrates the music of Motorhead. At the Waterfront it was a monumental event that captured the magic perfectly. Personally, I felt a degree of emotion as these songs were played. How Campbell feels doing this I don’t know.
 Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons - 27 03 25 - Photograph 13 |  Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons - 27 03 25 - Photograph 12 |
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From the moment we got the punch of ‘Iron Fist’ we knew it was going to be special! Phil Campbell & his Bastard Sons delivered in ultra fine fashion. By third song ‘Going To Brazil’ (my highlight) it was euphoric and crazy. Joel Peters (Frontman) looks the part, his long hair not dissimilar to that of the man he is honouring, what is good is he doesn’t try to be the icon, he just sings the songs as honestly as he can in his own style. As for the Bastards, or should I say Campbells, they are super.
‘Orgasmatron’ is darkly menacing, as it should be, it is actually compelling and orgasmic! The setlist is full of what you need to hear, mixed with deep cuts like ‘Lost Woman Blues’. Song after song is greeted like a long-lost friend. ‘Ace Of Spades’ is followed in all it’s glory by ‘Killed By Death’ which despite it’s ferocity has immense poignancy as we remember the life of the man who we are celebrating. What comes next drops the pace but adds so much: it’s a cover of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ whose own death came two weeks after Lemmy’s.
Joel Peters is an engaging frontman and gives his all with a relentless frenzy of power and his own vocal prowess. The Campbells all deliver in thunderous fashion, enticing encouraging the crowd to go wilder, if that is possible. Phil looks a bit lost in his own world, looking like the memories of his friend are flooding through his mind… My own memories go back to West Runton Pavillion when I witnessed Motorhead for the first time in 1980. I am also affected by memories of Lemmy’s appearance at Glastonbury…where he appeared frail, his illness clearly affecting him. What a brave performance that was.
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The show reaches its near conclusion with ‘Bomber’, ‘Motorhead’ then concludes with a spectacular ‘Overkill’: the long version, complete with drum solos and false endings. As a gig it was loud and magnificent. If Lemmy was watching from above, he would approve, growling; 'WE ARE MOTORHEAD!'
A special word to Phil: “Thanks for doing this tour, it was an honour to be there and capture some shots. Thankyou.”
In 1975 it was said if Motorhead "moved in next door, your lawn would die". The group and man will never die, the music immortal.
By Paul Mace