Originally published by L.S. Media. April 26th 2010.

Perhaps it is appropriate that The Bad Shepherds are touring at the moment, for nobody would have possibly enjoyed the nod to creativity of The Bad Shepherds to folk up classic punk tracks than Malcolm Mclaren who sadly passed away earlier this month.

In salute to the man behind the Sex Pistols the band opened up an evening of skilful toned down music with the fitting song Anarchy in the U.K. and The Smiths’ lament Panic. There will be those that have never really been fans of The Smiths but to hear this particular song being played by the genius insanity that is Adrian Edmondson would have been a joy to behold.

Adrian was joined by his fellow Shepherds Troy Dunkley and Andy Dinan on various musical instruments, some you won’t even see at any folk festival including the very wonderful “thrash mandolin”!

The packed audience who ventured along to Pacific Road, (which was under threat of closure a little while back) revelled in the banter of Adrian and the band and the sheer brilliance of their collective playing ability.

Other tracks to get the Bad Shepherds treatment were The Stranglers hit No More Heroes, The Undertones smash (and John Peel’s favourite track) Teenage Kicks and The Jam’s Down in the Tube Station, this noteworthy song gaining even more with the creepy menace that Adrian was able to insert into the tune. Adrian, true to his mocking, comedic roots, then exclaimed that Paul Weller had written that song when he was 17. “Precocious B*****d” was his brilliant reply!

The evening soon sped by and more classic tracks were re-imagined to good effect, but all too soon the band came towards the end of their set. They finished a fantastic night the Talking Heads’ classic Once in a Lifetime, The Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Have) and finally with the Sex Pistols other remembered hit God Save the Queen.

A ridiculous and awe inspiring event.

Ian D. Hall