Rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well, and in an age of AI bands and artists who cannot play live without a ridiculous amount of technology, it was refreshing to see Clearwater Creedence Revival and Ten Years After pouring blood, sweat and tears into a show without a safety net.
Clearwater Creedence Revival – Ten Years After
Indigo at The O2 – 23 May 2026
Words: Paul Monkhouse
Photography: Manuela Langotsch
With the world’s greatest tribute to the mighty Creedence and the legendary Ten Years After sharing the stage at the Indigo, it would have been a shock for any fans of the former One Direction member to arrive mistakenly at the wrong part of the gigantic Greenwich venue, and whilst the teen hero may have had a bigger audience, it was here that the real soul lay.
Ten Years After
Celebrating the sixth decade since their inception, it is only drummer Rik Lee who is the last man standing from the original line-up of Ten Years After, but with three new compadres by his side, the flame still burns brightly.
There is a weight of history on Lee’s shoulders, a rare chance for anyone to actually see a musician who played at Woodstock, but it is more than that reverential awe that drives the bands forever onwards. It is the songs.
With new recruits, Samuel C Lees on guitar and vocals, Craig Fletcher on bass and vocals and young keys player Dave Burgoyne by his side, there has been an injection of fresh blood that has brought an extra edge to the outfit, whilst still remaining true to their core sound.
Certainly, there is a big, ballsy and bluesy swagger to opener I’m Going Home, Lees peeling out a ferocious solo that instantly confirms his rightful place in the footsteps of the legendary Alvin Lee.
Also highly impressive, the stuttering boogie of Hear Me Calling sees some horseplay around Burgoyne as its Roadhouse Blues chug sees the crowd dancing and nodding to every beat.
Lee shows he has still very much got the chops on the drum solo during the psychedelic The Hobbit and Love Like A Man has somehow transformed from the heavy blues of before to something much darker and sinister, giving the number new life.
Closing with a rampaging and fun medley, the quartet took their much-deserved bows, their status as one of the most vibrant and long-lasting bands in the country very much intact. Outstanding musicians, terrific songs and real heart and soul, here’s to the next sixty years.
Clearwater Creedence Revival
The history of Creedence Clearwater Revival is a furious and chequered one, things falling apart when they split acrimoniously. Whilst the end of the quartet might have been lost in time, their songs certainly have not, and many are staples of rock radio to this day, over fifty years since the band parted company.
With main man John Fogerty having played to a packed main arena last year, the thirst for this material is as strong as ever, and Clearwater Creedence Revival bring back the fire and spirit of the original band to visceral life.
The words ‘tribute band’ often have a sneering connotation, but this is somewhat different as the outfit not only perform the songs with reverence and precision, but there is a sense of excitement that flows both ways between band and audience that cannot be faked.
Kicking off with diamond cut gem Proud Mary, it was no holds barred from the opening note onwards, the Fogerty penned single made their own by Tina Turner still has the rolling barrel house feel good drive that made it irresistible in the first place.
Up front on vocals and guitar, the ever-busy Jim Kirkpatrick shows off not just his always compelling fretboard skills but also his great voice, often a light under a bushel when next to his FM bandmate Steve Overland.
Alongside him, founding members Peter Barton on guitar and vocals and drummer Geoff Hammond, bass player Alan Sagar and keys player Jackson Herbert bring a slice of rock history to life.
An incendiary cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkin’s I Put A Spell On You lights up the room and Born On The Bayou and Who’ll Stop The Rain bristle with intent and class. Viewed as an anti-war polemic at the time of its writing, the Vietnam-themed Run Through The Jungle is still a hard-as-nails barnstormer, capturing the very spirit of the times and the emotion with no uncertain passion.
A slightly different side was shown in the long-awaited Lead Belly cover Cotton Fields, it’s country touches lighter but just has evocative, the writing again peerless.
Of course, no Clearwater Creedence Revival show would have been complete without Fortunate Son and Bad Moon Rising so it was a happy and slightly hoarse crowd who streamed out of the venue to mingle with those who had been to see Zayn Malik, heading for the exit to take them into the night.
Whether the former boy band member and his material will be as fondly remembered and revered in six decades remains to be seen, but it is certain that people will still be playing and singing some of the stone-cold classics that filled the Indigo that night.
Good music never dies, and these songs will be loved for many generations to come. A truly life-affirming experience.
