It had been 40 years since The Mission released their seminal first album Gods Own Medicine, so it only seems right to be celebrating it again forty years on. It is also the same time period since I first saw ‘The Mish’ at Reading Festival in 1986, so tonight was a real case of rolling back the clock.
The Mission
O2 Forum Kentish Town – 4 November 2026
Words: Adrian Stonley
Photography: Manuela Langotsch
Tonight is the start of four concerts at the O2 Forum Kentish Town, each night concentrating on a specific aspect of the band’s career, each night’s set being different from the night before. So, no spoilers here.
Of course, there is an element of familiarity, as we know exactly what songs are going to be played, but that should not take away anything about this run of shows.
The music has clearly stood the test of time, and a packed Forum is here to celebrate all that was good about alternative music forty years ago, probably when we all had more hair and fewer wrinkles. The make-up then was for fun rather than covering up our age and the ravages of time.
First night of the tour means the first album, and the critically acclaimed and sublime Gods Own Medicine. For many at the O2 Forum Kentish Town tonight, this was where it all began with this band, and though parts of the album still remain as favourites in the set, there are many songs that have not been played in the live environment for many years.
Thus, it seems as though we are catching up with old friends again.
The Mission open with fan favourite Wasteland, and it is greeted as expected with the fervent raising of hands held high and the audience shouting out every word alongside the band.
The set stays close to the album track listing with only one song played out of order, and that is clearly for effect. Garden Of Delight sees frontman Wayne Hussey going close to acapella. It is just him and a backing tape, but his voice tonight is perfect, as though it has not aged. The lusty but atmospheric piece sends goosebumps down your spine.
Hussey makes the point. “You know what’s coming next, that’s no fun,” before launching into Stay With Me, which follows suit, although the rest of the band are back and the audience are bouncing together as one.
Tonight is nothing else other than a complete celebration, and it is clear the audience’s infectious reactions are rubbing off on the band.
The crowd join in the singing as the song closes with an audience rendition of “There’s only one cheeky chappy.” Oh, you can’t keep a good Goth down.
The set continues in album order, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, Sacrilege, Dance On glass. It is all aural delight. We have even got mosh pits going tonight.
The audience is a seething mass of goodwill, and Severina sets the match to a lighted tape and sends the audience stratospheric. Hussey is wandering around stage with a bottle of water. Whatever happened to the years of Blue Nun?
Island In A Stream is soft and gentle and atmospheric and gives the audience and band a breather for a while. Yet there has been one song overlooked from the running order. Surely, we are going to get Blood Brother.
Of course. It closes out the main set and sends the vocal crowd into Nirvana. Seventy-five minutes and The Mission leave the stage. Well, that was rather good, I admit. Not that I ever had any doubts.
It is not long before, replenished, they are back for the first of two encores. The show is advertised as Gods Own Medicine, B-Sides and assorted others. Well, now comes the second part with the B-sides and other songs.
The first encore consists predominantly of cover versions. Starting with The Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows, they move on to Free’s Wishing Well, before ripping the roof off the Forum with Iggy and the Stooges 1969. They still are not finished and Producer Tim Palmer is guesting on guitar for Shelter From The Storm.
Quite honestly, many think this is the end, yet they are back for a second encore. Now we are into later band material with Met-A-Morphosis from the 2016 album Another Fall From Grace.
Then we get a surprise with a new song, Kindness Is A Weapon from the forthcoming Songs For Kith And Kin album. It is unknown but well received and fits perfectly into The Mission catalogue. This certainly bodes well for the new album.
But then we come to the end with a triumphant Deliverance.
It is the end of the night; arms are raised, vocal cords are stretched once more, and everyone is in their own Garden Of Delight. Sadly, like all good things, it has to come to an end, but what a night. Rapturous.
