Peter Murphy at The O2 Indigo 11th October 2009

As always, he’s in fine voice despite complaining of a cold and often coughing between songs, commenting “how can someone come on looking so legendary and then cough?” And he did indeed look “legendary”: resplendent in feather trimmed jackets, pointy shoes and a number of hats, with those unmistakable piercing eyes and angular cheekbones ensuring he looks just as otherworldly in his fifties as he did in his twenties. The backing band (a rather unflattering title for such skilled musicians to be fair) are just as solid and versatile as the singer himself, though I have to say it’s a bizarre experience seeing another band playing Bauhaus’ songs with Bauhaus’ singer.

Overall it was quite a show and though I have to say I’m more a fan of Bauhaus than of Murphy’s solo material this was a gig that was certainly just as enjoyable as their comeback tours were; in turns funny, thought-provoking and delightful. Or to put it in a more pithy but considerably more inane way: the king is undead, long live the king!

For more on Bauhaus, you might want to read my biography and review of their last album, for more info on Peter’s current tour, upcoming album and downloads of some of his cover versions check out his official site

And to give this article a bit of context, here’s Mr Murphy performing “Strange Kind of Love/Bela’s Dead” from earlier in the tour.