The Vichy Government - gigs

A pestilent hot day in Camden and Vichy turned in a small but perfectly-formed set. Most of the other acts gracing the bill were of the punk/metal ilk but the one convert to our cause was the lighting man, who also works for The Auteurs and for some odd reason seemed to strongly identify with the idea of murdering Luke Haines.

Another trip to the seaside, and a venue with a lovely view of the West Pier skeleton. We had to adapt to the shocking bohemian ways of Brighton's free-thinking anarchists and take to the stage at 12.15am, by which time we're normally tucked up with a mug of cocoa and the Kenneth Williams diaries. Full marks to The Uterus Women, who kept us on our toes with a truly visceral support set. Intro music: Denim, Brumburger

As The Fan Club celebrated its fifth birthday, Vichy dropped by to salute Val's courage and indefatigability (making our first appearance since the Verge was put out of its misery). With Luke Haines naming his new album after our epic composition Luke Haines Is Dead, we thought it was about time to introduce the general public to the murder ballad. Also on the bill were ska-tinged suedesters My Marilyn, Tim Tenyen and his dancing girls. Intro music: Dirk Bogarde, These Foolish Things

Round the corner from Millwall FC, with its "FOOTBALL PARTIES/TOURIST COACHES WELCOME" sign in the window, this place had us wondering what we'd let ourselves in for. A pub stuffed with model ships and mounted moose heads was the unlikely answer. Alas, the curse of Vichy struck once more as syphilitic girl group Lady Sovereign & The Pipettes were playing two minutes down the road. Support from the admirably cacophonous Team B.

Vichy popped into this Soho phone box at the request of pop group 586, to play at their We Got Bored night. The headlining Vine Weevil cancelled their performance, perhaps fortunately, at 2pm on the day of the gig. The nine people in attendance all described Vichy as "genius". Intro music- Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, Born To Lose

We made a much overdue return to the town of dreaming spires and spying dreamers- once more in support to The Violets. Posters featured Nico, who everyone expected Alex Violet to mistake for herself, but no-one expected a well-known local promoter to mistake for Jamie. The evening kicked off with the scintillating live debut of the Resistance, latest project of our sometime producer Susan Smith. First airing of our mini bildungsroman Whore Of Babylon.

In the genteel and refined settings of Mayfair, Vichy found themselves summoned to an indie dive round the corner from Savile Row for a vile industry showcase, which saw us play in the middle of four very noisy Sonic Youth tribute bands. We had no idea what we were doing there, and nor did anyone else- but Mayfair looked pretty in the snow (or did one of the guestlist sneeze?). Intro music: Gloria Gaynor, I Will Survive

Pistols at dawn once more, as Vichy gatecrashed a show promoting the third Free French album to remind patrons of their duties towards famille, travail et patrie. Live debut of yet another new number, Suspended On Full Pay. Also on the bill were Tim Henman's new electropop trio, Pawpaw. Intro music: The Smiths, Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

Not two weeks after putting the finishing touches to the Whores In Taxis album, Vichy kicked off with a brand new opus, Elvis & The Beatles. Support came from effete hopefuls Villette (who had a nice line in blouses) and the show was chiefly of interest for the gang of drunken chavs who knocked over some equipment whilst pogoing -again, perhaps ironically- to the sound of headliners Luxembourg. Intro music: Elvis Presley, Suspicious Minds