In November 1995, Noddy's Puncture made the journey from Rochdale to the NEC in Birmingham to play the ELP 25th Anniversary Convention. It was a daunting prospect — performing ELP's music in front of the most knowledgeable and passionate ELP fans in the country.
The band at that time was the original lineup: Tom Szakaly on keyboards, Adey McDermott on drums and vocals, and Mark Conroy on bass and vocals. We'd been honing our craft since forming in 1987 from the ashes of cult rock band Shanghai, and this felt like the moment of truth.
We needn't have worried. The response from the crowd was overwhelming. ELP fanzine 'Impressions' later wrote: 'Tom Szakaly strode the stage like a colossus... If you live in the UK then this is a must, it is possibly the closest you will get to see a live ELP performance.'
That review became our calling card and opened doors that had previously been closed. It confirmed what we'd always believed — that with the right dedication and the right equipment, it was possible to faithfully recreate the extraordinary sound of Emerson, Lake & Palmer on stage.
The convention gig was a turning point. From that moment on, Noddy's Puncture was recognised as the UK's premier ELP tribute act — a reputation we've worked hard to maintain and build upon ever since.