MP4 "Burn" Up The Albert Hall

You may remember that the Parliamentary rock band MP4, made up of 4 MPs from across the parties, this month were planning to play the Royal Albert Hall. (You may not remember this, but then perhaps you have a more interesting life than me.)

Well my spies were there and tell me it was a rip-roaring gig. Not only that, the band were joined on stage by a very special guest - no, not long-term collaborator and part-time Undertone Fergal Sharkey (who was there in the audience supporting the band), but the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport Andy Burnham who took a turn on electric guitar duties (see pic above).

Perhaps they needed to inject some young blood to the line-up to boost sex appeal in the industry, who knows. ;-)

However it seems that MP4's unique claim that they are "The World's Only Parliamentary Rock Band" seems to be under threat as I read today that a group of MPs headed by Lembit Opik will play Friends of the Earth’s Big Ask campaign gig supporting Johnny Borrell's Razorlight.

No indication if this band will be doing any Cheeky Girls numbers yet, such as the politically charged "Touch my bum, this is life, please recognise your commitments to the environment in the Climate Change Bill", but we will see.

Also intersting to see that this band contains Conservative Anne Milton and Labour’s Emily Thornberry - but also Ian Cawsey and Peter Wishart from MP4! It seems the band themselves are willing to destroy their own USP here to stand up for their beliefs. Incredible!

Not sure how long the new band will last in their current guise though. They have called themselves "The Aviators" - although there is no indication what this existing band from Portsmouth think of this development. :-/

Watch this space!
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(Photo Source: Many thanks to Jane Evans, used with kind permission.)