Robert Gordon, Never to Be Forgotten

In late 2022, the talent buyers at the Bowery Electric booked Robert Gordon to perform on January 18 of this year. Unexpectedly, Gordon died at age 75 on October 18, 2022, after years of acute myeloid leukemia. His most recent band members, guitarist Chris Spedding, bassist Tony Garnier and drummer Anton Fig, all of whom might have been better known in music circles than Gordon himself, used that Bowery Electric booking to perform a tribute concert, Robert Gordon, Never to Be Forgotten.

Gordon performed at the Bowery Electric several times in the past decade. The venue is one block north of where Gordon got his start in New York music at CBGB’s. Gordon briefly sang punk rock in Tuff Darts in the mid 1970s before reinventing himself as a solo artist singing rockabilly standards. Gordon released his 12th and final album, Hellafied, featuring Spedding, on November 25, 2022.

Robert Gordon with guitarist Steve Conte, bassist John Willoughby and drummer Albert Bouchard at the Bowery Electric in New York City in October 2021

Robert Gordon, Never to Be Forgotten featured local New York musicians and a few out-of-town guests singing the songs that Gordon used to sing. Chris Spedding flew in from the United Kingdom, Jesse Dayton traveled from Texas and Nicole Atkins came from Tennessee for the tribute. Gordon’s widow and two sisters attended as well.

Two local bands that embrace a retro rock and roll sound, the Hipp Pipps and the Joey Kelly All Stars, performed opening sets. Guest vocalists and musicians started taking the stage during the latter set. A documentary video about Gordon was then shown. Finally, Delphine Blue emceed the final segment, welcoming Spedding, Garnier and Fig to the stage and introducing additional guest performers.

The Hipp Pipps (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Joey Kelly All Stars

Steven Krebs of Krebs & the Maynard G's (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Laura Palmer of the Screamin' Rebel Angels 

Matt Langone of the Hipp Pipps

Bill Moser

Diane Gentile of Diane & the Gentle Men (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Barry Ryan of the Rockats (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Drew Eckmann of Eck's Men

Jeremy Fury of Jeremy & the Harlequins (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Record producer Richard Gottehrer spoke briefly

Delphine Blue (right), disc jockey at WFUV (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Chris Spedding (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Tony Garnier (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Anton Fig (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Brian Hurd of Daddy Long Legs (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Jackie Gordon Spalding & Melissa Gordon Uram

Cynthia Ross of the B-Girls (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Marshall Crenshaw (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Tish & Snooky Bellomo of the Sic F*cks

Nicole Atkins (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Jesse Dayton (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Rob Stoner

Steve Conte

Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello (photograph by Jini Sachse)

Tom Clark of Tom Clark & the High Action Boys (photograph by Jini Sachse)

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise.

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