Live on stage there was next to no audience banter. More often than not shows were bookended by “Hi” as they came on and “Thanks” as they left, and barely four beats between songs throughout. A Messiahs gig was like a professional hit; get in there, do the business with no fucking about and get out again.
This gig history was compiled by Kenny and Dave (Chalkie) Dawson for their original site. Ben Mart later supplied revised dates and a load of tickets and passes for the 86 US tour.
UK
07 February 1984 Downstairs at The Clarendon, Hammersmith, London

Playing as Motor Boys Motor.
​
10 May 1984 The Hope and Anchor, Islington, London

Still playing as Motor Boys Motor after the guvnor of the pub refused to put 'Baby Crocket' on the poster!
​
11 June 1984 The Clarendon, Hammersmith, London.
The first ever show as The Screaming Blue Messiahs.
​
15 June 1984 Dingwalls, Camden, London
16 June 1984 The Tunnel Club, Greewich, London
26 June 1984 The Tropical Palace, Kensal Green, London
27 June 1984 The Hope and Anchor, Islington, London
06 July 1984 The Pindar of Wakefield, Kings Cross, London
23 July 1984 The Pindar of Wakefield, Kings Cross, London
19 September 1984 The Rock Garden, Covent Garden, London
26 September 1984 The George Robey, Finsbury Park, London
05 October 1984 The Half Moon, Herne Hill, London
03 November 1984 The Hope and Anchor, Islington, London
17 November 1984 The Tunnel Club, Greenwich
18 November 1984 The Riverside Club, Fetcham
​
Holland
05 December 1984 The Vridje Vloer, Utrecht, Holland with The Lyres
06 December 1984 (unkown venue), Nijmegen, Holland
07 December 1984 (unkown venue), Eindhoven, Holland
09 December 1984 (unkown venue), Maastricht, Holland
?? (unkown venue), Groningen, Holland
​
UK
22 December 1984 (unkown venue), London
 BBC Radio 1, Saturday Live broadcast
27 December 1984 Camden Electric Ballroom supporting Link Wray
UK
16 January 1985 The Rezz Club, Romford
28 January 1985 The Marquee, London
 with Turkey Bones & The Wild Dogs
04 February 1985 Dingwalls, Camden, London
 with Turkey Bones & The Wild Dogs
09 February 1985 Sheffield University Refectory
15 February 1985 The Garage, Nottingham
17 February 1985 Spring Street Theatre, Hull
27 February 1985 The Saxon Tavern, Catford
01 March 1985 Warwick University
03 March 1985 The Leadmill, Sheffield
08 March 1985 The Marquee, London
 with Turkey Bones & The Wild Dogs
09 March 1985 The Marquee, London
 with Turkey Bones & The Wild Dogs
19 March 1985 The Marquee, London
30 March 1985 Paris Theatre, London
(On the Live at the BBC album.
 Broadcast live on BBC Radio 1)
​
Sweden
17 April 1985 The Living Room, Stockholm
18 April 1985 Errolls, Gothenburg
​
Norway
19 April 1985 Renegate, Oslo
20 April 1985 Hulen, Bergen
UK
﷯24 April 1985 Hammersmith Odeon, London
 supporting Ian Dury and Wilko Johnson
27 April 1985 Portsmouth Polytechnic
 with The Folk Devils
?? July 1985 Riverside Club, Fetcham
 with Ipso Facto
​
Finland
03 August 1985 Ruisrock Festival, Turku
 with Zero Nine, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, The Explorers, The Cure
​
Belgium
15 August 1985 Festival at Ostend Airport 
with ZZ Top, The Kinks, The Blasters
​
UK
29 September 1985 Birmingham Powerhouse
04 October 1985 The Marquee, London
08 October 1985 Leeds University Union
​
Holland
?? 1985 Leiden, Holland
11 October 1985 Pandora's MusicBox '85 Festival, Rotterdam
 with Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Crime & The City Solution, The Shockheaded Peters, The Lighthouse Keepers
​
UK
30 October 1985 The Marquee Club, London
31 October 1985 The Marquee Club, London
​
Germany
26 November 1985 Onkel Po, Hamburg
​
UK
19 December 1985 Dingwalls, Camden, London
Australia 86. Photos Robin Kaplan.
UK
11 April 1986 The George Robey, Islington, London
 with Wilko Johnson
12 April 1986 The Marquee Club, Soho, London
​
Germany
22 May 1986 Zeche, Bochum
24 May 1986 Markthalle, Hamburg
​
UK
05 June 1986 The Town & Country Club, Kentish Town, London
​
Finland
18 June 1986 Tavastia Club, Helsinki, Finland
​
UK
10 July 1986 Camden Palace, London
​
USA
15 June 1986 The New Music Seminar at The Ritz, New York City

with Cactus World News and the Woodentops
16 July 1986 Cignel, Baltimore
18 July 1986 930 Club, Washington DC 
with The Jazz Butcher
21 July 1986 Spit, Boston
22 July 1986 First Avenue, Minneapolis
 supporting The Cramps
23 July 1986 Cabaret Metro, Chicago
 supporting The Cramps
24 July 1986 The Phantasy Theatre, Cleveland
 supporting The Cramps
25 July 1986 Royal Oak Theatre
 supporting The Cramps
​
Canada
26 July 1986 The Concert Hall, Toronto, Canada
 supporting The Cramps
27 July 1986 Le Spectrum, Montreal, Canada
 supporting The Cramps
​
USA
29 July 1986 The Main Event, Rochester
 supporting The Cramps
30 July 1986 The Metro, Boston 
supporting The Cramps
31 July 1986 The Ritz, New York
 supporting The Cramps
01 August 1986 The Ritz, New York
 supporting The Cramps
02 August 1986 Maxwell's, Hoboken NJ
04 August 1986 The I-Beam, San Francisco 
with The Celibate Rifles
05 August 1986 One Step Beyond, Santa Clara
07 August 1986 The Roxy, Hollywood CA
12 September 1986 St Andrews Hall, Detroit
13 September 1986 Cabaret Metro, Chicago
14 September 1986 Bogarts, Cincinatti
 with Savage Republic
15 September 1986 Phantasy Niteclub
 with H-Bomb Ferguson
17 September 1986 Graffitis, Pittsburgh
​
Canada
18 September 1986 R.P.M., Toronto 
with The Cynics
19 September 1986 Carlton University, Ottawa
20 September 1986 Le Spectrum, Montreal
​
USA
23 September 1986 Toad's Palace, New Haven
24 September 1986 Heartbeat, Oyster Bay, Long Island
25 September 1986 The Paradise, Boston
26 September 1986 The Living Room, Providence, RI
27 September 1986 The Ritz, New York City
28 September 1986 The Revival, Philadelphia
29 September 1986 College Park, Maryland
30 September 1986 930 Club, Washington DC
01 October 1986 Rockitz, Richmond, Virginia
 with She-Male Encounters
03 October 1986 The Brewery, Raleigh
 with The Beat Farmers
04 October 1986 688 Club, Atlanta, Georgia
 with One Last Wish
06 October 1986 Jimmys, New Orleans
08 October 1986 Rockefellers, Houston, Texas
09 October 1986 LIberty Lunch, Austin, Texas
10 October 1986 Theater Gallery, Dallas, Texas
13 October 1986 Mason Jar, Phoenix, Arizona
14 October 1986 Bogarts, Long Beach, California
15 October 1986 Belly-Up, Solana Beach, California
17 October 1986 The Roxy, Los Angeles, California
18 October 1986 The Barn, Riverside, California
 with League of None
19 October 1986 Morris Daily Auditorium, San Jose, California
20 October 1986 Berkeley Square, Berkeley, California
 with One Plus One
21 October 1986 One Step Beyond, Santa Clara
 with Rotundi
22 October 1986 The Stone, San Francisco
 with One Plus One
24 October 1986 E.M.U. Dining Hall, Eugene, Oregon
 with Figure Four
25 October 1986 Starry Night, Portland, Oregon supporting Hunters & Collectors
26 October 1986 Backstage Club, Seattle, Washington
​
Canada
27 October 1986 The Town Pump, Vancouver BC
with Sea Hags
​
New Zealand
01 November 1986 Galaxy, Auckland
 with Battling Strings
02 November 1986 Galaxy, Auckland
 with Battling Strings
03 November 1986 Union Hall, Wellington
​
Australia
05 November 1986 Lady Bay Hotel, Warnambool
 with Psycho Sloths
06 November 1986 Club Go-Fast, Melbourne
 with Jacks World
07 November 1986 Prince of Wales, Melbourne
 with Jacks World
08 November 1986 The Music Station, Melbourne
 with Trilobytes
10 November 1986 Canberra Workers Club, Canberra
 with Steve Grieve
11 November 1986 Kardomah Cafe, Sydney
 with Mustard Club
12 November 1986 Rock Arena, Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane
 supporting The Angels
13 November 1986 Rock Arena, Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane
 supporting The Angels
14 November 1986 Playroom, Tallebuedgera
 supporting The Angels
15 November 1986 Playroom, Tallebuedgera
 supporting The Angels
16 November 1986 Cook Park, Sydney, Bottom of the Mountain Festival '86

with Sandii and the Sunsetz, Mental As Anything, and Icehouse
18 November 1986 Newcastle Workers Club, Sydney 
with The Patterns
19 November 1986 The Venue, Dee Why Hotel, Sydney 
with Mustard Club
20 November 1986 Sydney Cove Tavern, Sydney
 with The Sun Dogs
21 November 1986 The Venue, Melbourne
 supporting The Angels
22 November 1986 The Venue, Melbourme
 supporting The Angels
23 November 1986 Club Eureka, Melbourne
 with Olympic Sideburns
25 November 1986 Le Rox, Adelaide
 with Exploding White Mice
26 November 1986 Le Rox, Adelaide
 with Exploding White Mice
27 November 1986 Red Parrot, Perth
 with The Bamboos
28 November 1986 Red Parrot, Perth
 with King Pig
29 November 1986 Shenton Park Hotel, Perth
 with The Bamboos
​
UK
19 December 1986 Dingwalls, Camden, London
UK
21 June 1987 Cardiff Arms Park
. Support on David Bowie's Glass Spider tour. 
Also featuring Big Country.
​
23 June 1987 Roker Park, Sunderland Football Stadium
. Support on David Bowie's Glass Spider tour. Also featuring Big Country.
​
22 December 1987 The Marquee, London
​
23 December 1987 The Marquee, London
If you're only gonna do four gigs in a year, make sure two of them are supporting the biggest name in rock at the time!
ï·¯UK
11 January 1988 LWT TV Studios, London

Live on 'Night Network' show, Channel Four TV. 
See TV & Video page.
​
France
All French dates with Dennis Twist
23 January 1988 Rex Club, Paris
24 January 1988 Lille
25 January 1988 Le Mans
26 January 1988 Toulouse
27 January 1988 La Salle Victoire 2, Montpellier
28 January 1988 Marseille
29 January 1988 Maison du Peuple, Clermont-Ferrand
​
UK
04 February 1988 Coventry Polytechnic
07 February 1988 Leicester University
12 February 1988 The Town & Country Club, London
?? February 1988 Leeds Warehouse with Wild Flowrs
​
Belgium
15 February 1988 Vooruit, Gent
​
Holland
18 February 1988 Paradiso, Amsterdam
​
Germany
All German dates with Trigger Trigger
21 February 1988 Zeche, Bochum

22 February 1988 Batschkapp, Frankfurt
23 February 1988 Loft, Berlin
24 February 1988 Luzor, Cologne
25 February 1988 Jovel, Munster
26 February 1988 Gr. Freiheit, Hamburg
28 February 1988 Theaterfabrik, Munich
​
USA
This whole US tour supporting Echo & The Bunnymen
06 March 1988 McGraw Hall, Evanston, Illinois
07 March 1988 Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City
08 March 1988 Madison Civic Center, Wisconsin
10 March 1988 Memorial Hall, Kansas City
11 March 1988 Fox Theater, St Louis, Missouri
13 March 1988 Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
14 March 1988 Municipal Auditorium, Pensacola, Florida
15 March 1988 McAllister Auditorium, New Orleans
17 March 1988 The Backroom, Austin, Texas
18 March 1988 Houston Music Hall, Texas
19 March 1988 Bronco Bowl, Dallas, Texas
21 March 1988 Convention Center, Tuscon, Arizona
22 March 1988 Artemus W Ham Concert Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
24 March 1988 Mesa Ampitheater, Mesa, Arizona
25 March 1988 Open Air Theater, San Diego, California
26 March 1988 Open Air Theater, San Diego, California
28 March 1988 Civic Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
29 March 1988 Paramount Theater, Seattle, Washington
​
Canada
30 March 1988 Queen Elizabeth Center, Vancouver BC

supporting Echo & The Bunnymen
​
USA
01 April 1988 San Fransisco Civic Center, California

supporting Echo & The Bunnymen
02 April 1988 Universal Ampitheater, Los Angeles, California

supporting Echo & The Bunnymen
03 April 1988 Universal Ampitheater, Los Angeles, California

supporting Echo & The Bunnymen
06 April 1988 The Paradise Club, Boston, Mass.
Two shows on same night. Radio broadcast. See Bootlegs page.
07 April 1988 The Living Room, Providence, RI
08 April 1988 The Ritz, New York City
09 April 1988 Lisner Auditorium, Washington DC
​
Canada
11 April 1988 Barrymores, Ottowa, Ontario,
with The Bodeans
12 April 1988 RPM, Toronto, Ontario
​
USA
13 April 1988 The Lost Horizon, Syracuse, NY
14 April 1988 Buffalo Uni Social Hall, New York
15 April 1988 Grolto, New Haven, CT
16 April 1988 Cabaret, Ardmore, PA
17 April 1988 City Gardens, Trenton, NJ
19 April 1988 Graffiti, Pittsburgh, PA
 with Dramarama
20 April 1988 Bogart's, Cincinnati, Ohio
 with Driv'n and Cry'n
21 April 1988 Peabody's Down Under, Cleveland, Ohio
 with Scott Morgan
22 April 1988 The Metro, Chicago, IL
 with Driv'n and Cry'n
23 April 1988 St Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI
​
UK
04 June 1988 The Astoria, Charing Cross Road, London

with The Jack Rubys and King Blank
19 June 1988 Milton Keynes Bowl Festival '88

with Joe Strummer, The Damned and Joey Ramone
​
Finland
15 August 1988 The Tavastia Club, Helsinki, Finland
17 August 1988 The Tampere, Kabaree, Finland
​
UK
01 September 1988 The Mean Fiddler, Harlesdon
02 September 1988 The Mean Fiddler, Harlesdon
UK
All UK dates with Holy Shit
25 November 1989 Portsmouth Polytechnic
ï·¯27 November 1989 The Irish Centre, Birmingham
28 November 1989 The Zap Club, Brighton
29 November 1989 Manchester Polytechnic
30 November 1989 Leeds Polytechnic
02 December 1989 The Roadmenders, Northampton
03 December 1989 The Bierkeller, Bristol
04 December 1989 The Town & Country Club, Kentish Town, London
Germany
All German dates with The King Candy
07 December 1989 The Des Z Club, Zelt 

08 December 1989 Nachtwerk, Munich
09 December 1989 Batschkarp, Frankfurt
10 December 1989 Tor 3, Dusseldorf
12 December 1989 Markthalle, Hamburg
13 December 1989 The Loft, Berlin
UK
04 June 1990 Subterania, Notting Hill, London
 with US:UK
05 June 1990 Subterania, Notting Hill, London
 with Well Loaded
SBMFM
A real treat in two tracks from a live set in Tampa, Florida 1989, that showcases songs from the extremes of their career. Starting with Coco The Town, a song written for their last album but never recorded, and segueing neatly into I Want Up, a song from their debut.