🔘 Sweet, Elton & Lou – News: Feb 10, 1973

A trio of key updates from the February 10, 1973 NME: The Sweet secure a major Rainbow Theatre headliner, Elton John expands his upcoming tour, and Lou Reed confirms a new run of UK dates.

🔘 Overview

Page 3 of this week’s New Musical Express captures three artists at pivotal moments in early 1973. The Sweet, newly respected beyond their bubblegum reputation, land a prestigious Rainbow Theatre headliner. Elton John adds more dates to an already packed tour schedule, adjusting for earlier cancellations. And Lou Reed — fresh from the release of Transformer — prepares for a May UK tour. Together, these short items offer a sharp snapshot of glam‑era momentum and shifting public perception.

🔘 Source Details

Publication: New Musical Express

Date: February 10, 1973

Issue Context: Page 3 news items

Provenance Notes: Transcribed from original newsprint; cleaned and formatted for GlamSlamChronicles.

🔘 The Story

The Sweet’s announcement is the most striking: a full headlining show at London’s Rainbow Theatre on March 30, with an hour‑long set mixing hits and material from their forthcoming concept album. Chrysalis emphasises a “new‑found respect” for the band — a notable shift in tone from earlier years when they were often dismissed as lightweight pop.

Elton John, meanwhile, adds two more dates to his late‑February and March tour, including a new opening night at Boston Starlight and a London Imperial College show. These additions help compensate for the Brixton and Mile End cancellations reported earlier.

Lou Reed’s May tour confirmation appears in the same news cluster on the page, signalling his growing UK presence following the success of Transformer and “Walk on the Wild Side.”

🔘 Key Highlights

• The Sweet headline London Rainbow Theatre on March 30

• Set to include hits and songs from their upcoming concept album

• Additional Sweet dates: Worksop (23), Nottingham (24), Carlisle (25), Leeds (26)

• Elton John adds Boston Starlight (Feb 24) and Imperial College (Mar 12)

• Elton compensates for cancelled Brixton & Mile End Sundown shows

• Lou Reed’s May UK tour confirmed elsewhere on the page

🔘 Article Text

Sweet at Rainbow

The Sweet have been booked for a headlining concert appearance at London’s Rainbow Theatre on Friday, March 30. They will play an hour‑long set, including their recent hits and songs written for their upcoming new rock concept album. Support act will be the Newcastle‑based outfit Geordie.

A spokesman for Chrysalis, who book the Rainbow, told the NME: “There is today a new‑found respect for Sweet, and they deserve to be showcased at a venue like the Rainbow. They have had such remarkable chart consistency that we feel they are going to come into the Slade category.”

Other Sweet bookings confirmed for March are Worksop Intercon (23), Nottingham Intercon (24), Carlisle Market Hall (25) and Leeds Town Hall (26).

More Elton dates

Two more dates have been added to the Elton John concert tour beginning later this month. The schedule now opens a day earlier than originally planned with an appearance at Boston Starlight on February 24, and the other new date is London Imperial College on March 12.

As reported last week, John now plays London Edmonton Sundown on March 22 and 23, to compensate in part for his cancelled gigs at the Brixton and Mile End Sundowns. All other dates were listed in the NME two weeks ago.

🔘 Closing Notes

A compact but revealing set of updates that captures the energy of early 1973 — The Sweet stepping into headliner territory, Elton John expanding his reach, and Lou Reed solidifying his UK presence. Page 3 reads like a pulse check on the glam‑rock moment.

🔘 Sources & Copyright

All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators.

This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only.

#GlamSlamChronicles #TheSweet #EltonJohn #LouReed #NME1973 #GlamRock #MusicEphemera

Sweet at Rainbow

THE SWEET have been booked for a headlining concert appearance at London Rain-bow Theatre on Friday, March 30. They will play an hour-long set, including their recent hits and songs they have written for their upcoming new rock concept album. Support act will be the Newcastle-based outfit Geordic.

A spokesman for Chrysalis, who book the Rainbow, told the NME: "There is today a new-found respect for Sweet, and they deserve to be show cased at a venue like the Rain bow. They have had such re-markable Chart consistency that we feel they are going to come into the Slade category."

Other Sweet bookings so far confirmed for March are Work-sop Intercon (23), Nottingham Intercon (24), Carlisle Market Hall (25) and Leeds Town Hall (26)

More Elton dates

TWO MORE DATES have been added to the Elton John concert tour, beginning later this month. The schedule now opens a day earlier than originally planned with an appearance at Boston Starlight on February 24, and the other new date is London Imperial College on March 12. As reported last week, John now plays London Edmonton Sundown on March 22 and 23, to compensate in part for his cancelled gigs at the Brixton and Mile End Sundowns. All other dates were listed in the NME two weeks ago.