Extreme – Live Review – The Piece Hall, Halifax
By Kirsty Masterman, August 2025
When I first heard that Terrorvision were finally playing the Piece Hall, to say I was over the moon was an understatement. I’ve been vying for this since they started putting on gigs here.
Being a local band from neighbouring Bradford, they have always seemed the perfect fit for this venue, and with their dedicated following, it was always going to be a popular choice. But to find out they were opening for Boston rockers Extreme was a huge bonus, and not just for me, they seemed pretty thrilled about it too when I spoke to them in the run up to the gig:
“We’re super happy to be invited back to the Piece Hall and back to Halifax! What a venue it is here. All posh now backstage in the Square Chapel. Buzzing to get on stage tonight and to see Extreme! Those fellas can play a bit, can’t they! We have been testing our lighters in readiness for ‘More Than Words’.”
I’ve been a fan of TV since way back in the 1990s, when I happened across them at a record signing in Manchester. Since then, I have lost track of the amount of times I’ve seen them, but one thing is for sure, you are always a guaranteed a good night if these guys are involved.
“Astounding…and loud!”
Bursting onto the stage at the EXTREMEly early time of 6.45, with Discotheque Wreck, brings about a warm, yet frenzied welcome, with their infectious energy getting the crowd bouncing right from the get-go. Fresh from Glastonbury, they are bringing the festival atmosphere to Halifax, and I’m instantly struck by the quality of the sound. I’ve seen this band countless times, and each time I come away saying it was the best I’ve ever heard from them, but tonight, the sound is astounding…and loud!
With an hour-long slot, the crowd (and Tony) bounce their way through an electrifying 17-strong set. Curated to maximise impact, their trademark anthems of the 90s, which include the likes of ‘Our House’, ‘Alice What’s The Matter’ and ‘D’Ya Wanna Go Faster’ are played alongside the newer material of Baby Blue, ‘The Night Lemmy Died’ and ‘Shine On’. The fact that there are literally decades between these songs doesn’t show as they mesh together perfectly. A successful mix that has been used throughout their most recent We Are Not Robots tour.
A surprise addition comes in the form of ‘Tequilla’. This song doesn’t often make the set-list these days, but it is enthusiastically received. The set closes all too soon with Oblivion – but it also sees the biggest singalong of the night as the Doo Wops ring out across the courtyard, a sea of arms as far as the eye can see.
This group definitely deserves to be a headline act here in the future. They always bring the party and somewhat crazy vibes, but for now, I’m just happy I finally got to see them here at all.
“Guitar brilliance”
But… the night is far from over, as 40 minutes later, multi-platinum selling rock outfit Extreme take to the stage, with guitarist Nuno Bettencourt declaring Halifax Piece Hall, “A beautiful and incredible venue – probably the most beautiful we’ve played so far.”
For a band that has been going for 38 years, this is a bold statement.
Extreme continue to bring the energy to the historic venue, commanding attention from the start as they kick off with ‘It (’s a Monster)’, immediately unleashing their signature fusion of technical guitar brilliance and razor sharp energy all set against the backdrop of the iconic Pornograffitti artwork – 35 years to the day since its release.
The momentum grows quickly as they rip through ‘Decadence Dance’, ‘Rebel’, ‘Am I Ever Gonna Change’ and ‘Rest In Peace’, before “that song”, timeless anthem ‘More Than Words’, sees Nuno and frontman Gary Cherone bringing the tempo down with their classy acoustics and vocals. All sung in unison, word for word by the crowd. There’s always a goosebump moment at these gigs, and for me, this was it. The strip-backed, distinctive sound of Bettencourt’s fingerpicking alongside Cherone’s powerful vocals, makes this one of my all time favourites.
“Off the wall!”
Featuring as many new songs as those from Pornograffitti, all are delivered with an energy that is off the scale and at decibels that I doubt this historic venue has ever heard before. It’s off the wall!
All too soon, tonight’s musical extravaganza comes to an end, culminating with an explosive rendition of ‘Get The Funk Out’ and ‘Rise’, before there’s a heartfelt trio of Ozzy Osbourne songs played in tribute to the great man himself.
“A month ago, I had the privilege and honour to be performing in Birmingham at Ozzy’s final show. It was a dream, a surreal dream. If it’s cool with you we want to do something for him, and you!”
And so, with a montage of pictures of Ozzy filling the giant screen behind, Nuno once again exhibits his legendary guitar skills with renditions of ‘I Don’t Know’, ‘Back at the Moon’ and ‘Crazy Train’, bringing the best night of rock that this place has ever seen to an end.
Terrorvision definitely brought the party to Halifax, while Extreme delivered us hard rock. One thing is for sure…The Piece Hall was definitely on fire tonight.
Images: Cuffe & Taylor and The Piece Hall
After studying English and Creative Writing at university, Kirsty started working as an editor for PA Media way back in 2003, joining On Yorkshire in 2023. With a passion for travel and writing, the chance to combine the two became a reality for her in 2010 when she was offered the chance to visit Portugal to review a new resort. Since then, she has never looked back. Live music, theatre and restaurant reviews followed enabling her to combine all her interests. Kirsty now travels the world, reviewing some of the best hotels, restaurants and travel destinations. She particularly enjoys seeking out child-friendly places so that she can showcase destinations and experiences that can be enjoyed by parents alongside their children.
