Back in 1995, with a little help from a Levi advert featuring a transvestite in a New York taxi cab, Freakpower romped into the top five with the storming feel-good funk classic Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out.

Then the Acid Jazz scene bombed and the band broke up, leaving Norman Cook to reinvent himself as Fatboy Slim, drummer Jim Carmichael to join Les Rythmes Digitales and Ashley Slater to launch sublime solo project Big Lounge.

It has been ten years since the band last played live and despite the risks associated with reunion gigs, Ashley was not a worried man.

Despite spending the first couple of songs squinting at lyric sheets on the floor, the Brighton funk master explained, "We're not here to prove anything, we're just here to spread the love like back in the day."

Although Norman gave the Freakpower revival his blessing, he chose not to take up his guitar-playing duties. Not one to hold a grudge, Ashley dedicated Big Time to his "fallen" brother.

While it would have been amazing to see the complete line-up, there was no missing ingredient in Freakpower's glorious funk recipe.

Looking surreally regal in a fluorescent orange, full-length fur coat, Ashley was King Funk and we, his disciples.

A part-time teacher at BIMM, his young pupils pogoed madly on demand, while more old-school fans ran to fetch him vodka shots from the bar.

In between seducing us with his deep, dry "come to bed" vocals and hot and steamy trombone, Ashley lived up to his outspoken reputation by revealing that bass player Jesse Graham "stole the wife off his back". True, apparently!

Songs such as Rush, Get In Touch, Freak Power and KK Nuns were kicking, funk-soul mothers which sounded as fresh as the last time I heard them live back in 1996 at the original Concorde.

A totally triumphant gig from one of Brighton's best-loved bands, let's hope Ashley and co "release the freak" again very soon.

A support act for Fatboy's beach party this September maybe?