Foreword
Before this tour diary begins, I just want to
give you some background as to how I actually came to be on the Bevis Fronds 2002 north European tour. My first ever link
with the Bevis Frond probably dates back to around 1973, when space rock group Hawkwind played the Chalk Farm Roundhouse in
London during their “Space Ritual” tour, Supporting that band were, amongst others Magic Muscle which was of course
one of Frond bassist Adrian Shaw’s earlier bands. Sadly, over the years my recollection of their show has faded –
a real shame!
The next link was when Hawkwind played the Hammersmith
Odeon in 1977. I recall I had bought “Quark, Strangeness and Charm”, Hawkwind’s latest magnum opus, that
very day and had only one listen to it before heading off for the gig. I remember being thrilled to hear “Hassan I sahba”,
a pretty heavy rocker to my youthful and uneducated ears. Playing bass on that album and live on the stage that night was
Adrian Shaw again. The band sounded tighter and more musically together than they had been for a couple of years and I was
really pleased with the direction in which they were going. But this renaissance was not long lived, for the band was broken
up by certain, power hungry individuals who had begun to turn it into a money spinner, thus undermining the original ethos
of being a “peoples band”.
I did not meet Adrian Shaw in person until a
Bevis Frond gig in Walthamstow ten years ago. I seem to recall the band were celebrating Nick Saloman’s (40th)
birthday and I spent half an hour before the first band went on attempting to chat to someone over the really loud PA system,
I had no idea who he was until he got up on stage and was introduced by Nick as Adrian Shaw, ex Hawkwind.
The gig was fantastic, one of the best intimate
gigs I have ever been to and made me all the more determined to say hello to them all afterwards - something I had never done
before, not being one for waiting an hour or so after a gig just for an autograph from someone who couldn’t be arsed!
But the Bevis Frond were completely different. They were - shock upon shock! - friendly
and actually wanted to say hello and chat. After the gig I timidly thanked Nick who was swamped by fans and then spied Ade
on his own propping up the bar. This was easier for me. I would love to have talked to Nick as well, but I have to admit I
was frustratingly shy. So I walked over to Ade, thanked him for a great gig, shook his hand and bought him a drink. I had
so much I wanted to ask and I must have come across as one of those fawning fans I really try to avoid becoming, but Ade was
friendly and willing to answer all my million and one questions. So the upshot was that we arranged to meet up for a drink
and thereby discovered he lived about a mile away from my house! From that point on we kept in contact, occasionally going
out for a drink. In addition to buying Ade’s “Aerial Dance” I bought up every Bevis Frond album I could
find and was really pleased to see that Nick had such a wide ranging discography, it would be virtually impossible to complete
my collection - but what fun was in store for me in trying!
I began helping out at gigs. Because Ade lived
so near it was not a problem to give him and his bass a lift to the gig, which meant he didn’t have to drive and enabled
me to chat to people who really interested me and were great company. Ade in particular became a real friend to me when at
one time I really needed one, and so Valerie and I were over the moon when he and his wife Maureen as well as Nick and his
daughter Debbie joined us in London last November 16th to celebrate our wedding. We only wanted people who meant
something to us to come, no relations that you only ever meet at weddings and funerals. This was to be an intimate affair
with everyone important to Valerie and me.
That night back in 1993 I really astonished myself
- It was so out of character for me to go up to anyone who played in a band and introduce myself and buy them a drink, but
then again the Bevis Frond far removed from the pomposity and pretence you so often find in bands.
Nick and Ade in particular were and still are
absolute gentlemen and it still amazes me to think that, nine years after I said hello to Ade, I found myself on tour with
the Bevis Frond in what turned out to be one of the most entertaining, interesting and - sod it – most absolutely fucking
brilliant time I have ever had!
This book, (because that is what it has become!) is
culled from the pages of notes that I scrawled whilst on the road with a bunch of guys that I am so pleased to have got to
know!
Memories of the Bevis Frond European tour 2002
How it all began...
Way back at the tail end of 2001 I was having
a drink with Adrian Shaw, bass player with the Bevis Frond in a local pub called “the Jester”, when the subject
of the next Bevis frond tour came up. We talked at some length about the unfortunate problems facing Andy Ward and about his
sad but necessary decision to not tour anymore, which, of course, was a real blow as Andy was and still is a truly excellent
drummer.
Ade then mentioned that Nick and he had been
to watch Debbie’s band in actual fact) and how they had both been very impressed by the drummer, one Julian (Jules)
Fenton. One thing led to another and shortly afterwards Jules was on board as the latest in a fairly long line of Bevis Frond
drummers.
Preparations were made for the forthcoming jaunt
across Europe but, strictly speaking, only the northern European leg was confirmed to any degree at this point. Any gigs further
south yet to be organised by the booking agents at a later date. Hotels and venues were booked by the agency and things progressed
well. So far so good…
Then Ade mentioned that Paul Simmons of the Alchemysts
was going along as their merchandise man and might get up for an occasional jam. I said to Ade that I thought that it was
sad that such a talent as Paul would be stuck behind a stall instead of being up on stage with the band. I also said that,
in my opinion, in terms of live performance, Nick is given much more freedom to do what he does best if there is another guitarist
up there doing most of the rhythm parts for him.
I figured the logical conclusion to this was
to offer to do the merchandising for them on the tour. As I pointed out, I had
spent 15 happy (!) years of my life as a retail manager in a giant department store and reckoned that I would be better at
selling their CDs than Paul, and that he would unquestionably be better at guitar than I could ever dream to be!
Ade appeared to like the idea, but told me that
Paul had already been offered and had accepted the job of “merch” man. My disappointment must have been palpable
because he said he would nonetheless put it to Nick and see what he thought. Clearly the idea appealed to Nick as well, because
a few weeks later an e-mail arrived from Ade asking if I was serious about going with them, as the job was mine if I was willing
and wanted it. Boy, did I ever want it!!!
Needless to say, I accepted the offer. I have
always wanted the opportunity to experience life on the road with a rock band, a chance to travel to countries I had never
been to and would probably never normally go to and the chance to help a band I particularly love! Ade told me all my hotels,
food and drink would be provided for and I would get a percentage of the takings on the stall which was also really cool and
gave me an added incentive (as if I needed one!) to do well for them.
A tough decision to make….
Move the clock on now to February and tragedy
strikes! Valerie (my future wife) got word that her mother had just died after a long illness and we flew back to England
just before the tour was about to start, in order to attend the funeral.
It was, as these things generally are, deeply
awful! It also presented me with an almost impossible dilemma - the tour was about to start but Valerie was and is the most
important person in my whole life, and I felt I just couldn’t leave her at that time.
We sat down and talked about it. I was prepared to cancel going on the
tour to be with her, but - bless her heart - she insisted that I go, telling me she knew how much she means to me and also
how much I had wanted to go.
She had to almost bully me into going and I will
never forget that! She was absolutely fantastic and I can never praise or thank her enough.
As Ade would say – (and I know it will embarrass the hell out of her when she reads this) - she proved she is
a real “rock chick!”
09/03/02
New Barnet to Breda, Holland.
A few popular myths exploded...
About to embark on a lifetime’s dream,
I collect my rucksack, which – I hope - contains all I will need for the next two weeks, and walk round the corner to
Ade’s house. It is then that I get my first glimpse of the tour bus…
Most fans these days of rock bands have visions
of grand tour busses - or private jets - stuffed full of drink, drugs and beautiful young things, eager and ready to please;
chromium tinted windows of this mega bus hiding a diverse variety of debauchery that continues throughout the tour, surround
sound systems pumping out the current choice of music and DVD’s playing the latest films on a giant screen.
So there it was, gleaming in all its glory! The very latest in transit technology direct from “Econo-Vans” of Walthamstow.
Glistening white, apart from the multitude of rust spots, dents, scratches and other testimonies to various discussions with
assorted road users, it stood there beckoning to me with an air of “You just haven’t got a clue have you mate?”
about it. My mouth drops with a thud heavier than a bass drums thump. Inexplicably, the chromium tinted windows seem to have
been replaced with plain glass which, I note with the first of many sinking feelings that will come my way, Nick and Ade have
boarded up with cardboard.
“Hi Al” comes the cheerful tones
of the one I had come to meet. I turn and see Ade who, like me, has clearly made an effort and dressed up for the occasion
- jeans, “Frond” t-shirt and his leather jacket that he had back in his Hawkwind days/daze. I point out the boarded
up windows and he says it is to stop people peering in and seeing the equipment. “Either that, or to stop people laughing
at our living conditions” he adds.
"So!" my mind seems to whisper to itself...."No
grand tour bus eh? stereo and dvd?...erm...nope! Groupies?...erm...apparently not! and where's the roadies Alan?"! Then I
seem to hear this tiny voice of reality whisper in my ear "...erm...Roadies?....why that's you mate!" and you know what? That
is exactly how I want it!
Remember, this is a working band I'm joining on tour, not some posey
prima donnas with egos the size of Jupiter! This is the real deal and I feel sure it doesn't get much more down
to earth than this!
“Let me introduce
you to Bastard!”
We climb aboard our trusty steed. Ade starts the engine, frowning slightly at how low the break pedal goes before biting. Barely a second
later, the glove compartment falls open, bashing my knee. Ade simply hands me
the gaffer tape and I tape up the first of many soon–to–be- discovered “detachable” parts on our van. Good old “Econo-Vans” eh?
Ade then utters the traditional chant that he
has apparently said on all previous Frond excursions; “Right! What could
possibly go wrong?” He puts the van into gear, and we trundle off down the road.
First stop is at Nick’s house in Walthamstow
where he and Paul Simmons will be waiting for us. Traffic is not too bad (for London) and we arrive at Nick’s in good
time.
Nick opens the front door and we begin loading
his equipment into the back of the van. Years of practice and experimentation have given Nick and Ade the ability to judge
exactly where in the van each piece of equipment must go in order to balance the van properly and make everything stay where
it is put, rather than slide across the van at an inopportune moment.
My first lesson in being a Roadie is then forthcoming.
Nick has a Cab (Speakers cabinet), which is fondly known as “Bastard” - and believe me, it is a bastard! It is unbelievably heavy and requires two to lift it up onto the van. Three amps,
three guitars, effects and sundry equipment later and then Paul brings out his equipment for loading. If I thought Nick’s
Cab was heavy, then Paul’s (an Orange), is clearly full of concrete! We load all of this to the quaint early morning
London sounds of a full-blown argument somewhere in the neighbourhood.
Paul says farewell to his girlfriend, while Nick says goodbye to Jan and Debs, then it’s all aboard with Paul
and me in the back and Nick up front with Ade. On the road, I become aware of
yet another facet of the Nick and Ade relationship; they seem to have developed this incredible rapport between them, so that
whichever one is driving, the other map reads with incredible precision, and so effective as to be almost uncanny –
even psychic - in its accuracy, and certainly fascinating to observe from the back of the van.
Squits and drum
kits
However, this is London and Ade needs no real
guidance yet, apart from the finer details of exactly where Jules Fenton, the new Bevis Frond drummer lives. Ade intones the Mantra once more: “What could possibly go wrong?” with Nick joining in this
ritual, which somehow stops short of inspiring confidence. An hour later and
we are stuck in very heavy traffic in central London. We had reckoned we should
be at Jules’ place by now but are not even near.
Nick and Ade display what others might term as
road rage during this time, swearing at any other road user who has the temerity to cut them up or not move on quickly when
an opening presents itself!
“You fucking c***!” shouts one, the
other joins in.
“Fucking move your fucking arse, you wanker!”
and they laugh uproariously. It is amusing and sets the light-hearted mood for practically the entire tour.
As we drive painfully slowly through the London
streets, Nick explains that he has only had about three hours sleep last night, which he says is because he suffered a nightmare
that seemed to involve him wandering around his house aimlessly, with a shotgun wound to his head! As the dream unfolded he was looking for somewhere to lay down and die and after staggering around in desperation,
eventually found his bed but having pulled back the sheets of his bed, found it to be full of coal! I cannot even pretend
to say I understand the hidden meaning to this bizarre dream!
While stuck in the traffic we discover, through
a graphic discussion, that three of us in the van are suffering from what Ade eloquently calls “the Squits”! This
may well present some of us with clearly unfortunate difficulties as we travel along the Autobahn in Europe, so Ade closes
his eyes and chants yet again,
“What could possibly go wrong?”
We eventually arrive at Jules’s house and
after introductions, load up the drum kit, bass drum, snares, cymbals etc. Everything
is in place and then Jules asks me to help him with the traps case. This is a long, thin box with wheels on one end for ease
of transport. It is a cruel illusion however, waiting for the unsuspecting innocent, and Yours Truly here falls for it hook,
line and sinker!
I take one end and Jules the other, and fuck
me if this isn’t almost as heavy as Bastard! What the hell is in there I wonder, Bricks?? The traps case is, it turns
out full of the metalwork that holds all the drums in place on stage, but they are as heavy as anything I have yet carried!
We load it all in, while Ade in the back arranging things with frightening precision, “Put that there, no not that way
the other way round! Now slide that case under there and then that one over there!” You get the picture.
It is an object lesson in the art of loading
a tour van correctly and it is all done with millitary-like precision.
The band sally forth
into Europe!
The journey down the M20 is uneventful, apart
from the glove compartment door bursting open again to whack Nick on the knee. A few expletives and half a roll of gaffer
tape later and we approach Dover. On our right, as we arrive at the turn off for the channel tunnel stands one of the giant
tunnelling drills that dug out the tunnel. It is truly enormous, dwarfing everything around it.
The channel tunnel is not, as many people appear
to believe, a tunnel through which you can drive to get to France. That would
be far, far too simple. Instead, you drive your vehicle onto what is essentially an oversized cattle truck! Essentially, all one has to do is drive alongside the train, then up a ramp and inside the carriage, then
along all the carriages until you can go no further and simply park there. There you sit until the train reaches Calais in
France. In other words, simple, effective and boring as hell.
The train sets off and soon we are deep under
the ocean. My thoughts turn to the last time I travelled under the Channel in a passenger train called the Eurostar, a super-fast
high tech piece of engineering, so impressive that, on the way back to the UK at Christmas the previous year, it broke down
in the middle of the tunnel.
For 2 hours I was simply stuck there and - believe
me - you quickly become aware that you are beneath the Channel with millions of tons of rock and billions of gallons of water
a matter of a few metres above your head! None of which is very conducive to a happy and peaceful journey. Needless to say, I refrain from relating this story to the band.
Incidentally, the official reason from the Eurostar management for the breakdown deep in the tunnel was “snow”. Go figure.
Nick amuses us with tales from his past and the
first round of jokes (that got steadily worse as the tour went on) begins. There
really isn’t much to do, and so Ade amuses himself by Gaffer taping the wing mirror of the van which had been rattling
in its housing all the way down, thus giving Ade a very shaky and distorted rear view.
While outside, Ade wanders over to the tiny porthole,
looks down at the ground, follows a trail of something across the floor and under our van, then pops his head in through the
window of the van, looking worried he points at the porthole and says, “Hey! Is that water coming in over there?”
Very funny Ade, very funny!
About half an hour after starting off from Dover
we arrive in Calais and drive off of the cattle truck/train and out into the sunlight. We drive over to a petrol station and
Ade fills up. We all pile into the loo and then ransack the shop buying food, magazines or whatever takes our fancy. Then it’s all back into the van and Nick takes over as driver, with Ade assuming
the role of map-reader. Our destination is a hostel in Breda, Holland.
To get there we have to drive up along the coast
of France and into Belguim and I notice that very quickly life in the back of the van soon settles back into the routine of
me staring vacantly out of the grimey window at the gree and brown blurs that are trees and bushes etc.
Jules has his ears plugged into whatever Jazz
he currently has on his walkman and Paul, true to form is often fast asleep in the far back of the van, using assorted
speaker cabs and guitar cases and drum kit as his somewhat uncomfortable bed, he doesn't seem to mind though.
I cannot tell you with any certainty what the
first leg into Europe was actually like, as I was either asleep myself or trying, vacantly to discern what the green or brown
blurs flashing past my window might actually represent! France and Belguim were simply that, Green and Brown!
But, I had never seen Holland before and so, when
we cross the Belguim-Dutch border I gaze through my window with what amounts to childish fascination which dissipates pretty
swiftly with the realisation that Holland is pretty much the same as that green and brown blur of a country 10 minutes back
down the road!
Coffee shops and
dog shit.
We arrive in Breda, park the van up tight against
a wall for extra security, and dump our bags in the room we will all be sharing tonight. Ade discovers he has forgotten his
wash bag, which in itself is not a particularly big deal, as he can buy most things in the local chemist, but the aforementioned
bag also contained his medication, which will certainly present a problem for him in a couple of days.
We eventually hit on the plan to get Ade’s
wife, Maur, to post the medication to Valerie in Germany, as she can then bring everything to the Berlin gig, which is in
a few days’ time. Problem solved, and, needless to say, is a huge relief. By now, we are hungry and so we head out into town in search of food. Ade expresses a strong desire to visit a coffee shop and, naïve fool that I am, I wonder why he is so desperate
to grab a cup of coffee! Ade has to gently explain the phenomenon of coffee shops
in Holland.
The
coffee shop is, by all outward appearances, a simple café where you can obviously buy coffee, coca cola or other soft drinks
but not licensed for the selling or consumption of alcohol at all. You can, however,
go to a little cabin about halfway down the row of formica tables and take your pick from a blackboard that lists around 20
different brands of hash! The band makes their selections and, after finding somewhere to eat, we return to the hostel to
crash out and party. The only problem is we haven’t got much in the way of booze!
In fact, we haven’t got much in the way of any drink whatsoever - an error I am despatched to correct if at all
possible. The only trouble is, not much is open and thus I end up in a style
greasy spoon buying 5 cokes! I take my find back to the room where spliffs are
being created, and, despite it only being coke it is drunk with great relish. Sure this is not the kind of debauchery one
might read in, say, Motley Crue’s “The Dirt”, but these guys have just driven all the way to Holland from
London, England! a hell of a long way and tomorrow we have to drive on to Germany.
I look around and Paul is once more fast asleep,
Jules is on the way and, gradually, all voices cease and are replaced by the delicate sound of chainsaws starting up on either
side of my bed! I have chosen to sleep in a bed with Ade on my left and Nick on my right. I have already mentioned they are
both expert musicians, drivers and map-readers. Now expert snorers is added to that list, God what a racket!!! I drift off
into a weary sleep…
10/03/02
Breda to Bielefeld,
Germany.
In the morning we discover that four out of the
five on this tour now have “the squits” Wonderful news! We wash, dress and go across the road to get breakfast,
which is very pleasant. Back at the hostel we begin to load our gear back into the van and suddenly Paul cries out,
“Someone’s trodden in dog-shit!!”
It is ground into the carpet by the side door
of the van and then Nick discovers it has also been smeared liberally all over his amplifier!
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” he bellows
and we all look at our boots. I am horrified to discover it is me who has done it! I felt like the guy who scores an own goal
in the cup final, I nearly die at that moment.
Paul races off quickly, returning with a cloth
sheet. We don’t ask where it comes from, though it does bear a striking resemblance to some of the bed linen we used
last night. I take it from Paul and, as it was me who spread it proceed to clean it up! I really cannot understand why such
a natural thing as dog shit is so universally, bloody awful!
It takes ages to get it all off and I can see
Nick observing me while I carefully clean his amplifier! Thankfully he is not too upset by it but from then on he always delighted
in referring to the dog shit amp whenever I was around! such as, “Al can you get the dog shit amp!” or sometimes
“Where’s the dog shit amp Al?”
We set off for our next destination, which is
Bielefeld in Northern Germany. We arrive in good time but then waste some of it trying to find the venue, Nick and Ade have
been here before and it all looks familiar yet strangely unfamiliar at the same time to them if you know what I mean. Thanking
God I had had the foresight to bring my mobile phone! As I live in Germany I have a chip for Europe and a chip for when I
am in England and this proved useful on many occasions!
We eventually roll up at "the Forum", back into
the loading area and unload the Bevis Frond touring machine. All goes amazingly well and it is set up pretty quickly. We are
welcomed by some really friendly people who are clearly in charge and we are guided upstairs to where the band "chill out"
room is.
The room, though shabby is infinitely more comfortable
than the van, there are various fruits, chocolates and drinks all laid out for us and we all gratefully collapse into the
well worn but comfortable chairs and sofas scattered around the room, Jules is immediately into the chocolates and pretty
soon we are all scoffing bananas, chocolates, whatever!
Ade then hands out the 2002 tour books and
we all settle down to study what lies ahead....
Introductions are then made and a cooked meal is brought forward,
the smells are delightful and we set to with gusto! I am informed by Ade that this is what is known as "the rider" wherein all
venues are supposed to provide plenty of drink and food for the bands exclusive use. Here at Bielefeld it is good fayre and
an absolute mountain of pasta is demolished by five very hungry Brits. Potatoes, veg and an array of meats, bread etc is also
on tap. Ade is vegetarian and this is specified in the rider, Bielefeld come up trumps again and there is plenty of veggie
food too, we crack open the beers and O think to myself...not bad at all! Hot food and drink, in comfortable surroundings
(albeit in a dog eared sort of way) and chocolate! I love chocolate (though my diabetes hates it!)
The people here keep trying to fill up our plates and
we are quickly full to bursting! This all bodes well for the tour I think to myself, unfortunately I am to learn the hard
way that not all venues are as good and try to save money by ripping the band off by providing very little or indeed nothing
at all! Bielefeld was very good, but Bad was waiting in the wings....
Sound-checks and
sound effects
I set up my stall at the back of the hall, which
is in reality a converted warehouse and carefully arrange the CDs that I am here to sell to the eager masses. I set up my
mini-disc recorder to capture the gig and also bring out my video camera. I want to catch the whole thing so when the band
take the stage to sound-check,
I am there to film it all for posterity. The
sound check is my first opportunity to hear the new four piece Bevis Frond in action and they blow me away! If they are that
good in rehearsal then tonight’s crowd are in for a real treat. The energy is almost palpable amongst the band and it
seems obvious they are champing at the bit, ready to go. After the sound-check
is completed, Nick, Paul and Jules retire upstairs to the band room while Ade and I (two sufferers of the “squits”
head for the loo. I well remember sitting in there, painfully aware that Ade was just one cubicle away and being absolutely
desperate to let go, in the end it is too much and I let rip! The cubicle walls rattle like mad and then once more as Ade
does exactly the same, there are some smothered sniggers and then a chorus of shall we say “windy” sounds warns
others to keep well away from the loo for at least half an hour!
I stay downstairs to keep an eye on the stall,
which is full of CD’s, and therefore now vulnerable to those of the light fingered persuasion!
The doors are opened and the venue begins to
fill. I am busy from the word go, answering questions as much as selling CDs, such as “Who is in the band now?”
“Where is Andy?” “Which is the latest CD?” “What do you recommend?” and so on, It is also
a great chance to try out my German which amounts to “Ich spreche kein Deutsch” and “Mein Deutsch ist furchtbar”
which translate directly as “I speak no German” and “My German is awful”. The Germans are very friendly
and luckily for me eager to practice their English on me anyway! It is a sad fact that only a small proportion of English
people can speak a second language, yet the Germans all seem to speak English, maybe not well but enough to converse with
you! Since moving to Germany I have had to struggle with the language and make myself learn, yet these smart-arses seem to
have no trouble switching languages!
“What Did for the Dinosaurs” The
Bevis frond’s latest release generates a lot of interest and sales and I am in my element now focusing on selling. This
is why I am here and it is one of the main sources of potential income to the band whilst on the road. All goes very well
and soon it is time for the band to take to the stage. It is a tired cliché but a very true one nonetheless when I say the
band blew everyone away! “Superseeder” is absolutely wonderful and benefits immensely from the inclusion of Nick’s
electric sitar. The crowd go wild at both old and new tracks played and during “Downtime” each member gets the
chance to demonstrate their individual skills. Ade is up first with his trusty bass and eschews the usual solo route, playing
the fret-board for only two minutes before leaning his bass into his cab and causing the bass to scream and wail by using
the effects on his amp. On the floor he presses a foot pedal which achieved the effect he lovingly called “the trouser
flapper”, the idea being that it makes the air around the speaker vibrate and thus ones trousers to flap! When we were
in Köln. Ade let me have a go on his bass and I used this effect, I now know why he stands close to his speakers a lot of
the time, it is a weird, but somehow interesting feeling!)
Next up is Paul who opts for the more traditional
approach when soloing by making his guitar howl and cry in the way that all good guitarists can. It is almost the only time
he really cuts loose during the set and it ably demonstrates what a good guitarist he really is!
Jules is an amazing drummer and fascinating to
watch, Every night he does a completely different solo and the crowd love him. Finally, Nick takes his moment and the crowd
go even wilder. I zoom in with the camera and it illustrates clearly the fast, fluid way he works the guitar. Make no mistake,
Nick is an incredible, fascinating guitarist, truly wonderful. I have stood up on my chair and filmed from the back, I have
a great view, unimpeded by anything and capture the whole show. The only time I have to stop filming is when a rather inebriated
young gentleman decides he needs some extra beer money and tries to help himself to the stall’s proceeds. He is harmless
really but I help him on his way back into the crowd by the judicious use of my foot. Then, howling at the top of his voice,
he proceeds to spin round and round like a crazy spinning top, crashing into all and sundry. He somehow makes it down to the
front of the stage, where he begins racing up and down in front of the band continuing to make his weird hooting and howling
noises which Nick partially hears over the guitars and nods his thanks for the guys apparent enthusiasm.
The band finish the show proper and go off to
tumultuous applause, then return, plug back in and the demon known as “Sods law” that plagues all bands strikes!
Nicks amp packs up and it takes a fair time to fix, The cause is, of course never discovered, and it diffuses somewhat what
had been an excellent first nights gig, but the band finish the night off in fine form! And afterwards someone grabs a mike
and sings “Happy Birthday” to Nick. Everyone is convinced he has reached the hallowed halls of 50 but in fact
that event has yet to occur falling as it does in 2003. A brilliant first night and good, solid nights takings on the stall
bode well for the next two weeks.
We return to our luxury "E tap" hotel, loaded
up with free beer from the venue and gaze in wonder at our abode for the night, my room looks like someone simply built a
plastic frame and injection molded all the rooms, using the same mould, the same fittings, furniture etc every room is identical
but at least it is clean and cheap!
