These
things get more difficult to describe every
year. You know you are going to have a great
time with some of the best people in the world -
Heepsters.
But
as Mike T said, how many times can you use the
same superlatives? So let me try and remember
how some days panned out. It started Friday
lunchtime when Mike T phoned and suggested
meeting for a drink before the club.
First
though I had to go and find a young Heepstress
friend who was outside the Empire and guide her
to her hotel. 1:30 and the little girlies were
sitting outside the Empire for the Hanson gig
that night! As I met Rainbow (who's 23, very
good looking and wearing a short skirt) you
could see from the looks they were giving me
that they thought I was a dirty old
pervert.
Who
said the youth of today aren't perceptive!!!
Onward in time to the club, and it's time to
start meeting up with old friends and new ones,
like some people who post on the web forum not
here, too and of course the wicked Dutch duo
Louis and Marcel. Special mention goes to the
Israeli crew, Mike, Boris and Dmitry Epstein.
Loads of others too numerous to mention.
You
know who you are. I'm not sure if there was a
fault with the DVD, but there didn't seem to be
much vision. Louis Rentrop did a fantastic job
at the auction which turned out to be just one
Roger Dean print. These always take a while for
people to get over their shyness, so Louis did a
great job to get the bidding up as high as he
did. Fortunately he decided not to continue his
idea of auctoning me as worryingly Marcel was
going to bid! Time for more chat, drinks and
some food and Ken to do his soundcheck then it's
back in for Mr H's session.
I
think he played "I Close my eyes"
"Rain", "Through the eyes of a
Child" and "The Last Dance". He
read some stuff from a sheet about his life and
ways and joked about 'illegal' chords. He showed
how he goes about building up a song with
different parts. Explained how he may re-use
bits of his own old songs and gave an example
using Firefly and whatever track it is from his
solo CD. The Q & A session was fairly tame
until asked about his opinion of current Heep
compositions.
His
reply of " they've written some pretty good
pop tunes" seemed to upset a few who
pursued it until he said that he thought the
best thing on SOL was not written by Heep. Bob
Carruthers wanted to know about the size of
Ken's penis, which Ken skilfully avoided
answering :-) That was about it and then you
could go and get your picture taken with Ken by
Trevor Hensley at some high charge. so I went
back to the pub. Saturday I'm afraid I missed
most of the daytime action. A long week at work
(not the alcohol) made me tired so I stayed in
bed until late and went to get some food.
By
the time I'd walked up & down the roads
deciding where to eat, I was tired so I went for
a rest before the club opened. OK after that I
admit I went to the pub to watch the Wales
against South Africa rugby match before I went
down to the club for the quiz and Circle of
Hands acoustic set. Unfortunately they were well
ahead of time and I got there just as everyone
was leaving. Then Scots Louis decided to drag me
back to the pub for some refreshment after my
wasted walk and maybe feast my eyes on the
Scotland v Australia rugby match.
Half
time in a one sided match was time to adjourn to
the pub on the other side of the Empire and meet
up with everyone there. The queues were bulding
up already for Heep at 6 and doors weren't open
until 7. One thing I have learned about the
Empire is that the sound is crap at the front
downstairs anyway, so as I only had a standing
ticket, I was happy to carry on to the pub and
wait for the queue to subside.
When
we did go in, the place was packed downstairs
even for the support band White Noise. They were
a lot more listenable from further back but
still don't do a lot for me. I didn't get a view
of other than the top halves of Heep, but the
sound was great where I was and I had enough
room to bop around and I just couldn't keep
still. The set was the same as the rest of the
tour, but the atmosphere was great. Bernie in
particular really looked like he was enjoying
himself. No mooses this year but I did see a
beach ball or two.
Every
year they are great gigs, but I reallly hope
this year that the DVD can do justice to the
atmosphere there. All the superlatives have been
used for other gigs on the tour, but take them
and just make them bigger and better and that
gives you an idea of how it was. Then add some
more. Again all too soon though it's over, last
drinks in the Empire and time to say goodbye to
some then another walk back round to Bush Hall
for the party.
Felt
sorry for the poor guy in the fish and chip shop
when at the end of a quiet night he suddenly had
about a dozen Heepsters invade his shop wanting
food en route :-) The after show party seemed a
bit strange. Not least probably because I'd
decided not to have any more to drink as I knew
I was getting up early the next day :-( The band
and guests were shepherded upstairs initially
and the rest were downstairs. I'm not sure which
of the band came down or when as Mike Taylor had
managed to get me upstairs for a quick catch up
with Rachel Jones formerly of Karnataka and then
a chat with Charlie and briefly with Rob Corich.
Phil also said hello.
Then
as I came downstairs, they were starting to
usher us all out. That was when I finally got a
chance to say Hi to Mick, but Lee was trying to
flag down a cab to get back to the hotel. So
that was it. A walk back to my hotel and bed.
Apologies to those who I didn't get chance to
talk to or even say hello to. So many people so
little time. Some of the usual faces I didn't
even see there this year though. Unfortunately I
had to leave early Sunday morning so I missed
saying goodbye to people then. Another great
weekend, which will hopefully happen
again next year. If it does then get your bodies
over here it will be worth it. Cheers, Pete
