If wealth was
measured by compassion and friendship, Uriah
Heep would have more riches than the King of
Thailand.
My name is Scott Fleming from Downunder
Australia, and I have been a Uriah Heep fan
since I first heard Stealin on a cassette
when I was 14 years old, since that song,
that day I have lived and breathed the
greatest rock music in the world.
I first saw Heep in 1984 on the Head First
tour, first concert at the Bombay Rock,
Surfers Paradise, Queensland, that followed
the next year with the Equator tour. Since
then 21 years ago, it has been along time
between drinks.
Here in Australia we are along way from
everywhere, so touring here for Heep has
been long overdue, so I decided, when my
good buddy Dave Owen informed me that Heep
were doing a South East Asia tour, that this
may be my last time I get to see my beloved
rock band.
As mentioned, Dave Owen has been a long time
friend (that I had never met), I first got
in contact with Dave when he and Alan
Hartley formed and produced the Uriah Heep
Appreciation Society Fan Club, and I was a
member.
Dave now a part of the road crew for Uriah
Heep, helped me set up my trip to see Uriah
Heep, and the place Bangkok 17th of
February.
Bangkok is about an 8 hour flight from
Brisbane, my son Ben accompanied me on this
trip back in time, and at present time. We
arrived a day after the Heep guys, and as
Dave organized a memorable meeting at thier
hotel.
The story………..
Arriving at the Montein Riverside Hotel I
was full of emotion and mixed feelings,
being a ordinary guy, I had never met anyone
famous let alone people that have given me
such thrills since I was a teenager.
Every song meant something to me; Heep was a
very big part of my life, maybe I read more
into there songs than other bands at the
time.
Ben and I waited in the lobby for Dave (at
the same time I haven’t met Dave, only going
by what he looked like on the Uriah Heep
DVD’s)
And at the same time he has never seen me,
but he found us out, and greeted me with a
bear hug, let me tell you a positive
embrace.
We spoke for about 15 minutes, prior to the
lads coming down to breakfast, which Dave
informs me that they never miss.
I have to tell you that my heart was in my
mouth, when I saw Bernie, Phil and then
Mick.
I was like wow is this for real or what!!
Dave took us over and introduced the three
guys to us, as well as Chris the guitar
Tech, all with firm hand shakes.
Later on Trev, Charlotte and Pete turned up,
last was Lee.
Even though it didn’t seem it, I was nervous
as hell; I introduced my son to Lee and
forgot his name, sorry Benny!
It was a brief acquaintance as the band had
promotions and tours to complete, so we
parted and went on and did our own thing.
I guess I felt a little disappointed, only
because I was a fish out of water, and a bit
star strucked, but as Dave explained there
schedule was tight with engagements to for
fill for the concert promoters.
Concert day –
As of the morning before we both headed for
the hotel, we both sat down and to our
amazement Lee was the first to arrive, as I
believe they had a huge night before.
About 10 minutes or so, I ventured over to
Lee, as he was sitting behind us, asked if I
could join him and with a shake of his hand,
and acknowledging me from the day before we
sat down and spoke.
Lee made me feel so at home, just like a
normal regular guy, we sat for about 10
minutes, talking about were he lived, the
last time he was in Australia, his project
with Living Loud, his days with Ozzy.
I guess one of topics that touched me the
most was the day he was in New York 9/11,
the day that changed all our lives, that day
he was there.
Lee struck me as a fun loving guy, there was
no preconceived ego there, and he loved his
home, family and fishing. All my nerves had
disappeared in meeting Mr.Kerslake.
As we spoke the rest of the guys strolled
in, looking so relaxed, as today was a rest
day, before heading for the sound check at
3.30.
You could see the coolness in all the guys,
and they all had time for us.
Ben and I sat down with Dave, Trev and Phil.
To me it was like I was part of the crew,
not talking about anything in particular,
just joining into the conversation, just
being there, and they didn’t mind us being
there.
I met Charlotte over at the breakfast bar;
she was delighted to see me, as we have
spoken on the Heep Forum many times in the
past.
My biggest moment came when Mick came over
to where I was sitting and asked me by name,
and how I was today, and thanked me for
coming, wow he remembered me from the day
before, and my name as well, I was taken
back.
I moved over to Mick and Peter the drum
Technician, sat down and I was speaking to
Mr. Mick Box, he made me feel so at home, I
was worried I would be perceived as this
groupie type, no way, one of the bunch!.
As with all the guys, we spoke about many
topics, the old days, today, the music
business, family, places, I was in my
element, and he spoke to me eye to eye, like
I was a long lost friend, I was taken back,
truly.
We spoke about a lot of things that I won’t
print here; things that I guess were just
for my ears, as it would an injustice to
quote things he had said.
We briefly spoke about the late David Byron,
and you could sense that Mick had really
loved this man, and how people would
remember him for all the wrong reasons, not
the things that made him a great human
being.
We must of spoke for 20 minutes, I could
have sat there for hours, but the guys had
some relaxing to do.
Mick invited us to the sound check at the
concert hall, which of course we accepted.
Leaving the Hotel I was defiantly a changed
man, everything I thought, dreamt was true,
true gentleman, no egos in this room, they
slotted in so easily, this was the one
factor that pleased me the most there
comradeship, to a nobody – me.
Sound check –
I have loved music all my life, as mentioned
I have never met anyone famous, let alone be
invited to join anyone at a concert, let
alone a sound check.
The venue was called the BEC – Tero Hall,
large arena, with seating for about 1000.
The stage was large, and the acoustics
seemed good.
I was surprised to find out that they really
bring minimal gear with them, and allot is
hired when they get to the city they are
playing.
No leaf is left unturned, they are very
particular in getting the right sound, to
the naive ear as mine it sounded great, but
they all fine tune it more, just to get the
exact sound they want, I was very impressed.
The Sound check
went for a good hour and a half, during the
course of the session, different people
strolled in, promoters, friends and even
another Aussie guy and his family that came
from Perth, ( great to see that I wasn’t the
only crazy person who traveled 7200 kms to
see a rock concert.
It was a
treat to see Mick grinning like a Cheshire
cat as he spotted Greg, Marie, Ryan and
Carmen, it was bear hugs and all smiles, you
could see the delight as Mick welcomed them,
at same time as I was standing in the
background, and he made me welcome as well.
It was great to see them all make it, it
made me feel so proud to be Australian as
well as being a Heep fan.
|
After the sound
check, we headed back to the hotel to grab a
bite to eat, we got back about 7.00pm, the
band was due to come on at 8.15pm, there was
no back up band, just Heep.
By 8.00pm, the
band was still in dressing room, and only
the cleaning and security staff in the Hall,
but in a quick 10 minutes the place was
packed.
We all stood
for the Thailand national anthem, then the
moment I had waited for, 21 years of
waiting, on stage Uriah Heep live and loud
in Bangkok.
That tingling
feeling, that welling feeling in the eyes,
as the first chords of “So Tired” belted
out, Heep were in fine form, dressed to
kill, and the sound was electric.
From the crowd
side it didn’t take long before Bernie got
the crowd on there feet, and off there
chairs, as he stated you don’t come to a
Uriah heep concert and sit down.
Talking of
Bernie, what a great front man, he had the
crowd in the palm of his hands, I love his
voice, to me there are only two singers,
David and Bernie, and that’s not talking
anything away from the previous Heep front
men.
His actions his
mannerisms, he is truly a professional act.
(Oh and to
Bernie’s new wife, love your work on his
pants, he said that you had this special
knack, he is right, he will get a kick out
of that)
After the forth
song I decided to take a more personal look
at the band in action and headed back stage,
to see the band in a different light,
standing to the left of the stage, out of
view, it was a great feeling as I gazed over
the crowd, watching there faces, there
expressions, being totally mesmerized by
these group of elder statesman of Rock n
Roll, watching them singing the words,
pounding there fists in the air, I felt
proud to be part of this arena, like I was
part of the group, for that brief moment I
was.
This was
greatest hits type of concert, everyone’s
favorites; the surprise was “Free Me” they
went off hearing this track, as well as
“Gypsy” and “Look at yourself “, but my
favorite of all time was next.
The first
opening notes of “July Morning” that did it
for me, tears in my eyes, singing and taping
my foot, this was the ultimate; this was the
summit for me.
The band went
off for the first encore, the crowd knew
they would be back, and I definitely knew (I
saw the track listings)
“ Bird of Prey”
another classic, followed by the favorite
“Easy Livin”, then off again to come back to
Bernie saying – This next song I guarantee
you all will be singing on the way home, so
true – “ Lady in Black”, you know everyone
was singing, as I looked around Dave was
next to me, singing, my son Ben singing,
Peter the Drum Tech singing, and the crowd
all of them standing and singing, I thought
to myself is there anything better than
this, nope!!
With the band
coming back on after the second encore, Mick
announced to the crowd that he thanked all
for coming, and made special mention to us
the Aussies who made the journey, that was
special, if no-one in the crowd could
understand, we did, it was a touching moment
The song
finished the band united Brothers in arms,
thanking the crowd, like they have done it
5000 times before, like it was the first
time, they played for everyone, but the way
I saw it they played for me, like I was the
only person there.
This is a truly
fantastic band, in more ways then one, they
make you feel as you are family, they made
the crowd feel like they were the only ones,
and it was a soul searching amazing 2 hours,
2 hours in my life that I will never forget,
ever.
After show
Party –
When all had
settled down and the crowd had all
disappeared, only the road crew and us
hanger-ons.
People were
comparing other bands they had seen, bands
like Purple, Sabbath, saying that Heep blew
all them away,
The feedback was
positive.
Some 20 minutes
later Bernie arrived saying that the band
was having an after show party upstairs and
we were all welcome.
As we entered
the room, all the band and crew were there,
in casual dress, the Thai’s had put on a
spread of curry’s and rice dishes, and the
local beer company, Singha put on the
beverages.( I must admit a nice hangover in
the morning)
All the Heep
guys and crew mingled through the crowd of
about 20, talking separately to each person.
I myself had had
more than my fair share of conversations
that morning, as I let the others take there
turn, I did speak with Bernie about his
singing, and different songs that he had
sung, he is truly a brilliant vocalist.
A couple of
hours later (and many beers) the patrons
were kicking us out, we all said our
good-byes, one by one, and hands were shook,
hugs given.
I remember Mick
coming up and embracing me like I was along
lost brother, and thanking me for coming.
It was a night
to remember, we all made friends, but deep
down friendships were already been made, the
Heep spirit lived in that room and in all
our hearts.
I want to make a
special mention to the guys behind the band
–
Charlotte- You
truly touched me, so warm and sweet, you are
a credit to your work and play, 15 years on
the road, and you must be doing something
right!!
Christos- Man
what I laugh, great sense of humor, his love
of his job, and his perfection in getting it
right.
Peter- When I
think of you mate, your friendship excels;
you greeted us like we were royalty.
And behind the
drum kit, I was watching your actions, your
song, and a man that loves this music and
his job.
Last Dave Owen –
Who without the help of you I couldn’t have
lived out this dream, Thanks mate, I am
forever in your debt.
As Dave stated
to me working with Heep, is not a real job,
it’s a holiday with all his mates, Man what
a great outlook.
To all the Heep
guys,
Mick, Lee, Phil,
Trev and Bernie.
You guys are the
best, thanks for letting me in, I wish I
could have stayed.
Cheers
If I had the
time to re- live that night, I don’t think I
would change a thing,
For as long as I
find just that little piece of mind,
I can dream,
laugh and sing.
Thanks for
allowing me this dream, the laughs, good
times and the expression of the song, that
is Uriah Heep
Keep on Rocking,
Happy days,
Scott Fleming
Australia
|
