George's Gig Diary - 1990's

The Zenith is a large permanent plastic tent on the outskirts of the Science area of Paris. No Prayer For the Dying tour. By now, Maiden had stopped progressing and were well aware of the critique if they strayed from their mid era works. So... stagnation! I liked some of the songs, some were very athemic, and I was glad to see they hadnt lost their power and energy. But it was all a bit dull, relatively. A bit toned down. Oh yes, and my trip to Versailles was superb!

Video recording for the 'You Fat Bastards' release, and even tho the crane got in the view sometimes, it was a good gig, with the singer still singing rather than his later continual shouting and screaming. Sadly, the band would insult Jim Martin a lot on stage, which ruined the night.

The best gig I ever saw of FNM. The sound was just right. Starting with 'Out of Nowhere' and 'Epic' it was excellent. One of my most fave gigs that I ever went to of any band. They got that loud guitar sound just right!

At last I got to see one of my fave singers from the sixties, when chart material was at its best. And she was on top form. I prefer her slower stuff but on the night, I didnt even mind her Chic era music. I heard that she walks through the crowd on her way to the stage, but I didnt expect her to walk right past me, singing aloud! Cue crap camera... Sorry, Miss Ross.

Support was a video link, live to the backstage dressing room!! This was a fantastic gig, the band at the absolute top. Black Album tour. Excellent stage set and lighting. What can you say? Centre of the universe that day. Perfect concert. Good musicians. Splendid solos. Happy days!

We Can't Dance tour. Last jaunt will Phil Collins. Crap seats, but nice gig, although by now, the music just sounded like a Phil Collins solo album. The audience danced like the Birdy Song routine, and clapped out of time, and wore bum bags. Lots of terrible t-shirts were sold. But I still liked it, I had seen the same set at Knebworth a few months earlier, and couldnt help getting another dose. Why was the drummer so sad? Did he know this was his last tour with them?

A rare outing to these shores by ELP. It didnt work for me, as the best of ELP is either really raw or synthetically weird. But this was a bit too contemporary and clinical. Still, having said that, they are one of my top favourites, and it were great to see them. As usual, Jim Davidson was about, another alumni fan of the band.

Terrible gig, when one of your favourite bands dies before your eyes. Only two original members were present, but what they tried to do with the concept was to concentrate of the soft commercial rock side. Embarassing.

Last gig with Brucie Dickenson. Filmed for a TV special called 'Raising Hell', where this terrible magician would perform horrorific events between Maiden's songs. Fans piled onto magical mystery coaches in London and we were taken out to the studio, where the walls were lined with backdrops of Maiden album sleeves. Then we suffered a few hours of recording whilst Brucie said his goodbyes. Quite a depressing affair, but the band vowed to carry on... At this point, I'd never missed a tour of Iron Maiden's, but now I decided to give up the religion, but would still cross swords with them now and again. It had been some journey!

First time I saw the Manics, and I would have paid more attention if I'd know Ritchie would do a runner in several months time. Free festival, in the great days when these things existed. Anyway, I thought I would check them out proper on the next tour, but damn... Poor ole Ritchie... Anyway, good gig, but I had too many social commitments to concentrate. That's not always a bad thing...

I went to this In-Store for these chaps, little East Village shop full of fans, and at the end, some record com bird thought I was a com exec, and gave me a free ticket to their sold out show! Later, I arrived at the club, and was led to the front table, and given a beer. It was then I realised the advantages of not saying very much at all. Great gig. I'd only heard 'Two Princes' before, but never knew they were that good. Old school guitarist was really enjoying himself. Marvellous!!! On return to blighty, I bought the album, which I still think is sooper.

Free festival, back to the days when such gatherings were allowed, before the police state. And in a large tent were the Skunks, the best band for ages out of England, and I loved their songwriting. And they put so much effort into it, and the bird had great vocal strength. Saw them a few more times, but when they released their record I think they lost it. What a shame. Still, I think they made a spot of cash, so it wasnt a sad ending when they threw in the towel. I hope...

With the rage in the air about Nirvana and Sub Pop, Mudhoney were still a band on everyones mind, and this was just the historic sort of place to see them, but hopefully I wouldnt get kicked out like Lennon. Sadly, Mudhoney didnt stir me that much. Not that I hated them, but I just didnt get it, even though I had no expectations. Actually, it was a nice evening, and rather friendly, especially the locals. The place itself though is quite boring on the inside, like a big box.

Everyone should check out a Cliff gig at least once on ones lifetime, and there he was, outside the gates of the great Buck House, looking much younger than his 103 years. A great VE day celebration followed, with a few interesting vintage aircraft. Didnt we fight them on the beaches? Support acts Harry and Vera didnt do too bad at all! It was like WW2 all over again. Shame Adolf, Churchill, and Stalin couldnt make it.

For the amazing sum of £8, I saw all these top bands, including a Who perfomance of the whole of my fave Quadrophenia album. I was dancing again! Brilliant gig, nice warm day. Why cant all gigs be as cheap and splendid as this? Borrowed some binoculars from a fellow reveller and we were checking out what Jug Ears sorry Prince Charles was doing with his royal compadres. Alanis=great, Dylan=fun, Clapton=dull. Er... I left during Clapton, and went down the pub.

Without doubt this was centre of the universe that day, the only place to be. And what a line up! Queued at the beer tent for an hour, luckily it was a good social occasion, so time flew, but was only half way to the bar, so gave up and bought a cuppa tea. Just as I was slurping it the beggining chimes of 'Everthing Must Go' were starting, and my beloved Manics were on! Marvellous, tea, pleasant company, and the Manics, and nice sunshine! Everywhere you went, there were morons pretending to act like Liam Gallagher, swaggering around and looking for trouble. Not as violent as todays gangster rappers, but awful just the same. Otherwise, a really really great day. Nice sound, plenty of big video screens, great songs. Even the train journey was good! Sheeeeeeeeee's electric... She's in a family full of eccentrics...

Got to be one of my most favourite gigs, especially the acoustic section, which was so eerie, I think everyone there felt quite emotional. Wow! That only happens when you least expect. Magical magical gig.

Free Festival, in the good old days, thanks this time to Crapital Radio. Just the ticket for a rock fan like myself, but I liked Berlinda's output, especially Leave A Light On. Support from the Spice Girls, who were at no 1 at the time with Wannabe, and I has just bought the single which I still think is rather fab. They just came on, mimed to the hit, and went. Same with Robbie, who was doing I think his first solo mime perfomance. Not forgetting Andre... Anyway, lovely weather...

There was such a buzz for this horror goth type bloke and I loved the wind up scam, reminded me so much of early Alice Cooper PR. Anyway, the venue was shifted at the last minute, further scams of trouble and dissaproval of this Manson villian. So far so good! Later, at the gig, it transpired that it was a mostly industrial affair, but still enjoyable.

I was mainly here to see the Human League, them being one of my favourite acts, but it were a great line up, and I enjoyed it all, but disappointed that ABC consists of only the original singer, and it was rather a weak show, for I love the ABC albums and really wanted him to succeed. Otherwise, the Human League were very good indeed. Phil stood over me and sang so loud I could hear him louder than the PA!. They put a lot into their perfomance and the latest Album was given a good airing, and it worked well. Culture Club were good fun, although who was that fat singer in the hat?

Beautiful day, although started off rather badly, as I sat beneath the twin towers and realised how bloody awful it would be if they were actually destroyed. Cue idea to create a protest website... Anyway, I dont think there was a support band, and Aerosmith did a long set. Those brilliant numbers kept a comin' - one after the other of sensational songs. And the vocals! That singer never plays safe, and goes for all the highs. Great effort. I really did enjoy this gig. A splendid occasion. But the Toxic Twin Towers Ball will mainly be remembered by me as the day I got to fall in love with an monument of a grand and stunning design. Save the Twin Towers!