Live In Moscow

MICK BOX
1988

PHIL LANZON
1989

BERNIE SHAW
1990

MICK BOX
1990

He (Phil Lanzon) fitted in immediately. We had the same mentality and he wrote as well.

...He (Steff Fontaine) was desperately bad. I couldn't believe anyone could be so unprofessional. He had a great voice but his discipline was something else. he'd go for a walk during rehearsals and then get lost. He even missed a gig in San Francisco once!

...When Bernie joined, it was like everything falling into place.

MICK BOX
London, November 1997

This was a strange way for this line-up to start its recording career, with a live CD before we even had a chance to record a studio album, but those momentous shows in Moscow in 1987 just had to be recorded. Mind you, it was a miracle that we achieved this, what with the antiquated recording techniques that were put before us, which were a mixture of Hungarian and Russian technology.

It was a really special time being the first Western rock band to be asked to perform there. The invitation came about becuase of Glasnost, and of course at this time Gorbachev and Reagan were having their talks. We did feel very much like ambassadors for the music industry, and by making this a huge success, we paved the way for many more bands to follow. Our London office was instrumental in helping the Scorpions to follow in our footsteps in '88, and then the huge Peace festival with Ozzy, Motley Crue, Metallica, etc. They were so scared to have so many fans in one stadium when we played that the audience were 30 meters from the stage with a row of armed police in front of them. Every night, Bernie, Trevor and I ran over to the audience, and once we had burst through the police line, the crowd went crazy. After this happening each night, gradually the police turned away from the audience and relaxed a little, and they too watched the show. There are so many wonderful music fans in Russia and it has been my pleasure to meet so many of them.

'Appy Days