Thanks to Dave & Wendy Dunn for the Ticket Stub
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Thanks to Dave & Wendy Dunn for the Ticket Stub |
Well, here's our review of the Music for Montserrat gig which was held at London's Royal Albert Hall last night in front of an audience of 5,000. To say it was fantastic is such a gross understatement it can't really be put into words. It was truly awesome. If it's on pay-per-view or a channel near you do yourselves a favour and watch it - not just for Sting, who of course was brilliant, but this really was the line up of biggest names since Live Aid and treats like this don't come along very often.
We arrived at the RAH about 2.45pm, meeting Dagmar from Germany (Hi Dagmar, hope you made it back OK!) just after Sting and Dominic had arrived and to learn that Paul McCartney, Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins and Midge Ure had also been early arrivals. We hung around for about an hour, during which time Carl Perkins arrived (sadly, and to his eternal shame, Dave mistook him for Tony Bennett!) and then Jimmy Buffet who apparently is big in the US but had never played in Europe before. Jools Holland walked up the street and into the Hall, whereas Eric Clapton was spotted driving his Mercedes around the back of the Hall and into the car-park, to be followed shortly afterwards by Elton John who arrived chauffered in his green Bentley.
As all was now quiet, we decided to do a bit of market research. We approached one tout and asked how much a pair of tickets were going for. For a pair of not particularly good tickets the going rate was £600 the pair (near enough $1,000). We smugly revealed to another tout that we had fourth row tickets: this immediately solicited an offer to buy of £300, quickly followed by £400. Another tout pursued us half way down Knightsbridge where he offered £500, and on being turned down immediately invited us to "name our price". All good fun of course winding these low-lifes up, but of course there was never any intention of selling them, and you'll see what a wise decision "no-sale" was later on.
About half an hour before show time, the Irish Guards (26 of them) started playing a selection of tunes (theme from Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Can't Buy Me Love, Colonel Bogie etc) outside the main entrance, a prelude to the arrival of Prince Andrew. After snapping up the t-shirts and programmes we headed downstairs to the arena area. Climbing the steps up into the arena, we were stunned to discover that our fourth row tickets were in fact first row tickets !! We had suspected they might urn out to be second row because of the RAH's habit of removing row 1 and 2, but a third row had also been removed to allow the TV cameramen full manoueverablity. The pleasure in taking your seat at the front of the hall ahead of celebreties like Richard Branson, Bond-actor Timothy Dalton, golfer Nick Faldo, comedian Rory Bremner and the minor celebs from Sky Television who were there en-masse, was immense.
There is an unfortunate consequence to this. We thought we'd both wear red so we could at least spot ourselves easily in the long camera shots (yes, it's sad isn't it?). As we were now in the front row, the TV coverage may show us more often than we'd bargained for as the cameras immediately trained on our section at the end of each song, and in the communal singing. If any on of this makes it to the screen, hope it doesn't put you off your lunch, but we can't deny that the red Boro football shirt and red Mercury Falling tour t-shirt are us. Sorry.
The show started at 7.45 with a short speech by Sir George Martin followed by a brief film which was presented by Martyn Lewis the BBC newsreader.The main screen was lifted and it was time for Montserratian singer Arrow, who had just flown in from the island 24 hours before, to lead out his band and play two numbers - "I Can't Run Away" (we think) and his old hit "Hot Hot Hot". Off to a great start then, and after a brief 5 minute interim to sort out the stage, Midge Ure came on to perform "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" and "Vienna". He promised us that we had no idea how good the evening was going to be - he'd seen the rehearsals and they had been great. Carl Perkins, resplendent in blue suede cowboy boots, then came on and performed two songs, the first may have been "Let's Rock" or something similar, but the second was, naturally, "Blue Suede Shoes". Next, and making his first appearance in Europe was Jimmy Buffet, who sang two of his songs the first we think was "Mother Ocean" and the other "I Don't Know Where I'm Gonna Go (When The Volcano Blow)". The first part of the show was then wrapped up by Phil Collins, who was in great voice, singing "In The Air Tonight" at the piano, and "Take Me Home" on congas, ending in a mass sing-along.
After a 15 minute break, the London Gospel Choir and the Foundation Philharmonic Orchestra took their places, and performed a stunning gospel version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The lead singer, well she was amazing - what a voice! Next up came Mark Knopfler, accompanied by fellow Dire Strait Guy Fletcher on keyboards. After cracking a few jokes, Mark went staright into an instrumental track - can't think of the title, perhaps it's "Alchemy", before George Martin came out to conduct the orchestra on his second song, a great rendition of "Brothers In Arms". When Mark announced that he'd managed to find a windsurfer on Montserrat to help out on vocals when recording his next song we knew what was coming, but had no idea of how great it would be. Sting came out on stage to the front dressed in thin black velvet trousers (which Wendy assures you he looked very sexy in), a black Versace(?) shadow strip shirt and jacket), and almost unseen Eric Clapton (fawn fatigues and black Nike sweat-top) came out to play rhythm guitar, while Phil Collins slipped into the spare drum seat. "Money For Nothing" rocked, it was brilliant. Eric giving mock appreciative stares to Mark as he belted out the riff. Could things, can life, get better than this ?
Another 5 minute break to swap gear around and Dominic walks to the front of the stage and takes a seat. We know what's coming and out walks Sting, picks up his Chet Atkins and plays a great acoustic version of "Message In A Bottle" - very poignant given the Montserrat situation. He follows this up with "Fields Of Gold" and then "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", which although acoustic, also had the choir singing and was truer to the "Ghost" version than the 'Demo' one we've come to expect as his acoustic take on the song. Needless to say his set got the rapturous reception it deserved.
Elton John then wandered out to play "Your Song" - a great version - followed by an odd choice, a track of his last album called "Free Like Horses", before closing with "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". Elton's ovation at the start seemed like it would go on forever - George Martin had announced that "Candle In The Wind" had sold over 1.2 million copies in the three days it had been on release, but he would have got the ovation anyway after the past couple of weeks.
It was Eric's turn next and he didn't disappoint. Playing an acoustic song he said he had written on Montserrat "Only The Broken Hearted" (we think) as he sat at the front of the stage. Mark Knopler then wandered out and took a seat, alongside Eric. With Eric on acoustic and Mark on his Gibson Les Paul they performed a great version of "Layla", Mark Knopfler's guitar adding some electric melody to the song. Then it was time for Eric to strap on the gold painted Stratocaster as he performed a loud blues number called "Same Old Blues" (again, we think).
Well we'd had just about everybody, and we all knew who was next. George Martin introduced his "mate", Paul McCartney and out walked the fab one. Somewhere, in a dark attic must lie a hideous portrait of Macca, because he looked so great and youthful it was hard to believe. Here, 10 feet in front of us was Paul McCartney, strumming an acoustic guitar and singing "Yesterday". After this, he strapped on a left handed Gibson, was joined by Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler on guitar, and Elton and Phil Collins on piano and drums and with the band ready, launched into a great version of the the Beatles "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End" (from Abbey Road) , with George Martin leading the full orchestra. This was AWESOME. Watch it and tell us it ain't so!
Paul then goes to the piano directly in front of us. As Sting took the stage and walked to the microphone, and Carl Perkins added another guitar to the line-up a couple of Macca fans next to us were shouting at Paul and he looked over at them, pulled a few faces and smiles for them as they took pictures. Dave gave him the familiar Macca salute - one thumb held aloft - and he returned it ! The band were ready, and Macca launched into "Hey Jude", with Sting singing strong backing vocals. The audience was up and moving by this time. The photographers had been allowed in for these last two numbers, so it was a free for all with everyone getting their cameras out and either clicking away or singing at the top of their voices.
Finally, Sting straps on his Fender precision - the one bass player compared to six guitar players - and the whole band, joined by Jools Holland on second piano, jammed on Little Richard's "Kansas City". This was a great climax, Sting was laughing out loud with a grin from ear-to-ear as he and Mark Knopfler leant against each other at the back of the stage. It was great to see, he was truly loving every minute of this as were the audience.
The final notes dieed down and the audience went crazy. The big five took a bow arm in arm, and Macca said "That's yer lot !, Clear Off !" and he was right. It had finally ended - the greatest show since Live-Aid. It was time to find a taxi, take a train, get in the car and drive back home 220 miles. Here we are - 6am, finally starting to flag, having driven back from London buzzing all the way with excitement. Can't wait to see the video....
If our pictures come out we'll put a few on our site along with a few excerpts from the programme in the next couple of days. Till then, bye.
Please check out Dave & Wendy's Stingchronicity web page for other fun filled facts.
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