Finland, Russia, Russia and Switzerland… "96
tea bags and 2 pedal bins"!
Day 23
Now I am
feeling better! The jet-lag is slowly ebbing away (as it always does) and
I am about 85% recovered.
I like to get
up early. The early morning hours are when I get most of my work done and
after a couple of cups of tea I am able to think more clearly, before the rest
of my world wakes up.
A little more
practise and some work on the song selection for the solo part of my show, a
little food and a siesta and I was ready for sound check, which didn't go
particularly well today. A light dinner at the hotel, a little more rest and a
shower and I was ready.
The venue
holds about 500 people and my guess is that we had about 400, maybe a little
less but anyway a great turn-out for the evening.
After a couple
of announcements I opened the show with my usual first four songs and then kind
of improvised the rest. I added "Wise Man" tonight and then I sang a new
song called "No Matter" which will be on the next CD.
I wrote this
song on Valentine's Day this year and gave it to Monica as a present. Then
I had the wild idea of having it translated into three other languages, Italian,
Spanish and German. I have no idea why but when I get these ideas I try to
follow them to some kind of conclusion, positive or negative.
When I sang it
tonight I also sang part of it in Spanish and then, being the risk-taker I am,
in German. I have no idea how it actually sounded to them but the audience
erupted and it was the loudest part of the evening. They seemed to love it
and I was really happy at that moment.
After my solo
set was finished, Lies did a couple of Deep Purple songs and then I joined them
for the Heep classics which went really well. We finished with "Lady In
Black" of course, which is like a second national anthem in Switzerland and, all
in all, it was a really great night.
After the show
I signed a lot of stuff as usual and didn't leave until the last thing had been
signed. Relaxing in the dressing room with a glass of red wine, I took
time to reflect on just how blessed a man I am. This audience had come to
hear the songs, some of which were written mre than 35 years ago when I had no
idea that what I was doing would last this long.
I have so
much to be thankful for and I am truly thankful.
