Manfred Mann's Earthband - On The Road June 2002
Friday, 7 June Swedish Rock Festival, Solvesborg, Sweden
Posted by Ari Manninen 
Here is a short report from gig on friday.
I did travel to Sölvesborg by train, sitting on the train trying to listen to the
report from the soccergame between Sweden and Nigeria with my earphones plugged in to the internal radiosystem on the train.
Then I heard something that was familiar, someone did play MMEB on a
taperecorder, i heard "Runner" ,so i looked to the rigth and unplugged my earphones and started a conversation with these to young (about 20 I think)guys. They also was going to Sweden rock festival. I only stayed for
one day ,but Björn and Andreas
decided to stay both days. I started the day watching Doro that wasn´t any good at all,the sound was terrible and with a lot of base. So i decided to go
to another stage and watch. There was a band from Finland named "Five,Fifteen" it sounded quite well then i notised on stage a Moog so the sound was a bit familiar to MMEB but obviously not as good as the real
thing,they even used a mouth vokoder. and now to to the MMEB gig.
15 minutes before the consert there was,Me Björn and Andreas and maybee
10 more people,so i was a bit worried,but a couple of other conserts was ending just before MMEB gig started. When the consert started there
was a lot more people. The gig started off a bit lame,but improved every minute as it was more crowded in the audience they got only 90 minutes
so there was no Castles or Working or Angels or any rastas on Manfred. There where no obvious mistakes on stage as i could see.
But there was twice flying objects from the audience landing on stage, half empty plastic bottles. I was shure that the band was going to leave
the stage but either they didn´t see or they just didn´t care . The first bottle landed in the begining of the Redemtion song, the second while Mick
and Manfred was duelling in the Father. Manfred did not say nothing about it. But he did praise the audiense for clapping in the rigth beat during Redemtion song he said that this wasn´t so common.
I hope that you understand what i´m writing i´m sure there is some missspelled sentsenses
Best Regards Ari
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Posted by Jalle
Once again I must resign! Manfred Mann's Earth Band mesmerized me this year at Sweden Rock Festival. I was walking around with a silly grin on
my face all day after hearing them. After the bonus songs in the end we were a bunch of people (who never met before) who just had to unite in
a big hug out of sheer happiness! The competition, with Gamma Ray playing at the Rock Stage at the same time was sure enough hard, but I
couldnt leave Sweden Stage, where MMEB played, for the entire concert. Please guys, you gotta return to Sweden soon! Lead a great one!
/J
Sunday, 9 June, Stuttart Free Festival, Germany
Posted by Paul Bossenmaier
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After a welcome drink in the capital of Baden-Württemberg one hour later we reserved the best places in the front row of the small stage. There we met Birgit and Thorsten, who spended their weekend in Stuttgart and of course Uschi, the famous
tour guide. At this time there was the first top act of this day, an auction with a bike dress signed of the 172 top biker of this
race. This did need about one hour and in the end there had been an additional shirt - signed by Manfred Mann. When Thorsten heard this he gave his order and was the winner of this auction. Congratulations for a very valuable shirt which
had been signed by the whole band - "keep on rockin" (copyright Mr. "G").
Exactly at 7.00 p.m. MMEB entered stage and the little rain stopped for the whole concert. The band was in a great mood and
the crowd with much more than 1000 people was clapping there hands from the beginning. Of course there had been more members of the family, Susi and Jens, Christiane, Heiko and lots we know from other concerts (sorry - but not the name).
The set list seemed to be the same like the days before in Scandinavia, no Working Week and no Castles, anyway everybody enjoyed the music. There had been absolutely no technical problems and everything was o.k. At the end of the gig minimum
thousand people were singing Blinded, Davy and of course Mighty. Thanks to the whole band including the crew for this fantastic concert, see you next time at Lorsch :-)))))
Pink greetings :-))
Pink Panther ;-)
Friday, 14 June, Escherhausen, Rocknacht-Scheune, Germany
Posted by Thomas and Karin Hi,
we had two nice gigs this weekend, with a band in very good form and lots of enthusiastic people in the crowd :-) Here are some details.
Eschershausen, 14th June
The gig took part in the village Scharfoldendorf which belongs to the little town Eschershausen. We found a lot of animals there on the streets (ducks, geese...) and drove two times around the whole village - but
where was that barn with the 20. Eschershausener Rockfestival? Finally we found it just in the middle of the village, only a few meters from the main street :-) We had been early enough as ever, the bands were
still busy with their soundchecks on stage and we had a look at the hall - a real big barn, very high, a bit dirty but much better than Mainz in May. They had sold about 700 tickets already before and so the hall
was very well filled at the end.
We had 3 bands on this evening, sorry but I do not remember the name of the first. They played a good rock music, before then at 9 p.m. the Earth Band entered the stage. After MMEB there was another band,
called Hamburg Blues Band. We had some interesting talks with their merchandiser who stood just next to us but we did not stay long enough to hear the band themselves at the end of that long night. I tried to get
closer to the stage when the Earth Band started and stopped my try in the third row - the stage was so high this time that the first audience row stood a few meters far from it, and in the middle of the hall they
stood much closer than infront of the stage. But there were a lot of very enthusiastic people around me, they danced very good from the beginning and enjoyed the fact that they had room enough for it :-)
Suddenly Reinhard II said Hello to me there - what a nice surprise! Together we saw a real good gig, with a good sound and without any big technical problems. Only in Martha came a loud "Booommm" from the
frontspeakers - but everything seemed to work again then and so it did not matter. The air in the hall was very good and the mood, too. Noel spent the second half of the gig without his shoes and we got the
usual shower from his water glass. Outstanding Father, fantastic guitar in the middle and this time a duett WITH a melody - thanx for that! :-)
Another great guitar in Carol and fantastic keyboard in Martha. The whole band very funny and relaxed. We got only another short gig of 90 mins,
without Castles, Angels and Working. It is a real pity that especially Angels has always been cutted during the last gigs, we really miss that song!
But I guess the 90 mins depended on the plan of that evening, if you have more than two bands there it`s difficult to let each of the bands play for
two hours. However, the crowd enjoyed the gig so much that I had difficulties to get back to Thomas in the further back in Mighty :-)
It was still dry outside when we drove back to the hotel, but in the early morning we had a terrible thunderstorm - now we hoped the best for the Saturday - this was an Open air! 
Saturday, 15 June, Lehmke bie Uelzen, Rock in Bad, Germany
Lehmke, 15th June
A little village in the middle of nowhere, not far away from the town Uelzen in the north of Germany. The festival was called "Badfest" but at the
place there was no swimming pool, only a very dirty and very green little lake. It is a very nice place and they organize often such festivals there.
And they had the same thunderstorm in the last night and so the grass was wet at the area. But most of the people had brought their camping
chairs with them and came with the whole family, and so was also the mood - party all over! The sun shined very hot but we were so lucky and
did not get another thunderstorm - so everthing was well prepared, including the little tent for the merchandising in the further back. Of course
there was a camping athmosphere everywhere and partly not too comfortable but it was not one of these open airs where people are already
drunk before the first band plays. We had four bands on this evening, the first three all good, a lot of Blues, partly R & B combined with a little bit
of rock. So the time from the beginning at 6 to the MMEB - gig at 10 went over very quick. MMEB was of course the headliner of the evening and
the about 800 people in that well filled little area stood very close infront of the stage. Thomas decided to stay again in the back where he could
sit down and could also have a look at the stage - so I went to the fourth row to see the gig from a shorter distance. We had once more a
fantastic Earth Band on stage, just as good as the day before. It was only a pity that the sound equipment seemed to be like "camping", too - John
had real difficulties to get a clear sound from the mixer and so we heard from time to time only the half size of sound, without the basses for
some seconds. He gave his best and could correct this always after a very short time, but it was a bit strange when you know how good the
MMEB sound usual is. The people around me did not listen to these things too much, they enjoyed their gig and danced and clapped their hands.
Only their choir was very, very bad, it was the worst audience choir in Redemption song I ever heard. Nobody knew the lyrics! Later in the old
songs they were a bit better. At this time I had already returned to Thomas and our little tent and followed the rest of the gig from there. Also this
time we got the same cutted setlist of 90 mins - but it was okay to us because it was late enough. As ever Mighty ended in a storm of applause,
and we saw a lot of people who left the area very pleased and in a very good mood. At the end of the gig it was very dark and very cold, but we had no rain all the time - so everything was fine and we enjoyed also this gig very much.
The only thing we felt ashamed of was German TV on Saturday. In the morning they showed of course the game Germany-Paraquay - we saw it
partly on a big video screen in the hotel before we had to leave. But of course everybody waited for the England game in the afternoon, too and
German TV had to show the birthday party of the Queen in London at this time! Also nothing on TV later in the afternoon. A fact we all did not understand.
However, as we all know both teams are still in the match - so let`s wait and hope the best for our favourites :-)
And we had another one of these great weekends with the usual difficulties now to return into the reality of our jobs. Thanks and greetings to everyone we met on this tour,
K & T
Friday, 21 June, Romerrigets Festival, Norway
Posted by Snorre Nyeggen Hi MMEB-fans.
The MMEB-consert started 22.00 p.m., so I had time to hear "Wille De Wille", which was terrible. He sounded like a cat. And "The Five Points Band"
, which was realy good. Before the MMEB-consert I bought T-shirt,Cd, and a signed photo of the band. And I realy had a nice chat with Pat King.
But 21.45. I was standing in front of the stage. And only 10 people was standing there. At that time I was afraid that nobody would come and see
and hear this great band. But 22.05 when MMEB entered the stage, the hall was filled by an exited crowd. MMEB played songs like:
All the songs was great, but should I pick out some higlights it would be. Noel`s powerful singing on Shelter From The Storm and Blinded By The
Light. Just great.What a wonderful voice. Mick Rogers playing Father Of Day Father Of Night. I have always loved that song. When he is playing guitar and singing this song live, I am always in heaven. Just wonderful.
The consert ended with the greatest hits in Norway and also the greatest hits for me. From "Blinded By The Light" the atmosphere lifted to the
roof. And when the band on extra time came out to play Davys On The Road Again and Mighty Quinn, the hall shaked, and I also was shaking of
exitement and joy. The crowd was singing and shouting. The consert was marvelous. I had two hours with pleasure. Hopefully I will see the band in Germany from 30.06.02 to 07.07.02. Ciao all the MMEB-fans........ Snorre Nyeggen
Friday 21.06.02 ,10.45.,I drove 52 miles from Trondheim to Romerike(Outside Oslo). It was a long way with my little car,but when you love the music of MMEB, you drive everywhere.
For some great photo's from the Romerike Festival, click here A report of this festival (in Norwegian) can be found at Thanks to Edvard Framvik, |
Tuesday, 25 June, Kiel, Germany
Posted by Klaus
Yesterday MMEB played again at the "Kieler Woche" (they had also been there in 1997 and 1999). The "Kieler Woche" is one of the biggest
events in Nortern Germany with about 3 Million visitors within a week. The gig took place in the tent of RSH-radio. The place was absolutely
packed when they started at 8.00 pm with the opener( I would guess 2000- 3000 people). The crowd was enthusiastic, clapping hands from the beginning and could see a perfect show:
(Unfortunately no working week, no castles, no angels) The next band started at 10 pm , so they had to stop at 9.45. It was a smashing gig, one of the best I have ever seen. Thanks a lot to the whole
band! We are all looking forward to see you back in Kiel. Klaus
Thursday, 27 June, Feldbach, Austria
Posted by Kua
some things about this great gig in Feldbach, the crowd needed some time to come to action! It was after father of night! they played:
Great gig!! thanx mmeb Posted by Wolfgang B. Hi after touring around through Austria three days long and celebrating my daughter's first birthday in the meantime I made it now to write some words about the Austrian gigs.
Feldbach, Thursday June 27th
Feldbach is in the South of Austria near the Styrian capital Graz. As the south of Austria is further away from Germany than the north (this is
geography!!!), it is the same with the knowledge of MMEB: The southern Austrians are not so good fans than the northern ones. The venue was a
'multiple-usage'-hall, means it is not originally build for gigs. Anyway, the technicians did a good job, the sound was perfect. Well, one thing that
was not so perfect was the temperature: 30 degrees outside (at 7 p.m), which resulted in some 35++ inside (don't forget the heat that you
produce yourself, ... if you are a fan...). The setlist was the usual one and already mentioned by kua (see some messages before). From my point
of view I was delighted to hear 'Times they are a-changing' again. This song is so wonderfully melodic, the rythm drives you on and on, it just let's me fly...
I was able to hear some people talk about the gig. Before it started, they were saying things like 'Do you know MMEB, have you ever heard them?
- No, I didn't, but somebody told me that they should not be so bad.' (This is the Austrian way to say, that something is quite good. But Austrians
are actually stressing the negative side of life...). After the gig, I heard the same person say 'That was a fantastic performance, the best gig I
ever heard.' Even if he never had left Feldbach yet to see some other gigs, it still gives a picture how MMEB is able to impress people (check, he used a positive superlative...).
After the gig, I was able to get the signatures of the whole band on the advertising poster of the Feldbach gig. Thanks a lot to Ian Thompson, who found Manfred to get his autograph, nobody else knew where he actually had vanished...
Friday, 28 June, Wiessen Festival, Austria
(Posted by Wolfgang B.)
Wiesen is a great festival area 45 min drive south of Vienna. This festival was called 'Legends of Rock', and the legends were Uriah Heep, Eric
Burdon and the New Animals, Leningrad Cowboys,... and ... MMEB, of course.
According to the Austrian Radio station 'OE3', there were more than 5.000 people attending that festival. So many people is always good for a
band, there is the chance to get known better. But many of these people just go there to listen to all the bands without being a fan, means without being enthusiastic, without clapping hands, without singing...
So for myself, I enjoy the small gigs much more than the big events, because at the small ones, the mood is much better and you are closer to the
stage. The setlist in Wiesen was shortened to fit into the 1 1/2 hours the band was given to play (as all others were). Thus we had to do without
Times, Angels and Redemption Song. The performance was as good as we are used to, and I think the audience was quite pleased.
Saturday, 29 June, Burg Klam, Austria
(Posted by Wolfgang B)
Absolutely the climax of the three days. Karin already wrote some (many) words about the gig. Clam is always something special. The audience
there is a real fan-audience, the mood is cooking from the moment the band enters the stage, the choirs in the songs are excellent (if you believe
Noel, but maybe he sometimes exaggerates...). And one thing that I always notice in Clam, the people are extremely dedicated to Manfred (as I
am), which shows up in loud 'Manfred'-choirs, applause on Manfred's keyboard solos (which is not standard, normally only Mick gets his extra applause, that he of course deserves). Some general words to the gigs:
'Dancing' is a perfect song it can't be better. Many people possibly only like to hear hit after hit, song after song, but this masterpiece is ... it is
music, as music should be, it's art. The several times of rythm changes, always perfectly timed, never over-hasty, never delayed. Springsteen's
theme is well known, but Manfred again managed it to get more out of the song, to get more melody in it, to get a new feeling in it, to work out soft
and gentle parts as well as hard and heavy pieces. And don't forget the cutovers to 'the rising sun', one song made out of two. This song at the time is my favourite, it would be great if you could get a live-recording on the new album.
Father - there were some rumours the duel has no melody in it. Not so in Austria, the two masters (one on the keyboard, the other on the guitar)
performed a great piece, it could not be better. One starting a theme, the other replying it, one interpreting that theme, the other continuing it to the
end,... both ending up in an intensive dialog of guitar and keyboard letting you vibrate to the last bone...the two being one and you being a part of them.
Manfred - is he getting younger or what. Never saw him so fresh, so light, so fast. Maybe he discovered the fast runs on the moog again, for me
these are the best parts of his solos. And he did a lot of them, seemed to be never ending ones. His performance was outstanding, and he deserves even more extra applause than he got in Clam.
Overall, I enjoyed the three days of the band in Austria very, very much. Great to be a fan of that musicians. Wolfgang
Well, Karin estimated about 800 people, I would say about double as much, i.e. 1500. Prooving this number by last year's audience of 2000 being a little bit more than this year.
Shock for Mick in Clam: Starting with the encore 'Davy' his guitar did not work anymore, knowing that he has to do that small solo after the first
part of Davy. But as if he had all time of the world, he gently put away the broken guitar, inspected the other one (does it have all its six strings?),
set it up and - here I am - exactly started into his solo ... I would have thrown my head away.
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