WINTER 1993

Issue No 4

Contents

Editorial & Hot News

• The 1993 European Tour - Minden
• Push & Pull (Review of Noel McCalla's album)
• Chris Thompson - Discography (Part 2)
• Interview with Noel McCalla (Part 2) (links to Yawn11)
• Notes from America by Greg Russo
• Interview with Mick Rogers (Part 2)
• Other New Releases (Best of Manfred Mann 1964-66) & The Very Best of Manfred Mann's Earthband

The 1993 European Tour - Minden

Wild horses would have had no chance in stopping me making the trek from a mild sunny morning on Merseyside to a very bleak wet Germany to see MMEB in mainland Europe for the first time.

Those who know me well know that I need a detailed map written instructions and a ball of string to find my way to the end of the street and back. To find my way to a small backwater of Germany was thus going to be something of a challenge. Was I safe to be let out on my own??? Trouble is I'm easily distracted, I have for example a burning interest in Railways (we have Angel Stations in the garden!), and Germany looks after its railways much better than we do.

I thought I'd never see him again (Carol).

Anyway, Clare Stuart of Alex Leslie Enterprises recognised even by phone what a helpless soul she was attempting to get to Germany and back so I was provided with a detailed itinerary of my rote, train times and so on. The only minor problem was 40 kilometers between the end of the railway track and the hotel where my instructions said I would meet up with the tour party. After a somewhat unnerving taxi ride in torrential rain (the driver speaking every language except English), I arrived at the Hotel, set in beautiful countryside. There I found the band had gone directly to the venue which was the one thing not on my itinerary. Still word had obviously gone ahead and the German promoter Stephan rang me at the Hotel to advise me that a runner was on the way. The Hotel loaded me up with keys and bits of paper for the boys and off we went. Once at the venue a big barn of a place, we had to fight through layers of security until finally I was shown into the band's dressing rooms to a warm welcome. From here on I can reveal only that where I wasn't paid enough to stay quiet, sorry Steve the sex, drugs and rock and roll image is no more just a quiet game of chess and of course I won't mention the fact that Noel left his passport in Switzerland and came close to ruining the entire evening by being clapped in irons by the German immigration people. Pat King who you may remember once played bass and took nice photographs of Manfred on a horse and other things, was the representative from ALE the British promoters whose duties included keeping everybody in order and making absolutely sure everybody was where they should be and had a passport! Still e was a bloody good bass player. Despite a fine spread of food left by the German promoters Mick decided he was hungry. Steve was climbing walls because he couldn't find a bass to strum, Clive was as usual taking the p..., and Manfred wandered in from time to time to study the chess game which we had all decided had gone one step beyond stale mate which is of course impossible. Food was ordered mostly to keep Mick happy, still an hour or so before they would go on stage. Steve has found a bass so he's happy, Clive still taking the p... and never seem to be anything other than happy. It is chucking down with rain outside and the food still hasn't arrived. Noel has now lost his access to all areas badge, other rather tactlessly suggest it might be with his passport!

An hour has passed the band are now in stage gear. The familiar baseball cap is starting to look a little travel stained. The chess game has refused to progress and the food has not arrived for which Pat gets the blame, although its not his fault and he doesn't give a s..... anyway. Lance, the road crew guv who is one of the nicest guy's you can ever bump into, unless you're a total prat, has apparently met one.

Now it is a while since I have seen them live, so the act has changed quite a lot. The opener is now a sort of instrumental Joybringer, featuring Mick and Manfred and it really works, once again leading into Shelter From The Storm. Noel takes command here, one hell of a singer he also has good stage presence, and Shelter is a powerful introduction. Then comes Times They Are A Changing, Manfred says it hasn't worked in the studio but it sure works well live although they have done something odd to the bit in the middle a sort of more orchestral feel than a keyboard or guitar sole. Dirty City is a new song which I'd never heard before and it works well with some nice keyboard in the middle and again strong vocals from Noel. Martha needs no introduction and the capacity crowd packed in like sardines cheered with delight. The keyboard solo here was what I can only describe as dangerous - on the edge - and brilliant. Manfred seems to be experimenting taking risks again which makes for exciting solos. I love Mick's bit at the end of Martha and the lightings brilliant. Demolition Man I had a sneak preview of back at the Workhouse in the summer. Now I was a big Steve Waller fan and wasn't convinced they could pull this one off without him, but they did a combination of Noel and Mick, Clive and Steve throughout all this giving total support. Now everybody knows Father of Day should be past its sell by date, but it seems to get better every time. I can only guess that Mick Rogers plays better, faster and louder when he's hungry, he's good, he's b...... good and on Father of Day he knows it, everybody knows it and Rogers the showman has the audience in the palm of his hand. The little keyboard, guitar battle at the end of Father of Day is wonderful.

Once of the problems of a lot of U.K. gigs no matter how big the band is when it comes to a quiet bit the audience think its a chance to catch up on any gossip - not so in Germany. Medicine Song was welcomed by all and Redemption Song was quite moving with the audience joining in and candles and cigarette lighters lighting up the hall.

So to Blinded and Quinn to close, nice to see the bombs again and who cares if Manfred forgets the last few words on Blinded.

Pleasure and Pain formed the first encore song. I think it is wonderful and Mick's solo was beautiful. Davy's Davy, but once again Manfred's solo much of it electric piano is brilliant, the whole audience moving with it as it built to the familiar finish.

Then came the sad bit. The band go off, the crowd want them back but somebody involved in the security has decided to put on the house lights and begin to move people out. The bulk of the capacity crowd however are going nowhere, so out go the lights again. The trouble is with so many packed into the hall had the band come back there was a serious risk of a crush, so the difficult decision was made not to do the second encore. It was sometime before the disappointed audience finally gave up and went home. Backstage the band too were disappointed but the food which had arrived earlier was tracked down so at least Mick was smiling again.

Noel meanwhile practised his alternative career as a masseur to the delight of your intrepid reporters shoulders and to the equal horror of Manfred that hangers on should be so treated!

A handful of determined fans broke through the security to obtain the bands autographs and then we all headed for the tour bus.

The tour bus is more a mobile home than a coach. Most of us piled into the lounge at the back to watch a video of some of the gig giving Mick, Clive and Noel the ideal opportunity to make serious constructive criticism of each others performances, (take the piss!).

At the other end of the coach, Manfred and Steve continued to struggle over the chess game whilst Pat pretended to understand every possible move.

The following morning I waved the coach off on to the last gig of the tour, breakfasted with Noel and Stephan who were travelling with Manfred later on. Then once again I put my life into the hands of a local driver for the start of the long journey home. I had left home around 6.30 a.m. Saturday and arrived back around 9.00 p.m. Sunday. Most people think I am quite simply barking mad and almost certainly I am.

Believe me folks it was hell, the sacrifices one must make to fill this journal, I just hope I don't have to go through it all again until the next time - and lets hope the next time comes soon.

To close I wouldn't like anybody to get the idea that we are dealing with a nice bunch of guy's (Steve Kinch smuggles booze into chess games), but I must add I was made to feel part of the thing and never in the way, even if occasionally I was. So what can I say other than to thank everybody involved - oh, and by the way I reckon it's checkmate in 3 moves!

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