SUMMER/AUTUMN 1994

Issue No 5

Contents

Editorial

• News
• All About Mr.McCalla
• McCalla 11th June 1994
• Alan Parsons Live Project - May 1994
• Mick Rogers/ Procession (press cuttings)
• The Live Album Debate
• Recollections from Australia

Recollections from Australia

Thanks to Mick Maloney

In early 1971, I read of a forthcoming tour by Deep Purple, Free and Manfred Mann Chapter Three. Wow, aged 19 and having missed the 1965 Manfred Mann tour of Australia as my parents felt that I was too young at 13 to be travelling alone to see the concert, although I saw the group performing 4-5 songs on television which was great, but after 7 years as a Mann fan I was not going to miss this time around.

There was a definite uncertainty concerning the line up of Chapter Three. They would not be a 10 piece, possibly a 4 piece, perhaps with Mike Hugg and rumours of ex Procession singer and guitarist Mick Rogers being included. This was a possibility as Mick had explained in 1970 when he was in a group called Bulldog who had released one single, that he would return to England where he "may be doing something with Manfred Mann". Some weeks later the large Chapter Three unit had been reduced to 4 with Manfred and Mick the only confirmed members.

Tickets were purchased for the May 7th concert and a group of friends headed for Festival Hall in West Melbourne. It was well known for boxing and wrestling matches but was the only venue for most visiting acts and seated about 6,000 people.

Australian progressive group Spectrum opened the show. Their singer and guitarist Mike Rudd penned "I'll Be Gone" and "Launching Place", a big hit here and later recorded by the Earth Band. Spectrum started at 8.00pm and this show would eventually finish at 1.30am. They were quite popular at the time and well received, however I found their songs and Rudd's vocals a little tedious.

Free hit the stage next and played a very entertaining set. Considering we only knew "All Right Now", the crowd were pleased with their stage presence, particularly Paul Rodgers. Our only criticism was that their playing was sometimes a bit loose. Above the stage Manfred and someone in a denim outfit and cowboy hat watched Free's performance. Was it Mike Hugg? We were still unaware of the Chapter Three line up. The denim clad musician turned out to be Roger Glover from Deep Purple.

Whilst the roadies set up for the next act, Manfred walked on and tested his new mini Moog synthesizer. Woorooroohh (my best description) it went and the crowd really took notice. What was this spacey sound? I don't think the world had heard this mini Moog yet. A little more testing, calling on Billy McArtney, sound man and brother of one of my schoolmates, then Mick, Chris Slade and Colin Pattenden were on.

A vert tight and wonderful sound emanated from the foursome. This was definitely a vastly different group to Chapter Three and I felt that Manfred had reached Chapter Four in his career. Tracks I remember include "Virginia" which was given a typically Earth Band style revamp and a highlight of the show, "Dealer" from "As Is" was far heavier and longer than it's 1966 showing and "Captain Bobby Stout" a new song which was given a thorough workout and sounded great.

Halfway through the set Manfred shed his yellow jacket revealing just a black T-shirt and black trousers. My mind flashed to his sixties outfit, the beard was no longer pencil thin, hair a bit longer, but here he was, mobile as ever, new sound, new group and great. Mick mentioned that it was their third live gig. I was witnessing Manfred Mann's Earth Band's birth, though still billed as Manfred Mann Chapter Three. Their set lasted around 50 minutes. I don't remember all the songs played, maybe "Jump Sturdy" and the encore that is entrenched with the fans, the virtually rewritten "Mighty Quinn". They left the stage to loud applause, the audience were satisfied and amazed.

Deep Purple who were huge in Australia at the time, commenced a marathon set which was technically brilliant but very indulgent. Every song went on for at least 20 minutes, a solid half hour drum solo which left Ian Paice, the only member on stage and the crowd wishing the other members would return.

They did return to perform more marathon songs. People were becoming restless and started to leaving near 1.00am. Deep Purple were good but they punished us with their extended workouts. At 1.30am it was all over and as we filed out of Festival Hall people were consistently claiming that Manfred Mann were fantastic and the best act on the night. "Better Than Purple", a Purple fan told me. Over the PA system came the unexpected news that on Sunday, which was only two nights away, Deep Purple and Manfred Mann Chapter Three would return to play and then jam together. "Come Along".

We returned early on Sunday evening to ensure obtaining good seats as they were issued on a first come first served basis. Word had spread quickly and a fairly large crowd were already seated. I was pleased to hear repeatedly over the loudspeakers outside the hall  "Manfred Mann Chapter Three and Deep Purple tonight". They had top billing and deserved it.

Top billing had its price, would we have to sit through a Deep Purple marathon first. No they reduced their songs to album length.  After a great Deep Purple show, Manfred and the band, all casually dressed in denim, repeated their Friday night performance without variation. Again they were very well received. Unfortunately the anticipated jam with Deep Purple never took place, that night or any night on the Australian tour.  The new group had such an impact on Australian audiences that they returned one year later, headlining their own tour with local support acts as Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

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