Uriah Heep In Cologne Thursday December 4th 2003 17h00 I drive to my good friend Jelle and from there to Bost, to get two other music lovers. On to the E40 towards Luik/Luttich/Liege. While driving, we dug up the Heep-history with all it's branches growing out of the original tree, like amongst others, Ken Hensley's further developments and Sloman's and of course John Lawton's, with the strongest line up he ever got, with the John Lawton Band 18h50

It was almost two hours later, in a blink of an eye, one of the good things when driving a car without a CD-player, you learn to know your passengers and they learn to know you ;-)) We stopped at a fuelstation, just outside Cologne, to take a look at the map, to see which exit we had to take.

Two of my friends grabbed a snappy bite, the other one had a snappy sigaret and I had my usual cup of coffee ;-)) And then, we had to drive another 15 minutes or so, before we would arrive at E-werk. 19hu30 Murphie was sitting on my shoulder again, I passed the exit which lead us to take the next one. We had to find our way in a city that we don't know well enough to find our way, just like that. But because we have a good sense of direction, we succeeded in finding a direction to E-werk. We arrive ten minutes late at our appointment with Renate Fisher of Stay On Top, it's probably because of my coffee;-))

I could park my car right in front of the entrance of E-werk. The building looks like an old, unused church, but inside is enough room to build a decent concert. On arrival, there was already a band playing, but the name and where they came from, slipped my mind. They where not bad, but… After that, came Blue Öyster Cult. I was expecting more of this concert, than I got. I did shoot some pictures and I had a get together with two German Heep-fans in the foyer. We had a drink together too, they had a beer and I had a coca cola ;-)) En then… With luring sounds that predicted the foreplay, we saw some moving figures, some of them clearly recognizable. And suddenly, there they are, 5 top musicians in their own splendor.

The real Heep has taken possession of the stage, determent not to let go quickly. Bernie was quick in handling the audience, from the very start of the concert, he had us under his thumb, to guide us trough the set list. Starting with Easy Livin'. Songs like Stealin', Gypsy and Bird of Prey created the well know'n sparks between the singer and his audience. Mick still got his right hand movements and that's good. He seems to pluck the notes out of the sky and projects them into his guitar.

As if struck by a magicians magic stick, the notes sound trough his snares, Di Margio pick up's, and the cable, out of his speakers. Simply beautifull… This was the first time I saw Uriah Heep in action and as sure as my name is Staf and my nationality is Belgian and as long as I wake up in the morning, I will go to another Heep-concert sooner or later. After the gig, we could go backstage, at least they promised us, but before we even could look back, we stood outside, in the cold. After talking with Renate, she and I stepped in the backstage direction.

Her daughter, Sonia and a guy that was with them, already went in the same direction. We went down the stairs to the dressing rooms and there they were, Bernie, Mick en Phil. I had the new Clanzines in my hand, to give them their copy personaly (this was a good reason to meet the guys) and I started with Bernie, who will be pleased to see our interview with him in this number.

When I was going in the direction of Mick, he greeted me, saying "Hi Staf". With eyes this big, I asked him "You know me?", and he said "Yeah mate, I do". The Clanzines delivered to Trevor, Phil and Lee and after that, we got chucked out, by a security guy. While I was going outside, I said goodbuy to Renate and Sonia and just before reaching the stairs, there was Jan Hoogland, from the Dutch Heep-delegation. Untill the next time my friends…

A good two hours later, I got home, with a heavy head ache. The flu virus had me in it's grip. But not to worry, this will pass. The other virus, that's got a hold of me, the Heep-virus, that is gonna haunt me and constantly infect me untill my last breath. I hope this will take me several decades ;-))) If there are spiritual healthy making viruses, this Heep-virus is certainly one of them.

Sick, but happy to have witnessed this event, I wish you all and the guys of Uriah Heep, a healthy life and a happy 2004.

The setlist: Easy Livin' Shadows of Grief Cry Freedom Pilgrim Other Side Of Midnight Stealin' Wise Man Wizard Sunrise Look at Yourself Gypsy July Morning Encores Bird of Prey Bad bad man ……. Lady in Black Staf (sniff, cough)