By Jim Ferrie:

London Astoria........Jim Ferrie
Well,the last time I saw Heep live was ..Hell,it was only last Monday at Wolverhampton.
Friday was the last gig of the tour and was I looking forward to it.

Earlier in the day I attended the screening of Sailing the Sea of Light.In the foyer with the receptionist, we were disturbed by the frantic rattling of the front door.There was Bernie Shaw looking agitated.Aha, I thought, he's caught the hairs on his chin in the door. It was less serious but nonetheless worrying that Heep's frontman had not yet mastered the intricacies involved in door opening.In fairness the door release button was with the receptionist. He still found time to say hi and shake hands even though he was running a little late.(thanks Bernie)
I took my place at the front of the screening room.I had never seen footage of the Moscow concerts and the enormity of what the guys had achieved back then came home to me and I smiled. Phil's great sense of fun came out as the band cavorted around Moscow, but also the serious side when talking about the band and their music. Several other things struck me from the documentary:- Band members will not hold back if they think they have produced weak songs..they admit it.
-The guys get on so well together.
-Trevor comes across very well, and the time devoted to him was well worth it.
-They plan what they are doing and there is a sense of purpose that hits you as you watch.
-There are many other observations that would fill a page but the big thing is that these guys have done a hell of a lot over their years together and I am proud to be a part of it.

One criticism of the documentary.The one thing missing was a view of Tommy Vance from the inside so next time get him to swallow a camera. (Please don't)

I didn't really think I would enjoy the screening but I did.
At the end Bob showed an extra.The Melinda promo video.
It is absolutely excellent and up there with the best...very atmospheric...fingers crossed it does well.

Now to the ASTORIA.

I arrived just after 6.35 to see the biggest queue for Heep I have seen in years.It went right round the back of the venue and the touts were out too which bode well..A SELL OUT!!!

By the time I got in, STRAY were in full flight and I spied Bernie at the back listening to how they sounded before melting away again.
Stray are a very tight outfit.I have to say that I enjoyed them better on second hearing and the last song they did (I still can't remember it's name..lucky man? pure guess) was again the best and instantly recognisable.The guitarist had a problem with his guitar again as it appeared to have developed an itch and he had to scratch it up and down the amps to relieve it.Won't get better if you scratch it.Seriously,they are a class act and I hope they do well. They had a good following in the crowd. Band members looked professional and were industrious in clearing the way for 

NAZARETH.

Nazareth...mmm. The sound mix was far better than at Wolverhampton as Dan's voice came through a lot better.Dan seemed less relaxed than when I saw him earlier in the week.My White Bycycle came across a little better this time but the changed beginning, although good is not the same as the original which on the recording grabs the senses straight away.
They were competent and again the best was saved for last with Love Hurts and the magnificent This Flight Tonight.
May the Sun Shine down would have been a good crowd singalong but it wasn't in the set.
I desperately want to throw out lots of superlatives about Nazareth because I have an empathy with them but I can't. They were VERY ok.Professional,competent but lacking in stage presence.I am no expert but I was in the crowd. I say as I feel.

Another slick change of gear and the lights died down partially and then fully as the sound system started up.
I was distracted by being grabbed by the shoulder and turned to come face to face with a lady who insisted I move so she could be at the front.I am a gentleman BUT I am also a Heep fan. NO I said to her but she persisted and tried to push forcefully in but was held back and warned not to try it again. (the battles we men face)
" you can lean on me BUT I am not moving" says I.This seemed to placate her and I turned back to the stage.

Uriah Heep!!!

LIGHTS ON......Return to fantasy and I turned and saw the balcony full and a horde of people behind (and our lady friend of course who was now head banging and trying to beat me to death with her hair) and it felt good to know that Heep were again playing to full houses.Stray and Nazareth would have helped pull in the crowds too and as a consequence the Heep set was shorter than any fan would like but I can put up with it because I think it is a good short term strategy.
Universal Wheels was on and is such a good live song.The band do it very well.
Stealin' was received with roars as usual.Mick was having a little guitar trouble as the sound came and went but I never saw him lose his cool once and just ploughed on.What a professional.
I had problems of my own.Our friend behind had now resorted to psychological warfare in the guise of hand and body to body massage. By the time Bernie was ready to sing Come Away Melinda, I was fast losing the will to live. More to the point I was losing track of what Heep were doing.I'm sure at one stage she and I must have exchanged underwear. I relented and grabbed her and put her where she wanted to be...IN FRONT and who can blame her.
The band were terrific.Confident, smiling, excited and Mr Bolder continuing to be rather more animated than I can ever remember AND we like it.Bernie is the one who has most impressed me this tour.My review of Wolverhampton said this too and the Astoria only re-inforced my personal view that Bernie is the man. Excellent front man.
Gypsy was greeted with the usual uproar but better with so many people.It is just such a crowd pleaser.
I now found that our friend and I were permanently joined at the waist (well slightly lower) and were bopping in unison to everything.

All too soon Heep were off.
Then back again for Easy Livin',predictably good and well recognised by the crowd.
I didn't mention Ian Anderson. He came and he went. Blind Eye comes across very well with the flute replacing the original twin guitars. Very cool.

Land of Hope and Glory blasted out from the speakers and the guys were with us smiling and saying thankyou.
It is good to hear Mick speak to thank the crowd and this does the band good because he comes across as such a genuine bloke.
It is appreciated.
What a night!!
Our friend turned and thanked me. I got a hug and a kiss and got to smell the hair I had been eating all night.(She was VERY attractive actually and uninhibited in expressing what a good time she was having..thanks for your company whoever you were, you were great fun)
Nice to see people enjoy Heep so much.
Here's to the next tour.
I spent the last few minutes of the time in the Astoria saying Hi to Heep friends from all over the world and then headed off to the after show party.

On the way out our friend caught my eye from the side of the hall waved and laughed and gave me a big smile.
It reminded me of a story.
What's 6 inches long, 2 inches wide and drives women wild?
The answer is MONEY!!! (sorry ladies lol)
We guys have to keep a level head sometimes.

I won't go into the intimite details of the after show party but needless to say it was great. The band was there as usual and a Blondie covers band entertained us with a very statuesque lead singer. She was actually Very good soundwise and lookswise.She exuded confidence as did every single member of the band.

Finally...a word about the fans.
You will never meet a nicer bunch of people in your life.Common love of Uriah Heep and their music joins people from round the globe, even Scotland!!
I have yet to meet a Heep fan who I have not got on with.The company at the after show was great and a good laugh.
To Brian and Lorraine (every gig on the tour...take a bow),Louie,Meg,Donna,Pete Wharton,Richard Kenna, Dave White,Louis Rentrop and all you wonderful people.
We are proud to be part of the Heep thing.I'm sure that Mick and the guys are proud of the fan base they have too.

To Uriah Heep...thanks for a great tour.
You are the BEST!!!

THERE IS NO SLEEP WITH URIAH HEEP.!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim Ferrie (still a very contented Heep fan)

jim_ferrie@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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