The weekend of Victory started for me
last Thursday when I arrived at Heathrow . Two minutes after I
entered my room at the Regent Palace , the phone rang. "Where
are you?" This dark brown voice of Mr. Dave White sounded like
family. YES! Here we are again for the best Heep event ever. Dave
and I went over to the Hampshire hotel at Leicester square where we
had a very pleasant evening with Bob Carruthers, 25 th tour and
marriage celebrating Brian & Lorraine Jones, From Finland Wizard
Jyrki , Mercho Queen Yvonne and her King David, Mick Box and Trevor
Bolder. We all had our ears in Mick's direction who had some marvelous
historic Uriah Heep tales to tell.
One of them was the filming of Don
Kirschners rock concert. At one point David fall with his back
against the drum kit and got stuck with is blouse. He had to finish
the song staying in that position, in the meanwhile trying to free
himself. Mick can you write a book? Please do. The Friday morning we
had this sleazy breakfast. In Holland we are not used to eat stewed
beans…so when I'm here I go for it…don't ask me why though.
Anyway we gathered at the Hampshire again at noon and headed for the
screening a few blocks further. We passed this Come away Melinda
poster hanging in the street. A few pictures where made…as I
thought it would be nice to picture it from the middle of the street
I was almost killed by a motorcyclist…I couldn't help it..The
poster is just too huge to make a closer snap!
At the screening we met lot more
people from our Heepfamily. There was Henrik Rantala,
Louie,Meg,Donna,Pete Wharton,& Richard Kenna, and many more. The
band was there, as also Mr. Roger Dean, and the mother of Melinda,
the little girl in the video clip.. The screening was a victory in
it's own right. We saw a stunning summary of this line up's history.
I never had a chance to see this quality of film of the Moscow event
back in 1987. A great moment in the movie is when Bernie goes up to
the fans to shake hands. The soldier does not know what to do as
he's supposed to keep the people far from the band. Then Bernie
walks back to the stage and wants to shake hands with the same
soldier. He 's just standing there with his hand out, the soldier is
confused…but after a few seconds he's is shaking hands. Fantastic
shot! The Melinda single video really touched me. The little girl in
combination with band shots during a sound check makes the clip so
pure and innocent. It will hit the charts I'm sure..you will love
it.
Time for a chat and a beer. Therefore
we had our guides Brian & Lorraine with us. We found a nice pub
where a Cajun chicken filled my belly. With Pete, Brian, Lorraine,
and Dave White we discussed Heep and related which is always great.
No waiting for a mail response but direct answers and opinions. I'm
in London with my Heepfamily. We missed Rodrigo Werneck dearly. Next
time you be there my friend.
Back to the hotel for a quick shower.
Dave White and I went for a rainy walk to the next event. The Roger
Dean exhibition. We found the Store street…but no exhibition. The
only thing I heard from Dave was…"we are lost Louis…we are
lost" We were not..we were just stupid
Then we went a little desperate..and decided to got to the Astoria.
There we heard it was sold out. SOLD OUT!!!!! Am I dreaming? No it's
true. Inside we ran into Willy, Rinus, and Sandra who followed the
band on the entire tour, just like Brian and Lorraine. They knew it
was sold out so they checked the best front row places to stay
there. Mick told us he was going out to the exhibition. We were
happy to follow him…curious as we were to see where it was at. Aha…inside
a building you couldn't know it was there. The exhibition was a
experience of art. To see the original paintings of all those Heep,
Asia and Yes covers. Very impressing. The band was there, as Roger
Dean the artist.
I checked my money…but no..there was no painting I could afford to
buy:)
The Sea of Light painting is huge..wall filling
Then back to the Astoria. Outside
tickets were sold for double the prices…. On the first floor Dave
Owen, Yvonne and the HeepJones were managing to get all the mercho
into the tiny shop.
Several boxes had to be placed into the launch, as no room was left.
When the doors opened many fans ran into the shop to buy some stuff.
The Heepstuff was far out favorite, as was the case during the
entire tour, as Dave told me.
We watched Stray from the Balcony with good old Alan Keetly, good to
see you again!, Jyrki, Henrik, and Brian. Stray was good! The old
days relived when the guitarist started to abuse his guitar…seldom
heard this kind of distortion.
For Nazareth I went down to the hall.
No chance to get closer to the stage as it was so packed.
As being not a great Naz fan I did enjoy their set. Flying guitar
work and Dan mcCafferty is a personality as a frontman.
Then the real Finest Hour was there.
Uriah Heep live in London March 23 2001. I wrestled my way to the
stage where I found Dave White and Mike Taylor again. Rinus, Willy
and Sandra were still there….what else? Return to fantasy is a
killer song as an opener. I say it every time, and will keep it that
way…the band is getting better by the gig. The crowd was very much
surprised by this energy and high rock quality. Was I proud, oh yes!
My band was taking London! Form the first row to the last they where
waving ,clapping and shouting. We had to fight for our front row
places..that's how it has to be. Everyone wanted to get close.
Melinda sounded exactly as the single. SOOOOO Beautiful.
Bernie sings so smooth when it's needed and rough when he have to,
Lee…yes he is a powerhouse… and so subtle in his drumming when
it comes to Circus .
Phil's role is somehow increased intensively. His stunning melodic
additions to all of the songs came really aware to me when I heard
Future Echoes the first time..Marvelous playing. Listen to Melinda,
or the new arrangement in Sweet Freedom….and the keys in Look at
yourself.
Trevor's bass playing always has been Heep's trademark. On Future
Echoes you will hear his great lines far better then on every other
Heep album. And he's also such a nice person. Listening to him in
the Video SAILING THE SEA OF LIGHT is a great joy…Trevor has a lot
of interesting things to say.
Then Mick. What to say? The nucleus of the band on and off stage,
the man in charge. Great humor and YES underrated as guitarist. He
is so good and stands so tall.
Songs as Stealin, Bird of prey, Sunrise, and Universal wheels were
welcomed with a big applause.
What can you say. The concert was superb and I had an overall
feeling like: Did you all see and hear now how good this band
is?
An even bigger surprise was Ian
Anderson's appearance. Also in this set both Circus and Blind eye
sounded thrilling. The way Ian is seeking eye contact with Bernie
and Phil is a joy to follow. Again I felt so proud this was
happening in front of me with all those people around and behind me.
All due to a fantastic promotion campaign by the Heepcamp. Lot's of
articles and adverts in many magazines, radio and television adds
and in all umbleness a website with an average of 800 hits on the
frontpage per day. Heep is a top product, so when we make people
aware, it will work. And it did!
After this business talk;-) we were
ready for the after party. Searching through London by night I could
hear Dave White again " we are lost Louis….we are lost"
Yes we had a few problems to find the Notre Dame….This is London
not Paris so we looked for a smaller venue. In the end Police
officers helped us out.
Dancing and chat time. Blondie had
nice legs and suits….I don't remember how here voice was..ha ha,
We hooked up with all of our Heepfamily….a few more beers….and a
few more talks….a few more beers…well you know. The end of what
was THE RETURN OF HEEP.
This band is back. You are talking to a happy man. A big thank you
to all involved. They are mentioned in this review. Did I forgot
your name? Blame me, cause your friendship, your music
Means so much to me…and I know it does a lot to the whole
Heepcamp.
CU back on the front row.
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