Spero di fare cosa gradita nel tradurre e pubblicare parte dell'ultima email di Fish, sul sito ufficiale, che riguarda proprio l'evento mostrato nel filmato qui sotto.
"...E poi è diventato stellare. Mi avevano chiesto di suonare 'Hobble on the Cobbles' molti mesi fa e ho accettato immediatamente. L'opportunità era perfetta e all'ABC in Glasgow in giugno ho proposto a Mark di fare qualcosa insieme. Lucy Jordache era d'accordo e Ian è venuto a bordo con una risposta positiva. Non ero sicuro riguardo agli altri. So che sono molto sensibili su possibili suggerimenti di reunion e non volevo infastidire Steve Hogarth, per il quale provo molto rispetto. Ora è la sua band. Non riguardava la pubblicità o nient'altro, se non trovarsi di nuovo insieme per suonare nella Market Square ricordando i vecchi tempi. Abbiamo sempre voluto suonare lì ma il tempo e le circostanze hanno deciso diversamente. Mentre la data del concerto si avvicinava, Mark, Ian e io abbiamo parlato al telefono e solo un paio di settimane fa Pete ha detto di sì! La settimana scorsa, dopo essere tornato dalle vacanze, Steve venne a bordo. Volevo che la cosa rimanesse segreta. Niente stampa, niente su internet. Era un affare privato.
Ho pensato che avrebbero potuto preoccuparsi di suonare senza aver provato. Non volevamo che diventasse qualcosa di grosso, e siamo rimasti sull'unico pezzo rilevante per la situazione. Ci siamo incontrati nel pomeriggio, ed è stato bellissimo rivederli ancora insieme. Ed eccoci là. Loro quattro si sono preparati sulle scalette del palco. Non vedevamo l'ora. Ho lasciato che la squadra dei Marilli preparasse il cambio di strumenti.
Ho fatto l'introduzione, ma non riesco a ricordare molto. I video su YouTube mi hanno fatto recuperare la memoria! Avevamo luce verde, così ho presentato la band. L'atmosfera era incredibile, mentre salivano uno ad uno sul palco e ricevevano un abbraccio dal sottoscritto. Non ho abbracciato Pete perché ero troppo nervoso e lui si è fiondato a prendere il basso. È stato un po' come il nostro primo concerto al Friars. Ian è partito e io ho avuto un attimo di panico, andava alla massima velocità. Il problema è che il respiro tra le parole diventa difficile se cerchi di cantare e rendere la melodia andando a Mach 4. I livelli di adrenalina erano al massimo grado. Punk prog! Ci guardavamo per avere indizi su come procedere. Eravamo tutti sorrisi. Il calo della musica nella sezione parlata e l'esplosione nel finale. Ed era finita, e ci siamo riabbracciati mentre lasciavamo il palco. Non ricordo molto del pubblico, a parte la grande reazione che ci ha presi un po' tutti di sorpresa. Come ho detto, è stato il secondo sogno diventato realtà durante la giornata. È stato fantastico, nostalgico e molto divertente.
Nel pub ero esausto e consumato dai fan che si congratulavano. Sarebbe stato bello avere un po' di tempo da passare assieme, ma l'occasione non era quella giusta. Ci sarebbe piaciuto passare la notte assieme e unirci alla "dawn patrol" ma Ian e Lucy dovevano partire per gli States presto il giorno dopo per andare dalla famiglia di lui, Pete e Fiona e la famiglia avevano già degli impegni, Mark aveva la sua auto e Ange a casa, Steve, Jo e i bambini sono andati a mangiare e poi a casa. Ci siamo lasciati come grandi amici che hanno vissuto insieme un giorno straordinario. Non sapevamo cosa avevamo scatenato.
Altri abbracci, lunghi addii. Questo non accadrà più per un bel po' di tempo, se mai accadrà ancora. Cinque vecchi amici che si erano lanciati alla conquista del mondo come ragazzi dagli occhi sgranati, ora uomini di famiglia che visitavano nuovamente vecchi fantasmi e antiche memorie per pochi minuti nelle nostre vite in continuo cambiamento. Ce l'abbiamo fatta. Ero così contento e orgoglioso di averlo fatto. Ha significato moltissimo, soprattutto oggi!"
Slainte Mhath!
31 agosto 2007
28 agosto 2007
Senza parole...
Volete sgranare gli occhi? Volete non credere a cio' che vedete?
Eccovi serviti:
Domenica 26 Agosto 2007, nella celeberrima Market Square Heroes alle ore 20.00 circa la formazione originale dei Marillion è tornata in pista tutta assieme per il bis finale di, ovviamente 'Market Square Heroes'.
Hogarth era a Colonia e ha augurato a tutti loro buon divertimento e in bocca al lupo e così, dopo 19 anni il sogno di migliaia di nostalgici si è avverato.
Il pesce li ha introdotti sul palco dicendo:
""This is going to be weird..."
Tutti quanti si sono divertiti un sacco e, alla fine, come ai vecchi tempi, Fish ha salutato i suoi vecchi compagni chiamandoli per nome, ma riunendoli sotto il nome Marillion e ha concluso con il solito "They call me the Fish". (D.Costa)
Mamma mia!!!!!!
Eccovi serviti:
Domenica 26 Agosto 2007, nella celeberrima Market Square Heroes alle ore 20.00 circa la formazione originale dei Marillion è tornata in pista tutta assieme per il bis finale di, ovviamente 'Market Square Heroes'.
Hogarth era a Colonia e ha augurato a tutti loro buon divertimento e in bocca al lupo e così, dopo 19 anni il sogno di migliaia di nostalgici si è avverato.
Il pesce li ha introdotti sul palco dicendo:
""This is going to be weird..."
Tutti quanti si sono divertiti un sacco e, alla fine, come ai vecchi tempi, Fish ha salutato i suoi vecchi compagni chiamandoli per nome, ma riunendoli sotto il nome Marillion e ha concluso con il solito "They call me the Fish". (D.Costa)
Mamma mia!!!!!!
18 agosto 2007
Fish 2007 - Memory Clusters
Altra mail fiume di Fish che aspettiamo a pubblicare per lasciare in primo piano le news di 13th Stars. Sarebbe bello poterla tradurre perché è molto interessante...
Fino a che rimane "l'ultima" la potete leggere qua:
http://www.the-company.com/lemail.htm
Fino a che rimane "l'ultima" la potete leggere qua:
http://www.the-company.com/lemail.htm
13th Star disponibile in pre-order
Evvai! Per chi vuole aggiudicarsi la versione "lusso" in digipack ed essere tra i primi a riceverlo... andate a questo link e preordinato. Incluso anche un DVD con il "Making of"...
http://shop.the-company.com/acatalog/cdsstudio.html
http://shop.the-company.com/acatalog/cdsstudio.html
preview del packaging di 13th Star
Eccovi le immagini di come sarà il pack del nuovo CD di Fish. Siamo di fronte ad una delle più belle artwork della carriera solista di Fish... molto progressive, tra l'altro. Se il buongiorno si vede dal mattino...
11 agosto 2007
Fish 2007 - Heart of Lothian
Dear FishHeads, Freaks, fans and the Company,
I would have to have been a cold-hearted, cynical, callous individual to have expected to get through this week without being affected by the emotional aftershocks that have hit me in recent months.
This is a difficult time as the last two weeks were kept free to allow time to ourselves in the run up to the wedding. The album done, the band rehearsed, the first gigs under our belt, the tour in order and only the Aylesbury gig in the 5 weeks between the wedding and the UK tour, this was planned to have been our private time after the intensity of the album project. A time for cycle rides, going to the gym, walks on beaches and all the other activities that were swallowed by my commitment to the new album and tour.
And now I find myself struggling to keep myself busy and trying to find ideas to occupy my mind. Like an amputee who still feels pain in a missing limb, I am still going through the mental process of dealing with an impending wedding. Running through schedules in my head (Hen night tomorrow, me going out with the boys, family meal at the Rocks Friday, bridal party moves to hotel, etc) and watching marquees go up in the garden, the ghosts are walking beside me just now. I was primed for this for so long it now seems surreal. Sometimes I think I'll wake up and find it was all just a nightmare! It has been a tough time coping with the reality of it all.
I took a double hit on Monday when Tara and I went to pick up her bridesmaid's dress. The last place I wanted to be was in a bridal boutique with racks of wedding dresses and reminders of what now was not happening. And out walked a truly beautiful woman from the changing rooms wearing an absolutely stunning pale gold gown, a vision that quite simply took my breath away. My daughter, so grown up, so glamorous and so jaw droppingly gorgeous. It was a true "proud father" moment.
At the same time I knew she would not be walking down an aisle and allowing others the chance to wonder at her beauty.
And it's been like that most of the week. High cruel twists of Yin and Yang, booby traps lurking in photo files and diaries that catch your eye and throw a hand grenade into your chest, a casual remark by Donald, the Big Issue seller at Tescos, who'd caught a newspaper article and made his feelings known, prompting another exhumation. Reminders just seem more prevalent just now. It's exposing a deep sadness and that is going to take a long time to bury.
My nights are uneasy and with Tara on her summer holidays and bouncing about friends houses I am often left alone too many times with too many thoughts. I often find myself in my dressing gown in the greenhouse in the wee small hours with a cup of tea and a smoke watching the pipistrelle bats swooping round the bird table and the kitchen garden. The new flower beds roar into colour and every now and then a shower of rain burst like applause on the roof. Last night I listened to the mixes again while staring at the glowing green lawn where the celebrations were due to be held. The album has become a soundtrack for my last few months and every lyric holds memories that are still fresh enough to taste.
The greenhouse, scene of so many midnight trysts, so many confrontations and arguments, so much debate and so many romantic and loving moments. I still find it the most peaceful place to be on my own. It's where I wrote most of the lyrics for "13th Star" and where I will listen to the new album for the first time on my own on Friday.
The first mixes will be played at the party with Calum polishing them next week to deliver the finished mastered album by the 13th of August.
I heard tracks today for the first time since singing them and even though the mixes were in progress I was taken aback at what I heard. As Calum said himself "they sound fantastic!" I am extremely proud of this album and to deliver it after the most traumatic events occurring in the first week of recording is a major achievement for the entire team involved. If someone had deliberately picked a moment to cause the most disruption and the maximum emotional damage the first week of recording was it. How I have got through to this stage defies me.
My ex saw the album as something that came between us and I was accused of holding the album in higher importance than her. She couldn't have been more wrong. It's so ironic that the relationship that was the burning inspiration behind the album has in turn been itself destroyed in the process of creation. It's again extreme yin and yang.
I have been slammed by both my ex and fans of her band for holding the launch party for "13th Star" on the original wedding date. I've been accused of being cynical and exploitative and cold-hearted. The point of fact is that Saturday offers me some sort of closure. It heralds a new beginning and new promises. I need it if just for the wake for the death of the dream.
I know it won't be easy despite my attempts at a brave face and a stiff upper lip and I am sure I will have a few blue moments on my own despite being surrounded by great friends and a wonderful family. But the day has to be breached and I am sure at the close of the evening I will have a sense of relief and closure. I am also sure there will be an abundance of smiles that will keep me buoyed and positive through out it all. I dread the day and look forward to its passing.
Everything is set. The flowers flowered on time and the garden is immaculate thanks to the efforts of my Mum and Dad. The marquees are going up as I type. The weather is supposed to be 23 degrees and sunny. The catering arrives with the Tyneside outside bar on Friday, the PA and lights and generator Saturday am with sound checks at 12. The stage schedule is arranged, the bands briefed ("Your own Special Way" not on any set lists!). Hotels booked, airport pick ups arranged. It's all done. It's a pity. It would have made a great wedding day!
I'm finding great solace in writing and just coming to terms with my feelings about all that has happened. Most of it is deleted and trashed as it's too raw and private. Once I am out the other side maybe it is time to write that book.
My heart may have been well and truly broken but it is still beating strongly! I place my faith in the Karma mechanic!
Until next week
Take care and stay alive,
Fish xx
I would have to have been a cold-hearted, cynical, callous individual to have expected to get through this week without being affected by the emotional aftershocks that have hit me in recent months.
This is a difficult time as the last two weeks were kept free to allow time to ourselves in the run up to the wedding. The album done, the band rehearsed, the first gigs under our belt, the tour in order and only the Aylesbury gig in the 5 weeks between the wedding and the UK tour, this was planned to have been our private time after the intensity of the album project. A time for cycle rides, going to the gym, walks on beaches and all the other activities that were swallowed by my commitment to the new album and tour.
And now I find myself struggling to keep myself busy and trying to find ideas to occupy my mind. Like an amputee who still feels pain in a missing limb, I am still going through the mental process of dealing with an impending wedding. Running through schedules in my head (Hen night tomorrow, me going out with the boys, family meal at the Rocks Friday, bridal party moves to hotel, etc) and watching marquees go up in the garden, the ghosts are walking beside me just now. I was primed for this for so long it now seems surreal. Sometimes I think I'll wake up and find it was all just a nightmare! It has been a tough time coping with the reality of it all.
I took a double hit on Monday when Tara and I went to pick up her bridesmaid's dress. The last place I wanted to be was in a bridal boutique with racks of wedding dresses and reminders of what now was not happening. And out walked a truly beautiful woman from the changing rooms wearing an absolutely stunning pale gold gown, a vision that quite simply took my breath away. My daughter, so grown up, so glamorous and so jaw droppingly gorgeous. It was a true "proud father" moment.
At the same time I knew she would not be walking down an aisle and allowing others the chance to wonder at her beauty.
And it's been like that most of the week. High cruel twists of Yin and Yang, booby traps lurking in photo files and diaries that catch your eye and throw a hand grenade into your chest, a casual remark by Donald, the Big Issue seller at Tescos, who'd caught a newspaper article and made his feelings known, prompting another exhumation. Reminders just seem more prevalent just now. It's exposing a deep sadness and that is going to take a long time to bury.
My nights are uneasy and with Tara on her summer holidays and bouncing about friends houses I am often left alone too many times with too many thoughts. I often find myself in my dressing gown in the greenhouse in the wee small hours with a cup of tea and a smoke watching the pipistrelle bats swooping round the bird table and the kitchen garden. The new flower beds roar into colour and every now and then a shower of rain burst like applause on the roof. Last night I listened to the mixes again while staring at the glowing green lawn where the celebrations were due to be held. The album has become a soundtrack for my last few months and every lyric holds memories that are still fresh enough to taste.
The greenhouse, scene of so many midnight trysts, so many confrontations and arguments, so much debate and so many romantic and loving moments. I still find it the most peaceful place to be on my own. It's where I wrote most of the lyrics for "13th Star" and where I will listen to the new album for the first time on my own on Friday.
The first mixes will be played at the party with Calum polishing them next week to deliver the finished mastered album by the 13th of August.
I heard tracks today for the first time since singing them and even though the mixes were in progress I was taken aback at what I heard. As Calum said himself "they sound fantastic!" I am extremely proud of this album and to deliver it after the most traumatic events occurring in the first week of recording is a major achievement for the entire team involved. If someone had deliberately picked a moment to cause the most disruption and the maximum emotional damage the first week of recording was it. How I have got through to this stage defies me.
My ex saw the album as something that came between us and I was accused of holding the album in higher importance than her. She couldn't have been more wrong. It's so ironic that the relationship that was the burning inspiration behind the album has in turn been itself destroyed in the process of creation. It's again extreme yin and yang.
I have been slammed by both my ex and fans of her band for holding the launch party for "13th Star" on the original wedding date. I've been accused of being cynical and exploitative and cold-hearted. The point of fact is that Saturday offers me some sort of closure. It heralds a new beginning and new promises. I need it if just for the wake for the death of the dream.
I know it won't be easy despite my attempts at a brave face and a stiff upper lip and I am sure I will have a few blue moments on my own despite being surrounded by great friends and a wonderful family. But the day has to be breached and I am sure at the close of the evening I will have a sense of relief and closure. I am also sure there will be an abundance of smiles that will keep me buoyed and positive through out it all. I dread the day and look forward to its passing.
Everything is set. The flowers flowered on time and the garden is immaculate thanks to the efforts of my Mum and Dad. The marquees are going up as I type. The weather is supposed to be 23 degrees and sunny. The catering arrives with the Tyneside outside bar on Friday, the PA and lights and generator Saturday am with sound checks at 12. The stage schedule is arranged, the bands briefed ("Your own Special Way" not on any set lists!). Hotels booked, airport pick ups arranged. It's all done. It's a pity. It would have made a great wedding day!
I'm finding great solace in writing and just coming to terms with my feelings about all that has happened. Most of it is deleted and trashed as it's too raw and private. Once I am out the other side maybe it is time to write that book.
My heart may have been well and truly broken but it is still beating strongly! I place my faith in the Karma mechanic!
Until next week
Take care and stay alive,
Fish xx
Fish 2007 - Sugar Mice in the Sun
In attesa che i miei collaboratori mi spediscano la loro recensione/racconto del gig di Loreley (meglio tardi che mai) gustiamoci questa lettera (in inglese) del pescione... se andati un po' avanti vedrete sottolineato un piccolo paragrafo che ci riguarda direttamente! ;)
Dear FishHeads, Freaks, Fans and the Company,
It seems as if my rain god powers have deserted me as I sit here writing this in 23 degrees of sunshine in Scotland after a weekend of downpours in Edinburgh which I thankfully avoided.
We left for the two German festivals on Friday, Gavin and Chris from Cardiff and Leeds respectively heading to Amsterdam, Yatta, Vince and Steve V from Birmingham heading for Zurich, Mike Hogg (sound engineer for this weekend) from Glasgow to Heathrow and Foss, Frank and myself heading for Heathrow from Edinburgh, all with the ultimate destination of Stuttgart. As they say "the best plans of mice and men aft gang aglae" and boy did they go "aglae" this weekend. I took the call from Steve telling me that Birmingham was under a torrential downpour and that flights were affected just as we turned up at the airport. Flights to Heathrow were going down fast and thankfully after queuing for over an hour at British Airways ticket sales we got alternative routing on Lufthansa to Frankfurt where we would connect to Stuttgart at 6am tomorrow. We had left the farm at 3pm and arrived at our hotel in Frankfurt at 11pm.
Calls on mobile discovered that the Brummy mob were caught in Zurich for three hours, Mike was trapped at Heathrow till an early flight next day and had to sleep in the airport, the Schiphol connection got through eventually and that we were all going to get there eventually for sound check at 2pm next day in Calw.
Foss, Frank and I staggered to check in on gig day and were met in Stuttgart by the promoter's rep who told us only Mike was now delayed and that our team had made the beaches! Fishy commandos :-D
A 40 minute drive to the site and at 11 we parked up in the dressing room in the town hall looking down on a wonderful market square surrounded on all sides by ancient timber framed buildings (Hermann Hesse was born and lived just opposite where we were encamped. He wrote "Demian", the inspiration behind "Misplaced Childhood") and with a superb piece of staging facing the length of the cobbled area where later on a sold out audience of 5000 would see us hit the stage before Jethro Tull closed the festival. Well that was the idea!
As the hours went by and all our guys assembled we were told that Jethro Tull were trapped in Heathrow.
They had gone to the airport in the afternoon the day before to be told all flights were cancelled. The band hung around all day and was scheduled on the last flight out at midnight. After waiting all day and with one flight on the departures board the message went up that the flight was cancelled. Ian Anderson and the band managed to get hotels while the rest slept in the terminal in the queues at the ticket desks holding their place in line .Ian and the guys were back at 6am only to be told that the flights were fully booked. The news was filtering through to Calw. I was texting James Anderson, Ian's son and he was doubtful if they would manage to get there. The promoter tried to get a private plane for 7 people out of Luton but in the end it didn't work out as Ian, I was to find out later is uncomfortable at flying in small aircraft after previous bad experiences. Completely understandable, especially with violent weather systems across Europe. I would have been concerned
myself!
The headline act for Calw was a no show.
I had long talks with the promoter and offered to play the show as we were all present and correct. Some of his staff were in tears and calls were going back and forward to the insurance companies regarding what should happen. I was desperately trying to find a solution as there were not only going to be 5000 people on their way, including a legion of Fish fans that were coming in from all over, but our gig was being recorded for SWR, a major German radio station. This would have been a great asset to the forthcoming German tour.
I suggested that we play for free but the promoter said it would complicate and possibly invalidate the insurance claim if a band took the stage. I then suggested that he offer some money back on the tickets by stamping them and allowing fans to send in for the refund later thus allowing the purist Tull fans some compensation. That was entertained and became a possible solution until the insurance company turned it down. The festival was cancelled. I called Mo and she was brilliant at getting the news out and helped some fans from making a wasted journey. As the stage, sound and lights were dismantled we watched on in frustration and disappointment. I even tried to find a local venue to play in but there were none available. After all our efforts to get there we were left feeling empty and depressed by events.
There was nothing left to do and so we embarked on a long curve of a day off fuelled by the backstage riders for three bands. We met a few fans in the square and took them backstage to drink some beers and play the demos to at least soften the blow.
The film ran in the camera as we all degenerated and disintegrated with laughter as the afternoon wore out. We eventually ended up drinking in the square with a bunch of German fans as the rain pelted down on the town. Ironically it stopped just as my intended stage time came about. As I said the rain god is no more! :-D
We hit the hotel around 10 after another meal in a Greek restaurant with more wine and laughter. Chris and Gavin had a double hit as they could have been playing with their other band at Murrayfield supporting Bryan Adams. They felt a lot better when later that night I received some messages from friends who were at the gig, among them Elspeth. It transpired that it rained cats and dogs all day (I heard there were a few prominent Fish umbrellas in the crowd :-D ) and that the organisation was put out of kilter by the weather resulting in their band playing a short set to a mostly disinterested crowd who were to say the least dampened by the occasion.
Playing to a less than quarter full stadium under those circumstances is usually put down under the "to be avoided" column of most musos. But at least they played that night. We just got the after show party! :-D
Back at the hotel by 11 and straight to bed after my last reminder on this summer's excursions of recent ugliness when I got my room card with two keys and two names. I slept soundly and alone.
We had our show the next day and we were headlining this time above Jethro Tull and Pendragon. Up at 9 and then waited on the bus to take us 3 hours up the road to Loreley. A fantastic trip through the Black forest and along the Rhine valley through some of the most beautiful country in Germany. The sun was pouring down!
We arrived around 2 at the site which was already jumping to "The Watch" from Italy/France. I missed most of their set as we had lunch then I had 3 simultaneous interviews just as Pendragon hit the stage. My first interviews in Germany. A lot of ducking and diving round some issues and I used my words carefully. One of the interviews was for the Company Germany web site and was filmed.
I caught around 30 minutes of Pendragon who I hadn't seen for a long time. They were really good and a lot more powerful than I remembered. Nick was in great spirits and the band was on the ball. They got a great reception. I really enjoyed watching their show.
Jethro Tull were up next and I had a good chin wag with Ian pre gig who explained the horrors of Heathrow. He looked tired as you would expect after that ordeal. James, his son, and I also had a long natter about recent events and the band were unnecessarily apologetic about the Calw deal. I hadn't realised that James was on drums that day as I thought he was tour managing. James had spent the night at Heathrow on the Friday and had been there till late Saturday afternoon. His tiredness didn't show and I admired his playing in a set that took me back a bit. The band were solid and got a great reaction but I wasn't worried as I knew from the number of Fish fans in the 6000 or so crowd (we tripled figures from last year) that we had a ready made audience that was waiting on us.
Dear FishHeads, Freaks, Fans and the Company,
It seems as if my rain god powers have deserted me as I sit here writing this in 23 degrees of sunshine in Scotland after a weekend of downpours in Edinburgh which I thankfully avoided.
We left for the two German festivals on Friday, Gavin and Chris from Cardiff and Leeds respectively heading to Amsterdam, Yatta, Vince and Steve V from Birmingham heading for Zurich, Mike Hogg (sound engineer for this weekend) from Glasgow to Heathrow and Foss, Frank and myself heading for Heathrow from Edinburgh, all with the ultimate destination of Stuttgart. As they say "the best plans of mice and men aft gang aglae" and boy did they go "aglae" this weekend. I took the call from Steve telling me that Birmingham was under a torrential downpour and that flights were affected just as we turned up at the airport. Flights to Heathrow were going down fast and thankfully after queuing for over an hour at British Airways ticket sales we got alternative routing on Lufthansa to Frankfurt where we would connect to Stuttgart at 6am tomorrow. We had left the farm at 3pm and arrived at our hotel in Frankfurt at 11pm.
Calls on mobile discovered that the Brummy mob were caught in Zurich for three hours, Mike was trapped at Heathrow till an early flight next day and had to sleep in the airport, the Schiphol connection got through eventually and that we were all going to get there eventually for sound check at 2pm next day in Calw.
Foss, Frank and I staggered to check in on gig day and were met in Stuttgart by the promoter's rep who told us only Mike was now delayed and that our team had made the beaches! Fishy commandos :-D
A 40 minute drive to the site and at 11 we parked up in the dressing room in the town hall looking down on a wonderful market square surrounded on all sides by ancient timber framed buildings (Hermann Hesse was born and lived just opposite where we were encamped. He wrote "Demian", the inspiration behind "Misplaced Childhood") and with a superb piece of staging facing the length of the cobbled area where later on a sold out audience of 5000 would see us hit the stage before Jethro Tull closed the festival. Well that was the idea!
As the hours went by and all our guys assembled we were told that Jethro Tull were trapped in Heathrow.
They had gone to the airport in the afternoon the day before to be told all flights were cancelled. The band hung around all day and was scheduled on the last flight out at midnight. After waiting all day and with one flight on the departures board the message went up that the flight was cancelled. Ian Anderson and the band managed to get hotels while the rest slept in the terminal in the queues at the ticket desks holding their place in line .Ian and the guys were back at 6am only to be told that the flights were fully booked. The news was filtering through to Calw. I was texting James Anderson, Ian's son and he was doubtful if they would manage to get there. The promoter tried to get a private plane for 7 people out of Luton but in the end it didn't work out as Ian, I was to find out later is uncomfortable at flying in small aircraft after previous bad experiences. Completely understandable, especially with violent weather systems across Europe. I would have been concerned
myself!
The headline act for Calw was a no show.
I had long talks with the promoter and offered to play the show as we were all present and correct. Some of his staff were in tears and calls were going back and forward to the insurance companies regarding what should happen. I was desperately trying to find a solution as there were not only going to be 5000 people on their way, including a legion of Fish fans that were coming in from all over, but our gig was being recorded for SWR, a major German radio station. This would have been a great asset to the forthcoming German tour.
I suggested that we play for free but the promoter said it would complicate and possibly invalidate the insurance claim if a band took the stage. I then suggested that he offer some money back on the tickets by stamping them and allowing fans to send in for the refund later thus allowing the purist Tull fans some compensation. That was entertained and became a possible solution until the insurance company turned it down. The festival was cancelled. I called Mo and she was brilliant at getting the news out and helped some fans from making a wasted journey. As the stage, sound and lights were dismantled we watched on in frustration and disappointment. I even tried to find a local venue to play in but there were none available. After all our efforts to get there we were left feeling empty and depressed by events.
There was nothing left to do and so we embarked on a long curve of a day off fuelled by the backstage riders for three bands. We met a few fans in the square and took them backstage to drink some beers and play the demos to at least soften the blow.
The film ran in the camera as we all degenerated and disintegrated with laughter as the afternoon wore out. We eventually ended up drinking in the square with a bunch of German fans as the rain pelted down on the town. Ironically it stopped just as my intended stage time came about. As I said the rain god is no more! :-D
We hit the hotel around 10 after another meal in a Greek restaurant with more wine and laughter. Chris and Gavin had a double hit as they could have been playing with their other band at Murrayfield supporting Bryan Adams. They felt a lot better when later that night I received some messages from friends who were at the gig, among them Elspeth. It transpired that it rained cats and dogs all day (I heard there were a few prominent Fish umbrellas in the crowd :-D ) and that the organisation was put out of kilter by the weather resulting in their band playing a short set to a mostly disinterested crowd who were to say the least dampened by the occasion.
Playing to a less than quarter full stadium under those circumstances is usually put down under the "to be avoided" column of most musos. But at least they played that night. We just got the after show party! :-D
Back at the hotel by 11 and straight to bed after my last reminder on this summer's excursions of recent ugliness when I got my room card with two keys and two names. I slept soundly and alone.
We had our show the next day and we were headlining this time above Jethro Tull and Pendragon. Up at 9 and then waited on the bus to take us 3 hours up the road to Loreley. A fantastic trip through the Black forest and along the Rhine valley through some of the most beautiful country in Germany. The sun was pouring down!
We arrived around 2 at the site which was already jumping to "The Watch" from Italy/France. I missed most of their set as we had lunch then I had 3 simultaneous interviews just as Pendragon hit the stage. My first interviews in Germany. A lot of ducking and diving round some issues and I used my words carefully. One of the interviews was for the Company Germany web site and was filmed.
I caught around 30 minutes of Pendragon who I hadn't seen for a long time. They were really good and a lot more powerful than I remembered. Nick was in great spirits and the band was on the ball. They got a great reception. I really enjoyed watching their show.
Jethro Tull were up next and I had a good chin wag with Ian pre gig who explained the horrors of Heathrow. He looked tired as you would expect after that ordeal. James, his son, and I also had a long natter about recent events and the band were unnecessarily apologetic about the Calw deal. I hadn't realised that James was on drums that day as I thought he was tour managing. James had spent the night at Heathrow on the Friday and had been there till late Saturday afternoon. His tiredness didn't show and I admired his playing in a set that took me back a bit. The band were solid and got a great reaction but I wasn't worried as I knew from the number of Fish fans in the 6000 or so crowd (we tripled figures from last year) that we had a ready made audience that was waiting on us.
The Company Italy were present in numbers and they did an ID for 'Fish TV' which was incredibly funny! (Their gift of a bottle of Limoncello made it back to Haddington =-O )
Tara arrived with her mother shortly before Tull went on. It was a surprise and good to see them both and with Mario, Joergen, Franz and Christiana from the Company Germany all in attendance it was a bit of a reunion.
Tara had recovered after being rushed to hospital by ambulance in Berlin a few days before with acute food poisoning after eating dodgy carpaccio in an Italian restaurant. She was on an IV drip all night and the doctor said that she could have died if she hadn't come in for treatment.
I got this news on the morning I left the farm. Just a wee bit of added stress I didn't need.
In true trouper style she made the gig! :-D
It was actually 20 years to the week when I played Loreley with Marillion, 20 years to the week I met Yatta and 20 years to the week I was first married. I decided to start the set with an appropriate intro and duly set up "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Heart's Club Band" followed immediately by "Slainthe Mhath" as opener as I did on the first Loreley. It was a brilliant entrance if I say so myself.
I wore my black Monty Python shirt with the proclamation "I'm not dead yet" :-D Thought it appropriate :-D
We didn't get a sound check on the day but the crew are great pros and we hit stage on time and with a great out front sound (as I would later discover for myself). Monitors were a bit hazy and the intros to the new material which are on iPod got lost a couple of times causing some hairdos to come undone on stage. We could have done with the Calw show in all honesty as we were still short of gig time. Nothing was totally out of order and the band coped well and recovered from minor misadventures. The set ran with "Perception" and "So Fellini" sandwiching "Circle Line" as first of the new numbers to come under scrutiny. "Square Go" and "Manchmal" followed with a wee bit of tongue in cheek banter with the crowd re the cancelled wedding and asking if there was anyone in the crowd fancied getting married in a couple of weeks as I had one all ready to go and just needed a bride - as long as she was a size 12! :-D
The "Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles/That Time of the Night" section took us into orbit and then "Vigil" drove us home. I had decided to use a radio mike and get into the crowd for the opening section and boy did it do the trick. I had a surge of adrenalin just walking out and up into the arena and the response was phenomenal. A big high of the day for me and I think for a lot of other people.
Tara was at the front of the stage with her mother and was filming the show. She was in her element and loved every moment.
It was about this time I gave Chris his wee surprise and mentioned to the crowd that he had missed out on a stadium gig the night before and that this was his biggest gig of his career so far. Chris was handed centre stage and I retrieved the camera from Taz and filmed Chris with his rock star pose in front of the roaring crowd. The smile on his face was ecstatic and he loved his moment. I think it more than made up for his "loss". I think he likes being out with us ;-)
"White Russian" rocked out next before "Dark Star" took everyone by surprise. I think that "Dark Star" and "Manchmal" will turn out to be huge favourites once fans get to know the album. Just on these outings alone they are drawing massive responses.
I was knocked back a bit during those two numbers and had to swallow hard a couple of times to avoid being carried away with all the emotion flying around.
"Sugar Mice" was stunning and Frank delivered a killer solo and again emotions threatened to get a hold of me as I told the story of it's origination with Taz and Tamara in the front of house.
We ended with "Last Straw" and tore the house down! The response was phenomenal and we walked off stage to the promoter declaring that we took the festival all hands down! Yatta was in his element and I felt really bad after as I had forgotten to mention our own anniversary! Sorry Yats!! :-[
First encore was "Cliche" - "a song for no-one". Again strange to have my ex wife directly in front of me during this performance of a song associated with our past. She understood my sentiment. Frank was again blistering and even made me react with singing the end section from the album which I haven't sung for years, he was that good!
"Incommunicado" finished the night and rocked everyone out the arena. Hands in the air and off on the roller coaster. A fantastic end to a stunning show. We all had huge smiles as we took our bows to tumultuous applause. A result and a half and it more than made up for the disappointment of Calw.
A large section of about 700 or so of the audience refused to budge and after twenty minutes or so of continuous applause and calls I had to go out and thank them and apologise as the PA was down and we had run out of numbers to play! I was seriously moved by the reaction.
The first major German gig couldn't have gone better. A perfect introduction to the new material and the new set.
We retired to the backstage where we were once again Lords!
Wine was quaffed and the sweet fragrance of herbs played round the windows and under the umbrellas that were only necessary as shields from the sun on a day that marked a new beginning. I said goodbyes to Tara and Tamara and evacuated the site toward the hotel with that warm comforting afterglow of a memorable gig and the hazy promises of a future fraught with potential. I again slept well and awoke to a transport call at midday. Another eye popping drive and Frankfurt airport again bound for the dehumanizing portals of Heathrow. I hate the place, the worst airport in the world. Also the last time I will have to deal with unwanted "baggage" on a check in.
The Limoncello arrived intact but Frank's guitar didn't make the outbound Frankfurt flight for "security" reasons. My Dad picked us up and drove us back to the farm and two weeks off before the launch party. Aylesbury can't come soon enough!
It's Tuesday night and the deal for downloads is done as is the packaging and delivery dates for "13th Star". Calum is mixing away in North Berwick and will deliver the first "proper" mixes next week when Steve V comes up to go through the material so far with me.
Tara arrived home healthy and tanned. "Communion" now has a scheduled retail release date for the re packaged jewel case in October, a new press officer is on board for the tour, the DVD to accompany the new album is in progress, the artwork from Mark is looking fantastic and will be on time and ready for the proposed production dates, the PA is booked for the party and the catering etc is all on line. The garden thanks to all my Mum and Dad's hard work looks fantastic, I have two new lyrics for the next album in progress "The Fourth Wall" and "Starf***er" (working title - the Stones already have that one! Similar to the "She Chameleon" vibe, but rockier and darker!) taken from observations this last weekend, the cats are great (despite my Dad shutting the cat flap because he doesn't like them bringing in "livestock" - my Mother is petrified of mice!), the diseased goldfish is back in goldfish shape, the new tatties are ready and the onions are about to go into drying mode, t
he salad beds are brimming and the flower beds in the back lawn look fabulous with the dahlias being my pride and joy! The next tour dates are confirmed and on sale, a big interview with "The Sun" on Thursday based about the "Zoe 25" lyric (possible photo session ;-) ), eye tests for laser treatment tomorrow, tickets for Hibs v Bolton tomorrow and against Middlesbrough on Saturday, an interview for the Hearts v Hibs programme on August 6th in the bag, it's all positive and zappy!
Starting to feel better about everything and myself again and getting the drive back to make things happen and realising I have just had a very lucky escape from something that could have taken me down and possibly out. Really looking forward to getting on the road again with this album and this set. I have a feeling that something very special is about to happen! ;-)
Lots of love
Onkel Fish xx
aka Billy Shears :-)
Liriche: Square Go
Testo introdotto da una breve spiegazione di Fish.
A voi:
A 'Square go' is a Scottish term regarding fighting. When you ask someone for a 'Square go' it means you offer to fight on level and agreed terms. A square is formed and it kicks off with no-one allowed to "jump in" i.e. intervene. It's between two people and to transgress is more than "frowned" upon. Combatants can choose weapons or just to "go for it". Spanish version is "Mano a mano".
This is about frustration and anger.
Square Go
I'm a soldier in the forever wars, no photos of a family in my wallet,
No i.d., no credit cards, I don't exist, I never have.
I never have.
Raised in jungles I quickly learned to read the trees,
Schooled in deserts I walk on shifting sands.
Neutral shadows, unseen beneath a bed of leaves,
I await the call, open frequency to the square go.
I want a square go! A square go!
I want a square go! Square go!
My blood is ice, the temperatures rising,
My soul a glacier, I move alone,
A pilgrim's progress in a shadow world,
I learned to sit in silence with my sounds.
I want a square go! A square go!
I want a square go! Square go!
(spoken section - jammed)
My blood is ice, the temperatures rising,
My soul a glacier, I move alone, I move alone,
alone,
alone.
© Derek W Dick 2007
A voi:
A 'Square go' is a Scottish term regarding fighting. When you ask someone for a 'Square go' it means you offer to fight on level and agreed terms. A square is formed and it kicks off with no-one allowed to "jump in" i.e. intervene. It's between two people and to transgress is more than "frowned" upon. Combatants can choose weapons or just to "go for it". Spanish version is "Mano a mano".
This is about frustration and anger.
Square Go
I'm a soldier in the forever wars, no photos of a family in my wallet,
No i.d., no credit cards, I don't exist, I never have.
I never have.
Raised in jungles I quickly learned to read the trees,
Schooled in deserts I walk on shifting sands.
Neutral shadows, unseen beneath a bed of leaves,
I await the call, open frequency to the square go.
I want a square go! A square go!
I want a square go! Square go!
My blood is ice, the temperatures rising,
My soul a glacier, I move alone,
A pilgrim's progress in a shadow world,
I learned to sit in silence with my sounds.
I want a square go! A square go!
I want a square go! Square go!
(spoken section - jammed)
My blood is ice, the temperatures rising,
My soul a glacier, I move alone, I move alone,
alone,
alone.
© Derek W Dick 2007
Fish 2007 - Dreams inside the Sun
Dear Fishheads, Freaks, Fans and the Company,
Woke up to a double page in the Scottish Sun today :-D My old mate Matt Bendores, who covered the convention last year, came down yesterday with a photographer and delivered a rather supportive article in the centre pages! As always a wee bit exaggeration and a few extra "quotes" makes for good reading but overall it was the most positive thing I have had for a while. Loved this: "Fish has always been the heart on his sleeve type. It's helped make his web blog a cult hit. His Internet ramblings are a brilliant mix of mind numbing banality and unexpected drama!" :-D The web site got a big check at the end of the article and that, boys and girls and small furry animals, is what it's all about just now!
A full page in the Hearts v Hibs programme for August 6th (I mentioned the famous 0-7 game at Tynie that I saw when we gubbed them on New Years Day '73 for the historic derby record) and XFM Scotland Breakfast show next Friday. Press is starting to pick up now at just the right time for the album release and the UK tour. And with a serious press officer down in London and hopefully a new TV promo person on board in the next two weeks it should be a lot better than the "Return to Childhood" promotion.
Photographer Tony Marsh is conducting a photo shoot in the next week or so and we have some interesting ideas for sets etc. It's about time I had a new set of photos for the promo guys, it's been about two years since the last session.
Another date has been added on Thursday 6th September. It's a Planet Rock special and will be at the Jam House in Queen Street, Edinburgh (the old BBC buildings.) It's a free ticket affair and they are only available through the Planet Rock site as giveaways. The gig will be recorded and broadcast later in the year. The promotion should start at middle of August so listen in if you want a chance to win tickets.
Tosh comes up pre-party to discuss the back projections for the tour and to see what is feasible or not. Lots of ideas kicking around, now just have to try and make them work. I want to get something special going on this tour as far as production goes.
I am playing in Tromso, Norway with the SAS band on the 16th and 17th August. It's a corporate gig for SAS hotels who are opening their new Radisson in the town that weekend. Should be fun! ;-)
First gig with them for a while. I may be free for the Xmas gigs as my tour stops on the 10th December. I would have carried on with my shows right up to the holidays but I originally called it to a halt there to allow my ex to sing with her band as they wanted to play some shows at that time. So, although we won't have our shows, it will mean that I can play with the SAS mob for the first time in a couple of years!
I had my eyes tested two days ago and was told I was one of the 1 in 5 people who can't get their eyes lasered as my problem is short-sightedness. B0ll0cks! I am trying out contact lenses but I hate them. Too fiddly and as I write I have one lens lost behind my eyelid! Bugger :-D I keep forgetting to stop rubbing my eyes and am finding it difficult to get the lenses in and out. A bit of banality to entertain you :-D
Hibs versus Middlesborough in a friendly tomorrow (we whacked Bolton on Wednesday 3-0) and a quiet weekend beckons before the run up to the party. Long range forecast looks OK with rain in the morning but clearer later on. We are all under cover anyway so it doesn't matter ;-)
All is under control; the pigs are ordered for the roast, the marquees arrive Thursday, the PA on Saturday, the Tyneside has the bar together, the bands are on call, all in good shape and longing for kick off. I am looking forward to seeing so many old friends again and hearing the album later this week. Calum is over the moon with his mixes and I am dying to hear them. I won't hear anything till probably Wednesday when Steve V comes up.
And that, folks, is it! The next thing from the album you will hear will be the first mixes. Hopefully they will be up soon after the party! I can't wait to hear them myself :-)
Till then
take care and stay alive
Onkel Fish xx
ps In the Sun on Tuesday Zoe was Page 3 again! She has just turned 26! A belated Happy Birthday Zoe! :-D
The song remains the same though! ;-)
Woke up to a double page in the Scottish Sun today :-D My old mate Matt Bendores, who covered the convention last year, came down yesterday with a photographer and delivered a rather supportive article in the centre pages! As always a wee bit exaggeration and a few extra "quotes" makes for good reading but overall it was the most positive thing I have had for a while. Loved this: "Fish has always been the heart on his sleeve type. It's helped make his web blog a cult hit. His Internet ramblings are a brilliant mix of mind numbing banality and unexpected drama!" :-D The web site got a big check at the end of the article and that, boys and girls and small furry animals, is what it's all about just now!
A full page in the Hearts v Hibs programme for August 6th (I mentioned the famous 0-7 game at Tynie that I saw when we gubbed them on New Years Day '73 for the historic derby record) and XFM Scotland Breakfast show next Friday. Press is starting to pick up now at just the right time for the album release and the UK tour. And with a serious press officer down in London and hopefully a new TV promo person on board in the next two weeks it should be a lot better than the "Return to Childhood" promotion.
Photographer Tony Marsh is conducting a photo shoot in the next week or so and we have some interesting ideas for sets etc. It's about time I had a new set of photos for the promo guys, it's been about two years since the last session.
Another date has been added on Thursday 6th September. It's a Planet Rock special and will be at the Jam House in Queen Street, Edinburgh (the old BBC buildings.) It's a free ticket affair and they are only available through the Planet Rock site as giveaways. The gig will be recorded and broadcast later in the year. The promotion should start at middle of August so listen in if you want a chance to win tickets.
Tosh comes up pre-party to discuss the back projections for the tour and to see what is feasible or not. Lots of ideas kicking around, now just have to try and make them work. I want to get something special going on this tour as far as production goes.
I am playing in Tromso, Norway with the SAS band on the 16th and 17th August. It's a corporate gig for SAS hotels who are opening their new Radisson in the town that weekend. Should be fun! ;-)
First gig with them for a while. I may be free for the Xmas gigs as my tour stops on the 10th December. I would have carried on with my shows right up to the holidays but I originally called it to a halt there to allow my ex to sing with her band as they wanted to play some shows at that time. So, although we won't have our shows, it will mean that I can play with the SAS mob for the first time in a couple of years!
I had my eyes tested two days ago and was told I was one of the 1 in 5 people who can't get their eyes lasered as my problem is short-sightedness. B0ll0cks! I am trying out contact lenses but I hate them. Too fiddly and as I write I have one lens lost behind my eyelid! Bugger :-D I keep forgetting to stop rubbing my eyes and am finding it difficult to get the lenses in and out. A bit of banality to entertain you :-D
Hibs versus Middlesborough in a friendly tomorrow (we whacked Bolton on Wednesday 3-0) and a quiet weekend beckons before the run up to the party. Long range forecast looks OK with rain in the morning but clearer later on. We are all under cover anyway so it doesn't matter ;-)
All is under control; the pigs are ordered for the roast, the marquees arrive Thursday, the PA on Saturday, the Tyneside has the bar together, the bands are on call, all in good shape and longing for kick off. I am looking forward to seeing so many old friends again and hearing the album later this week. Calum is over the moon with his mixes and I am dying to hear them. I won't hear anything till probably Wednesday when Steve V comes up.
And that, folks, is it! The next thing from the album you will hear will be the first mixes. Hopefully they will be up soon after the party! I can't wait to hear them myself :-)
Till then
take care and stay alive
Onkel Fish xx
ps In the Sun on Tuesday Zoe was Page 3 again! She has just turned 26! A belated Happy Birthday Zoe! :-D
The song remains the same though! ;-)
Liriche: Circle Line
Nell'ultima lettera, Fish ha pubblicato il testo dell'opening track di 13th Stars.
Eccovelo:
Circle Line
Just another day on the circle line, losing myself as I follow signs,
Beneath the surface underground I keep my feelings deep inside.
Just another face in another crowd, taking my place without a sound,
I follow strangers blindly through toward the so familiar doors.
Just another day, just another day, another day.
I always depart but I never arrive, never a moment passes by when I feel I'm not treading water in a sea of drifting souls.
No way out, there's no escape, running blind and running scared
and the cctv cameras track my movements in the maze,
9 to 5's the only time I try to kid myself that I'm still alive,
that I'm living out the dream to earn my freedom from this rat race where all I do's survive, I live the lie, I serve my time.
On the circle line.
Round and round and round and round and round and round I go!
9 to 5's the only time I try to kid myself that I'm still alive,
that I'm living out the dream to earn my freedom from this rat race where all I do's survive, I live the lie, I serve my time.
Just another day, just another day, just another day,
Just another day, just another day, just another day on the circle line.
Navigator, need a navigator, a navigator, need a navigator.
I'm going down, I'm going down on the circle line,
The piper calls you forward with an ancient tune,
And you follow down empty corridors,
To take you on a journey to another world,
To take you on a journey to the stars.
© Derek W Dick 2007
Eccovelo:
Circle Line
Just another day on the circle line, losing myself as I follow signs,
Beneath the surface underground I keep my feelings deep inside.
Just another face in another crowd, taking my place without a sound,
I follow strangers blindly through toward the so familiar doors.
Just another day, just another day, another day.
I always depart but I never arrive, never a moment passes by when I feel I'm not treading water in a sea of drifting souls.
No way out, there's no escape, running blind and running scared
and the cctv cameras track my movements in the maze,
9 to 5's the only time I try to kid myself that I'm still alive,
that I'm living out the dream to earn my freedom from this rat race where all I do's survive, I live the lie, I serve my time.
On the circle line.
Round and round and round and round and round and round I go!
9 to 5's the only time I try to kid myself that I'm still alive,
that I'm living out the dream to earn my freedom from this rat race where all I do's survive, I live the lie, I serve my time.
Just another day, just another day, just another day,
Just another day, just another day, just another day on the circle line.
Navigator, need a navigator, a navigator, need a navigator.
I'm going down, I'm going down on the circle line,
The piper calls you forward with an ancient tune,
And you follow down empty corridors,
To take you on a journey to another world,
To take you on a journey to the stars.
© Derek W Dick 2007
Fish scrive, scrive e... scrive
I traduttori di TCI sono in vacanza... e io sono "costretto" a pubblicare le ben TRE email (corposissime, mannaggia) di Fish, in versione albionica e integrale.
Se sapete l'inglese, buona lettura... altrimenti aprite la pagina con il traduttore online di Google e... beh... in quel caso... buona interpretazione! ;)
Se sapete l'inglese, buona lettura... altrimenti aprite la pagina con il traduttore online di Google e... beh... in quel caso... buona interpretazione! ;)
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