Box News #189 November 16th, 2013

Mick talks about, the last shows in the Ukraine, saying goodbye to our interpreters Daria and Nina, the first show with ‘Quo’ in Chemintz, our new stage set, Ted, Dave, Kevin, Yvonne and Lowri joining us in Berlin, thought for the day in our itinerary, shopping and the spilt milk, and the delights of Hamburg being the ‘Star Club’ and ‘The Beatles Plaza.’ He also discusses, the ‘Crazy Jean,’ clothes shop, the Hamburg Hard Rock Café, the sound police, and the show in Dortmund. Mick also talks about Phil and Mick writing in the hotel rooms for the new album, Vic being ‘King of the Road,’ and the good Italian food and vino, and a much needed early night.

The last two shows in the Ukraine were Kharkov and Donetsk, and these were excellent, before we flew home to London, for a few days welcome break. The promoter Valentina of VIP Music was already discussing a further tour in April 2014, so that was good. We said our goodbyes to our interpreters Daria and Nina, and caught the plane to LHR!
Well we were soon back at Terminal 5 in London’s Heathrow Airport, only this time it was just the band. The crew were on their way to Chemintz in Germany by bus, as we had all of our equipment in the trailer. Chemintz was the start of our ‘Very Special Guest,’ spot on the ‘Status Quo.’ Tour.

The first show was immense, as we have now added a bit of production to our stage set, and it all looked terrific. The only way you can really tell if your investment has worked, is when you see it all put together at the first concert. We were all very pleased with it, and we received a lot of compliments about it too. We have a new back-drop, two new side panels, a new drum kit, and added lights.
We had only one hour to play, so working out a set list became a little problematic, so we put together songs that we thought would have the most impact. It all went very well, but we wanted to make a few small changes the next night, to get it just right. In these circumstances we have to be super professional, and go on time, and come off on time.
However the show was terrific, and playing these huge venues is brilliant. The venue in Chemintz was the Stadthalle and it was packed. We had a very strong reaction and left the stage with the audience shouting for more. We really did trim the fat off the set list and kept the talking down to a minimum, but a few changes were required the next night to get it just perfect.

On our itinerary Scampi had put a thought for each day, and that day’s pearler was, “No man is truly married until he understands every word his wife is NOT saying.” Doh!
Now we go on stage at 8pm and come off at 9pm, so we have enough time to get changed, have a drink and go out to boogie with the ‘Quo,’ boys, which is Brilliant! They have a really cool show, and they start with ‘Caroline,’ which is the perfect opener for them. They have a very powerful set and it all becomes very infectious. Overall it is a great bill, with plenty of good songs, played by a bunch of good experienced musicians, and the audience go home happy. Job done!
The next day we had a 262km, 3hour drive to Berlin which was cool! We do not sound-check until 6pm, so we get more of the day to relax or go shopping. While I was in Chemintz I bought two jackets, half a dozen pairs of stage socks, a pair of headphones, and some milk for my tea in the room. Rock n’ roll eh!
In the morning before the drive to Berlin I gave Vic our driver, the coats in a plastic bag, and asked him to put them in an empty suitcase in the back of the van. On the journey I had an awful thought, as I had put for the convenience of carrying the milk, I had put it in a smaller plastic bag inside the bag with the coats. Doh!
When we arrived I looked in the case and my fears were confirmed, there was milk everywhere. Oh well they will have to go straight to the dry cleaners when I get home, without me even wearing them once. Some days…….!

In Berlin we played the Max Schmeling Halle, and this venue was seriously packed out. We had Ted and Dave over from England. They play in a band called “The 2FB’s,” and Bernie and I worked with them when we played a concert for the “Nightingale Cancer Charity” in England. Also over from England were Kevin, Yvonne and their daughter Lowri, which was cool. We also had Nathan and Adam over from our management office.

The thought for the day in the itinerary was “Everyone has the power to make others happy. Some do it by leaving the room.” How true that is!!

The show was terrific and Francis Rossi even came and said how much he liked the show, and that we have really upped our game. Now that’s nice to hear! The changes we made to the set list really did help, and the reaction was immense. After this we boogied on down listening to the “Quo,” who really were on form, before we went back to the hotel and hit the bar, with Ted and Dave. I was slaughtered, but a good time was had by all.
The next morning we drove to Hannover which was 294km, and took 3 hours and 15 minutes. Thought for the day in the itinerary was, “Why is Abbreviated” such a long word?
The venue was called the “Swiss-Life Hall,” and it was rammed. Our show was terrific, and we felt the electricity of the audience just growing with each number. Because we are restricted with how long we can play, we cannot get people up for any head-banging which is a shame, as it would have gone down a storm. Still the audience were magnificent, and a good time was had by all.

We had one of those moments on stage, when out of Bernie’s mouth came the words Hamburg instead of Hannover, but I’ll give it to him, he was thinking quickly on his feet and managed to smooth it over super-fast.

The promoter came into our dressing room to thank us for a brilliant show, so we are getting a good buzz thus far on this tour, from both the fans and the business side of things. After the show we didn’t stay and watch the “Quo” boys, as we drove straight to Hamburg, where we have two days off and a concert.

It was a Sunday so we went out for a walk all except Russell, who was meant to be going to play golf with Scampi. However the golf didn’t work out for whatever reason. Once back at the hotel after lunch Phil and I got my guitars and his keyboards delivered to our room, thanks to Brian and Vic, so that we could make use of the time, and do some writing for the new CD. The thought of the day in the itinerary in case you were wondering was, “Alcohol does not solve problems, but then again neither does milk.”
The writing went very well, and in the evening we all went for an Italian meal which was excellent. The food and vino were top notch, and a good time was had by all, that ended up in the bar of the hotel, for a night cap, or in some cases like moi, the whole hat shop.

The following day after breakfast Phil and I did some lyric writing, before a planned trip to the famous Hamburg Reeperbahn. It was really cool and we found the ‘Star-Club,’ made famous by ‘The Beatles.’ There is a plaque outside with the names of all of the bands that have played there, and it was wonderful to read names like, ‘Gerry and the Pacemakers,’ ‘Bo Diddly,’ ‘Duane Eddy,’ ‘The Undertakers.’ ‘Jerry Lee Lewis,’ ‘The Searchers,’ ‘The Walker Brothers,’ ‘Chubby Checker,’ ‘Jimi Hendrix,’ and my personal favourite ‘Johnny Kid and the Pirates.’ There were many more names on display, and it was a time warp through my own personal musical life. A little bit of trivia here, the ‘Star Club,’ was open from the 13th April 1962 to 31st December 1969.

We also walked along ‘The Beatles,’ Platz where they even have a metal statutes of them complete with drum kit.

After this we went in a couple of shops, and one was known as ‘Crazy Jeans,’ where we had a field day buying stage clothes. They had the coolest shirts and jeans, and the owner was a ‘Heep’ fan, and gave us 50% off. Now that was an offer too good to miss, so we came out with bags full. We had a little lunch after in the restaurant next door, and when we went to pay, the lady said, don’t worry the owner of the shop has paid it for you. What a brilliant day that was tuned out to be, and little did we know it was not over yet.
Back at the hotel we all met at 7pm, as Scampi had arranged for us all to have dinner at the ‘Hard Rock Café.’ They treated us royally and all food and drinks were free. While there, I did text Mike Carparelli who makes my guitars, to say we have an opportunity to put one of his guitars on the wall and would he be interested. Mike texted me right back, and said he would love to, and he would send one in January after the NAMM show in Los Angeles, as he would have his new range of guitars out. What a terrific bloke, and this would look great amongst all of the other memorabilia.

On the way out I spied a jacket, and asked the owner if he could do a deal for me, so he just put it in a bag and gave it to me. Well that was the flood gates open, and everyone walked out with something. What an end to a wonderful day! Retail therapy heaven indeed!
The next day Phil and I slaved over some more lyrics, and after a little lunch we prepared for the show. The venue was the O2 Arena, and was huge. Our new stage set looks really cool on these big stages, and it is great to be in front of all of those people. The thought for the day in the itinerary was ”To err is human-to blame it on somebody else shows real Management potential.”

The show was terrific, and Hamburg has always been good for us, but they just loved it, and there was real electricity in the air, as far as you could see. It was a sea of hands at most points, that looked brilliant. We were delighted with how we played, and the response, so it was back in the dressing room for a little vino celebration, before going out to see ‘Quo.’ I have to say that ‘Quo’ were on fire that night too, and it was good to see.

Martin Darvill our manager and his wife Marion had come out to see us, and it is always good to see them. It feels like we are complete team then, which is cool. It is always good for management to come and see the artists in this type of environment, as it re-aligns them, and energises them on what we are all about. On that basis, it was job done!

The early morning thought for the day was, ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to use the internet, and he won’t bother you for weeks.’

We drove the 342 km to Dortmund, which took the best part of 4 hours, and a lunch stop along the way. That night’s show was in the ‘Westfalenhalle 1,’ and the audience were a little slow in showing their appreciation for us, but in the end we got them, and it was a great night.

The problem we have over here in Germany sometimes, is the noise police are everywhere in these venues, and we have to keep the decibels down to their guidelines. For a rock band like us this is difficult but not impossible, so we do our best to accommodate Dan our Front of House engineer, at the sound-check.

Now ‘Quo,’ are all on in-ears, so they do not quite have to same problem, as there is very little volume coming off the stage. However there are huge fines involved, so you have to play the game. Usually those type of restrictions are only in Switzerland, but it has become more widespread as time goes on.

After the show we watched the ‘Quo’ boys, and then we had a little drink in the bar, with our manager Martin & Marion, before going to bed. They gave us blank room keys, with the number on a card when we checked in. Well I left the card in my room, and only had the room key, so I had forgotten what my number was, so I guessed the floor, and went quietly along each room until mine opened. Phew!

The next day we had a Day off, which really was a travel day, as we had to drive 596 km’s, taking the best part of 7 hours. Vic always does incredibly well and shaves off as much time as possible, and he always surprises us with getting there a little earlier, and earning his ‘King of the Road, ‘ moniker.
The hotel was called the ‘Big Box Hotel,’ which also the name of the venue. Well that was a photo shot not to be missed by Moi!
We had enough time to pack and get settled in, before we met in the bar to go to an Italian Restaurant a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. Scampi did us proud and it was terrific. Before we went I had a phone call from Sheila in Africa which was lovely. We could not talk too long but it was lovely to hear her voice and know that she is alright. I also spoke with Romeo on his school bus, so I felt really connected which was cool!

After the meal, some went back to the bar, but I took the sensible route and went to bed. The thought for the day was ringing in my ears as it said, ‘Follow your dreams-except for the one where you are naked at work.’ Doh! Bed was the only option!

The next day we had a walk around the local shopping centre and then we had some lunch in the venue, which was delicious. The catering on this tour really has been first class. I looked in the itinerary to check on the times we had to be where, and the thought of the day read, ‘If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?’

And on that note, I will say Adieu, and hopefully see you for more tales of the mighty ‘Heep’ on tour with ‘Status Quo,’ next week.

‘Appy days!
Mick