FOURGOODMEN - late review from Rotherham - Woops!

simplymindless · FOURGOODMEN - late review from Rotherham - Woops!

Well i do apologise for writing such a late review, but HEY!

So where do we start (you may ask)

I've already mentioned far too many details of the previous few hrs activities - so i will cut to the chase.

There had been a major problem before the gig ever took place!
Prior to the tickets becoming available for purchase, the adverts had riddled the local papers and obviously the International press had been hot on the trail!

The Scottish super Group were in town and nobody wanted to miss out! Tickets were advertised at £5pr person and already 45,000 tickets had been reserved - The Event organisers were in turmoil - what can theydo?
The Ground could only hold 36,000 and the band were not sure that the outside event could handle the intricate quality that this band possesed.

There was only one option! make the event more expensive and obviously far more sought after + bring the sound within the walls of the stadium. The function room was booked witrh a capacity of 250 tickets and the stage was set - Now it was the pricing?

Already the calculators had been out - what was an asking price that was going to cut out 96% of the punters from being able to afford?

There was only one solution - Sell at DOUBLE the original price and seeif 'NORTHERN ROCK' could give a few locals an increase with their motgages.
Thankfully Norther Rock agreed to accomodate the extra funding required (well lets face it! they could handle a few mispayements surely?)

Already there was a large contingent of Mainland European fans on the way + a lunatic travelling from New Zealand!!! (im sure she was only coming over to show of her 'All Blacks shirt'. + a lady from the USA who had no shirt to be proud of, so drank the bar dry instead (good on ya Shannon lol)
So now the tickets were sold and the event was on!

So lets forward wind and we are all awaiting the band to come on stage - Many rumours were being bumped about 'What would they play? Will Bono make a guest appearance? will Derek and Mick have time to recover from the clambering of ladies bodies during the pre gig fan photo opportunity?

All was soon to be revealed.

the rancid smell of sweat was lingering in the air, at the front of stage (thankfully someone had a roll on deodarant to pass forward to the ladies at the front - Health and Safety were satisfied that the party could take place and the lights lowered.

On came the band

Derek Forbes - looking like a City Yuppy! dressed to Impress
Mick McNeil - calm and relaxed - still with that boyish look
and

Hold on a second! is that the Mighty Brian! Surley not?
He looked as fit as the day he first played in Simple Minds - what a treat! The three past Gods of Simple Minds had come out to give us a treat that we would never forget!

Mick, Derek and Brian

Trans Europe Express
In Trance As Mission
Theme For Great Cities

the highlight for me was Great Cities - and mainly because Derek just sounded top class - There is something about the way he plays that just shows why Simple Minds in the early 80's were often mentioned as a bass oriantated band - why not? the guy was top Draw - I had NEVER seen Derek Forbes play bass in the Flesh and it was well worth the wait .

As for Brian? He was just smiling and smiling and smiling!" Finding it easy to show us why a drummer is so impoertant at keeping the tempo and rythm - Mel Gaynor will always be known as the power house of Simple minds - But Brian was the man who made everything work so well together in the early years. Proably something that the Minds would appreciate now.

As for Mick? Um? God? Well lets face it - we all love him"! lol

So we all calm down and cheer Brian a well deserved salute of praise and await for more of the same. Well im not going to lie - I had never seen this band perform - I had heard hardly anything of what they had been producing and im affraid i was not even too sure of the other band members names

They walk on stage to join Mick & Derek -

Ian stands at the front of stage like a man who finds it easy to take in the atmosphere -

The Bass guitar has already started to bounce a famous thumpng beat into our ears and suddenlythe drums come crashing down - Its the Waterfront and the crowd are living the dream again. Graeme Duffin played his part too - ringing out the chords of this almighty track. Smiley (i wish i knew his real name lol) was crashing down the drum sticks and the beautiful sound of Simple Minds past rang in our ears.
But this was FOURGOODMEN and with this band came a huge list of new tracks but also past musical gems from some pretty special bands

The full list was

Waterfront
Kiss Cool
Someone Somewhere In Summertime
Falling
Dream To Sleep
Glittering Prize
Boys Keep Swinging
Don't Get Me Wrong
Stars Will Fall
Love Song
Alive And Kicking
Heart Of Wonder
In A Big Country
Belfast Child
Don't You Forget About Me

It would take far too long to mention each song + my wife will spill hot water down my back if i spend too much time on the computer - so i will just mention the highlights for me

KISS COOL - it a song that i had not heard before the evening itself - but immediatly found a place within - Its one of the main reasons why i pestered Ian Donaldson the next day for their CD.

DREAM TO SLEEP - Not only does this sound great on the Cd but its also such a beautiful song live. It really shows what a great voice Ian has.

IN A BIG COUNTRY - Well Graeme Duffin must love this song, because he played his heart out - Infact the whole band seemed to love this song - which made ewach and one of us feel that we were somewhere rather special.

DONT YOU - Well i dont care what anybodys says about this song - I LOVE IT! im pretty sure im not the only one either, as there was a great rush of blood and jumping about within the crowd, with all of us Middle aged or Tummy Spead men jumping for all we had in us - It was a great way to finish a really special gig.

It was better than i could have ever dreamed - full of emotion and excitement and great quality sound.

Last of all - i must say that the beautiful ladies on stage were something else. Not just beatiful and talented, but their happiness and enthusiasm was easy to see -

Happy is the man who takes his wife and kids to watch his IDOLS and wals away feeling proud to have carried on the dream of listening to them still ,after 30 years - never understanding until that day why you just HAD to see these individuals live to appreciate how talented they really are.

As for the after part suprise - that will have to wait for another day.

P.S - I have some great piccis, so if you want to see them, just give me a shout with your email address's.

Jean Genie

Lawrie.. You are a legend!!!! Laughing

simplymindless

Shirl - have you seen our piccis yet?

Jean Genie

Lawrie, you sent me some lovely piccies from Rotherham via e-mail. Many thanks Smile

AFARR

Thank you Lawrie I knew your review would be worth the wait Laughing

Sorry to correct you on one little thing though but it was Malcolm Button on drums for Smiley as he couldn't make it! Very Happy

Can't wait till Xmas for the next one - shame you can't make it chuck! Razz

Shannon can't either but said if there is a Liverpool gig next year she will be there (Derek - any news?????????????)!!

Have I sent you your nearly topless pic yet? Wink

Andrea x

Jean Genie

Simplymindless Topless?? Shameless!! (Priceless??) Laughing

simplymindless

cheers for the correction - i was desperatly trying to find out what the drummers name was lol - there you have it! proof i was not sure o0f everyones names - I must say he was pretty damn special on the night and great at the after show singa long too

FUNFOXYLADY007

Fantastic review Very Happy

I helps me fill in the blanks of the evening Laughing

Great to meet ya and your family

Fun
xx

AFARR

mailme · Now I have a shirt to be proud of

Well, yes the bar was dry, what else are you going to spend a tenner on that you found on the floor?!

yes, the drummer was not Smiley, but Malky, who I got to sign his drumstick at the famous aftershow party that you shouldn't have left it until 4:30 am! I left at 2 am. and missed the greatest celli ever:-( He said it was the first time someone asked to sign something!

So, the tenner I spent on the FGM t-shirt, was returned to me hehehe

Yes Andrea, send me the pic of Laurie doing a Chippendale's too:-)
and the Belfast Child clip too!

Love
Shannon
who still hasn't won 2000 dollars yet

AFARR · Re: Now I have a shirt to be proud of

mailme · For Memory Sake of course:-)

Well, I must complete my memory book, so all craziness must be represented! That is why Mr. Chippendale must be in there!

I would be playing the roulette if gambling was legal in Texas! No, i'm filling out every survey I can, I have to win one of them:-)

And the clip, well, I will just wait wait and wait:-) I still don't know how to get my pictures off my camera phone either:-) I think it requires a 100 dollar piece of equipment of course:-)Isn't the 21 century wonderful. It will make you broke lol

Bruce, go visit Andrea and sort it out lol or Ash.

Love
Shannon