The
Concert For George
Royal Albert Hall, London 29th November 2002.
Thanks to Ellie Wilde for this wonderfully emotive review of the Concert For George.
OK this is going to be a long one so go to the loo, get yerself a brew (that's an in joke, y'know!) and prepare to be bored to tears. This is my inane/insane rambling regarding the George tribute that took place 4 days and 4 hours (approx) ago.... not that I've been counting or anything! First and foremost I want to thank all those lovely people who got in touch before/after/during the event to wish me luck/prop me up/wonder what it was like, and I'm just stressing that you added to the wonderful event. I think I can honestly say that what I experienced that night was a once in a lifetime thing, and I feel honoured that I was part of it.... I can't say that enough! Anyway, after all the rambling, I shall get on with it!
Big challenge of the day: dragging 'Mancy' Eddie away from the bar at the station. The train left Piccadilly at 11.27, and it took the three of us to drag him to coach B just in time, after he'd parted with his beloved John Smiths. The journey down was wonderfully smooth...that was up until Leighton Buzzard, when (after a lot of chugging...) we came to a complete standstill. After thinking this was part of a surreal Python sketch ("oh no" said Thomas) we got off the train, then Basil Fawlty of the train world started screaming at us to get back on! I honestly thought he was gonna start hitting the thing with a branch from a tree, but thankfully he spared us that.
Okay, so a little late (sorry Stephen, A-M and Sam!) I arrived at Euston and arranged to meet up with fellow nutters in the Goat Tavern on Kensington High St - that was after depositing stuff at the hotel. The Goat seemed to be brimming with all the Beatleweek regulars - it was great fun, although all we seemed to do is wind each other up heaps about what they reckoned each person would perform. When someone (I think it may have been Helen) noted that it was 45mins til the show, I immediately ran to the loos and honestly thought I was going to throw up - so much for the calm mood I was in earlier! (And that was without being drunk before anyone says a thing! LOL)
After finding a stalker in the process, we made our way to the dome - so much history in that place anyway, but ruddy hurr...the atmosphere was fantastic! It felt like we were in the safest place on the planet with all the famous people inside - it was lovely to see 'Bootleg Giles' (Paul McCartney's bodyguard who bears a striking resemblance to Antony Head!) again looking after Mr. George "no autographs please!" Martin. Outside there were a lot of devotees of the Krsna consciousness all chanting and dancing, even though it was FREEZING cold. They were great to watch, although it was marred completely by the money grabbing b*stards that are also known as ticket touts. After screaming at one of them because he wouldn't leave us alone (so much for a calming atmosphere!) we entered the venue... the smell as you walked in was heavenly, and the gorgeous flowers on the welcome table were... well.... gorgeous! ;o) Anne-Marie had already gone into the RAH, so Sam and I slowly made our way to the seats - for all those who want to know we were sat choir east, row 8 seats 19-22. (Great view from behind, quite close to the stage - I must emphasise great view from behind, you'll understand later!) The music being played as we walked in were favourite songs of George's; a lot of Hoagy Carmichael and we were told by those with a front view that one of George's guitars was lit up on the stage. We *did* see the beautiful photo of George hanging as a backdrop to the performers... breathtaking!
The lights dimmed, the audience hushed and the show began. Olivia came onto the stage and lit candles on an altar-type holder, then Ravi came onstage and announced the music the Indian musicians would be performing - one of which Ravi had composed especially for George. He then said that he felt George was with us all: "how could he not be?" and then Anoushka played a wonderful section of sitar music... I'm going to use it again, but mind-blowing! :o) Jeff Lynne joined the musicians onstage and performed 'The Inner Light' - the first piece of music that people seemed to identify with. Another section of music followed, with Eric Clapton playing some wonderful guitar... it was a great blend of styles, and the enthusiastic tapping of Eric's leg was entertainment in itself! This part lasted 45 minutes, giving us a break - we needed it, after the emotion of the music. I feel that this was one of the highlights for me. I'm the first to admit I don't think I could sit down and listen to Indian music (maybe in the background) but seeing it performed in front of you is a different matter entirely.
Okay, please excuse this next section but THE PYTHONS CAME ONSTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, so it was minus John Cleese who had 'work commitments' but it still didn't dampen our excitement! A few of us had been joking around and said wouldn't it be fab if they performed 'Sit On My Face' at the tribute, but I for one wasn't expecting it to happen. (Okay, so our original idea was for Mikey P, Ewic, Ringo and Paul to do it, but one out of 4 ain't bad....) Dressed as a barbershop quartet - for all those who haven't seen 'Hollywood Bowl' - with yellow waistcoats and white open backed aprons, they sang 'Sit On My Face' while we were hysterically laughing and pointing. The nice man sat next to Mys gave her his binoculars for that part - I still reckon that Ewic has a nicer bum, but I don't suppose the gentlemen reading this will want to know that! ;o) ANYWAY, next up was MC Palin, dressed in a white jacket with gold spangly bits on the collar. After stressing to all of us how humongously big the event was, and how huge George was he announced he didn't want to introduce... he wanted to be a LUMBERJACK!!!!!!!!!! Next thing we knew a group of Mounties had entered stage right - quite a few famous Mounties, too. Tom Hanks, Damon Hill and Ravi were the ones we spotted. Everyone in the hall seemed to be singing along, laughing and pointing simultaneously.... it provided a nice contrast from the rollercoaster of emotions going on, it was a relief to be able to laugh!
Now, for all the musos here's where you need to take notice! Jeff Lynne was the first on stage with 'I Want To Tell You' and after grabbing hold of Anne-Marie (she last saw George perform it at the last gig George did in Britain - RAH 1992) he carried on with 'If I Needed Someone'. Spinetingling isn't the word for it... I honestly can't put into words how I felt then, let alone how I feel now that it's been and gone! Next up was Gary Brooker with 'Old Brown Shoe', and then Eric Clapton aka Clapped Out (it's a term of endearment.... honestly!) performed 'Beware Of Darkness'. That's the song where I looked up into the audience and everything seemed to be like a dream. The lights were casting a haze over everything; it just seemed so surreal to be there...the 'realisation' song. :o) Joe Brown (from London, not Liverpool as I saw in a review recently...) performed 'Here Comes The Sun' and I've gotta say the bassist was rather fab! Hey, I had to get a mention in somewhere, didn't I!? His rendition of 'That's the Way It Goes' from the Gone Troppo album was gorgeous and it didn't cease to amaze me, even though we knew he'd be performing it that night. Sam Brown did a wonderful version of 'Horse To Water' as her Dad watched the performance proudly from the wings - if I had one complaint about this though, it'd be that her voice is SO powerful that they didn't need the mic to be that high! That's not a complaint though... Jools Holland was at the piano, with a full band including horns.
Tom Petty - what can I say? 'Taxman'; an ultimate favourite, then 'I Need You' which made the soppy girlies on row 8 go gooey and sing to each other! Yeah, okay - I'll pass the sickbucket around now! Another audience favourite (especially for the headbangers behind us!) was the Traveling Wilburys 'Handle With Care' with had most of the RAH bopping away! Must point out that Dhani is a wonderful musician, and performed with gusto... not only that, but for most of the evening he was composed and intense, as though he was proudly performing for his Dad. He has so much courage to be so closely involved in the performance and organisation, and he deserves utmost respect! Next song was 'Isn't it a Pity' on which Billy Preston and Eric Clapton duetted... I didn't know where to look onstage as there was just respected musicians everywhere! After this Eric introduced Ringo, and I'm the first to admit I was just grinning from ear to ear! I'd never seen the guy before, and I was as giddy as hell - I'm not going to apologise to anyone for that! After a short speech which began with "I loved George and he loved me…" (can't remember the rest cos I was too busy blubbing!) he sang 'Photograph' and 'Honey Don't'. Oh yeah, someone behind him threw jelly babies, and I'm told that someone on the stage shouted "Don't throw the jelly babies!" cos they were hitting everyone in sight! Anyway, as Ritch was singing 'Honey Don't' I looked into the wings and saw a left-handed person strumming the chords... couldn't see his face cos it was in shadow, but it could only be him. :o)
Ringo took to the drumstool, and announced "another old friend" and out came Paul. He amazed me by playing 'For You Blue' and it had quite an effect on us lot! Especially the '12 bar blues' addition, where I nearly fell off my seat (or should that be perch!?) thinking he's not such a bad bloke after all...LOL Paul then told us that whenever he used to go around to see George they'd end up having a singalong and the ukuleles would come out. Paul then performed a jazzy, sleazy version of 'Something' on a uke that George had given him, then midway through it turned into the version we all know and love. I'm the first to admit that when I heard about the tribute in Paul's show from the Driving USA tour I cringed - it sounded bizarre to me, that was until I heard a bootleg of it and was quite impressed. Nothing prepared me for the feeling on the night though, but 'All Things Must Pass' was the highlight of Paul's section for me. I openly blubbed at this one, while A-M was grinning and hugging me - thank you dear! Next up was 'While My Guitar...' and for all those that saw the Party At The Palace please note that Paul *actually* hit the right notes (and in the right order!) this time! ;o) Joking… I'm sure you know I love him really.... it was amazing to watch Paul and Eric's interaction throughout this section, but particularly this song for me. Hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck-raising-stuff springs to mind!
We knew the evening had to end somewhere, and the inevitable 'My Sweet Lord' was performed. Billy Preston did a wonderful job throughout, but really shone on this - ALL of the RAH was up on it's feet at this point (finally!) and this is going to sound REALLY corny, but the amount of love in the audience was magnificent. Next up...'WAH WAH'!!!!! This was surreal for me, watching Paul sing a song that wasn't exactly complimentary about him but it made the night! A BIG fave of mine and being performed by all those wonderful people! I glanced to the wings and saw all the Python lot (from 'While My Guitar' onwards) headbanging and singing along to the songs...friends AND fans of George, amazing!
After dancing away and trying not to lose my programme, the standing ovation that seemed to last forever and the performers moving to the side of the stage, Joe Brown came to the forefront and and 'I'll See You In My Dreams'. I adore that song anyway, but it'll hold gorgeous memories forever now - the sight of confetti and petals floating down from the ceiling, couples in the front row hugging, the performers onstage linking arms and swaying along (us following their example while blubbing and smiling at the same time) and Dhani and Olivia hugging each other... so touching.
Not one performer outshone the other - I can't say that enough. They were all there for their love of George... actually, we all were and it was just amazing to share that with all those who were lucky to be there. Actually, scrap that - it's amazing to be able to share it with everyone who cares!
I shall say sorry for the ramble, but this is the condensed version - there's heaps more I'm sure I could say about it, but I'll stop myself now before I self implode!
Ellie Wilde
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