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I'll skip the whole journey to
Cologne part and say that when we got to the venue
at 5.45pm, the gate to the main courtyard was open
and we heard Come Alive being played inside! Someone
from German tv told us the entrance was 'further on'
and then someone else said we needed a pass to get
in, but the door was open and... well, I figured the
worst that could happen was that they would kick us
out, but they didnīt and we ended up being able to
watch the soundcheck!!! They were messing around a
bit with the sound when we got the bits where he would
later say things to the audience for the tv show.
There were loads of people around, mostly from German
tv, and a couple of other fans besides ourselves.
And Gary of course, who we understand had been working
really late the previous day to finish the video projections
for the extra additions (to the Harvey Nickīs show)...
;-)
The setlist if I remember correctly was: Memory
Palaces, Aztec Moon, Signals in Smoke,
Come Alive, Dark Circles, Barbarellas
(with shots of the sung over the top (and with some
of Johnīs geography field trip slides!! Nick was laughing
when he said that even John hadnīt seen them since
1979!). Besides Stephen and Nick, Sally and Evie were
also there, practising some dance routines during
the soundcheck as there hadnīt been time for a proper
rehearsal.
After the soundcheck we had a brief chance to talk
to Nick and Stephen. Nick said Stephen had found Simon
Colley, who was now living in San Francisco and other
than that they didnīt know what he was doing, only
that he was married. I think the idea was to interview
him for the Devils video (which Nick assures us WILL
be released, but he didnīt give a date...) and also
to interview John and do some filming in Birmingham.
Nick also said he would be caught up in Duran work
the coming time, but that he really wants to do a
proper Devils gig in London sometime and do all the
songs off the album in order. No date mentioned, unfortunately.
Oh and that there would. And when I mentioned that
the security was really relaxed at the venue, that
there really was no ... Er, right...
All of Stephenīs comments during the tv show were
about the anti-war movement and how Nick and he were
two of the 2 million people whoīd taken part in the
demonstrations last weekend (or words to that effect).
Oh, and he joked that the Devils had made a pact to
perform every time the world was in need, so back
in 1979 and then now... ;-) The tv show was pretty
much the same as the soundcheck. They had to redo
Aztec Moon and Come Alive because Stephen had made
a mistake on some of the lyrics (I hadnīt noticed
on Aztec Moon, but hey, I wasnīt going to complain
about hearing it again!). And I donīt know what else
to add now except that it was WONDERFUL!!!!
We didnīt stay for all of Gary Numan, btw, but it
was mostly new stuff so I didnīt know any of it. There
were about 300 tickets sold, according to Nick (the
venue holds 1500, but theyīd made it look smaller
with large black curtains), but he said they hadnīt
given it too much attention on the official websites
because they didnīt want fans to be disappointed at
it only being a tv show and a short set. But I donīt
think any of us were disappointed!! Not that I`m very
objective about The Devils... ;-)
Anyway, thatīs all from me for now. I took loads of
photos which I hope to have developed tomorrow (fingers
crossed!!), so Iīll post a link to them as soon as
Iīve put them online.
Iīve probably forgotten loads, but itīs late, itīs
been a long journey and I have to go to work tomorrow...
:-(
The show will be broadcast on May 6th on the Arte
TV channel. The full setlist was:
Memory Palaces
Aztec Moon
Signals in Smoke
Come Alive
Dark Circle
Big Store
Barbarellas
The Tinsel Ritual (with "we shall overcome"
and "give peace a chance" sung over the top as an
anti-war statement)
Then they had to redo Aztec Moon & Come
Alive for the tv show as Stephen made some mistakes
on the lyrics and/or there was something wrong with
the guitar. I had such an adrenaline rush from meeting
Nick (similar to drinking 20 cups of coffee before
going to bed) that I couldn't sleep Monday night and
am still a bit of a wreck. But a very happy wreck
:-))) Nick was totally lovely, Stephen was a sweetheart
and it was just so great to be part of it all!!!
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