So it was a particular delight to see that BBC3 were having a 'Prog Weekend', and showing a documentary from the 1970's, of Emerson Lake and Palmer's European tour. I could have done without seeing Greg Lake languishing in his bed with laryngitis, but it was great to see the way big gigs used to be done.
ELP were pioneers of the idea that it was easier to take your own stage with you, rather than try to fit into what was already at the venue. There was lots of footage of very hairy roadies clambering about on steel scaffolding trusses, while other bush-bearded and be-denimed blokes threaded cables into mixing desks. Teams of guys manhandled enormous flight-cases out of articulated trucks, as the rock stars strolled through the chaos in their loon pants and leather jackets.
I can remember watching this film when it was first broadcast. It had all seemed so glamorous; everything looked so modern. Thirty-odd years on, and it all looked a bit grimy and dangerous. The scaffolding and lights were being raised with a manual block and tackle; no sign of the electric winches used today. Everything was hand carried from the trucks to the stage; no forklift trucks.
There was one thing that hasn't changed over the years though.
Gaffer tape.
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I once hiked 14 miles from Nottingham to Mansfield to see Steve Hackett in concert with his brother (plays the flute). They both wore black tie and tails, and bit out of kilter with their setting. To give you a mind picture of this, Steve's opening line was "Hello Mansfield - It's great to be playing...the leisure centre!"
ReplyDeleteAh, the glamour.
Hmm! "Hello Mansfield" certainly falls quite a long way short of "Hello Woodstock" for glamour. Even so, I expect the 15 mile trek was worth it.
ReplyDeletePresumably this was around the time that Steve Hackett had released his first solo album ('Voyage of the Acolyte'?)
1983 or 4. I was living in halls (along with RFGR as it turns out!) and hiked there with a girl called Jude. It was my first introduction to Hackett, but I became a big fan and subsequently bought a number of his records. I had Voyage, and the one i really recall is Please Don't Touch! I was quite taken by the picture of his wife/girlfriend on the sleeve. She was called Kim. It's a funny old loosely connected world isn't it?
ReplyDeleteMr Hackett's wife, Kim Poor, did all those rather interesting, diaphanous pictures on his album covers.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you want 'loosely connected', she's from Brazil.