On no more gigs.
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:05 am
I was fifteen at my first TD gig. 1980, Apollo Victoria. I went the day before to check the route. I can still picture kit being loaded off a truck into the stage door. EF was there I can see him. Not sure about the other members. It had never occurred to me to take a personal interest in the band members I just listened to the music. Oh you fool - you could have gone over and said "hi". But no.
And since then 19 other gigs - less than I wanted but a good tally. Every year could be marked as a year with the highlight of a TD gig or a barren one. The months of expectation, in later years, the meet before and band meet after. And the gig itself - even the tracks I wasn't so keen on had new significance. The bridges - and trying to pick out the next track. Then encores and the long applause but no, the lights come up and that's that. The earlier gigs had the band just leave - I can picture EF shaking clasped hands above his head leaving the stage but that was all the interaction you got. Later of course the closing words - teasing us in London after Germany beat England at football, but always a few topical thoughts that sustained the magic.
Eventually the cold tube or bus home. But always with the comfort there would be another gig.
No more.
Damn.
And since then 19 other gigs - less than I wanted but a good tally. Every year could be marked as a year with the highlight of a TD gig or a barren one. The months of expectation, in later years, the meet before and band meet after. And the gig itself - even the tracks I wasn't so keen on had new significance. The bridges - and trying to pick out the next track. Then encores and the long applause but no, the lights come up and that's that. The earlier gigs had the band just leave - I can picture EF shaking clasped hands above his head leaving the stage but that was all the interaction you got. Later of course the closing words - teasing us in London after Germany beat England at football, but always a few topical thoughts that sustained the magic.
Eventually the cold tube or bus home. But always with the comfort there would be another gig.
No more.
Damn.
Yes, knowing that you would see Edgar and co. every year or so made it so that you knew in that time at least one fantastic thing was going to happen - 3hrs with you favourite band listening to some amazing music. This was always something to look forward to, especially meeting them afterwards which I only started to do about 5 years ago and very much looked forward to every time there-on. I am really going to miss those fantastic evenings, unless they decide to do a few more (we can but DREAM!!), and am so thankful that I have all those fantastic live cd's & dvd's to re-live those happy moments. After having seen them every 12 to 24 months since the mid-seventies, this will really be a big hole in my life and, I fear, there is absolutely nobody else that can take their place. I miss you Edgar, so much, but your wonderful music will never leave my cd player!! 