Tents / Priory / Jacko / Local Press / Friends
Ten years ago on the afternoon October 31st 1999, I found myself travelling in a taxi across the Leicestershire countryside seemingly lost. This was not a good situation as the prospect of seeing Robert Plant, who was performing in a tent in the vicinity in the next half hour was fast disappearing.
Earlier I had met the enigmatic and fine Leicester based musician Kevin Hewick who was leading me with all good intentions on this wild goose chase.(Hi Kevin hope you’re well). He had heard that Robert and The Priory Of Brion were booked for an appearance at the Ashby Del La Zouch Folk Festival in a tent in Moira near Leicester. Sounded the perfect way to spend a Halloween afternoon. However our taxi driver host was finding said location very hard to locate. Where were sat navs when we needed them, or for that matter mobile phones!
Anyway, thankfully it all came good – we found the venue and the tent with about fifteen minutes to spare…and on a pleasant Sunday afternoon Robert duly delivered one of the most captivating gigs I’ve ever seen. Witty, relaxed, reflective and singing with passion and verve the songs that as he put it, he’d had stored in his back pocket.
Robert Plant in a tent on a Sunday afternoon….whatever next? How about Robert Plant on a Saturday night in a pub lounge bar because bizarrely that’s what was in store two weeks later.
His Q Award this week for Outstanding Contribution To Music is another justly deserved accolade. For occasions like the above and so many more.
Had a rare night out at the cinema last night as the good lady, Adam, his mate and I took in Michael Jackson’s much touted This Is It. The verdict? Have to say it was brilliant. For a film that was deploying rehearsal footage that was never intended for public view, it’s a remarkable achievement. The dancing was out of this world and for all the off stage problems, once on stage, MJ still clearly had it. He would have been up to about the 25th gig at the 02 now which is a sad thought. All I can add is if that was the rehearsal, well the actual show would have been a sensation.
Nice to receive a bit of coverage in the local press this week – the Bedfordshire On Sunday here bringing news of the Knebworth book to the Beds public. Local readers note, the book is now on sale in WH Smith in Bedford.
Elsewhere, wading through the collation of text for the next TBL magazine.
Also been to the docs a couple of times this week. Don’t think I went near a doctor’s surgery for twenty odd years, but in the last year or so I’m something of a regular. That’s the ageing process for you. Tests for this, tests for that. Came away with a ton load of pills – so nothing a few gulps of those and a couple of Nick Drake albums hopefully won’t cure (though I’ll avoid the track Black Eyed Dog).
Also went to visit some old friends from way back I haven’t seen for years.
I’ve been meaning to do this for a while and it was another cathartic experience, not to mention hugely nostalgic, being back in the vicinity where I first heard Whole Lotta Love 40 years ago. Having a quick pint in The Fox to mull it all over afterwards, it was somewhat ironic to hear the strains from the juke box of The Rolling Stones Ruby Tuesday ringing out with the line ‘’Yesterday don’t matter if it’s gone’’
Oh but it does Mr Jagger…it surely does.
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