| Sunshine 24.07.2016 09:54 |
I am just watching Brixton again after a while, found a recording of Rotterdam June 21st 1993 and listed to Barcelona 1993 and I just have to say that these performances on this tour are Brian's finest moments as a live artist in his whole career. The band as a whole is truly amazing, the technical abilities, cohesion and tightness are superb. Resurrection is such a gem. I attended Rotterdam 1993 myself and it is still the best concert I have been to. What an impression. |
| musicland munich 24.07.2016 10:02 |
Yep, your right. The Tour was very good. I was in Düsseldorf. I didn't like the backgroud singers...that was in need of getting used to. |
| Sunshine 24.07.2016 10:25 |
I was also in Düsseldorf in the Philipshalle. November 1993 right? I also had to get used to that as well as the new musicians. It was clearly not Queen but prefer the Brian May band over Queen + Paul Rodgers and Queen + AL |
| musicland munich 24.07.2016 10:41 |
Sunshine wrote: I was also in Düsseldorf in the Philipshalle. November 1993 right? I also had to get used to that as well as the new musicians. It was clearly not Queen but prefer the Brian May band over Queen + Paul Rodgers and Queen + ALYes, 30th November. The Tour was more Queenish than Queen and Adam Lambert...at least to me. The flair after the gig was really good...as close you can get to Queen days I would say. I saw several cars with fans banging their heads to the music on their way home...And everyone was about 23 years younger than today :) |
| Sunshine 24.07.2016 11:57 |
Yeah I had the same ticket! I remember Robbie Valentine as opening act. Not as bad as Paralemos Di Successo (or something like that) in Rotterdam. That was REALLY bad. Did Robbie join onstage for Hammer To Fall? And did Brian play Teo Torriate in Düsseldorf or was I dreaming? |
| earwig 24.07.2016 12:46 |
Another thumbs up for a great tour… …PLEASE lets have the Brixton gig on DVD. And how about the Barcelona TV footage as a bonus? |
| musicland munich 24.07.2016 13:15 |
Sunshine wrote: Yeah I had the same ticket! I remember Robbie Valentine as opening act. Not as bad as Paralemos Di Successo (or something like that) in Rotterdam. That was REALLY bad. Did Robbie join onstage for Hammer To Fall? And did Brian play Teo Torriate in Düsseldorf or was I dreaming?Actually, at that point I wasn't a "Setlist-Guy"...but as far as I remember Robbie Valentine played a cover Version of"Dear Friends" and was getting mixed reactions from the crowd...some liked it much...and some not so much :) But overall he was okay for an lesser known support act. Didn't Brian tease several Queen songs that night ? Keep Yourself Alive comes to my mind.... And yes Teo Torriatte was played that night. |
| mooghead 24.07.2016 14:53 |
I went to Whitley Bay Ice Rink?! Brilliant. I just wish I took a camera or can remember it more.... |
| musicland munich 24.07.2016 15:00 |
mooghead wrote: I went to Whitley Bay Ice Rink?! Brilliant. I just wish I took a camera or can remember it more....Ohhhhh... I hope you had ice cream ? |
| Sunshine 24.07.2016 15:05 |
Yes i also remember a Keep Yourself Alive teaser in the guitar solo. I loved the show but Rotterdam was even more intense and I think the crowd caused that. I have a recording of that show and it reminds a lot of the atmosphere at the Queen Leiden shows in 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1986. Really awesome. Neil Murray was also terrific on bass. |
| AlbaNo1 24.07.2016 15:17 |
I went to Edinburgh Playhouse for a show on that tour. Great atmosphere. I hadn't seen Queen live so it was a big moment seeing Brian on stage. Realistically he did struggle with vocals on the heavier tracks. The backing singers were really needed to cover his shortfall at times. But great guitar work and a proper rock show |
| scottmax 24.07.2016 17:09 |
I also went to Whitley Bay Ice Rink.... My first ever gig, 15 years old and truly amazed at the size of Cozys kit, seeing THE guitar just sat there on the stage, and the support act lead singer saying 'Hello Scotland '!!! |
| scottmax 24.07.2016 17:37 |
I've definitely got photos somewhere.... They'll take some digging out but if I can find them I'll post them |
| master marathon runner 24.07.2016 18:42 |
I was at Whitley bay too, took my then , 8 year old son to his first ever gig, he fell asleep! - bless him! |
| k-m 25.07.2016 07:29 |
Certainly, but that's simply because Brian was in his forties and that's a very good age for musicians and singers in general. I still think the three of them should have recorded a whole album after "No-One But You", instead of Brian and Roger releasing new solo records in 1998. But well, that's just wishful thinking and they clearly didn't have a singer. |
| Vocal harmony 25.07.2016 08:31 |
scottmax wrote: I also went to Whitley Bay Ice Rink.... My first ever gig, 15 years old and truly amazed at the size of Cozys kit, seeing THE guitar just sat there on the stage, and the support act lead singer saying 'Hello Scotland '!!!The Back To The Light Tour was great, and BM played a great selection of songs, not based around a greatest hits show! The guitar you saw on stage before the show started was one of two Guild prototypes BM had on the tour, his own guitar was used by his tech for the final line check just before the show started. Not sure I'd agree with the earlier comment that the show was more Queen like than Q+AL but great never the less |
| Graeme Arnott 25.07.2016 10:18 |
I was also at the ice rink gig, fantastic concert - the band totally rocked. |
| scottmax 25.07.2016 11:38 |
Vocal harmony wrote:Awwww no! You've just shattered my boyhood dreams!! ;-)scottmax wrote: I also went to Whitley Bay Ice Rink.... My first ever gig, 15 years old and truly amazed at the size of Cozys kit, seeing THE guitar just sat there on the stage, and the support act lead singer saying 'Hello Scotland '!!!The Back To The Light Tour was great, and BM played a great selection of songs, not based around a greatest hits show! The guitar you saw on stage before the show started was one of two Guild prototypes BM had on the tour, his own guitar was used by his tech for the final line check just before the show started. Not sure I'd agree with the earlier comment that the show was more Queen like than Q+AL but great never the less |
| Daniel Nester 25.07.2016 12:38 |
Saw the NYC gig. Snowstorm all along Northeast US, took Amtrak for 8+ hours. Totally worth it. |
| mooghead 25.07.2016 15:56 |
So to all us that went to Whitley Bay.. where do you live? I am in Northallerton... |
| scottmax 25.07.2016 16:29 |
Wallsend here pal. Shame they don't use the ice rink nowadays. The City Hall is awfully dated |
| mooghead 25.07.2016 16:45 |
Is there still an ice rink? My ex wife (and son) lives in North Shields and says it still exists but I thought it was long gone.... |
| scottmax 25.07.2016 17:09 |
Nah it's still there. Surprisingly only used for Ice Hockey and skating nowadays. Still gets busy though. Plenty of decent gigs were held there, don't really know why they were stopped? |
| Graeme Arnott 25.07.2016 23:44 |
Gateshead here mate. |
| Sunshine 26.07.2016 01:58 |
I wrote a review of the Rotterdam show a few years back on queenconcerts.com I remember very clearly waking up on a Saturday morning in March 1993. Aged 15, I was still living at my parent's house. I walked down the stairs and ate some breakfast while reading the morning newspaper. And there is was: Brian May comes to Rotterdam on June 21st. God is coming to my country! I jumped from my chair and was so excited, I showed the paper to everyone in the house: look at it, look at it! I rang my best friend and asked him if he wanted to join me. But Guns 'N Roses were also coming that summer to Nijmegen, The Netherlands and aged 15, his and mine financial possibilities were limited and we both had to make a choice. While I absolutely loved GNR, still do, I obviously made the choice to see Brian May. My first ever gig, going to see god in person. Then again, living 150km from Rotterdam and no pal who could join me (all my friends were into Gabber music and Happy hardcore), I needed to think of plan B. Plan B was asking my dad. Of course, it is not that cool to go with your dad but I didn't had the balls to go alone and asking my dad gave another benefit: he had a car, which easily made up the uncoolness. And it was all about the concert so I asked him and after 10 no's, I got a definite yes. We were going! I bought 2 tickets, just on time because the concert was quickly sold out. So on June 21st, my dad and me drove to Rotterdam. We were quite on time and so were many fellow Queen/Brian May fans. It was massive, hence this was my first gig I ever saw. I didnt know what to expect! This was in the pre-Twitter, pre-Facebook even pre-internet and pre-cellphone era so I never saw pictures of the Ahoy hall. But the building was massive and so was the queue before the entrance. Luckily the weather was nice and the atmosphere was fantastic. Like a carnival where everyone was singing Queen songs before the gates opened. I remember everyone was so excited to see Brian again after such a long time. Remember that Freddie died only 18 months earlier and Brian didn't perform live since 1986 and a lot happened since then. People were emotional, there was a kind of mix between grieve about Freddie's death, it was so fresh, and the pure happiness of seeing Brian again. Anyway, the gates opened and we walked in the hall. I was amazed how big it actually was. We stood exactly in the middle of the hall with a fine view. After some waiting the support band started to play, the Brazilian Os Paralamos Do Successo. I do not remember much about how they looked but i remember the extreme bass in the soundmix. So extreme it went through your stomach. My dad said: 'if it stays this bad when Brian May starts, I'll wait outside until the concert is over' :) Paralamos finished and the audience got REALLY excited. There was massive sing a long to Queen songs, someone just started a song and everyone would join. There was 'the wave', naturally done by the audience and a lot of soccer 'olA© olA©'s. Actually it was all about giving Brian the best possible welcome to The Netherlands, we missed him! Then the lights dimmed and 'The Dark' started. Both me and my dad were happily surprised about the change in sound quality, it was crisp and clear, very very nice. There were butterflies in my stomach, a sense of excitement and emotion, this was the biggest thing in my life so far. 'The Dark' ended and the intro of 'Back To The Light' started. Still, no trace of Brian May but suddenly out of the dark, there he stood there. There was a spotlight and I remember his curls. There he stood, singing 'Far far from the light... hear the night creatures cal'. Wow, he can actually sing! It sounded amazing. The audience sang a long every Brian May and of course Queen song and i sang the lungs out of my body. And not only me, everyone did! Listen to the recording of the concert, you will hear this. I never experienced this any more, not even during the more recent Brian May or Queen + PR gigs. I remember the fantastic Red Special sound, sounding much more fat and aggressive than on Live At Wembley, then just released. Love Of My life was undescribable. The audience sang so loud a long, Brian was not audible anymore. What a moment! Highlights were Resurrection with Bo Rhap mixed in plus the amazing drum solo by Cozy Powell. This was magic! The band sounded tight and amazing, well rehearsed and the creme de la creme of rock musicians. Plus 2 chicks as background singers is a nice bonus for a 15 year old :) Then all the pyro's, the lights, the solo's, the fantastic songs, the surprising setlist (compared to Wembley 86). Time was passing quickly and 2 hours later, Brian played the last chords of Hammer To Fall... The dream was indeed over and Brian thanked everyone. I remember driving back with my dad saying: did you see this?!?! and did you see that!??! Even my dad was highly impressed and he was not a Queen fan, far from it! This gig changed my life, it gave me the need to see more gigs and experience this feeling again. And I saw many more gigs. Many more Brian May gigs, many more Queen + PR gigs and numerous other bands and artists. Many of them were fantastic, truly great but it never topped this performance. And believe it or not, i just discovered this recording today, Feb 14th 2012, almost 19 years after the gig. Of course I purchased Live At Brixton 93 when it was released back in 1994 both on cd and video and i remember: was Rotterdam truly so fantastic or was Brian having a great night in Brixton and therefore released it? Listening now to this audience recording, i can say: no, Brixton was even a lesser performance compared to this gig. It was the audience that elevated the Brian May Band to a higher level and you can clearly hear it on the recording here. I am very proud and happy I was part of that audience on that magical night back on June 21st 1993. Thank you Brian! |
| Chief Mouse 26.07.2016 02:34 |
That was a very nice read :) Thank you. |
| mr mason 26.07.2016 05:14 |
Was the UK tour bootlegged?I went to'Manchester'Sheffield,Birmingham,Liverpool,and 'Albert Hall London',and only ever heard poor recording of 'Manchester'! |
| Sunshine 26.07.2016 07:57 |
Except Bournemouth, every show has been bootlegged. Glasgow is available in near excellent quality. |
| Vocal harmony 26.07.2016 08:54 |
scottmax wrote: Wallsend here pal. Shame they don't use the ice rink nowadays. The City Hall is awfully datedJust reading this sitting in Costa on Wallsend high st. Agree with your City Hall coment. There is no really good mid sized venue in Newcastle. The o2 is a dump and the Sage just doesn't feel like a gig venue. |
| scottmax 26.07.2016 17:22 |
Vocal harmony wrote:It really is a small world!!scottmax wrote: Wallsend here pal. Shame they don't use the ice rink nowadays. The City Hall is awfully datedJust reading this sitting in Costa on Wallsend high st. Agree with your City Hall coment. There is no really good mid sized venue in Newcastle. The o2 is a dump and the Sage just doesn't feel like a gig venue. |
| master marathon runner 29.07.2016 23:01 |
Roker calling...... Still love the city hall, legendary. |
| Sunshine 30.07.2016 03:27 |
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| moonie 31.07.2016 08:12 |
Middlesbrough here.. Saw some great gigs at the ice rink back in the day.. Newcastle Arena took its place as choice of venue for bands who are too big for the City Hall or Academy.. |
| master marathon runner 01.08.2016 03:56 |
/ I think the pre arena era made for better, more intimate experiences. Those days are sadly all but gone, when you can see a world class band in a place like the city hall. |
| Sunshine 01.08.2016 06:14 |
Well, i saw the Brian May Band in Ahoy, Rotterdam which is an arena, Queen also played it in 1977 and 1978, and it was one of the most intimate concerts I have been to. Of course the venue matters but the audience is a big part of getting an intimate feel at a concert. The last time I experienced that was Stevie Wonder at Air Canada Center in Toronto, ON on October 9th 2015. VERY intense concert. And Air Canada Center is quite big, i think around 20.000 spectators. |
| Vocal harmony 01.08.2016 07:25 |
^^^^ some people are very good at making big venues appear smaller. It's a combination of personality, energy, the music, performance skills and the show it's self. Queen were brilliant at drawing a huge audience into an imagined small space. Yes a lot of that was down to Freddie, but back in the day, even during BM's solo the levels didn't really dip. |
| bryony 09.08.2016 09:01 |
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| bryony 09.08.2016 09:03 |
I have the Bournemouth show - my buddy recorded it on the from row, transferred it to CD recently if anyone wants a copy. |
| 7cees 09.08.2016 10:06 |
Seeing all this talk about Wallsend, North Shields, etc is making me homesick... I'm from South Shields but I live and work in Moscow, Russia of all places... I was at WB Ice Rink in 93... Good gig but I never liked the sound. Saw the AW tour at City Hall and thought it was much better... Anyone remember Roger's gigs at the excellent (and now sadly gone) Riverside? |
| BETA215 09.08.2016 22:46 |
bryony wrote: I have the Bournemouth show - my buddy recorded it on the from row, transferred it to CD recently if anyone wants a copy. If you want to share it, you're welcome. Anything new is welcome. |
| The Real Wizard 10.08.2016 01:27 |
bryony wrote: I have the Bournemouth show - my buddy recorded it on the from row, transferred it to CD recently if anyone wants a copy.Nothing from that date has ever circulated, so please bring it on ! |
| Sunshine 15.08.2016 09:36 |
bryony wrote: I have the Bournemouth show - my buddy recorded it on the from row, transferred it to CD recently if anyone wants a copy. Great news, would mind to share? What is the quality? |
| scottmax 06.11.2016 17:09 |
7cees wrote: Seeing all this talk about Wallsend, North Shields, etc is making me homesick... I'm from South Shields but I live and work in Moscow, Russia of all places... I was at WB Ice Rink in 93... Good gig but I never liked the sound. Saw the AW tour at City Hall and thought it was much better... Anyone remember Roger's gigs at the excellent (and now sadly gone) Riverside?Randomly going back to this post..... I went to the Riverside gig when he had Treana Morris supporting him... standing at the left hand side of the stage right in front of the speakers wasn't the brightest of ideas! |
| adrian b 08.11.2016 08:47 |
Both of Rogers gigs at the riverside were great, set lists packed with his best solo stuff and queen classics. Went to the riverside only 3 times and that was bowie's last show in the north east. That was the most memorable gig particularly with the events of this year. |
| adrian b 08.11.2016 08:48 |
Do I regret not getting to meeting roger or bowie... |