With the “London” Evening Standard printing their headlines a day in advance – the long awaited caption of “THE RETURN OF THE SPECIAL ONE” it could really mean just one thing – ROD was back at the O2.
Whilst many a folk on the SMILER forum would have packed their bags years ago based on his album distribution – His live stage performance have never faded in my eyes which is why I come back for more and more. And as the new “No. 1” artist was back in his “home of birth city” my mind went back in “Time” to when his last worthwhile album with some self penned tracks was in circulation, back then we southern folk had to trek to Wembley Stadium (Saturday June 17th 1995) to take in the “Spanner tour” – and how the landscape has altered since those days – The old stadium a distant memory replaced by the Wembley arch stadium that is so far down the pecking order to hold outdoor music events these days. Back in 1995 the land on which the O2 now sits on the Greenwich Peninsula was a derelict site that was a year later (19th June 1996) ear-marked for the Millennium Commission by the then fading Tory government that could not entice private capital to build their vision – hence it was announced the government would fund it. One year on and now the new-Labour party was in power and the “most famous living British prime minister” announced on 19th June 1997 that his government would save the “Millennium Dome project” – and so the construction began with the plan of linking the Jubilee Line up to the venue to make it easier to access what was to be an exhibition holding different zones (14) based on “who we are”, “what we do” and “where we live”. The whole thing was to have a mixed reception – but it was the venue where the Queen and “our Tony” would spend the early evening of the change in “Time” of the millennium.
With various planned projects to replace the Dome failing it took till May 2005 before O2 was the new named owner – they embarked on another 2 year project to develop the site into what we see today as London’s premier Arena concert venue – that was opened with an appearance by American Rock Band Bon Jovi on 24 June 2007. Six years on and I ask, how will Rod make his “Thames Crossing” – via a nautical route? via the cable car? Or via road across a bridge or through a tunnel – but more in mind having been supplied the track list from his opening night of the UK tour in Nottingham, will he be bolder and stretch his performance more in line with his appearance at the BBC studio and give us more than 4 tracks from the fabulous Time album? Or will he play safe, wait till the second leg in September and expand his play list? Only my visit back to Liverpool will confirm his flexibility.
After yet another trip down nostalgic lane and endless ramblings, let’s return to the night in hand. Being the near tee total fellow I am, I do question why it is that people just don’t get to their seats before the performance begins – that said you pay your money, you make your choice.
Moya the support artist had a pleasant “vogue” female voice, probably 30 years ago if she had supported Rod I would have used up some of my recent birthday Amazon token to give her album a full listen – probably to end up as a coaster 3 months later though – but alas with the thought my dentist shares the same name I’m not going to put myself through that pain!
Rod appeared bang on time so anyone later than 8:20 – you certainly would not “Stop him now” because this is a quality new song to start a concert – excellent choice my man, and maybe more new ones to come?? – Well if you look at Gerrard’s list from Nottingham, there were just two deviations. Both though are my preferred records if you want to “go compare”. – Twisting the Night Away and This Old Heart Of Mine replaced the sometimes tired Having A Party and Some Guys – so for me better set list at the O2.
Rod quoted early on that his voice was suffering from a virus he picked up 6 weeks ago and still cannot shake off some of it, so apologised in advance but felt sure the assembled flock would help him out in his hour of need… (As if we wouldn’t !!). The pre- Forever Young introduction had Rod almost forgetting which side of the Atlantic he was on, as some appeared to woooooo to his slight suggestion we were further West on the globe – he seemed to hear it as if we British were “Booing” the thought of his error on saying he was in America – which seemed to anger him and rightly so if his hearing was true “Their our Allies you know so what are you booing for?” he quoted – however I feel he miss heard the assembled flock. Other than this little moment of concern, Rod was in excellent form, his voice on Brighton Beach was perfect – this is an absolute treasure that I hope remains in his play list for many a tour to come. Disappointingly after his interval as the girls sang Soul Man, the voice was not that good on “It’s Over” which is a number I love from the album, just hope by September it’s still there to be heard.
Some won’t agree with it (Those Child Exploitation PC crew) – but Alastair brought little Aiden on stage during Sweet Little Rock & Roller, attired superbly in Celtic shirts – it was brilliant and Rod your Alistair has the “coolest” break dance moves I’ve ever seen …. Rod appeared thrilled as he said this was Aiden’s debut performance…
I guess we all get a little greedy when we look at our watch and see the first curtain come down and the clock has not yet struck 10. But it’s what they say the quality and not the quantity that counts. The predictable Sailing brought the curtain up and of course only “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” can bring it back down again.
Would love to go Thursday as well now – but I’ve got a flight to catch to Turkey the next day where I will have my earphones in on a sun bed and thumbing through my “Paper Back” autobiography – because the signed hard back is still untouched since the day our Rod handled it.
Great show, looking forward to my trip to Liverpool already that will finish off my concert summer that has Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones crammed in for July …. So for now it’s off to Live the Life with my headphones and memories….
Set List
Can’t Stop Me Now
You Wear It Well
This Old Heart of Mine
Tonight’s The Night
Twistin The Night Away
Rhythm Of My Heart
Killing Of Georgie
Forever Young
First Cut Is The Deepest
Have I Told You Lately
Brighton Beach
I Don’t Want To Talk About It
You’re In My Heart
Soul Girl (Rod’s band and backing singers)
It’s Over
Hot Legs
Maggie May
Sailing
Do Ya Think I’m Sexy
Review by Colin ‘Bunker’ Baker
photo of Rod and the boys by Yve Paige
Photo of some of our other ‘near tee total’ SMILER members by Sharon Brown