I have always been fascinated with the fact Faces played at the Crystal Palace Park Bowl.
Why ?
Well, 2 reasons really.
1, Faces have always been my favorite band and 2, at the time I lived in the area. The problem was , I was 7 years and 10 months old when they played here. So I thought I’d look into it in more detail.
Between 1852-1854 Sir Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace Company built the Crystal Palace and Park.The Crystal Palace was relocated from Hyde Park.The Crystal Palace itself was destroyed by fire in 1936. In 1937, a motor racing circuit was opened at the park, which remained in use until 1972.The biggest changes came to the park in the 1960’s when the National Sports Centre and Athletes Stadium were completed and the introduction of Classical music to the new concert bowl.
The Concert bowl is positioned in a natural amphitheater capable of holding up to 15,000 people, with the stage facing an ornamental lake. From 1961 it hosted regular Classical music performances by the likes of the London Philharmonic orchestra and London Symphony orchestra. Around 1970 young promoters Harvey Goldsmith and Michael Alfondary persuaded the Greater London Council to have a large scale, one day ,rock concert take place at the Bowl. So, on 15th May 1971 Goldsmith, Alfondary with partners ( father and Son ) John and Tony Smith who managed many top acts launched the first “Crystal Palace Garden Party”. Headlining were to be Pink Floyd who were on their Atom Heart Mother world tour with support from Faces who were on their “Long Player” tour. Other bands were special guests from USA Mountain and Quiver. The disc hockey for the day was Pete Drummond.
Harvey Goldsmith had organized a big American car to be driven around the perimeter road as a rumor went round that Elvis Presley was arriving!Tickets were £ 1.25,The gates opened at 12 noon with the first act Quiver on at 1.30.The day started out with brilliant sunshine that would deteriorate as the day went on.
The band Mountain were promoting the album ” Nantucket Sleighride” This song would be used for the Television theme to Weekend World , the Sunday midday political programme presented by Peter Jay that started in 1972. Now it was the turn of Faces to hit the stage. The album”Long Player” had just been released as had the Rod Stewart album ” Gasoline Alley “. In the coming months they all would be catapulted into the big time as a major hit album “Every Picture Tells A Story” along with the massive selling single “Maggie May” would be released by the end of the month.
This would be Faces 2nd outdoor UK Festival appearance as they played Dudley Zoo supporting Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1970. Rod Stewart came on wearing a Pink suite and Red t-shirt.Ronnie Wood started the proceedings with a long guitar intro which blasted into ” Your My Girl” (I don’t want to discuss it)from Rods solo album Gasoline, superbly handled by the band. A lively 12 minutes for the band to get warmed up and into it. Having got the crowd all fired up they surprised everyone with a slow blues cover they have made their own ” Love In Vain” which Rod dedicated to Rolling Stones vocalist Mick Jagger who got married in St Tropez to Bianca Perez-Novena de Marcias only 3 days earlier.
Keyboardist Ian Mclagan soulful work shines through. Ron Wood expertly slides with his unique style of guitar playing. Rod, at the end even says let’s hear it for Ian and Ronnie.Rod also explained the next track “Bad N Ruin” was the first time they had played this track live. A real belter of a track, fast, furious and totally Rock.Taken from their latest album “Long Player”. Drummer Kenney Jones keeps everyone in control especially when the pace slows. No time to take a breath as ” It’s All Over Now” steams in. This was also taken from Rods 2nd solo album. This has bassist Ronnie Lane singing backing vocals and playing a wonderful bass line.
Now the dark clouds were getting thicker but that didn’t stop the party as ” Had Me A Real Good Time ” also from the new album “Long Player” starts up. And party they did as well as the people swimming in the lake trying to get to the band or get a prime position for the headliners. Last number from the band, a cover called “( I Know ) I’m Losing You” which is to be released on the up and coming album “Every Picture Tells A Story” from Rods next outing.The Faces at their best. Hard Rocking. Drummer Kenney Jones plays an exciting solo on his 5 piece kit bringing the Faces set to a close. Rod shouts out “See yer Crystal Palace” as they leave the stage.
After the Faces finished their set, on walks a fake Elvis dressed in a Gold suit and very dark sunglasses. He didn’t get to sing! Pink Floyd took a while to set up and as the dry ice started to spill across the stage and Pink Floyd started their show, the heavens opened and it stayed that way getting the crowd soaked.The speakers were positioned at various points in the grounds as when it came to Pink Floyd playing , they would use a quadraphonic sound system. Pink Floyd set list: Atom Heart Mother, Careful With That Axe, Eugene, Fat Old Sun, The Return Of The Son Of Nothing ( also know as Echoes ) , Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, The Embryo.
Run up the the big gig
Faces
1st May London School Of Economics, London.
6th May Town hall Watford
7th May Sussex Sports Centre, Brighton
8th May Leicester Polytechnic, Leicester
13th May BBC Paris Cinema , London
15th Crystal Palace Bowl
Pink Floyd
12th April Locarno, Sunderland
16th April Top Rank Suite , Doncaster
22nd April Norwich Lads Club, Norwich
7th May University Of Lancaster
15th May Crystal Palace Bowl.
The Finale of the concert saw a giant rubber Octopus, which failed to inflate fully due to the members of the audience swimming in the cold lake.
Words John Fisher
Montage Yve Paige