2010 – The second decade of the 21st Century had arrived and with it came the announcement that Rod would tour the UK in two different waves. The first would begin in Dublin (okay not quite the UK) on 11th. May for 2 dates, 2 more dates in Belfast would follow, before hitting Mainland Britain at Newcastle. From there he would do dates at Nottingham, Birmingham twice, Manchester twice, then London 3 times with the final date on my birthday. He would then do a stretch across Europe returning to do 2 dates in Edinburgh Castle from 14th. July, to Inverness, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow 3 times and a final concert back in London on 28th. July (although further single dates were included for Belfast then Dublin).
The first road block for us though was the early London dates, all clashed with the holiday we had booked with our friends on the island of Santorini, so they were no go’s. What I didn’t initially realise was the fact that Smiler had managed to obtain more exclusive tickets, although that was soon made aware to me again by Neal, with a phone call that went something like the following :-
“Hello brother, have you seen the tour schedule?” “Yes, I have mate” “Do you fancy doing a couple of dates again, because we can get front or close to front row tickets again” “Can we? Well what are you thinking of?” “I quite fancy Newcastle to kick off the tour, I will probably do a few others what about you, I guess you need to check with Alison first don’t you?” “Yeah I do, but what are you thinking, because I know we are going to miss the first set of London dates, plus I have got to be mindful of the amount of holiday I have at work that I can take”. “Well check out with Alison, I will probably do Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Liverpool as well and a few London ones”. “Okay brother, I will get back to you asap”.
A bit of negotiation to do, but I came up with a plan, Alison said “Well I know you can’t get tickets for me at the front, so let’s agree the following, you go to Newcastle with Neal if you want, then buy tickets for Birmingham for the both of us, we can visit my step sister in Coventry and stay up there for a couple of days”, “What about the second leg of the tour, you never know, this could be his last tour”, “Go on one with Neal then but we must go together at the O2 for the last one”. I was happy with that and got straight back to Neal.
The conversation went something like this “Hi Bruv, how does this sound, Yeah, I fancy seeing the first gig at Newcastle and I’m quite tempted by Liverpool as well” I also explained what Alison had said and he replied “Okay leave it with me, I will get it all sorted”.
It wasn’t long after when Neal would get back to me once more, the “package tour operator” had swung full into overdrive. “All right mate, this is what I’ve managed to do, I have two tickets for Newcastle, I quite fancy flying up there, it’s too far to drive, what do you think”, “Wow, that sounds an awesome idea, any idea on the cost?”, “Not bad at all about £70, shall we go for it?”, “Why not bruv” and so step one of the summer of 2010 and going to see Rod “On Tour” had just got into motion.
Tuesday 18th. May had arrived, a bright morning with little breeze, Neal once more had offered to drive the short journey to Gatwick airport, he had changed his car from last year, the chat on the way to the airport was one of excitement, the thought of the flight trilled us both, a short haul flight, something neither of us had experienced before. Neal had booked an overnight stay in one of the dedicated car parks, where from there you then boarded a bus to the terminal.
I’m not sure I realised what sort of plane we would be travelling in, it was to a Flybe service and as we saw the plane for the first time, we realised it was a small turbo propeller plane. Clambering on board, we took seats towards the back, the layout of the plane was with just two seats either side of the aisle. You almost felt like it was a private jet, with not that many people on board.
I think both of us were in awe of what we were travelling in, the flight was so smooth, and had to be the quickest method available to get up to Newcastle, we were there by lunchtime in less than an hour. Exiting the Newcastle airport terminal where you were directed to their metro train service that took you directly into the heart of the city.
Neal had booked another “budget” hotel, can’t quite remember which one, it was located at the top of the city centre. I clearly remember Roxy was also booked in the same hotel. I can’t remember if anyone else was booked into the same hotel. Neal messaged her to say we had arrived so we met in the hotel bar area and had a coffee together. We set out a plan for the rest of the day, the suggestion being an early meal, join up with other fans at a suggested pub nearer the Metro Radio Arena, which was at the opposite end of the city but probably in walking distance.
Once we had rested for a while, got changed for the evening ahead, I met up with Neal again, I don’t remember Roxy going out to eat with us (but I may be wrong), I think she had opted to go to the pub straight away. As Neal and I walked down through the main shopping areas of the city, suddenly he noticed in a hub of eating areas a Nando’s on a second level and suggested “It’s pretty busy everywhere isn’t it, you can’t go wrong with Nando’s can you, are you okay with that?” I shrugged my shoulders and said “Sure, I don’t mind”, Confession time (Yes, I know this will sound unbelievable) – I had never eaten in Nando’s before (I don’t get out much! – Even more so at the moment!) so I really didn’t know what I was committing to. We had to queue, as it was busy as well, thankfully (as you all know) it was mainly chicken, but of course the key with Nando’s is what sort of dip you choose with it. Now you know what it’s like, if your unsure, have whatever the other person orders! (When in Rome and all that!) Aargh, wrong plan, Neal likes quite spicy things, I don’t! Having tried my first piece of chicken, I was in need of a gulp of my Coca-Cola. Don’t think Neal realised, I would eat the rest of my food by avoiding the dip. The food after all was a by-product of what we were doing here.
From Nando’s, it was straight to the pub, unlike my experience of last year at Plymouth, whilst it had life about it, there wasn’t the same noisy vibe. I’m certain we walked all the way to the Metro Radio Arena with me clutching my ticket quoting Block A, Row A, Seat 42. It was a nice dry evening – but that didn’t matter as it was an inside event. Our position was even more central than it had been at Plymouth. We were in for a treat being this close, in fact of course, you couldn’t be any closer!
Forgive me, but I have to rely yet again on setlist.fm for what is listed as Rod singing that night (see below at the foot of the chapter), it was only a few years after, having met some more of the key people that run Smiler, that I offered to write a concert review, and then with it, start to take note of exactly what Rod sang in meticulous order. I would concentrate on taking photos every now and then, whilst still singing, swaying and dancing to the music. The listing suggests Rod sang 20 numbers plus 2 encores – I checked out Smiler’s News feed, and nobody had posted a review for this gig – so it seems I’m breaking new ground, may I suggest, it’s never too late! Plus, we must have all been rather shy back then, as each review that made it onto the news pages simply appeared as an extract from a hack of the local papers of where Rod was performing.
With another concert done, I thought Rod had been brilliant, as always, and to be that close was worth every penny of the experience, as we drifted away, I can recall being with Neal, Roxy and Pete (the Red). The first pub was too small and crowded so we drifted to the next which was surprisingly empty. Music was playing and I’m pretty sure there were a few more that had been to the concert in the bar. A bit of singing and dancing mainly by Neal and Roxy, as the high spirits were continuing, Neal seems to recall dancing away to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5.
I recall chatting away to Pete, then offering to buy his next drink, as I went to the bar and attempted to buy the drinks, the guy perched on a bar stool, smiled and said “You can buy me one if you like?” – Well I know it’s always said that folk up North are far more friendlier than us down South, but there was (too me anyway) a worrying look about his posturing towards me, I felt very uncomfortable suddenly, and with a nervous laugh, tried desperately to ignore him. “I’m just drinking gin and tonics, should you want to know” smiling back at me, he said. Very awkward, I laughed again and nodded, then rushed back to where Pete was standing.
Not long after, that other dreaded feeling started to come over me. Yes, I needed to go to the toilet, and “you know who” was still chatting to his friend but glancing in my direction. Paranoia had set in, what if he followed me into the toilets? I glanced at my watch, and yes, I did it again, I said to Neal, “Sorry mate, I’m pretty tired, so if it’s alright with you, I’ll be on my way back”, “Are you sure mate?” Said Neal a little inquisitive. “Yeah, catch you in the morning for breakfast, say around 9:30?”, “Sure” came his reply. In a hasty departure, I left and for a few moments, kept looked back to make sure the coast was clear, I wanted to run, but my bladder wouldn’t let me, somehow I made it back to the hotel, the relief was immense in more ways than one.
I would study my photo’s, whilst trying to get myself to sleep, once more in fits and starts rest would come and go, until finally finding myself looking at my watch and thinking it’s pointless trying to get anymore sleep, why not shower and go for a walk. It was well before most of the city would come alive again, I followed sign posts and after walking up a bit of a hill came across St. James Park, home of Newcastle United football team. I’m sure I took a photo of it, but cannot lay my hands on it anymore, my next port of call was to drop down to the River Tyne and all those distinctive bridges that cross it between (I think) Newcastle and Gateshead. The reflections of the bridges in the water made great photo’s, as they appeared to make an arch almost in a rugby ball shape. I made my way back up to the main area of shops then back to the hotel, where a little later I would meet Neal and Roxy for breakfast.
Time to pack our bags and make our way back the way we had come, via the metro train station and onto the airport. We were blessed with another fine day, so not expecting any turbulence to give us a bumpy ride. I would take a picture of our plane which was called “The George Best” with a picture of the iconic footballer by the entrance door, that picture also shows you only had to walk up five steps to board the plane, which I think shows how small they really are. The flight was very smooth again and we were back at Gatwick in no time.
Our adventure had come to an end again, as Neal and I caught the bus back to the car park then drove the half hour journey back. It would be difficult to compare such an experience to the previous one at Plymouth, both different in many ways, the novelty of the flight is something I would consider again, assuming the price was right. I had survived my little quiver at the pub afterwards and at least could laugh to myself about it. The summer of 2010 had just begun and the next adventure was now just a couple of days away.
Setlist.fm song listing – Love Train, Tonight’s The Night, Some Guys Have All The Luck, Having A Party, This Old Heart Of Mine, Rhythm Of My Heart, Have I Told You Lately, Handbags & Gladrags, It’s A Heartache, Sweet Little Rock ‘n Roller, I Was Only Joking, It’s The Same Old Song, Rainy Night In Georgia, Twisting The Night Away, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy, First Cut Is The Deepest, I Don’t Want To Talk About It, You’re In My Heart, Hot Legs, Maggie May – Encores:- Sailing & Baby Jane.
Footnote:
Where you at the Newcastle gig on 18th. May 2010? If so, feel free to add any memory you have of Rod’s concert that night on either the message board or Facebook – Thank you, and I hope you enjoyed the read.
Words Colin Baker
Montage Yve Page