Strangely enough since Chapter 4 I had gone on a hunt and found my rail tickets – I now realise it cost me a bit more than I said £14:60 each way in fact – So in total £29:20 – My fare to go onto St. Andrews was £23:95 return – I had to pay an extra fee for catching a later train back to London – which I think was just £10:00 to be on the 4 o’clock instead of the 12:30 time of the original ticket. I know what your thinking, so full of useless information and trivia!
In addition, I also found a setlist (obviously didn’t look hard enough after all!) It lists Rod as singing just 10 numbers – which I wouldn’t question – The order reads as follows:-
You Wear It Well, First Cut Is The Deepest, Downtown Train, It’s The Same Old Song, Rhythm Of My Heart, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy, Handbags & Gladrags, I Don’t Want To Talk About It, Maggie May & Sailing.
And I got the pub we were in wrong! – I don’t know, more haste less speed, let’s see if I can get this one right…. Back to the plot….
Friday 16th. July – Feeling a bit like a zombie I crawled into work, well it’s only for a day after all. The administration lady at work who recorded all our leave was not happy with me, my repeated mid-week two days off seemed to be causing a stir, another in Friday, Monday and Tuesday then off again don’t think her charts could cope, whilst most of my mates just wanted to talk about my day at the golf. My boss politely asked how was Rod, a bit wet was my reply, she then asked “Where are you going next week for your two days?”, “Liverpool” I replied, “To see Rod again?” she giggled, my inquisitive response was “Of course” with a laugh. They still didn’t get it why I would repeatedly go off around the country to see Rod sing virtually the same songs every time, there really is no hope for some is there?
Wednesday 21st. July, of all the original concerts I thought I would attend, this one I always felt had to be the one I would be most looking forward to, but then again, could it really top Edinburgh? I will give you my honest opinion at the end of the chapter, but this one is Liverpool – the home of English music is it not?
With my bags packed it was off to the station to meet Neal, but to get there I would actually go back 2 stations to meet him at Sutton. He had booked a pair of return tickets well in advance, price £13:50 each way. Hmm, so that’s a £1:10 saving from the journey to Edinburgh. Interesting, so last week was 182 miles further for an added £1:10 – maybe the canny Scots have missed a trick or two there? Either that or “The Scousers were robbing us!”.
We looked to catch a train up to London Victoria around 11:30 which is just over a half hour journey. From there drop down to the tube and the Victoria line up to Euston, our train for Liverpool was at 13:07. Time to grab a sandwich before boarding, then off for my first ever visit to Liverpool.
The journey was a fast one, no extra diversions, so about two and a half hours. Neal and I would talk mainly about the previous week, along with other topics of life. Once we pulled into Lime Street station, as we got to the barrier’s we asked the ticket collector what was the best way to get to the Albert Docks, which is where we were staying. We got a bit confused by the broad “Scouse” accent and at first thought he meant we could pick up another train via their Underground system. Fortunately, as we asked again, we correctly took the advice of taking a taxi from outside the station.
It was in fact a very short journey, if we had known where we were going, we could have walked, but the fare was cheap and it conserved our energy for the night ahead.
There we were being dropped off outside the best hotel Neal had booked to date, up market in the Jurys Inn, and as you turned around you had a large wheel with pods just outside and better still it was no more than 300 yards away was the Echo Arena where Rod would perform later. He really could not have picked a more convenient spot to stay. We checked in, then Neal said “Did you look up to find out if there was a meet anywhere”, a little stunned to think I was asked that as the “Junior member, surely that was Neal’s job, as my travel agent and courier wasn’t it?”, I replied “No, I haven’t”, “Okay, let’s freshen up in our rooms and meet back down here around a quarter to five, I will see if I can find anything”. As we went our separate ways to our rooms, I would settle in and relax and acquaint myself with my home for the night.
We reconvened in the hotel foyer at the agreed time, Neal would say “Can’t say I have found any meeting place Bro, so shall we just wander out and see what’s about?”. “Yeah why not”. It was a pleasant late afternoon, we walked around the big wheel outside, Neal would say “Do you fancy a bit of that if we get time?”, “Why not, should be a laugh”, but we would leave that experience till the next day. As we scouted around the Albert Dock, I notice a big sign saying “The Beatles Story” next door to the Premier Inn. “Do you fancy that if we get time?” I asked Neal. “No, not for me brother, never really floated my boat The Beatles”, I was flabbergasted, Neal was into so many different genres of music, but he didn’t like The Beatles, shock, horror. Well he is a bit younger than me I guess.
As we went around the front area of the dock region, I was amused by a boat that was a mini submarine and yes, you guess what primary colour it was as well. Most of the shops / office spaces that were in the dock were very “arty” or simply ridiculous souvenir shops, many looked pretty shut and still awaiting a bit of development. We did find one pub that had a bit of life to it, as we looked in, there was nobody around we recognised, so we departed without buying a drink. Then Neal said, “Do you know what bruv, it’s a bit pointless us going out of our way aimlessly trying to find somewhere where we might know people, when the venue is just across the way from where we are staying, shall we just head back and grab something to eat instead, what do you think?”, I totally agreed with him, here were two guys that don’t touch a drop of alcohol and we were wandering about looking for a pub. So we about turned and found somewhere to sit and have a meal and chat about everything and anything.
When it was time to take that marathon step and enter the Echo Arena, again we were blessed with front row tickets – Block C, Row A, Seat 32. My camera would probably go into overdrive given where we were, although that said, I did have a cameraman in front of me the other side of the barrier who slightly impaired some of my photos. I did feel this was the best view point we had had thus far, and would remain that way, I certainly think I took the best photos that night. As before I won’t give you the setlist, that can be found at the foot of the chapter courtesy of setlist.fm. Smiler again brought news of the concert via two Liverpool papers. Alan Weston of the Liverpool Daily Post would actually remind me that Rod did actually say that night that his appearance was the first time he had played in Liverpool for 40 years, when he last played as part of the Jeff Beck Group. Whilst Jade Wright from the Liverpool Echo would simply criticize the number of costume changes Rod would make, oh don’t worry there many a folk do that about our Rod, but are they not forgetting his age? Plus concerts these days are never solely about the music, the theatrical side and visual effect is very much a part of the show. Otherwise he probably would have just rolled up with his band and played in The Cavern club wouldn’t he? You can still read the full review of Jade’s if you flick back to the News page date 23rd. July 2010. Only the second link will work, and it suggests the Liverpool Daily Post has merged with The Echo since then.
Having not recognised any of the other fans around us, Neal would suggest maybe the prudent move would be to just wander back to our hotel once the concert had ended, well that would only take a couple of minutes! Of course, we were one of the last to leave the arena being at the front, and as we got to our hotel we found the bar area was packed. Patiently we waited to get served a drink, then moved off to a space on a slightly raised level to the righthand side. Neal after a couple of moments said “Isn’t that old grumpy thingy guy from Match of the Day?” As I looked straight ahead, sat with three other guys around him, the unmistakable complaining voice of Mark Lawrenson could be heard. I remember him saying “Yeah, I thought he was pretty good, a worthwhile show”. Neal and I would chuckle a bit and listen in to a bit more of that conversation, he seemed at ease “holding court” with the guys sat around him as the local celebrity.
At some point I had to raise the point again with Neal about any plans he had for the next morning, knowing our train was not due to leave until after two o’clock. As we opted to get some sleep around midnight, and with breakfast just an add on if you wanted it. Neal would say he will get up when he woke and just added “Still fancy a trip on the wheel outside though”, “Yes of course, but I might go for a wander about if I’m up early”, “Okay mate, feel free, text you in the morning” “Sure matey” and off we went our separate ways. Once in my room I would again check out my photos and felt I had a few really good ones to savour, as normal, I stirred all night, it was probably before seven that I opted to simply take a shower, because I had plans in my head of exactly what I wanted to do.
Just before eight I was breathing in the Liverpudlian air, I had asked at reception how I would get to my destination of choice, and set off towards the centre of Liverpool. I would cross the main road away from the docks and as I circled around a few shops, I then noticed a British Homes Stores café with a few people inside, I walked in and thought, if a full English is going to cost me less than a fiver, what am I waiting for, I could murder one feeling hungry. Once served and eaten, I would double check with the girl which way my choice of destination was. “Straight up the precinct, cross the road and it’s less than 5 minutes on your left hand side, yer can’t miss it”. I thanked her and was on my way, her directions were perfect and inside a few minutes there it was, a big sign stretched across the road saying “MATHEW STREET – BIRTH PLACE OF THE BEATLES”. The Cavern club was off to the right hand side, but of course not open at this time in the morning, I would revisit it when it was open on my next visit to Liverpool in September 2013. But there on the left hand side was “The Cavern wall of Fame” and carved on it were various different artists. As I scanned the bricks, suddenly I found The Faces, with Long John Baldry almost directly underneath, and then on the row above three bricks along between Little Eva and Oasis I found Rod Stewart. How good was that wall I thought, having walked up and down Mathew Street, I had completed the first part of my mission, the next was to head back towards the dock.
You couldn’t lose your sense of direction as the Liver building was at the front of where the docks began, standing tall with those two birds on top. I had thought as I reached the pier head, shall I go on a trip across the river Mersey and back, the problem was at just about nine in the morning it didn’t give the impression of a bright sunny day, so instead at The Pier Head there was another part to The Beatles Story and they had just opened. I enquired and they said “Yes, for £12:95, you can watch the 4D movie here, we will be showing the first one of the day in about five minutes, then go back to the other side of the dock and you get to see around the rest of the museum”. Well I thought, I don’t possess five Beatles films for no reason, I just have to do it, even if I do cut my trip around the other museum short if time gets to be a problem.
Looking at adverts now for The Beatles Story, I’m not that certain that this movie is still being shown, if it isn’t part of the experience, then it’s a crying shame. Me and one other guy picked up our special glasses and went and sat in an empty mini cinema. The story was all about a musician named Mike who had a crush on a girl, he would jump onto a tram and suddenly your seat went back as he sped off, the tram would then dive under the river Mersey and yes, you were splashed with water, fish would be swimming towards you, once the other side you started to go through a graveyard, steam would come up around you and ghosts flying in your face as he ran through it, he would find a field and this time strawberries would splatter into you. Of course, like all stories he and the girl of his dreams would come together. All this ran for no more than about twenty minutes to sections of famous Beatles hits like Magical Mystery Tour, Help, Eleanor Rigby, Strawberry Fields and of course Yellow Submarine, I absolutely loved it.
After it had finished the guy said “Just walk across Albert Dock and you can’t miss the entrance to the rest of the museum, it’s next to the Premier Inn”. Of course, I knew that, and on my way I sent a text to Neal to tell him I had had some breakfast and was going around the Beatles Story museum, I said I wouldn’t be much later than 11:30 was that okay? (I was told it was about a two hour tour around the museum). He came back to me saying “No problem, I somehow thought you might do that”.
At the second building you were given earphones for an audio tour which is narrated by John’s sister Julia. It starts in war time Britain and goes through each phase of the Beatles journey from the early sixties up to the point of individual rooms for each Beatle after they had split. With plenty of memorabilia, photos and costumes through each era, especially those from the great Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Then there were replica’s of iconic places such as The Cavern Club, Abbey Road, NEMS record store and even inside a Yellow Submarine.
It was John’s solo room that hit a big note with me, the white room with the white piano, although the lead up to it was a film from his first wife Cynthia, it talked about John’s moods, then the birth of Julian and when the break up happened and how Paul wrote the song Hey Jude, which was originally carrying the words Jules not Jude as it was intended to be about Julian and the fact his father had moved away from him. It also referred to a story about “The White Feather” where Cynthia believed John even after his distancing from her and Julian, felt after his assignation was always around and would visit in the shape of a white feather. It had that sort of effect on me that I would buy her book “John” a short while after, oh how I love reading an autobiography, a great book in my opinion.
Time had come around to close on the two hours, I looked through the shop thinking, do I want to buy anything, but thought better of it, most of it was after all quirky little pieces that probably would end up in a cupboard somewhere or even in my loft! And so, it was back to the hotel to meet up with Neal again. It seemed he hadn’t moved far from the hotel, and was just having a cup of coffee. I joined him and after the obvious questions of what I had done, we said “Okay, we have got enough time, let’s take a ride on the wheel. We were probably the only two people on it, but it allowed you to look over Liverpool and see a few landmarks, mainly the churches, there was a commentary pointing out various places, including the radio station getting a promotion, but it played on the fact the city was named European capital of Culture for 2008. The wheel went around five times I believe. The pair of us laughed at the experience and said we were glad we did it.
Our time in what many claim to be the home of English music was up, I said to Neal, ”I know the way to the station, we could walk it if you fancy stretching your legs”, which at least got him to see a bit more of Liverpool. Our train journey was going to be slightly longer going back as the seat reservations were supposedly only booked from Chester for some reason. We were back in London, but in the middle of rush hour. The tube when you have a suitcase or sizeable bag in rush hour is never met with a lot of approval, but what can you do? We would get to Victoria then catch our train back home, this time I would get off the station before Neal at Carshalton, and be home in time for tea.
It would be another memorable experience, I was slowly beginning to feel a little sad that it was coming to an end, but my own Magical Mystery Tour had one more stop to make and that would be in another weeks time.
** I guess I should apologise – this may seem more appropriate to a Beatles fan page rather than Rod, but if it hadn’t been for Rod (and Neal of course) I still may never have seen the city of Liverpool to this very day. Oh yes and that question was this the best? With my love of golf, so hard to evaluate, but we did get the full Rod concert at Liverpool. But then I got my football at iconic Edinburgh castle, so maybe let’s just call it a draw shall we?
As listed by setlist.fm for the Echo Arena on 21st. July 2010:-
Love Train, Tonight’s The Night, Some Guys Have All The Luck, You Wear It Well, Having A Party, This Old Heart Of Mine, Downtown Train, 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, Twistin’ 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:
As before – Where you at the Liverpool concert on 21st. July 2010? If so, feel free to add / share 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. More next week.
Words By Colin Baker
Montage By Yve Paige