With the country still in the midst of lockdown and no sign of any live music in the foreseeable future if at all this year I thought I would take the opportunity to look back in the archives, sounds posh I know but it’s just an spreadsheet, and revisit gigs I attended on this day down the years. I will keep this going until I can attend my first gig again in person so hopefully this also brings back memories for my gig going chums who have joined me on this great musical journey down the years.
Just the one today but what a corker for my trip down memory lane for you down the years and it’s a quickie.
2007, Prince, the O2, London
This show was I think mid-way through Prince’s twenty one night stand at the O2. He not only played the big room every night but then played a full encore set at the Indigo room after the main show. He had recently released the 3121 album and so every ticket was priced at £31.21 which was a bargain in those days for a major act. It’s me, Anne and John tonight for our first ever visit to the behemoth that is the O2. I’d got reasonable tickets on the first level so the view was pretty good. It’s a central stage so there’s a 360 degree vantage point for everyone in the venue.
Just before the lights went down a large trolley like a speaker stack or equipment crate was wheeled to the stage. Clearly the little man was inside as seconds later he appears as if my magic in the centre of the stage.
Talking of magic, that’s exactly what you get from Prince. It’s another brilliant show from the master showman. There’s no such thing as a perfect Prince set because unless he played for five hours he will always miss a favourite. Today’s show is no exception with at least one track taken from across his back catalogue and three from ‘Purple Rain’. I have no idea how you pick a highlight from this or any Prince gig as its top quality all of the way through. It’s often cited that Freddie was the greatest showman and it’s probably true but Prince is a close second but what stands him apart is what a great musician he is. He is up there in my top ten guitarists of all time.
A brilliant gig and he still has time to end the set with a cover of Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’. A one off and a sad loss and I’m so lucky I got to see him a handful of times
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon. Support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.