Classic Rock (Phil Collins lives, run for the hills)

OB1 said:
Talking about Emerson, Wakeman and Banks leads me onto CR keyboard players in general; not sure if we have covered this already on this thread but some other players that I am a big fan of are:

Jan Hammer
Jon Lord - the king of the Hammond organ
John Paul Jones
Roy Bittan - epic piano tinkler
Benmont Tench
Greg Guiffria
Don Airey
Mike Garson
Manfred Mann
Billy Powell, Billy Powell
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Met Don Airey in Munich a few years ago ,lovely chap and Sunderland fan.He told me he studied classical piano at College of Music in Manchester.
 
How about a guy who wrote and performed a piano concerto for the 10th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Hirohito of Japan? Has also performed a classical concert at Carnegie hall as well as being the leader of one of Japan's most successful ever rock bands, X Japan. He's also not a bad drummer either.

Yoshiki
 
Saddleworth2 said:
You included two of my favourites, Roy Bittan and Mike Garson. I would also propose Steve Winwood, and the wonderful Ray Manzarek who was so integral to the Doors sound. Rod Argent was ok and how about Bruce Hornsby and Dave Greenslade worth a mention just for the Roger Dean album covers.
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All good. Manzarek iconic tbf.
 
I have been very lucky in my gig attending history.

I saw Rick Wakeman with Yes at New Bingley Hall Stafford in 1977.

I've seen Jon Lord a three times, once with Whitesnake and twice with Deep Purple 1974, 1981 and 1985. I saw Mike Garson with David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust in Blackburn 1973 and Don Airey a couple of times with Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow 1980....I think .

I also saw Keith Emerson with ELP 1974 in Liverpool with Rammyblues who was a marine engineer cadet in Liverpool at that time. He also introduced me to the World of bootlegs which you could buy from a few shops notably Probe records in Liverpool at that time.

My favourite Jon Lord but they are all mighty fine musicians and only a fag paper between them.
 
chesterbells said:
Ok - look forward to your gig review on here next week pal
Click to expand...

You did ask:

20 September 2021, the NIA in Birmingham is a sea of grey hair and what is this in the air tonight? Ah, this must be love, and you can’t hurry love so we wait and wonder when the house lights will dim, which they do ten minutes later than advertised prompt start; well, it took a while to get all the old timers into the auditorium. But seriously, when the intro tape fades, a huge cheer ensues as three gentlemen appear at the side of the stage, one shuffling into view with the aid of a stick. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone get a standing ovation just for walking on stage.

Recent footage of the newly resurrected Phil Collins had suggested that the former popstar and one time actor wouldn’t get a walk-on part in The Walking Dead but here he is taking centre stage, although maybe not quite the starring role: the scene stealer is the unseen Patrick Woodroffe and his blinding light show, which kicks into gear as the five suspended flying domino rigs of sixteen vari-lites tilt and lower, cascading bright beams of white light down on the stage where Phil sits and swivels to take in everything whilst gently tapping a tambourine during a muscular instrumental of music from Duke. And then there were three displayed at the back of the stage on huge HD screens as the band Turn it on Again and Phil sings under the full glare of those white lights – we got colour later.

So how does Phil sing? Well, better than might have been expected. Of course, like many 70 year-old singers, he has lost power and range so his vocals are flatter and thinner than of old and he has had to adapt his delivery in addition to getting sympathetic help from a couple of backing singers but ultimately this is a triumph not a disaster.

The band play superbly - not much of a surprise there; although there is a new musician in the ranks, replacing two old favourites, one of whom introduces him as “my son” before the band play No Son of Mine. Nicholas Collins is a chip off the old block and batters the shit out of his kit to bring a youthful energy to proceedings.

The set list, reproduced below, is more Genesis pop than Genesis prog. Some of the prog is little more than snippets but the audience laps it all up.

Home by the Sea is one of the longs and features some of the most mesmeric lighting I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot) – this is Rush on steroids.

The band do tone the show down and gather together for a mini “acoustic set”, featuring reworked versions of old favourites, that finishes with a Follow You Follow Me that is simply such a thing of beauty that I was moved to tears.

Firth of Fifth segues into I Know What I like and is truly joyous – the crowd responds with another proper standing ovation.

Everyone is up on their feet again for the final number of Invisible Touch.

As the band troop off stage, roadies erect a black screen for Phil to hide inside as he awaits the inevitable encore.

I Can’t Dance features a lovely moment as Phil, looking much like and old tramp in a swivel chair, sings the line: “A perfect body with a perfect face” and points at himself with a very wry smile.

You can’t turn back the years, that’s just the way it is, but if you hang in long enough, you become survivors and Genesis are.

Set 1
Behind the Lines / Duke's End
Turn It On Again
Mama
Land of Confusion
Home by the Sea
Second Home by the Sea
Fading Lights / The Cinema Show / Afterglow

Acoustic Set
That's All
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Follow You Follow Me

Set 2
Duchess
No Son of Mine
Firth of Fifth / I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
Domino
Throwing It All Away
Tonight, Tonight, Tonight
Invisible Touch

Encore:
I Can't Dance
Dancing With the Moonlit Knight / The Carpet Crawlers
 
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