A
concert review by Katrin Wagner:
Today is the
last SAILOR concert with Captain Peter Lincoln before he
leaves the ship to go on a new sweet journey, so that we
aren't in the best mood when Karsten, Christel and I meet
at midday to start our trip to Parchim in Northern
Germany. We're feeling a mixture of panickiness,
excitement and shakiness. It's going to be a very weird
day.
We leave quite late, as Christel has already driven for
almost 3 hours from her hometown Duisburg where she's had
to work this morning, so that I take over the driving
duties to Parchim with my poor old car. And that's where
the chaos starts... After two hours we take a short
break, and as we are about to leave the parking place
again, my poor old car suddenly seems dead. We call for a
technician and are told that he'll be there in an hour.  This is the point when we all get really
nervous - it leaves me desperate, being convinced that my
car will be pressed to a cube and we will never be able
to get to the gig in time - or maybe not at all!?
After a long waiting time with a lot more panic the
technician arrives at last and it turns out that a
push-start is the solution that gets the car running
again, but from now on we can't switch it off any more.
Well, this might become a problem at some point in the
not too distant future, but as long as we can continue
the drive to Parchim we are happy for the moment.
Everything else can be solved once we get there...
The journey continues with more than another two hours
ahead of us. On the way we start listening to NDR 1 Radio
MV, the radio station that promotes the concert today. At
all their main news they keep mentioning SAILOR's
performance and that today will be the last concert of
the present band line-up. I'm feeling sick - and it's
getting worse by the minute.
We finally arrive at SAILOR's hotel at 6.40 pm. A try to
start the car again after we've switched it off fails.
But let's worry about that in the morning. We check in
and join driver Thomas and roadie Mark for a drink. They
tell us that the SAILORs have had their soundcheck and
are sleeping now. That means that we won't be able to
talk to them before the show.
A little later my mobile phone rings. It's a nice lady
named Jutta from NDR television who wants to record an
interview and some scenes with us for the TV show about
this concert that will be shown tomorrow evening at the
"Nordmagazin". She says that we need to be at
the venue at 8.30 pm. So Karsten, Christel and I get a
taxi to the "Sandbahn" and meet Jutta
backstage. She gives us three personalised backstage
tickets so that we will also be allowed to go into the
press section in front of the stage and take photos for
SAILOR. That and Phil's written permission saying that
we're today's "band photographers" should make
things easy later. We're quite relieved that we get the
chance to watch the show from there because the audience
is packed with approximately 11.000 people and there
isn't a chance to get even close to the front in the
normal audience behind the barrier.
Jutta takes us to the catering tent and tells us that
she'd like to record a few scenes of us during the show
with us holding up some posters etc. and then she'd also
like to ask us some questions during the gig. We can
chose a song during which she can talk to us. We don't
want to miss any second of the show, but hesitant we
finally pick "Mack The Knife".
We try to eat something. I'm too sick.
Outside the tent we are joined by our SAILOR-friend Uli
who has also managed to get behind the stage. Together we
wait for the boys. Jutta and her camera man say that
they'd love to record us welcoming the SAILORs when they
get here. While we wait for them another lady from NDR,
Petra, approaches us and wants to record an interview -
this time for the radio. Each of us is able to say a few
sentences and in the end we have to sing "Girls
Girls Girls". She promises to send us our interview
material via eMail.
Our SAILORs arrive at about 9.30 pm and we're filmed as
we say hello to them. In the darkness I realise that
Peter is wearing my silver anchor earring again that we
have bought for him in 1996. I have got the same one and
wear it for every concert, but Peter is now wearing his
earring again for a couple of years... and also for the
last time. It makes me very happy... and also very sad at
the same time.
The boys seem nervous but happy and are looking forward
to their show. First they record an interview for the TV
show with Jutta, then they go to their dressing room/tent
next to the stage.
A little later Karsten, Christel, Uli and I decide to go
to the stage to have a look at the press section and at
the other band that is just about to finish. In the
audience we discover some more SAILOR-fans, Manuela and
Anja. We are told that we can walk around at the press
section to take photos, but if we want to watch the whole
show from there we should sit down at the barrier so that
the people in the front row of the "normal"
audience can see properly. No problem.
Another few minutes later it's time for SAILOR so that we
go to the middle of the press section and sit/kneel down
there. The mixture of panickiness, excitement and
shakiness is worse than ever, but in the second the boys
come on stage and start with "A Glass Of
Champagne" it's just the same good old feeling that
one always has when watching Henry, Phil, Grant and
Captain Peter on stage. Karsten videos the show while
Christel, Uli and I take photos. The sound is fantastic
and the band seems very enthusiastic. We notice that
Peter seems to close his eyes more often than usual while
he's singing certain bits - maybe to enjoy them to the
full once more?!
During "Give Me Shakespeare" Petra and her
microphone appear on my left again, and she asks me a few
questions for the radio again.
"The Old Nickelodeon Sound" is a very emotional
part of the show for us. I try to stop crying to see what
I'm taking photos of... without success. And just at the
end of this song one two of the security guys approach
us. They say that we can't stay here any longer because
it's only allowed to take photos during the first songs
and we should either go to the normal audience section
(from where we wouldn't be able to see a thing) or behind
the stage. Neither the fact that I tell them about my
written permission from Phil saying that we ARE allowed
to be here for the whole show nor the fact that Jutta
wants to record the TV interview with us right here
during one of the next songs help. We have to leave and
get behind the stage.
From here we can't see a thing and are trying to find
somebody to help us while SAILOR start with "Vera
From Veracruz". Jutta finds us again, saying that
this is ridiculous and that we should follow her and get
back to the front. We just CAN'T miss the end of this
special concert... And yes, we are allowed to stay at the
far left side of the press section and record the
interview there, even though the security guys aren't too
happy about this. We record a short TV interview during
"Mack The Knife".
Then, at the end of the song, another lady from NDR
approaches us and says that we are allowed to go back to
where we've been before if we sit/kneel down again there.
So Karsten and I go back to the middle of the press
section, while Christel and Uli stay on the left.
Peter smiles as he sees us return to the front, as well
as Phil. Relieved we then enjoy "Karma
Chameleon", my very favourite song "The
Secretary" and all the other great songs in the
second half of SAILOR's set. The camera guy videos
Christel and Uli clapping and singing on the left and
then Karsten and me with my old big poster saying
"Captain Peter is in town" that I've painted in
1996 to encourrage the then-new Captain and haven't use
for many years until now.
After the "Full Monty" I get very sad again.
Only one more "Girls Girls Girls" and "A
Glass Of Champagne" and that's it. I can't help
crying again and am surprised that the photos I take
still seem to come out ok on my little camera screen
although I'm shaking. Karsten on my left seems to have
the same problem while he is filming.
Poor Peter breaks a string during the last
"Champagne", but that doesn't disturb the big
finale of the concert, followed by the instrumental
"1812" and the very last bow of the boys. Phil
and Henry then make a short announcement, saying that
Peter is leaving the band, and together with Grant they
all hug him.
The people from NDR have flowers and some other little
presents for Peter that he receives now. But the lovely
security guys return and say that we "have to leave
now because the show is over". Nice!
As we get up and walk behind the stage my legs turn to
jelly and the rest of me to a nervous wreck for a few
minutes. It's probably good that it's so dark so that the
boys don't see it (even though they might read it now) as
they pass us and go back to their dressing room/tent,
saying they will be with us in a few minutes. The waiting
time is spent with yet another radio interview for Petra.
When Peter, Phil, Henry and Grant finally join us to talk
I feel a lot better again. We spend a lot of time talking
about broken-down cars and other things. Phil and Henry
also tell us that a new SAILOR singer has been found and
will be announced shortly... and that we will be
pleasantly surprised. Let's see...
After about an hour SAILOR get ready to leave and drive
back to the hotel, so that Karsten, Christel, Uli and I
decide to do the same. This time Uli is our taxi driver.
Back at the hotel we all sit down together again and have
a drink. Peter gets some more farewell presents from
Christel and me and starts to worry about getting them
into his suitcase, but in the end it works. We talk until
about 2 am. Then we all go to bed because SAILOR have an
early flight and have to leave the hotel at 7 am.
On the next morning Karsten, Christel and I get up early
to say goodbye to the SAILORs at 7 am. My nervous wreck
problem reappears again, but I just can't help crying
again. Grant and Henry say that we shouldn't be said
because it's not the end of an era but the beginning of a
new one. But the fact that there will be a new and
hopefully great singer doesn't make us feel better about
the fact that we're not going to see Peter again with
SAILOR - these are two different things. Personally I
have grown up with him since I was 16 and have seen him
60 times with SAILOR, so that he will always be very
special to me and I will terribly miss him.
For the last time we stay outside to wave as the van with
Peter, Phil, Henry and Grant takes off.
When the boys are gone Karsten, Christel and I have
breakfast - the first thing I eat in 36 hours. Then we
check out and try to start the car again. This can only
work if we can manage to push-start it again, which means
that we have to pull it up the long driveway in front of
the hotel and then push it back downwards again so that
it gets enough speed and will hopefully start. We fail 5
times. Two nice guys from the hotel come to help us, and
then the 6th attempt finally works. Personally I couldn't
have done it again anyway... it feels like my arms and
legs are about to fall off.
We have to leave the car running at the filling station
as well as at the parking place where we take a short
break on the way. It's really difficult to resist the
urge to simply turn the key and pull it out whenever I
stop the car somewhere. On the way home we listen to NDR
1 Radio MV again who play SAILOR songs and also a bit of
our interview where Uli talks about the concert.
Back home after another looooooong drive I leave my car
at the garage, hoping they can fix the problem tomorrow
because I urgently need the car back for another trip on
Wednesday and Thursday.
In the evening we can watch ourselves on NDR television
during their little "best of" clip from the
Parchim concert.
Katrin Wagner, 11 September 2006
11.000 people behind
the barrier, and 4 fans in front of it...
|
Taking a photo of
Captain Peter...
|
A
concert review by Uli Neumann:
Saturday, 9th of September 2006, a
day to remember in the history of SAILOR. In fact it was
a tour date like many others before. A radio station
presents a party, free entry an just one our time to
perform for SAILOR.
In the run-up to this event the radio-station NDR 1
"Radio M(ecklenburg)-V(orpommern) broadcasted
several times information about this SAILOR concert
taking place in the smalltown Parchim beetween Hamburg
and Berlin next to the motorway A24.
The NDR has been infomed by Email from Katrin and me
about the particular importance of this concert for
SAILOR and their fans, associated with the discreet hint,
that the broadcasting-station could think about something
special for Peter.
So the radio-listeners had been informed about this to be
Peter Lincoln's last concert with SAILOR, there were
live-reports of the sound check with info about the
Nickelodeon, which was the unloved "Fakelodeon"
in Parchim.. On my way from Wedel (near Hamburg) my
car-radio had been tuned to the Radio MV Station, they
played "A Glass Of Champagne", "Girls
Girls Girls", "The Secretary" and "La
Cumbia" that day. Then a massage was broadcasted,
that the car of the SAILOR Fan Club (Katrin and Karsten
Wagner and Christel Müller from Duisburg) broke down,
but a mechnic from a motoring organisation managed to
make it run again. I gave Katrin and Karsten a call, they
were deeply surprised that this had been a news on the
radio!
Arrived at the venue I surrounded the huge audience in
front of the stage to go to the backstage area, where
Kartin, Christel and Karsten were already waiting.
Several NDR-employees were there, two likable and nice
ladies, Petra from the NDR-radio and Jutta from th
NDR-TV, came to us from time to time to talk about
details concerning the interviews we should give. While
kissing and hugging to say hello, the radio-lady had to
stand that she was kissed and hugged, too!
The fair and dry weather just fits zu the open air
concert, and so it was no matter to us to wait for
SAILOR, who arrived in time. I remember the mixed emotion
the four seemed to have about this last concert with
Peter, rapidely they disapeared in their dressing tent
next to the stage.
After a short time they came back, gave a TV interview
and disappeared again to prepare for the concert. The
Wagners arranged with SAILOR, that we should be allow to
stay in the press-area beetween stage and audiance, to
take many photos and make video-recordings. We were in
position in time and achieved to make some takes, always
taking care not to disturb the audiance watching the
show. We were filmed and photos of us were taken by
NDR-empoyees.
After the fifth song (the playlist you can find on this
page) a overeager member of the serurity crew came to us
and told us, he had order to remove us from the
press-area after the fifth song. Disappointed and a
little bit perplexed we went backstage where we met our
blond angel, Jutta from the NDR staff. She managed to
enter the press area from the opposite site of the stage.
The Wagner went in the middle of the area again while
Christel and me waited a little bit aside the stage in
intent not to provocate that dull-witted security dude at
the other side of the stage. The beautiful blond Jutta,
who stayed with us, got a SAILOR-anchor at her cheek, the
"artist" was me. She seemed to enjoy the
procedure...
The audience was deeply impressed by the SAILOR show,
especially the "full monty", effecting
sometimes extactic reactions, especially in the female
part of the audiance. The last song was
"Champagne", then something happened, just
fitting zu this extremly emotionell moment: One string of
Peter's guitar broke, he had to increase the speed to get
the song to an end. The show ended with a dearly embrace
beetween the band members an Peter, a very sad moment.
SAILOR and their fans went rapidely backstage. Jutta
promised champagne, and we got it. Peter got a bunch of
flowers from the NDR, then SAILOR adjourned in their
dressing tent.The NDR made radio-interviews with us, the
SAILOR-fans, I could listen to my voice broadcasted the
next morning.
After a while the four came out of their tent again, we
had talks about car break-down, while the
"Fakelodeon" was fragmented in the background.
Due to the fact, that Katrin's car was only conditionally
ready to start caused by a problem with the ignition
switch, the Wagners and Christel came from the hotel to
the venue by cab. So it fits, that I parked my car not
far away and we could use it to get to the hotel, where a
wedding-party took place that night. After a short time,
SAILOR arrived, retired shortely to their rooms and then
returned to chat with us.
A male party guest who had surely more than "one
drink too many, but didn't speek English (Parchim is in
the former "GDR"/Eastern Germany, English was
not taught in school), stressed us with his comments and
questions, which I had to translate. Finally he though I
was the manager of SAILOR! Due to them beeing tired,
Henry and Grant signalised that they would retire soon,
so I decided to leave, I had to do another and a three
quarter of an hour to travel home. Peter held my hand
long an tightly to say goodbye. If "The Sweet"
will give a concert near my home, I will surely go there,
just to see Peter again, he is a really great guy. We
found out that Peter doesn't leave SAILOR because he is
fed up, but SAILOR does about fifteen concerts a year,
"The Sweet" does about seventy, I was almost
half past three in the night when I retired after this
highly emotionel but beautiful day. We will need time to
accept that Peter is no more member of SAILOR but it
seemed, that Phil has already found successor, he gave us
no further information, but an unclear smile...
Peter, we've had more than ten MARVELLOUS SAILOR years,
we will miss your voice and your humour...
|
in
Concert Photos
"SAILORs" on the
Sandbahn