Gabriel, gremlins And guitar power! - December 10
The Cambridge Junction show
Photo © Roger Salem
A brief breather again after Shepherds Bush. We received a lovely photo from our friends Angela and Maurizio from the previous break when we met up with Pete Gabriel at Harry Pearce's inspiring talk, seen here...
Peter Gabriel with Steve
Photo © Maurizio Vicedomini
Nick relaxing before the Cambridge Show
The next day, on to the Cambridge Junction! Another great crowd, but we had to blast through keyboard casualty mayhem when technology was at its most challenged. The band's answer was to extend solos and forget about doing the full set. Strangely enough the variation gave the band a different edge - just as powerful but more rootsey. The extreme cold has been affecting the valves on my trusty Marshall amps too. Freezing in the equipment vehicle overnight and boiling hot at shows. The glass casing cracks and the powerful little beasts have been replaced more often. Cambridge was still a demon show with a killer drum sound amidst other things...
On to the Stables at Milton Keynes. I think out of all the numerous times we've played the same venue, this was the best. Some shows possess a strength and alchemy all their own. For sheer raw power it was certainly the loudest show of the tour onstage where the band played together with an uncanny telepathy. Thank you Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine for your vision of creating an enlarged living room atmosphere for visiting artists and audiences alike. Johnny you're sadly missed but very much there in spirit.
Steve Hackett | Roger King | Amanda Lehmann - The Stables at Milton Keynes
Photo © Ben Fenner
Nick Beggs | Gary O'Toole | Rob Townsend - The Stables at Milton Keynes
Photo © Ben Fenner
Steve and mum June backstage at Milton Keynes
Steve, Jo and Nick Clabburn celebrate with Italian friends Guissepi, Franco, Laura and Mino after Milton Keynes
