Tears for Peace - December 2012

Djabe boys join Steve on tank

Steve playing on a bridge in Budapest for the video
Photo © Roger Salem

It was great to reconnect with Attila and all our Djabe friends when Ben Fenner, Jo and I arrived in Budapest. Our pals Angéla & Maurizio Vicedomini and Roger Salem also joined us...

There was a real buzz in the audience at the Djabe show, which featured both their material and mine, along with the song Tears for Peace from their new album. The music for the song plus title was written by Djabe, lyrics by Jo, and I added vocal and guitar. The song is about war victims. I'm convinced it's not the normal guy who creates war - it's extremists and the profit motive. The cruelty and futility of it all makes me sad and angry.

The other two days were given over to filming a video for Tears for Peace around Budapest, which provided a spectacular backdrop, and as the sun set over the Danube we all played for the video on a boat.

The next day was an extraordinary event... I was required to stand in the command position of a tank, singing the song through a loud hailer, whilst beckoning the band to jump onboard (clambering on to it was a precarious experience) The monster machine started up with an enormous explosion of power, steam bursting out of it as it rattled and roared down the cobbled street. As we played and sang on this vehicle into the city you can imagine how it attracted a fair amount of interest! I wondered how people would react after what they had been through in Budapest, but they generally looked on with intrigue and amusement.

Four days of several vehicles, including plane, boat, car, bus and tank... It's always an adventure with Djabe and this was no exception! I look forward as ever to our next encounter. A big thank you from Jo and me to Ben, Feri, Gabor, Djabe guys Tamás, Zoltán, Szilárd, Ferenc and especially Attila for all the hospitality and an experience which will always stay with us.

Steve & Djabe - Tears for Peace Video

Steve singing "Tears for Peace" at gig with Djabe
Photo © Angéla Vicedomini

Tank sets off... On loose in Budapest

Steve on bridge

Roger, Angéla, Steve and Maurizio