NIGHT OF THE PROMS 2001

 

Expedition to Nice:  Laurent (FR), Jérome (FR), Gudrun (GER), Peggy (NL), Hans & Monique (NL), Jordi (SP) and Miguel Angel (SP)

REPORT (Jordi Sabater)

THURSDAY 24/may/2001 This is my personal view of three incredible days in Nice, where we were able to see Roger live and talk with him for quite a while. Our trip began in Barcelona, Thursday morning. Miguel Angel (MAC) picked me up in Barcelona city and we began our 6 hours trip to Nice, following the Mediterranean coast french highway. There was no variation at all in terms of music listened in the car. Only ST and RH CD's..of course. Well, yes, we had THE BEATLES for about one hour.... Weather in Nice was good and there was full of people, because of F1 Grand Prix. Concentration of Ferraris was higher, and our Ferrari Testarrossa was wandering around with a big flag of Roger...sorry, only a dream. Our Hotel was not exactly a 5 star, but a 5 square meters rooms one. The toilet was so little it was not possible to seat (you know what I mean). Fortunately, there was another one in the corridor... We reached Nice at 19:30 and we phoned Peggy, who was already there. So, we met in the extraordinary Nice beach boulevard (Boulevard des Anglais) and we were talking for a while before going to eat something. FRIDAY 25/may/2001 Next day, we decided to go to Salle Nikaia (the venue). We did not know anything about the place and we wanted to see if it was possible to meet Roger or see what was going on there. We decide to go in without asking, just walking. We reached first door, and nobody was there so we came in. Second door and nobody, so we did continue. Third door and we were in. What a surprise.... nothing was ready, no instruments, no singers, no Roger, nothing at all. Suddenly a security man came to us asking what we were doing there: Sorry, no problem, we are looking for Roger...he did not know anything about...but he asked us to go away... At quarter to 3 we were in the airport, the meeting place with the others. Hans (who does not like too much airplanes) and Monique arrived punctually and later was Laurent. Gudrun and Jerome were already in the Hotel, so we took the short way to the Hotel. After having our tickets and t-shirts (hope you can see them in the pictures) we decided to go visit Nice and have something to eat. Unfortunately, as tourists, we did not manage to choose the right place.... SATURDAY 26/may/2001 Around 11 a.m. we were all together in a nice square having breakfast and talking about what we could do. It was around 11:45 when the mobile rang: Roger was on the phone. Excitement jumped to high levels and Peggy (who had the conversation) was managing to be calm...she was nervous. Roger proposed us to go to the venue to see the sound check (at that moment I was wondering about...the venue was empty the day before...) So, the rest of the day plans changed and we decided to continue our visit to Nice. We went to buy something to eat and we were there around 4 p.m. Roger was not there so we decided to wait at the door, under a heavy sun...but the wait was really short because Roger arrived only some minutes later. He was really happy to see us there...and he invited to go inside to see sound check. Fortunately everything was ready and we were able to see sound check of the Orchestra , the Choir and John Miles.  Roger did have problems with the piano because of "Fool's Overture" sound. Synthethizer was not ready so he spent more than one hour fixing it. Finally everything was fine but the real sound check of Roger was only 2 minutes. We went out to eat something and 10 minutes before the start we went in. There was a mess with tickets so they relocated us really far far away...but the mess was already inside so finalyy we were all together in the first row !!! A lot of elegant people...but also quiet people. Classical music was fine but it was only with Roger , the french singer and Simple Minds that people made something more than just watching.... So after a long pause, the show finished around 11 pm. Only 30 minutes later, the scene was into the big boxes and we were still there. Bodyguards were showing us their extreme "nice face" asking about our "schedule".  What are you doing here? Sorry, we are waiting for Roger. Roger will not come (a good answer...) Sorry, he is there and he will come. Well, ok, please ask the production people.... Then, using their secret service microphones they began a conversation with production...asking us to seat there and don't move !!! After 5 minutes, their conversation with somebody was continuing but they did not manage to see that Roger was already with us, talking for a while about his projects: Ringo tour and next year's album (we hope) After some minutes of conversations and photo session Roger said it was time to go.... and he left sending all his love to all of you !!! And that's it....

Hans and Monique's experience of a dream in Nice

FRIDAY: The plane will leave at 12.45 hours from Rotterdam to Nice. Hans is having lots of problems as he is frightened to fly. We are leaving home at about 9 o'clock as this is a cheap ticket deal, first one to check in, first one on the plane and of course we must stay together or he will have an even more difficult time. We are both glad when we arrive in Nice 1,5 hours later. And there "the gang" is waiting. Wonderful, after such a long time being together again. We join M-A and Jordi to go and see where Roger will perform, but nobody is there and no activities at all. We decided to go and see our hotel. After checking in, all of us are going to see our room. The wonderful toilet....you can't close the door to do what you have to do so Laurent is showing us to do "it the French way"...sit the other way around on the toilet and the door will close (LOL). After giving the specially made Nice t-shirts and of course lots of laughter, we are going for a walk into beautiful Nice with all the Ferrari's and rich people who have arrived there for the Grand Prix. After a swim (Laurent only), a nice sit on the beach we are going up the mountain to see what Nice is looking like from there. After that, a "Nice" meal at an Italian restaurant. In Holland we have a saying, "the bottom of the pizza taste like carton", well in France they can do the same. After a stroll, another sit on the beach and another drink we decided to go back to our great hotel.   SATURDAY: After not enough sleep, we go back to the central square in Nice to have some breakfast. This is not really working out but then Peggy's telephone rings.... and yes it is indeed Roger. We are all so nervous and Peggy decide to walk back and forward... so we miss half of the conversation. Roger asked us to meet him at the concert hall at 16 o'clock. So plans change, half of us are going back up the mountain the others are going to some village. Up the mountain the t-shirt for Roger is signed by us, photo's are made and we decide to make our way to the hall. Because of previous experiences, we decide to go to a supermarket and buy some food. Every time we go and see Roger, we are hungry and this time we will have some food with us....Time spent in the supermarket is too long and we only have 15 minutes to cross the city. I don't think I have ever been so afraid in the back of a car. M-A was trying to do a Grand Prix winning in the streets of Nice. Go 120 km an hour where 50 km is allowed. It scared us....., but we made it in time but Roger was too late....he arrived by taxi and it was just so great to see him again. He invited us in to see the sound check and just being there with him again was a miracle. After a chat, the sound check, another chat we had a picknick outside and then of course the show. When we queued to get in for the show, it  appeared that it was not fully booked and we were placed in the VIP section. Great the first row. It could not be better. Roger was on  as last artist before the break. He played 3 songs with the ochestra, it is a dream when you are there watching him and it is a dream when you try to remember afterwards. Roger started with "Logical Song" on keyboard, then "Fool's ouverture" on piano. Even the sounds in the middle where performed and this big bell came down (unfortunately there were some security monkees walking around to see who was taking pictures. The photo of the bell had to be taken after the show as we were afraid to loose our camera). Then Roger played "give a little bit" on his guitar. At the end of the show, all artist performed "hey Jude" and Roger played/sang quite a bit solo somewhere in the middle. After the show Roger came so see us and say goodbye before he had to leave. Again it feld like a dream. He told us that after the Ringo tour he will not perform for a while, for us in Europe probably not till the end of 2002. We found a little restaurant and had some drinks, then we all went back to our hotels, tired but soooo satisfied.   SUNDAY: Meeting eachother at 11 o'clock to have breakfast. Getting the newspapers to see if anything is written about "The Night of the Proms". On the inside of the paper there is a page with photo's. Great, Roger's photo is in the paper as well.  After breakfast it is time to face reality. Gudrun, Jerome and Laurent are leaving first. Say goodbye....then M-A and Jordi are taking Peggy, Hans and me back to the airport and again it is time so say goodbye......after 1,5 hours flying we are back in Holland, Peggy is taking the long way home and had a quick bite to eat at our place and then again it is time to say goodbye... back to reality, but with this wonderful trip to last a very very long time in our minds and of course our hearts....   MONDAY: Back to reality, back to work........