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Another friend of mine Cess Van Der Valke, keeps SILHOBIT informed about what is happening on the very busy PROGRESSIVE rock circuit. So here is his entry, self penned in a experience not seen very often in Europe. (ED)

Hi there PROG pickers My name is Cess I have lots of news to tell you about, as this is a very exciting time in Europe!

First off, let me tell you about the biggest thing that has happened here! (PAVAROTTI FARTING) ED. Well my favourite PROGRESSIVE rock band IQ played a concert in Germany at the Kleve Stadhalle on 14.9.91.1 have been waiting for this moment ever since I bought my copy of their "LIVING PROOF" CD. Needless to say I was not disappointed.

The Stadthalle is a wonderful venue, the guys who check your tickets are polite, and the girls serving the delightful bear were so nice. Surrounded by lots of fellow HARD CORE PROGRESSIVE FANATICS I could have been in heaven the moment IQ took the stage!

They struck up a song that sounded like "ELOKO BELLA NEECHI”, then GOD himself took the stage. The crowd when bananas PETER NICHOLS walked on to the stage, with face painted in a rainbow of colours, standing before us here in Europe! PETER wore the tightest of SPANDEX I’ve ever seen.

I know PAUL MENEL was a poor substituite, but tears were in my eyes as he started to sing "OUTER LIMITED'S". I was pleased they did not just concentrate on old IQ songs because some of my favourites are from the PAUL MENEL era. I was not to be saddened as they played "NOMZOMO”, “FALLING APART AT THE SEEMS”, “NO LOVE LOST” and my favourite of them “HUMAN NATURE”.

I didn't recognise the bass player though, I heard he played in a band called ARK. His name is JOHN JOWLETT, personally I thought his bass playing was great, he had a really fat sound especially on the song "ONE THOUSAND DAYS”. The rest of the band were just stunning, MIKE HOLMES (Guitar), played with heart and soul, until his fingers started to bleed, which caused a few naff notes! Mr. BEAR giving his usual wonderful solid support in the rhythm section. And MARTIN ORRFORD the trooper himself, MARTIN isn't a stranger to the Stadthalle as he played here with "JAYDIS". Poor MARTIN had to play the set with a heavily sprained elbow, which he got from in a bar brawl earlier that day.

The show climaxed with the unexpected "ENEMY SMACKS”. This is such a visual song that allows PETER to do a bit of theatrics, like what PETER GABRIEL did with GENESIS! I would not try and put it into words as what I saw, could not be put into words ,you would have to experience this yourself!

So if IQ read SILHOBIT, please come again, we need more of your wonderful PROGRESSIVE ROCK MUSIC!!!!

 

by Cess Van Der Valke.

 

p.s. Many thanks to PETER, MIKE, MARTIN, PAUL and JOHN for signing my albums.