|
|
At last I have this brand new computer running the right way, so the motherboard ought to blow at any time now, so let’s swiftly move on to Mexico, land of the Mexican, yes, really. The flight to Mexico City was on Varig, the official Brazilian airline. I reckon their motif should be a smacked arse, as all the cabin crew had faces like them, possibly the worst ever in service. Put it like this, I was able to sell tic tics for a dollar a go, which represented a handsome profit margin I can assure you dear reader, as every time I or anyone pressed the service button, the crew either ignored it, or came down and turned it off and ignored you! Strange...
Walked through at the airport into 200 fans, yesiree folks we got mobbed big time, Of course yours truly walked as slowly as possible, oh another autograph, OK, just one more photo then, your 20 year old model daughter wants to shag me? (OK...I made that last bit up), anyway I lapped it up until I realised that I had to wait for the family as they were coming for a few days, and I wasn’t leaving with the band for the hotel. Cut to next shot of me running AWAY from about 80 fans, ended up hiding in a shop for 10 minutes. The storm delayed their flight for 2 hours, which was nice, not. Anyway, all safe and sound, get in the car for the journey into town SHIITTT!!!!! They might understand about lanes and traffic lights in about 10 years, and also a speed limit is not the slowest you can drive at, I saw one car take off the wing mirror of a taxi, the bloke didn’t even get out to check the damage. Sorry, the gig etc. We are massive in one suburb of Mexico City, called Neza, don’t know why, but we are. It's a very run down part, lots of gang warfare etc. Maybe we’re gangstarock, though I don't think so. Don't forget we are the band who roll into town, drink it dry of tea (although as we speak I am on a valiant, if unsuccessful attempt to drink Australia dry of wine) and look at all the women. We are the wild, sorry, mild men of rock. Had a press conference etc, Francis and Rick did loads of radio, including one where the DJ was very proud that he could say fuck on the air, so the whole interview was more like a rugby players piss up... you had to be there. It is crazy there, but unlike Brazil the people would appear to have a great joie de vivre (pretentious, moi?) They do seem to be very happy and friendly, and I didn’t see any of the stuff we were told to be careful of, kids absolutely loved it. Bloody right too, don't know they’re born, today's kids, I fought a war for you lot of long haired layabouts (no you didn’t). They’re not exactly loaded there, the strangest one I saw was a street entertainer (ish) who laid down in front of the car at a set of lights, put a cloth on the ground with broken glass on it, and started rolling around on it! Bizarre huh? We got to the gig, driving through a really grotty area to the venue, and I saw the most odd thing. There were about 100 stands, selling pirate Quo merchandise (see pic!), everything from lighters to Tequila glasses with our name. I bought some as well, as it was so cheap of course, money very well saved I can (cont’d p.94). The gig was in the car park of a football stadium, and looked to be OK, but there was so much dust we all looked like Clint Eastwood (especially Andrew) with the old squinting eyes. We had to go on late, as the security checks for guns, knives and weapons etc took longer than expected, and there would have been a riot if they hadn't all got in (I swear that's true, told you it was rough). 11,000 Mexicans in the end, superb they were. We started, and the stage literally started bouncing, I mean I was cacking meself. We discovered later that the car park was built on marsh land, and the jumping up and down was moving the whole thing! Plus the dust... But what a fanbloodytastic audience they were, one of the best ever, of course we played the same set, but it was all new to them, an absolute belter of a gig, they sure know how to rock. Viva Mexico!!!! We also had a message after that it was the first time there hadn’t been a gang fight after a concert there, which they were frankly astounded at. Next night same, not as many Billy, but again fabaroonry, but that wasn't the last of the Mexicans, oh no... By the way, I also haven’t been on the old digital for a while 'cos we’ve been to so many places recently that it would be criminal not to go and explore, e.g. next stop San Francisco. We had the day off after the shows, and the Edwards, the Bown and Mr "you know what?" Hrano, (on the tour to make another of those on the road CDs) to the Pyramids just outside Mexico City. Unbelievable, really. If you see that film Frida they are in it, just awesome in the truest sense of the world. As you may have noticed, I LOVE MEXICO!! After a very sad goodbye to the family, (except Max, my eldest, who’s really into keeping fit, and somehow ended up training with the world featherweight champion who was staying in the hotel, now that’s class!) 
On to the States, and where better to start than The Fillmore, That is one place where they can safely say we’ve had 'em all here. 'Cos they have... Some of the posters were amazing examples of the old I suppose pop art you’d call it, check out their website if you want to know who, and believe me it is a who's who, has played there.
Went to Alcatraz with Monsieur Hrano, who is not Greek but Czech, and Grant, super duper new swag bloke, came back ready for gig, done gig, got a lovely mail afterwards from Lars Ulrich, drummer of Metallica, to say how much he’d enjoyed the gig, and had brought James the singer with him. James wasn’t a Quo fan before the show, but he is now. What a place to play, it really is hallowed ground there, bit like the pitch at Brentford really... On to LA in our new super USA tour bus, actually shite and uncomfortable, but had over 300 television channels on satellite, including some, shall we say, interesting ones, with our Driver Daayyve fraam Nayshvelle, who had an amazing ability to get complety lost virtually everywhere we went, and not bat an eyelid about it... The House of Blues again, lots of Mexicans and expats, OK show... Next, Anaheim, which while it wasn't full was probably the best gig we have done in years as a band. Lots of grins and chicken neck type movements by all, pretty memorable. If anyone did a bootleg I’d love to hear it. Then 3 more days off, all this gigging has been getting in the way of my vacation, so me and Youknowwhat Hrano rented a car and did lots of driving around, what a lovely time we had, sun, sand and no sex. Flew to Chicago, just a small temperature change, from 25+ to 15- Jeesus! We stayed at the HOB (House of Blues man) hotel, which by an unbelievable coincidence was next door to the club. What d'ya think of that? Met the Dutch headbang animeaux (French for animals, don't ya know), and checked out the house band at the club. They were so brilliant, the competition in the States with bar bands must be ferocious. 
Chicago Institute of fine arts during the day with my lovely friend Janet, brill, HOB in the evening, kicking, some opening act to slit your wrists by, more Mexicans. Yes, the Mexicans to all you lot wot went to New York. I read on the message board that they were rough, and quite a few complaints about it. Look, if you go to a gig in another country, and people are moshing etc. or having more of a boisterous time, don't complain, you're on their home turf. If it's too much for you then move away, they just have a different way of getting off, and I love it I’m afraid. Rock music is supposed to loud, sweaty and a bit rough. This of course is only my opinion, but for today it's my ball, so there. They made the tour for me, And nobody please bother to tell me they're Mexicans not Americans. Anyway, next, Detroit. Rick=sore throat, gig=not. Sorry about that as I know there were a few that went from overseas etc. We took the view that we didn’t want to miss New York and Toronto, so we went back on the bus of Daayvve, or Captain Ironic as I called him, nice enough bloke, but not even the remotest conception of irony. Stupid example; Driving through snow, (Me) "I really like the summer here". (Dave) "Oh no man, this is the winter, they have no snow in summer in Canada, at least I think so, I’ll check with the other drivers, see what they think" You had to be there... 
Toronto, FREEZING!!! Me and YKWH (You Know What Hrano) went up the CN tower, couldn’t see shit, got back down, sun came out. Bastards...
Packed out Hard Rock Café, small stage, no Mexicans, lots of Canadians, what lovely people they are, genuinely friendly, gig went really good, but I can't help feeling we're banging our collective heads against a brick wall, but you got to do these things, we'll wait and see what the next offer of a tour is... 
On to NY, went to ground zero, which was ...odd. I just can't articulate my thoughts, try as I might, there really is nothing to be said, and you can't think of anything, then you shouldn't try.
Irvington gig, Barmy army starting to arrive, did the gig, which I thought was dreadful, back to Daayyve, who as you might have guessed I wasn't overly fond of. Got back on the bus after gig. "You guiys meessed owl the fuun. Sume druunk tried tew git own the buus, sew me eand Steyve (crue dreiver) hayd tew beat sheat ahta heem, wuat ay meass he ways, huh huh huh". Lovely Dave... the neck was definitely a tad on the red side. Still snowing in New York, had a good time with YKWH, BB Kings’ Blues Club, great venue, 100's of Brits, 100's of Mexicans could have done 3 nights there, loved it, loved it, loved it. Few technical problems, like the bass stopped working for ages, but real FUN. With a capital Fuh I’m on the Gold coast of Australia writing this, do you realise how tough it’s been to tear my self away from all that beach and sunshine? Actually it’s pissing down... see you in Germanslayynd, thayt's whear theym thear Germanneesh peowpol lieve, aynit? Bah naow, Dave, sarry, Ay meahn Rhyno sir arse. More soon.... 
Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 To Rhino's Tourlog Index |
 |
