Part 4: Bratwürst and Coffee

Tuesday 6th June 2000. So, yet another ripper after Kamenz, the quietest town in the world... This time to Lubeck, home of Marzipan, for those of you who want to know that kind of thing. For those of you that don't, it's full of sex shops and tasty birds/blokes. Ooh, how ARGH!!!. Those wrists again. Does anyone remember the Fabulous Poodles? They used to do a song called "Let's wrist again" to the tune of Let's Twist again. Funny, huh? Funny my arse. I don't mean my arse is funny, well I don't think so. Is Christopher Cross? Is Hughie Green? Did Arthur C. Clark? That's the latest time passing game chez Quo. In the absence of any opening act, Tonto and Dave Salt, in the best Showbiz tradition, rented some decks, and, complete with goggles (see Picture in part 2) entertained/confused/ostracised the billy. The dressing room was a cab ride away, so I didn't get to see it, but I heard that Dave was dancing away with the headphones on, going mad, but it wasn't in the PA. Of course, Tonto didn't find that funny. If you believe that. Very hot show, Matthew sweats for England, but Paul has still to register on the sweatometer. Is that a word? etc. It's bizarre, not a bead has appeared yet. Too hot almost, nice of them to turn on the air conditioning 5 minutes before the end of the show. Never mind. Magdeburg. Scene of a famous tank battle for those who want to know, for those that don't... Wholesome value for money I can assure you. Bratwurst and Coffee for less than 1 English Pound? Surely not.. Is Clint Black? Was Quentin Crisp? The gig here is where we started the Don't stop tour, if my memory serves me well. First day of half decent weather, not a bad gig, but quite forgettable to be honest. Little things mess you up, getting boring here, but Tim Franklin, the slightest man in rock, and our monitor engineer was not easy to see. As the stage was narrower than normal, he had to set up almost behind us. Doesn't seem a big deal, but if you need a change in the volume of something, and it has to be put as written request, which then has to be typed out, E-mailed, and then couriered by carrier pigeon to Tim, it's a bit long winded, like this bit of Rhino's tour log. Did you know I've made a solo album? Is Jimmy White? This, by the way, is called SERIOUS padding... Off to Plauen, for a day off, then to the gig, which unfortunately, we had to cancel due to technical problems. I won't go into the reasons, a) because I don't know them all, b) I'm too young to die, We would all, however like to apologise to everybody who came along and was disappointed. I know one fan was so gutted he started to fight with a policeman and Dave Salt. Not a recommended course of action to take. So it was an earlier than expected ripper to Damme. A problem for me on these type trips is that there's always the temptation to get pissed, so, being the good rockish type bloke I am, I got completely hammered, I don't remember getting to the Hotel or anything. When will I grow up? About 7 years after I'm dead, as BB King once said. Never namedrop... Paul McCartney told me that. Talking of hotels, the Lindenhof, where we stayed is one of the nicest I've ever stayed in. Not posh, just really nicely run by lovely helpful people, made us very welcome. We'll be back. Damme.. Second outdoor show, lots and lots of peeps. Main support was a German band with the quaint name of Fury in the Slaughterhouse. They went on after us; I was so disappointed not to catch their undoubtedly brilliant show. Francis came off stage and said he thought it was the worst Quo show for ages, that we weren't very good at the moment. I was a bit gobsmacked, as I'm sure everybody who has seen the new drumming department will agree, the message board bears me out on this one, this band is HOT! I met some English fans (hi Dianne, Angie and Rockchick) who told me they thought the new band is great. To me it's just a question of settling down at a new level. Is Barry Blue? Is Cliff Richard? On to Gelsenkirchen, strange venue, again outdoors, but with a moat separating us from the audience. weird weather this day. Absolutely beautiful when we arrived, if a trifle muggy, gig backing on to a canal, soundcheck absolutely dreadful. Not Tim's fault, just concrete everywhere, and the PA on stage. Which when we went on was amazing for yours truly, when I went to the front, the bass was so loud, I nearly soiled me britches, FANTASTIC!. I don' mean shitting myself would be fantastic by the way. Lots of English (hi Beth) and Dutch (don't know your names, but hi anyway), and Thierry from Belgium. Great show, really Rock and Roll. Oh yes, the weather… About 7PM the heavens opened, and it pissed down (sorry Mandy). Our crew then showed why they're so top. As part of our contract on open air shows, the Promoter has to supply enough plastic sheeting to cover all the gear in case of rain, etc. The stage was already covered, so the gear was fine. So, they cut the sheeting into strips and gave it out to the billy. Well done guys. What's more, as we were nearing the end of the show (it had stopped raining by then) a serious storm came over, extra lighting didn't come into it, but the rain held off until nearly the end of the encore. By the way, great support, just 3 guys playing covers, but they did it with STYLE, really good, don't remember the name, but go and see them anyway!!! (huh?) Next... Bamberg, a bit of a Sunday show really, which was a coincidence, as it was a Sunday, we were OK, audience a little muted, then ripped to Frankfurt for a day off. That's it for now readers, don't forget to tune in for the next thrilling instalment of Rhino's adventures in Quoland, or how Queer can you get? Is the hole in your arse the entrance or the exit? Answers on a postcard to: Queer house Queer Street Queensland Cheam Surrey KT2638496 9TWFMBFCILOVEANDREWBOWN France More drivel soonish, see y'all,

Part 1: Before The Tour

Part 2: The First Gigs

Part 3: Rockin' and Rippin'

Part 5: The Home Run

Part 6: Delayed in Spain

Part 7: The Big Hangover

Part 8: Rockin' on GAS

Part 9: Rain in the Ukraine

All photos on this page were taken by Dave Salt, The Quo Crew and Richard Tanfield.