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| Gazza |
That photo really does bring a lump to the throat...
I was right down at the crash barrier at stage centre too. Eighty thousand people were at that show and fortunately I was in front of practically all of them. Mick hosed me down twice, I think!
That feeling at precisely 6.05 pm when the curtain opened to the first bars of "Under My Thumb" and out they came within a few feet of me is something that simply cant be described.
Ireland had never seen a show like it before. For those who dont know anything about this place, Slane is a tiny village of about 500 people (but with 6 pubs!!) about 20 miles north west of Dublin, situated on the River Boyne. Slane Castle is the ancestral home of an English aristocrat, Lord Henry Mountcharles ("Lord Hank") who started letting the grounds out once a year for concerts in the early 80's. The castle grounds are a magnificent, sloping natural ampitheatre in a beautiful setting. Mick Jagger afterwards described it as the most beautiful concert venue he'd ever seen.
There had only been one concert at Slane before, with Thin Lizzy playing there the year before with some new band called U2 supporting them, but on a much smaller scale than this. There was no gig in '83, Dylan played there in '84 and Springsteen the following year so I got my 3 favourite acts in three 'Slanes' in a row. Its now a regular festival event in the calendar over here, but nothing's ever touched that one.
This was the first Stones concert in Ireland since 1965. No one in the crowd seriously believed they'd tour again after this. After all, Mick would be 39 in a couple of days time and it would surely be physically beyond him to run around a stage like that when he was in his 40's.. wouldnt it?
When they left the stage, he said "we'll see ya again some day". Quite a few wry smiles at that one, I remember at the time.
Well, they kept their promise. Twenty one years later they came back!!!
Some more from Denis O'Regan
http://www.esposedrock.com
[Edited by Gazza] |
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| Madafaka |
Nice header and nice story, thank you Gazza!  |
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| sirmoonie |
Cool story Gazza. Tx. |
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| LadyJane |
Nice memories, Gazza.
I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Slane Castle. It's been my dream to see the Stones play there and it sounds so beautiful.
LJ. |
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| Mr Jimmy |
Hey Gazza
Thanks so much for sharing the memories... I get emotional thinking about my first time too. I really wish that more people at Rock's Off would post something, anything, about their first Rolling Stones show. I really don't care how long ago it was (tour vintage snobbery) because we all know that our first show was a very special time indeed. |
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| luxury1 |
What a great shot. I am getting all crazy with nerves now.
Here's to making some more memories on the upcoming tour!!!
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| nankerphelge |
Wow! Excellent pix and neat to hear about your first time Gazza (can you find yourself in the pics?). I wasn't against the barrier, but I was about 40 feet from the stage at my first show in '81. You really cannot describe that feeling when you first see them -- it is beyond excitement -- it is nearly religious.
Goddam I have the fuckin' tingles...
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| Gazza |
quote:
nankerphelge wrote:
Wow! Excellent pix and neat to hear about your first time Gazza (can you find yourself in the pics
no, but very friggin close. More so in the second pic (the one in my post above) if I remember right. Those monitors are in the way!
[Edited by Gazza] |
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| nankerphelge |
Too bad -- that would be a neat pic to hang on the wall in the bar -- Mick, 80K people and your mug right in the front!!!
I remember they pulled that big curtain open in Buffalo and there was Mick running full tilt to the middle of the stage and he just jumped in place waving his big ol' hands to everyone. What a rush - I can still feel the tingle of that first show.
And when they finished, he said "see ya again" and we all thought NO WAY -- end of the road. Howe silly!
[Edited by nankerphelge] |
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| Zeeta |
I'd fuckin kill to have been there Gazza, I'm glad you rocked it too!
Nank - it is not nearly religious it IS religious! Well for me anyway man!
Wonder where the "Mick" jacket is now I'd love that! Imagine going into your local wearing that! LOL!
Leggings optional!
On that tour Keith started to look like "mother" from Psycho! Still a cool "mother" from Psycho! haha |
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