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Photo by Paul Tidey |
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Same photo as above but in black and white without watermarks |
London “Rock Show” premiere by Steve Webb and Paul Tidey
Steve: After weeks of
waiting, the great day finally arrived when the two of us were let loose on an unexpectant
London, eager for a glimpse of crowd-pleaser-in-chief, Paul McCartney.
Arriving at 7:50pm, we made our way to the foyer (lobby to
you guys) after pushing through countless hundred outside in the street. To our annoyance we were politely moved on
and asked to take our seats, a mere 10 rows from the front. We looked all around trying to decide where
Paul and Linda would be sitting. Just
above us to the left and right were the Royal boxes. But we quickly decided that if Paul was in
either one of those, everybody would watch him and not the film.
Paul: We waited
patiently until Paul and Linda finally showed up, taking up their seats in the front
row of the circle, directly above us (we only had the $15 seats
downstairs). I clicked away furiously
with my camera, whilst up above us, Macca was doing his old crowd-killer
routines, and the film hadn’t even started yet!
We returned to our seats, cameras half empty, to enjoy the Mr. McCartney
Ham Show, preceded by the “Seaside Woman” award- winning film. You guys have to watch out for Paul’s best
two bits – firstly watch Paul’s eyebrows at the start of the acoustic set. Then during the first half of “Magento” the
camera is on Paul and Linda at the keyboards and boy does McC gives the camera
the old action! That face works
overtime!
Steve: After the
film, during which it became hard to distinguish the screams in the theatre to
those on the screen in front of us, we all charged down to the front of the
stage, yelling with what remained of our energy for Paul to show himself. After leaning back in his seat, Paul finally
got up and gave the old thumbs up and one and all, whilst various members of
the rabble shouted, “Speech! Come on
Paul, don’t be shy!” Paul sat down,
then got up again, this time with Linda, and what looked like Heather. When he finished waving and turning on the
charm, Paul stopped to sign an autograph before leaving.
Paul: Out we went to
the foyer, where the unbelieving masses were told that Paul left 15 minutes earlier. “Bull!” shouted one healthy American, who
informed us that earlier in the day he’d seen the limo arrive to pick up Paul
and Linda from Cavendish Avenue.
Nevertheless, we were herded outside.
Steve and I got something to eat, but after waited 40 minutes, we grew a
bit despondent.
Steve: We decided to
walk round the block and give it a little longer. Then, despite the police informing us that
Paul and Company had left from the back entrance, the celebrities began
leaving. And what an impressive
list. Out came Tony Snowdon, Steve
Harley, Victor Spinetti, Phil Lynott and member of Thin Lizzy, Kenny Lynch,
Gary Glitter, Steve Strange, Mike
Oldfield, Roxy Music’s Andy McKay and Scots comedian Billy Connolly. And then the moment we’d all been waiting for…
Paul: Cue pandemonium
as Paul was mobbed by the screaming masses, and didn’t look too pleased about
it, I can tell you! I managed to push
and shove myself to about 5 feet away from him, my camera clicking away at all
angles, over the mob’s heads. And then
he was away, off into the night, leaving me biting the dust.
Steve: During this time, quite by accident, I ended up right
at the front of Paul’s car. As the
police fought hard to keep the crowds back, Linda climbed into the car. Paul though, before joined her, stood on the
doorstep and waved to everyone, just in case he’d missed anyone out! Finally the car pulled away, and as it did so
I waved as Macca gave the old thumbs-up once more form the back window of the
car. A girl asked me if a man in a blue
velvet jacket was with Paul. I told her
no. This turned out to be Billy
Connolly, who, just five yards behind me, was caught up in the “Beatlemania”,
surrounded by girls (including the one I’d previously spoken to). “I love it!” he said, oblivious to his manager’s
frantic attempts to locate their limousine.
Paul: And so it was
that we were left with the memories of a pretty eventful evening and what a
climax! After recognizing that the show
really was over, we made our way home, ecstatic at all that had gone
before. Sure was gear to be back in “1964”
again.
Actually I read that RockShow is going to be released in the near future, probably next year
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