Monday, November 19, 2012

Rock Show in 1981

In April 1981, the Wings film of the 1976 tour called Rock Show was finally released.   I am sure that the fans at that time thought that thing would never be released, just as today we don't' think it will ever be released on DVD or Blueray (or Ultraviolet whatever that is....)    But in April 1981, Rock Show had a premiere in London and Paul and Linda were present along with a string of 1980's celebrities at the showing.   Two fans, Paul and Steve, were also there (they bought $15 tickets!) and they wrote for issue #34 of "With a Little Help from my friends" fanzine about the Paul sightings they had at the movie premiere.


Photo by Paul Tidey

  
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.

1 comment:

  1. Actually I read that RockShow is going to be released in the near future, probably next year

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