So, I'm back from England.
It was bitchin' from start to finish, a whirlwind tour! I'll try to keep this short:
Most important (and relevant to this forum) - Jethro Tull was fantastic. More than I hoped for really. Here is the setlist:
Life Is A Long Song, Skating Away..., Living In The Past, Slipstream, Up To Me, Griminelli's Lament, Aurora, Wond'ring Aloud, 'Moz Art' Medley, Cheap Day Return/Mother Goose, She Is Like The Swallow, Bourée - [Interval] - Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody, Kashmir (incl. Whole Lotta Love), Cross-Eyed Mary, Hymn 43, Misére, My God, Budapest, Aqualung, Wind-Up, Locomotive Breath, Protect And Survive, Cheerio
A female violinist guested for many of the songs, including the oddball stuff like Kashmir and Bohemian Raphsody. Those were instrumentals incidentally, centered around her pretty much. Ian Anderson was fantastic, just plain top notch - and let's face it, Jethro Tull is all about him really. The crowd was rather aged, I must say. The town we saw them in (Ipswich) was just a funny little English hick town, but great fun, and the hotel we stayed at was steeped in history. Dickens stayed there, and so did Admiral Nelson and a few Kings in their time. Anyway, the show was top notch. The next day on the way out of town via the train, who should i run into at the station but one Ian Anderson. He was very obviously in a hurry, because he couldn't find his platform or something, so I didn't bother him for a picture. I did thank him for the show though. "Ah thanks, cheers mate," was his answer. A real nice guy, and he really was just plain RUNNING to catch his train, so cool that he took the time out he did. I don't think anybody else recognized him, but there weren't alot of people in the station.
The rest of the trip was a dream come true, really. On the train between York, Cambridge, Ipswich, and London (we took a train somewhere every single day) I listened exclusively to English band on my iPod - Tull, Maiden, Zeppelin, Saxon...etc. The music all took on a whole other level there, and I really felt that I could feel what inspired it all (in its way) in the landscape. Very moving, and too much to put into words. I've more to say, but I'm still up after no sleep for MANY hours since I'm trying to get back on US schedule here. So for now, some pictures....
OH, last and weirdest of all. As we arrived home in San Francisco today....my wife and I zipped off the plane as we were sitting pretty close to the front. We got to the luggage carousel before everybody except one couple. I was all beat up from the flight....but it took me roughly 3 seconds to realize this couple was James Hetfield and his wife. SERIOUSLY!! I told my wife who he was, but decided not to bug them. I knew how I felt after such a long flight, and he was with his wife.....anyway....two seconds later a short little guy walked on the other side of me, and low and behold it was Lars Ulrich. Now, I know Lars likes being famous, so him I did say hi too. We talked for a minute about the Rick Rubin business, and he was very nice. I should note here that I'd met both of them (and the other members of Metallica) a year or so ago in a meet and greet but it was great fun standing there at the luggage carousel with my wife, Lars Ulrich, and James Hetfield and his wife for awhile. When James left he said to Lars, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow at work..." Lars said, "I'm going there right now," and laughed (meaning Metallica "headquarters," I suppose, here in San Rafael). They all seemed nice and friendly with each other (James' wife talking to Lars and all I mean). A cool last little thrill to the end of a cool trip.
This one is my ode to Steve Harris. That's the coach for Westham (his favorite team if you know your Maiden trivia). This was the first night in England, and finding a Westham game on the tv made me feel like I'd officially gotten there. I bought a Westham jersey in London.
ElectricWiz at King's Cross station. You Harry Potter fans should recognize this platform. A funny, touristy thing they've done there, but cool anyway. The luggage rack is dissapearing into the wall, but that is hard to pick up in the picture.
Me in front of the theatre where Tull played. The day after actually...I'm wearing the shirt I bought at the show here, but it is obscured. A cool shirt though.
...in fact here it is....there are tourdates on the back...
Me below a printer's devil in York. Long story as to the history of this little statue/emblem, but it's related to the printing trade and his "dirty little apprentice..." I'll spare you the rest....
I only showed that photo because, funnily, a minute later a priest walked up and got in the photo....note the collar...ha
Wiz and Mrs. Wiz in the windy and rainy moors of Yorkshire....Noses red from the cold wind.
I was listening to Black Sabbath on my iPod (title song from first album) when I snapped this from a bus window. A rainy day in the English country side. No better atmosphere to listen to a lot of old-school stuff. Sabbath was chilling in these surroundings!
...and here's another...
....and another...
...and the Westham shirt. Up the Irons.
So, I'd put more, but it'll get boring. A great freaking trip!
It was bitchin' from start to finish, a whirlwind tour! I'll try to keep this short:
Most important (and relevant to this forum) - Jethro Tull was fantastic. More than I hoped for really. Here is the setlist:
Life Is A Long Song, Skating Away..., Living In The Past, Slipstream, Up To Me, Griminelli's Lament, Aurora, Wond'ring Aloud, 'Moz Art' Medley, Cheap Day Return/Mother Goose, She Is Like The Swallow, Bourée - [Interval] - Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody, Kashmir (incl. Whole Lotta Love), Cross-Eyed Mary, Hymn 43, Misére, My God, Budapest, Aqualung, Wind-Up, Locomotive Breath, Protect And Survive, Cheerio
A female violinist guested for many of the songs, including the oddball stuff like Kashmir and Bohemian Raphsody. Those were instrumentals incidentally, centered around her pretty much. Ian Anderson was fantastic, just plain top notch - and let's face it, Jethro Tull is all about him really. The crowd was rather aged, I must say. The town we saw them in (Ipswich) was just a funny little English hick town, but great fun, and the hotel we stayed at was steeped in history. Dickens stayed there, and so did Admiral Nelson and a few Kings in their time. Anyway, the show was top notch. The next day on the way out of town via the train, who should i run into at the station but one Ian Anderson. He was very obviously in a hurry, because he couldn't find his platform or something, so I didn't bother him for a picture. I did thank him for the show though. "Ah thanks, cheers mate," was his answer. A real nice guy, and he really was just plain RUNNING to catch his train, so cool that he took the time out he did. I don't think anybody else recognized him, but there weren't alot of people in the station.
The rest of the trip was a dream come true, really. On the train between York, Cambridge, Ipswich, and London (we took a train somewhere every single day) I listened exclusively to English band on my iPod - Tull, Maiden, Zeppelin, Saxon...etc. The music all took on a whole other level there, and I really felt that I could feel what inspired it all (in its way) in the landscape. Very moving, and too much to put into words. I've more to say, but I'm still up after no sleep for MANY hours since I'm trying to get back on US schedule here. So for now, some pictures....
OH, last and weirdest of all. As we arrived home in San Francisco today....my wife and I zipped off the plane as we were sitting pretty close to the front. We got to the luggage carousel before everybody except one couple. I was all beat up from the flight....but it took me roughly 3 seconds to realize this couple was James Hetfield and his wife. SERIOUSLY!! I told my wife who he was, but decided not to bug them. I knew how I felt after such a long flight, and he was with his wife.....anyway....two seconds later a short little guy walked on the other side of me, and low and behold it was Lars Ulrich. Now, I know Lars likes being famous, so him I did say hi too. We talked for a minute about the Rick Rubin business, and he was very nice. I should note here that I'd met both of them (and the other members of Metallica) a year or so ago in a meet and greet but it was great fun standing there at the luggage carousel with my wife, Lars Ulrich, and James Hetfield and his wife for awhile. When James left he said to Lars, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow at work..." Lars said, "I'm going there right now," and laughed (meaning Metallica "headquarters," I suppose, here in San Rafael). They all seemed nice and friendly with each other (James' wife talking to Lars and all I mean). A cool last little thrill to the end of a cool trip.
This one is my ode to Steve Harris. That's the coach for Westham (his favorite team if you know your Maiden trivia). This was the first night in England, and finding a Westham game on the tv made me feel like I'd officially gotten there. I bought a Westham jersey in London.
ElectricWiz at King's Cross station. You Harry Potter fans should recognize this platform. A funny, touristy thing they've done there, but cool anyway. The luggage rack is dissapearing into the wall, but that is hard to pick up in the picture.
Me in front of the theatre where Tull played. The day after actually...I'm wearing the shirt I bought at the show here, but it is obscured. A cool shirt though.
...in fact here it is....there are tourdates on the back...
Me below a printer's devil in York. Long story as to the history of this little statue/emblem, but it's related to the printing trade and his "dirty little apprentice..." I'll spare you the rest....
I only showed that photo because, funnily, a minute later a priest walked up and got in the photo....note the collar...ha
Wiz and Mrs. Wiz in the windy and rainy moors of Yorkshire....Noses red from the cold wind.
I was listening to Black Sabbath on my iPod (title song from first album) when I snapped this from a bus window. A rainy day in the English country side. No better atmosphere to listen to a lot of old-school stuff. Sabbath was chilling in these surroundings!
...and here's another...
....and another...
...and the Westham shirt. Up the Irons.
So, I'd put more, but it'll get boring. A great freaking trip!
