Palace Grounds
From: Sanjay Trehan
Waters live: In Verse
three sixty degree quadraphonic sound
who says it was music?
who says it was music?
who says it was music?
and when waters belted his unreleased number
Here is my poetic tribute to Roger Waters.
He was in Bangalore, India on the 13th of April.
I flew from Delhi to attend the concert.
by sanjay trehan
blaring helicopter and lunchtime siren
clusters of black balloons
thirty thousand fans sporting attitude
inhaling dust of palace grounds
april thirteen zero two remember the date
wiping pigmy
mtv, enjoy!? out of significance
the lunatic is on the grass
lighter flames in a cultic show of brotherhood
strobes beams animated psychedelia
liquid phantasmagoric visions
a pig with wings and menacing frown
atom heart mother with udders
onshore oil rig being blown to smithereens
it all makes perfect sense
a trip to the dark side of the moon
city pubs had set the tone
from nasa to 180 proof
it was comfortably numb
all the way who cares for food?
when the legend arrives in the flesh
like the piper at the gates of dawn
even though decades late
acolytes queue up bearing primitive conditions
and digitised entry
for the experience of being there
hey you would you give it up for anything
it was waters almost sixty in iconic black
with jelled hair tall athletic gait
in an english way
thank you, it's our first gig in India?
set the control for the heart of the sun
crying out for the fellow journeyman
who reached for the moon too soon
shine on you crazy diamond
barrett now a paunchy balding
gardener in cambridge in a world of his own
wish you were here
amidst baby boomers and thirty something
pinkheads who rocked with classic rock
and listened in silence and with reverence
to waters strumming his guitar pouring poetry
and protest
it was education minus the stuffing
hey teacher leave the kids alone
your thoughts are chasms in the classroom
it was anti-war protest
bring the boys back home
it was voice against violence
jews and arabs why must you bleed
war games on television make a good picture
but make monkeys out of us
the species had amused itself to death
it was a cry against dehumanisation
welcome to the machine
it was a longing for lost childhood
mother should i run for president?
it was not another brick in the wall
it was a visit to the temple of rock
flickering flame as a parting gift
hope got a new life
it's a miracle
and it could only happen in bangalore.
However there were certain songs that gave you an incredible high... songs that just took your soul up with them. I almost felt suspended on higher ground listening to them....!!!!
The evening began just the way it was anticipated to. We reached the Palace Grounds early (6 pm.) to be right up front, and to our surprise, it was quite easy to make our way through. By 7 pm, the crowds had swelled in numbers, and there wasnt any place to move around. A strong smell of marijuana had enveloped every one by now.
Roger came on stage 10 mins late at 7.40 pm., but hey we didnt mind it. Until then the spirits were high & in jest the crowds kept shouting out to Roger to make his grand entry ..."Hey Roger, you are 10 mins late, come on stage...will ya." And make an appearance he did...The crowds went delirious, the opening notes of "In The Flesh" were just too awesome. And when "Mother" began, it brought back memories of all the times and days we had sung this song with friends. I was numbed!
"Southampton Dock" took me to another level alltogether. To hear him sing "Brezhnev took Afghanistan...." & " Maggie what have you done..." The Final Cut's been perhaps their best album yet.
"Pigs" and "Dogs" were fabulous, esp. the visuals of the Flying Pigs on the screen, and the sound effects of the Dogs barking in the background.... Since I was right up front couldn't enjoy the sound effects completely. The lights on stage were disappointing in a way, since we were all looking out for the light effects as well, but I guess bright lights on stage would have affected the images being projected on the screen.
"Welcome To The Machine", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" ...what can I say that's not been said already. These songs seemed endless... Brilliant!!!!
The crowd went absolutely wild when "Wish You Were Here", all the songs from "Dark Side" & "Comfortably Numb" were rendered! Awesome... goosepimples were the order of the day, or rather night. I especially loved the way Roger created the sound of the ticking clock on his guitar for "Time." "Time" has been one of my favorites, as I have sung this song millions of time in college, when each word, each lyric made so much sense to us. We in fact adopted the song as our own anthem. Thats what Roger Waters is all about, "the growing up years, discovering yourself, your own identity."
The images projected on the screen were mindblowing... the flying pigs, the submarine, the explosion of the oil rig (i think) into an orange ball of fire with Roger in the front.... BREATHTAKING!!!!...The eclipse....beautiful!
I loved "Amused To Death", "Its A Miracle"... Katie, PP & Linda.... the 3 of you were extraordinary... hats off you. "Flickering Flame" was good... it'll take some time to soak it in.
And lastly a big round of thanx and applause to Andy Fairweather, Chester Kamen & Snowy White on the guitars, they were electrifying. Graham Broad on the drums was fabulous, and so was Harry Waters, he was quite a revelation... played some great stuff.
When the concert was over, it was sad we had to leave, I didnt want to, I wanted Roger to get back on
stage!!!! 3 days after the concert, I am still very much in limbo. I travelled all the way back to Bombay,
mentally soaking in everything I had witnessed. For me, Roger Waters has very nicely settled into my
subconscious... and the feelings are special, they're my own, something I dont want to lose for quite a
while!!!! When will you come again Roger...?
Cheers
Deb
The crowd waited patiently and when the band members appeared on the stage at 7:35 PM the crowd greeted them with a huge roar. The show began with Roger Waters singing 'In The Flesh part 2'. This was followed by all those Pink Floyd gems 'Another Brick In the Wall-2', 'Mother', 'Pigs on the wing', 'Dogs', 'Time', 'Money' ...Chester Kamen's guitar solo on 'Dogs' drew a big round of applause from the crowd as did Graham Broad's drumming on 'Time'. Waters and the other three guitarists (Kamen, Snowy White and Andy Fairweather Low) pulled off the card game trick while playing 'Dogs'. They sat at a table on the stage and played cards while Graham Broad and Harry Waters and Andy Wallace played on and the crowd simply loved this.
After an hour and half, the band broke for a 20 minute break and reassembled. Roger Waters followed with songs from albums from his solo career. 'Amused to Death', 'Its a Miracle', 'Bravery of Being Out of Range' etc. In the end he played songs from 'Dark Side of the Moon' and topped it all off with 'Comfortably Numb'. The duo of Snowy White and Chester Kamen played some scorching stuff on 'Comfortably numb'. Roger waters ended the show with his new song 'Flickering Fame' and the lyrics were simply outstanding.
The crowd pleaded for more but that was all they could get. The animations and
sound effects were amazing. Harry Waters deserves a special mention and he proved
that he was in the band on sheer talent rather than for being Roger's son. The
three backing vocalists also did an excellent job. The only disappointment for
the crowd was Roger Waters not singing 'Each small candle'. It was an exceptional
concert, and people in India will be looking forward to seeing the great man again.
Still to confirm the event of the century in respect to India, I started on the hunt for any bit of news . then I logged on to REG, and Mr. Michael Simone confirmed that Roger willindeed appear In The Flesh on 13th April at Bangalore's Palace grounds. So I downloaded the REG Concert flyers and made a pile of copies to distribute at the show. And what a show it was!
I could hardly wait for APRIL, and spent my time informing all my Waters Fan freinds. One must know that in India Roger Waters is cult phenomenon, with huge fan following from 60 years old to 20 somethings. Considering the size of country, people from West, North, South, and East all came to Go To The Show. The whole of India was in anticipation of The Live Show Of This Century, and the ticket prices at Rs. 2000/,1500 and 900 (phenomenoly high compared to other rock shows, but Roger Waters is Roger Waters!) didn't deter from a turn out of appx 39,000 attendees.
I arrived at the venue at 3 pm IST, the show was to start at 7:30 pm. Everyone I met gave me the same response, they have come to watch Roger Waters, the greatest musicians perform live. The young'uns were chanting Roger (sic) is God! As I was handing out REG leaflets, people thanked me and even gave me the title Roger Fan no.1 .
Finally the moment arrived we all were waiting for! Time: 7;30 pm, Lights dim, ....Ladies and Gentelman... And my heart goes besrserk and I get goosebumps, as In The Flesh -2 explodes into my head. The stadium erupts into a roar as the thundering chords reverberate through us !!!!! We all accompany with the chorus of Another Brick in the Wall.
Roger then sings a poignant 'Mother.' It is followed up with Southampton Dock, and tears well into my eyes, what a vocal delivery and to watch Roger sing with so much intensity. And then I hear dogs barking, with the flying pigs on the backdrop.
Now its clear to me that Roger's going to perform only those songs which he had included in In The Flesh Live 2000 album, and it apparently comes true. And I was genuinly impressed that Roger did not copy or launch into Gilmour style renditions of Floyd songs. We see animations of machined motors, engine parts, and get a feeling that I am inside a Machine, most probably an Engine of an automobile, as WELCOME TO THE Machine is performed.
I really liked his rendition of Wish You Were Here, with Harry on keyboards. I'm sure Roger must be proud of him, for he has his fathers genes of being a perfectionist. Not to forget the vocalists. Andy F Low and Snowy fired the crowd in Comfortably Numb. All credit must go to the sound engineers, as the fx of Cash register, Clocks, and all the drum fx, were so arranged that one did not have to wear earplugs upfront and yet were audible without any loss at the back row.
The highlight was that during Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Roger, Snowy, Andy Wallce and Andy F Low, sat at a card table (which was one of the props) and started playing cards. The audience was beleaguered at this strange act, only to discover that it was part of the show!!!!
My favorites were the songs from Amused To Death, and I was the only one in the nearby crowd who was singing along with each of ATD songs, a person next to me was really impressed and later we became real good friends. The 3 hour show ended with Roger performing Flickering flame.
I cant explain the rush and the sense of contentment I felt to have at last seen Roger Waters In The Flesh. Now I can die in piece, as my lifelong wish was fulfilled.
Thank you Roger for all you have done, giving me a new perspective to life and its purpose. I am gonna pass a small candle to each and all, keep it burning!
Written byNeelabh
Bisen, For REG.
E MAIL=Reply To Me
May 2002,INDIA
The Flickering Flame:
When my neurons conspire to redirect
my thoughts
Away from divorce and competitive sports
Back to the place where all rivers run to the sea
Then I____...I shall be free
Then I____...I shall be free
On a see-saw in a strange land
The jackdaw sat on the cardinals hand
And the vicars pray
And the planners plan what to do
On a back seat in a court room
sat Molly Malone and Leopold Bloom
Until the police came down with a new broom
And swept them clean
Like Geronimo
Like Quinn the Eskimo
Like Blackfoot
And like the Arapaho
Like Crazy Horse
I'll be the last one to lay down my gun__
They'll sound
Their final round
On the open road in a ballroom
A pick up band plays me a tune
When the coloured girl sing
I feel my heart swing
When I know a song hits the right note
When a clearing in the sky saves an old boat
When an answer strikes the mote
From my own eye
Like Geronimo
Like Quinn the Eskimo
Like Blackfoot
And like the Arapaho
Like Crazy Horse
I'll be the last one to lay down my gun__
They're the same beyond the next plain
I'll feel the heat of the flickering flame
On an African Plain by a thorn tree
My old friend Philippe is waiting for me
Que Sera Que Sera
What ever will be will be
When a friend dies and the tears rise
From that deep well that never runs dry
And the women break their bracelets
And the men take their whisky outside
In a pretty tier on the rouse en de lear
The red velvet curtain pulls back to reveal
The place where the dark side meets the angel in me__...
the angel in me
When my synapses pause in their quest for applause
When my ego lets go of its end of the bone
To focus instead on a love that is precious to me
Then I____...I shall be free
Then I____...I shall be free
by Roger Waters*
*This transcription by Neelabh Bisen; though it may have some errors, if
you find any please mail me at
neelabh@neelabh.zzn.com\
Neelabh@neelabh.zzn.com
Check out REG, http://www.rogerwaters.org the best site on Roger Waters as far as I'm concerned.
