EAVIS A SEX MACHINE AND THE L.A. RIOTS

The temperature is rising and Spring is in the air . At this time of year my mind usually wanders to Summer . Which for me the first event that springs to mind is GLASTONBURY . Alas this year it is a Glastonbury free year due to the country trying to rip us off with a sporting event . Well played Mr Eavis the extra cost it would entailed to put the festival on . Would surly of had to be passed on to the ticket price at a time when money is really tight . Its by know means the first time Mr Eavis has clearly put the future of the festival in mind . Over the years there has been many every think from foot and mouth to security . Having been involved in the festival for over 30 years . Witnessing his love for the festival which is second to none.

Michael Eavis

One of my early memory’s of such love came in 1992 on the Pyramid Stage . All through 90s I had the great honour of being part of the Pyramid on stage crew . In the 90s the amount of people attending the festival was far more than it is now 200.000 plus . True not many people paid the place was crazy packed . But as always at Glastonbury people looked after each other all adding to the amazing buzz of the place . As we looked out from the stage in the 90s watching the place fill up . One of the comments that would come out was.

“ALL THIS FOR 12 JAPANESE STUDENTS ” Hinting at they where the only people who had bought a ticket .

Carter USM

In 1992 the head line act on the pyramid was Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine (U.S.M) . Two young lads playing thrash indie guitars to backing samples . Their lyrics where infectious and street wise really hit the spot with the young indie type. USM merchandise was every where it seemed every one was wearing a Carter T shirt . They had the big slot. The slot Oasis took full advantage of some years later . They where big but this gig was going to propel the band into orbit. There crew was every where setting up the day before. A strange bunch all wearing kilts not at all that sociable . The show that was being set up was impressive . I was looking forward to the visual effect . I will try to explain .

At the back of the stage they had a huge Catherine wheel brimming with U. V lights . The U.V lights projected out into the crowd with tremendous power . Out off stage by the PA wings were two canons either side with funnels on top. Their crew on cue would load out of plastic bags thousands of U.V foam balls into the cannons. All the balls had the bands logos on . They were to be propelled into the crowd in there thousands . I think there was 25.000 to each cannon . The crowd would instinctively start throwing them about . For the U.V light to pick them up giving the image of thousands of dots flying over the crowd . I am convinced it would have been spectacular . I am surprised no one has come up with the idea since . But there was a big spanner in the works . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_USM

U.V Catherine wheel 

This came in the form of a band from L.A called FISHBONE . I would always do a bit of research on the bands I would be crewing on . Fishbone had a reputation for being controversial in their live shows . They where all on one having earlier in year being wrapped up in the L.A riots. They where on the bill before Carter so the crowd was huge . I did comment to the stage manger that this band could be wild . His answer was “I have seen it all no worries”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HclZkAZXCc  Fishbone live at Glastonbury 1992

The instant Fishbone came on stage it was mad . The band was armed with super blaster water pistols new in the U.K . The crew was blasted with water there was 8 in the band plus their crew we all got a soaking . The lead singer came on with a trombone blasted it a few times . Slung it in the crowd quickly following it making his way on top of the crowd to the mixing tower . He spent half the set at the mixing tower and an age getting back . The crowd loved it but the set ran over by at least 40 minuets . I did get a nod off the stage manger as if to say ok wild was the right word .

FISHBONE 

With Mr Eavis under pressure from the powers that be the music cut off had to be 12 midnight. With Carters crew now on stage with no drums little actual band equipment our crew where told we could go if we wanted . With most of the crew not into two lads with backing samples they did not need telling twice. But I was intrigued liking there lyrics still do also looking forward to the illusion with the U.V foam balls . As they came on stage the crowd went mad . The stage was empty there must have been 6 people including the 2 lads . I knew the lost time had to be made up . That meant one thing no encore looking at how fired up the two young lads were that was not good . The atmosphere on stage really reflected that it was strange . The crowd were loving it as it came to the last song of the main set . A few balls from the sides of the stage had been released . The U.V lights from the back of the stage had been tested you could see the the illusion of the balls starting to kick in it looked good .

The two boys went behind the curtain buzzing . One said not sure if it was Jim Bob or Fruit Bat . “This is fucking great we are going to smash it to them” I think it was their manger came over “They are not going to let you go back on” he said

The two lads could not believe it they where crying with rage . I have never been in such a vibe so strange . The two lads where in tantrum mode . Mr Eavis came up the ramp of the Pyramid the two lads made a b -line for him . All the time the crowd was deafening MORE!!!MORE!!! it added to the tension . The 2 lads pleaded with Mr Eavis but the future of the festival was more important . With the powers that be waiting to pounce with noise metres and court dates . Mr Eavis could of not tried to explain personally but he did. It was his decision for the future and love of the festival . The lads went into melt down . Making a lunge for Mr Eavis grabbing him pushing him to the wall we pulled them off it was all over . The crowd finally stopped screaming . Carter had been sacrificed for the future of the festival unfortunate but in the light of things a small price to pay .

So just one hard call Mr Eavis has taken over years . Long my he continue to do so he gets 99.9% so right. Respect !!!!!!

More Glasto Stories through the year