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.
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| 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 .
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| 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
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| 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 .
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| 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
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