Day One. The first few hours of the Hyde Park Festival were ruined by twelve blokes, well twenty four blokes and a referee who disallowed England's penalty against Poland. The huddled crowd around the portable television in the promoter's backstage Portacabin was a clear reference that the normal crazed and busy activity which goes on behind the scenes at a festival had been put on hold for a couple of hours. If a worker requested a pass they would have to wait until the final whistle, catering would reopen at 7pm and if any of the public fancied creeping backstage now was the best time to try it. Texas were playing on the main stage - according to the crumpled setlist on the table near the television. Maybe they were the best band of the weekend, maybe they were the worst. Maybe they didn't even turn up - let's face it the Scots were the last people we wished to be associated with today. With England kicked out and the sorry field of grown men weeping into their plastic pints of overpriced larger it was a prescription of live music which could only begin to try and heal their hurtful souls.
In the backstage artist compound the cornered off Roger Waters enclosure was the center of attention and was 'fit for a princess'. This was a pretty good thing seeing as Princess Beatrice and her Sister had arrived with Mum, Fergie. They joined us cooped up in the wings of the main stage to watch Waters plod through the whole of 'Dark Side Of The Moon'. Being in pole position gives us the opportunity to overhear little titbits from the crew. Naturally Fergie's presence brought a touch of excitement and she was given quite a few short commentaries during the set from Water's various roadies which we overheard. These included positive elements such as the images portrayed on the backdrop means more to Roger than the words to the songs and fairly negative feedback along the lines of what a miserable bastard he was. The two hour set was going to have inflatable pigs being launched out into the audience, although this didn't go ahead and the redundant blow up Trotters laid deserted in various portacabins backstage. It takes a short while to be engrossed into a set of this nature, but within the first half hour people realized they were witnessing a 'special moment' and by the time the walking hammers marched along on the screen to the sound of 'Brick In The Wall' we were enjoying every minute. Exactly one year ago Roger was on this very stage reunited with the other Floyd members for Live8 it seems extremely unlikely that the band members path will ever cross again despite a vain attempt by promoter, Harvey Goldsmith trying to make tonight a Pink Floyd reunion for the past eleven months. Afterwards Roger held an aftershow party in his compound and marquee backstage for a couple of hours with free drinks and sushi canapés. The Duchess Of York, now educated on tonight's headline act made her way home and as the early hours of Sunday morning crept in the crowd made their way home and for a couple of hours England's knockout had been put in the back of peoples memories. Other bands who played today included Starsailor (Just what the crowd needed after loosing the footie!), Suzanne Vega and Chris Difford. If you actually know who the hell Difford is drop us an email and we will try to muster up a small prize for you!
Day two.
We should really inform you that there was a massive Hard Rock Cafe VIP
area and a Hard Rock restaurant slap bang in the main arena as the infamous
restaurant were the official sponsors of this festival. Luckily there
were no rats found in the area - unlike the vermin which have apparently
been living in the Hyde Park restaurant for a few months!
The Embassy club catered for VIP guests and a funfair situated next to
a huge TV screen showing the footie was positioned towards the back of
the park. A second stage which was headlined by Primal Scream on the Sunday
was behind the main stage but an early finish around 8pm saw the tent
empty as darkness fell.
'In The Morning You Know You Won't Remember A Thing', try telling that
to Wayne Rooney! Johnny Borrell may well be bellowing out his greatest
hit to date and in fine spirits seeing as the bands second album is released
at midnight, but he has a busy day in ahead of him - but more of that
later.
It wasn't just Razorlight who kept the fans happy before The Who came
on stage, The Zutons gave a well welcomed performance and Ocean Colour
Scene managed to bring along Paul Weller and a relative unheard band,
Casbah Club opened today's proceedings.
Last night 'Waters' was the most famous Roger moping around backstage,
but today it was Daltrey who stole the limelight. The band also attracted
A-list fans as Red Hot Chili Pepper's Chad and U2's Adam Clayton turned
up to watch The Who's brilliant offering. Making their first album for
24 years The Who gave fans a real treat. They were currently touring the
UK and classics such as, 'My Generation', 'Pinball Wizard' and a ipod
memory full more gave the loyal fans hope that they will continue releasing
such incredible legendary hits for another quarter of a century. OK, probably
a few years shorter as most of them will have a bouquet of flowers laid
upon a mound of soil with their bodies six foot under before than - but
you get our drift! Their new album with the working title 'WHO2' is released
in the new year and a 'New Generation' will understand why their parents
went to today's concert!
Hyde Park Calling should return next year and with two strong headline
acts in this, it's first year the festival promises to be another great
success and won't be dampened by and English footballer.
After the festival
the bands were whisked away in people carriers back to their hotels/ mansions/
retirement homes to relax. All except one band - Razorlight. To launch
their second album we climbed into one of the bands cars (with permission)
and followed Johnny on his motorbike to the Virgin Megastore where the
band played three extra songs to a crowd of patience, blurrey-eyed fans
who had been queuing for hours outside. Upstairs in the shop we joined
the and as they rehearsed for this promotional in-store appearance. The
band didn't plan which songs they would perform and were unaware how long
they could actually play for.
Downstairs the shop was rampacked as a first hour January Sale. The acoustic
show was short but sweet followed by an album playback and signing session.
We left at 1am and left the tired lads to squibble and scrawl away until
Breakfast time. Just in case you are interested the setlist for the midnight
set was, 'America', 'Before I fall to pieces' and 'Kirby's House'.