Manchester was amazing. I was on the 2nd row on the first night, when he didn't do a soundcheck and then the second night I was part of the normal crowd, sat 1 row behing the NPGMC seats.

Both nights were excellent but the first night was the best I have ever seen. Empty room was the highlight for me. I'd never heard it before that night and can't stop playing it since. I think he could still release it as a single.

I remember the vibe of the second night. I walked in after the soundcheck and everyone was so friendly, all letting on as if we had known each other for years. And yes Javed, you really do need to come to one of the Manchester nights I keep arranging!

Muirdo. Still laugh when I think about your ticket fiasco. How much did you end up paying for a seat further back than you started with? £120?

I've heard that the reason there was no recording of this show available for bootleg is that the guy who was doing the recording had his gear taken off him, either at the concert previous or on the night. Pity really. The first show was the best night ever!

Savage said:

Savage

it wasn't £120
60 quid ticket
sold for 30
bought back for 80

after the show i went and checked out where i was supposed to have been sitting and it wasnt any further forward, the new ticket was just further to the side.
feckin scalpers.

anyway apart from that i had a brilliant time.A big shout out to everyone who turned up at the meet-ups cant remember the name of the place but it was really good and everyone was really cool.

muirdo said:

T? Rocks? I was gobsmacked. I've been going to at least 1 festival a year now for 12 years and T still managed to totally surprise me. I'd definitley go back.

"oh and also the guy who gave me a my friends a lift to the aftershow, u had a mercades would b cool 2 hear fromu2!"


What...there was no aftershow.....was there?

But yeah, both nights were very very special. The first was better...you've gotta love that piano medley. And what a venue...I love the Appollo.

LittleJ said:

I'll second that. Fantastic venue.

muirdo said:

Err, well that's close to £120... Your ticket cost you £60, then you sold it for £30, so you're still £30 quid down. Then you buy a new ticket for £80, plus the £30 you're already down, total for a single ticket = £110

Doh!

Ah well, similar thing happened to me once. After seeing him at Wembley and the Hippodrome aftershow, I went to the Brixton gig hoping to get a ticket, which cost me £50 from a guy on the way to the venue, then I saw the massive queue, plus I felt absolutely knackered by this point, plus I was worried the ticket I bought was a fake, it didn't feel right. So I sold it back to a scalper for a £25 quid loss and went home to sleep. Felt it was the right decision, the Brixton gig didn't seem all that good.

As for the Manchester Apollo, I kinda felt it was a bit dated - had all that dark red painted ceilings and furry wallpaper, just like an old-fashioned pub - which made it all that more surreal to see Prince there. I bet when he walked in he thought, geez, what a dump. Can't imagine his changing rooms were all that special, chewing gum all over the floor no doubt!
[Edited 9/15/04 1:18am]