12/03/05 - PROMO: BENISSIMO SHOW, ZURICH

Review by Claire Griffiths:
That I got to see Bryan’s Performance in the Benissimo Show last Saturday was actually pure luck! I’m glad I had it!! ?
As soon as Steven told me, that Bryan was gonna perform on this tv show in Zürich called Benissimo, I surfed the internet to try to get a ticket. I actually think it’s a pretty stupid show, so I was really surprised when I found out, that all the shows were totally booked out until 2006!!!! I asked my dad, if he had any possibilities to get me a ticket and at first it didn’t look good at all. I had given up hope of going to see Bryan….. Then suddenly he had this brilliant idea of calling a friend of his, who works for the same tv channel and actually has his own talkshow on it. At 4pm this guy called us back, saying he had organized a ticket for me. YEY!!!! At that point I was jumping around the fruit and vegetables department in our local store, cause that’s where I was, when my dad called me about the good BAd news!!!! I had to pick up the ticket at 7pm, one hour before the show started. Because the tv studio is in Oerlikon, I decided to go by car. Stupid idea Claire!!!! Of course what happened??!!! I got lost!!! I was driving around for at least 30 mins without a clue where the heck I was!! And guess what time it was…..7.10 already!! I was really worried they wouldn’t let me in anymore or that they had given my ticket to somebody else! But I was lucky! I got there and the people were really nice! The producer even took me round backstage. Was cool to see how things work there.

Anyway….I heard that Bryan wasn’t gonna come until 8.30…and that he was gonna leave straight after performing room service! I was quite disappointed. ONCE you get to be backstage…..Bryan isn’t there! Darn! I know I shouldn’t complain….at least I saw the show hehe. So during the show there were lots of different acts….they didn’t really interest me though. I was only in it for Bryan. And funny enough I was really nervous! I don’t really know why, that's just how it was. I think I probably was more nervous than Bryan, when he finally came on stage towards the end of the show. With his charming smile he won over the audience the second he walked in. At first I was disappointed that the band was not there. I was looking forward to see good old Keith again too lol. But in the end it turned out to be just fine. He played ‘Room Service’ acoustically and it sounded great!!!! I think I was the only person among all the oldies in there singing along, but who cares lol!! There was a lot of cheering after the song! Beni Turnher (or however you spell the guy’s name!) the guy who hosts the show went up on stage and had a little chat with Bryan. (I taped the tv show, so this is a part of what they said)

Beni: Its rather unusual having an artist who is really doing the music! You do it sometimes? (he says this with a funny swiss accent and some hilarious mistakes!!)
Bryan: I do it quite often actually (grin) I mean to perform like this is quite rare..but..it’s nice…it’s different.
Beni: Did you have to have some courage when you did it the first time?
Bryan: You mean…. 30 years ago (big grin and chuckles) yes!
Still. Of course you do..I mean everybody when they came up here….including the rat (grins again) (there was an act with a rat just before bryan came on stage)

They then started talking bout how Bryan recorded the new album:

Beni: But are you playing guitar in the hotel and making mad all the other inhabitants?
Bryan: On the contrary, most people are quite happy about it (everyone laughs)

Beni: You came from Sydney…so you must have a terrible jetlag!! And you’re not in a very good mood. You’re just…erm…
Bryan: I’m in a very good…..
Beni: …..trying…
Bryan: Yes … I’m trying very hard to be in a good mood (everybody laughs including Bryan. He’s got this huge grin on his face lol. Was very funny!!)
Beni: And where are you going from now?
Bryan: Tomorrow I go to Paris….and then back to London. And then we’re going to Egypt.
Beni: Oh. Fine.
Bryan: Yes
Beni: So you’re very busy…

Anyway…the conversation went on a little longer. He said he was working on a new album already that’s gonna come out in octobre and some other stuff…

After that I’m afraid Bryan had to leave already. Some old lady who owns a cat, that was sleeping lol!! won a million sfr. And that was all really. I went backstage to fetch my coat and to check if Bryan really wasn’t there anymore…but he had left already. Oh well…. Even though I didn’t meet the BADman, it was a fun evening. One worth going to! See ya next time Bryan!!!

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Pictures by Claire Griffiths

Bryan being interviewed

Bryan onstage singing 'Room Service' acoustically

Bryan with the interviewer again

The Benissimo show venue in Zurich