12/05/05 - OLD BILLINGSGATE, LONDON

Review by Steven Stanley:
This was a charity show that Bryan did for the 'Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign'... it was full of London's elite business people and people associated with the charity. The venue was like an old town hall esque building situated right on the Rover Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge on Old Billingsgate Walk.

I didn't have a ticket for the show because A - they had soldout and B - they cost £1000 each! So, seeing as I was in London anyway for the Earls Court show the day after I decided to go along and see what I could make of it. The venue was a bit of a pain to find but once we found it everything was ok. People dressed 'chic' as described on the ticket started turning up so this was definately the place. Among the guests I saw Radio DJ and TV Presenter Johnny Vaughan go in! We went to the little side door that was being manned by security anyway and waited. Just after 9pm the band arrived and the few fans that were there met Gary, Keith, Mickey and Norm. A short while later Bryan turned up and signed stuff for us and talked and posed for photos... I only took one cos I didnt wana start flashing the camera infront of him all the time lol. He was in a really good talkative mood anyway. It was funny when he got out of the car he said we were freaks lol... but in a good way!

Bryan went inside anyway and we went for a drink in the pub closeby near The Tower Of London (The Hung Drawn And Quartered!) to give them time to get onstage. We came back and went around to the front of the building on the riverfront. Against the big windows you could see what was going on inside and had an excellent view of the stage. We could see and hear everything perfectly through the window (as you can see from my photo above)! BA started with 'Open Road' then the band kicked in with '18 Til I Die' along with several girls who jumped onstage and were dancing and bum shuffling with Bryan and the band! Next came 'Blessing In Disguise' and 'C'mon Everybody'... what a unique little show this was! During 'Back To You' we were all bouncing outside at the window... we must have looked so funny!!! 'Summer Of '69' was done full rock and during this we could see although it was a posh shirt and tie affair inside, everybody was well up for the show.

Bryan got the crowd going during 'Cuts Like A Knife' and everybody was doing the na na na's inside!... and of course outside! 'When You're Gone' was insane... first a girl got up and then I don't think she knew the song so good.... so about 20 million girls got up onstage for a stage invasion! Keith's solo in 'It's Only Love' was great and he used some wierd spoon thing off a table to help him with the solo then threw it in the crowd! 3 rockers followed before he ended with 'Get Down Tonight'.... another stage invasion by the audience followed as BA told everyone to get up!

After the show everybody left with goodie bags with a special BA programme and things like pink knickers in them! Was well funny! We saw Bryan and the band leave but it was time to go and find Earls Court for the show the next day!

(Above) the beautiful view of Tower Bridge from the venue at Old Billingsgate.

Setlist:
Open Road
18 Til I Die
Blessing In Disguise
C'mon Everybody
Back To You
Summer Of '69 (full rock)
Everything I Do
Cuts Like A Knife
When You're Gone (with 10+ WYGG's!)
Heaven
It's Only Love
The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
Cloud #9
Run To You
Get Down Tonight

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Pictures by Steven Stanley

These tickets for the show costs £1000 each!

Old Billingsgate Walk... right on the Thamas near the Tower Of London.

Bryan rocking the cash out of the London elites pockets!

BA playing infront of a huge vase... rather posh in there!

One of many stage invasions!