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		07/07/06 - FIFA FAN-FEST, GLUCKAUFKAMPFBAHN, GELSENKIRCHEN Bryan plays the second show of his brief European mini-tour in Gelsenkirchen... home of quite a few World Cup matches this summer so far. The guys don't play the actual stadium used by the football but instead play at the nearby Glückaufkampfbahn. The show is organised by FIFA (governing body for worldwide football and the World Cup which is being held in Germany June > July). The stadium is packed and fans turn up in their thousands to enjoy Bryan's gig ahead of Sundays World Cup Final two days later between Italy & France in Berlin. He even does a short ditty 'Who's Gonna Win On Sunday'! 'I Think About You' is back in the setlist... but this time full band like back on the 18 Tour! (Above) The thronging Glückaufkampfbahn shows exactly why BA plays the UK & Europe more than any other place. (Below) Chris, Helen & Lizy doing it for England, flying the flag of St George in Germany. (England had got knocked out of the World Cup 6 days previously by Portugal but they were still English & proud... too right). Setlist: So Far So Good Somebody Lonely Nights Open Road 18 Til I Die Let’s Make A Night To Remember Can’t Stop This Thing We Started “Who’s Gonna Win On Sunday” song Back To You Summer Of ‘69 I Think About You (Full band!) Everything I Do Cuts Like A Knife When You’re Gone I’m Ready Heaven Hearts On Fire She’s Only Happy When She’s Dancin’ It’s Only Love The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You Cloud #9 Run To You The Best Of Me Please Forgive Me Straight From The Heart All For Love ********** Review by Maria Heutz and Moya Stinson: Ages ago I asked Moya if she would like to go to a BA concert in July. Who can say no when the ticket is less half the prize it normally costs, so it was an easy decision. We had our last concert in September in Cologne together so it was a long time to wait for the next BA experience. On Wednesday I picked Moya up from Cologne airport. We spent nearly the whole of Thursday waiting for Alrun a nice Lady who was also invited to sleep here ready for the concert! On Friday morning we waited for Gerhard to come back from work. We decided to take our bigger car for the driving because it has a navigation system (I call it Susi – a woman’s name). We got to the parking area easily at about 11.30. The way to the venue wasn’t far and soon we arrived at the Glückaufkampfbahn in Gelsenkirchen. Silke who did the wrist thing (imported from England) and some others were already there. So Moya and I got # 51 and 52 but Silke told us she had already spoken to a security man and they weren’t prepared to help us so we knew what was ahead of us. This system is a brilliant idea, but both Moya and I have never been to a concert yet where it has worked well for us. It is such a pity. It wouldn’t be difficult for the organisers to get it right, but they don’t very often. We had to wait in front of a big hoarding which we were told would be taken down at 4 in the afternoon. Behind, this hoarding there were 30 gates (I counted them) in parallel. So we soon knew the wristbands wouldn’t work because everyone was pressed against the hoarding, so again, people who had come along later had the chance to be first at the other gates. Never the less, we settled ourselves down to a long wait and tried to think that it didn’t matter how near the front we were, as long as we had a decent view. Alrun introduced us to people I already knew from the German BA forum. It was nice to meet them face to face. It was very hot and time didn’t pass by quickly. At 4 o’clock the security came out and tried to break down this hoarding and then everyone from behind pushed in. Fortunately I ended up first on one of the gates and Moya behind me. There were bins in the gates and they brought them out later in our direction so everyone has to move again. Moya and I managed to hold our places. When they finally opened it was about 10 minutes past 5 and the security man had a long look on my ticket to find out if it is okay. Then I was through, waited for Moya because once again, the security man just stared at the ticket making her wait for ages. We ran as fast as we could down to the stage. Alrun was before me and lost something out of her bag. So I screamed at her and she had to go back. It was good to know she found her purse again although no-one running to the stage would steal someone else’s things. We made it right to the front on the left side. 4 women behind us made it impossible for us to sit down. We had only space for our feet but were very happy to be there, and were excited once more! We had to wait almost two hours but to everyone’s surprise the supporting act came on at 7. They weren’t bad, very young and the singer had a good voice and was a kind of a showman. He even came down into the audience “just like Bryan”. They stopped playing and the stage was prepared for Bryan and his band members. At about 8 they came out. This time - I have to agree - I didn’t know about the former setlists and what to expect. I was too much into the World Cup and my long time favourite player Jürgen Klinsmann. The songs came as a true surprise with LONELY NIGHTS; HEARTS ON FIRE and PLEASE FORGIVE. The concert started with SO FAR SO GOOD. At home Moya and I wondered if this is such a great opener as people told in their reviews and couldn’t imagine. Moya said that she hadn’t known the words in Huddersfield and felt that some of the people there were surprised too. This time however, we both agreed that it worked. Moya and I now have to learn the lyrics. It was a pity that we only could sing the chorus. We both vowed to learn it for Norwich! When Bryan came first to our side I was really shocked. He was so thin. His arms seemed to be only skin and bones and his face looked as pale as ashes. I didn’t say anything to Moya, but at the end of the concert, she also commented to me that she was very shocked when Bryan came on stage. We hadn’t seemed him close up since the Oberhausen gig and he definitely looked different!! Moya had attended Huddersfield, but as her son bought her the wrong tickets whilst she was on holiday, she was stuck at the back!! Bryan was in a very good mood when he came on stage, he looked happy and full of energy and Keith also. We couldn’t see Mickey at all because the stage was so high. Only Gary’s had was seen and we saw Norman when he forward to the front to accompany Bryan. Pretty much at the beginning he welcomed us in German with: “Guten Abend meine Damen und Herren, mein Name ist Bryan” and he pointed at himself. (Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Bryan). After CAN’T STOP THIS THING WE STARTED he began to play his guitar again and I first thought the Blues Jam is back in the setlist. But I was wrong. He spoke about the World Cup, told us he had already been to some matches and that he will be in the stadium again to watch the final. Nearly everybody started to sing: “Ole, ole, ole, ole, super Deutschland, ole…..” He then asked who we thought would win the World Cup and called on us to vote for France and later for Italy. Some people hooted when it came to Italy. Bryan went on playing. He created a new song and sang four verses of Who will win on Sunday?....or something like that. I don’t remember which song it was but next to the end of the song Bryan laughed his ass off. I couldn’t see why but he hardly could sing until the song’s end. He also laughed and chatted to Keith to look at Mickey. We couldn’t see Mickey, but we presumed that he was laughing so much he could hardly play. This was at the beginning of CUTS LIKE A KNIFE. Before he started singing he noticed that the beer tent was next to the toilets and said “Who’s idea was it to put the Beer Tent next to the toilets”. He thought this was very amusing. He said we should write and ask, but not to him he said “I’m not the organizer, I’m the singer. So if you are not happy with the beer tent next to the toilets please write to Mr. Lieberberg.” (who is normally his concerts promoter, “but please excuse me Bryan, this gig was organized by the FIFA”) He also made a proposal how to write this letter: Dear Mr. Lieberberg, why are the toilets next to the beer tent, kindest regards, Hans. Somewhere before the WHEN YOUR’E GONE part of the set came, a letter was thrown on stage. He picked it up and changed the words into: Hey Keith I want to meet you after the show. The When you’re gone girl came from Oldenburg. Her name was Conny but Bryan called her Honey. She was allowed to salute Keith and brought her camera/mobile with her on stage. She wanted to take a photo but Bryan took it away. She had her pullover wrapped around her body and Bryan tried to pull it away but she w ouldn’t let him. She worked for the police and asked Bryan for the lyrics. She did a good job. After it Bryan took her to the side of the stage and someone else (Toe?) took a photo of them both. During they waited for the “klick” Bryan tried to put up his trousers to let everybody see his red Calvin Kline underwear. He wore a belt so it wasn’t easy to show his red pants. Also, whilst posing for the photo Bryan put his hand on her bottom. First on the left and then on the right side. Bryan and Keith were in a fantastic mood and enjoyed themselves. SHE’S ONLY HAPPY WHEN SHE’S DANCING was announced as “Keith is only happy when he’s dancing”. And then he kicked off. Keith played the guitar laying down or leaning on the stage. Also Bryan and Keith played leaning on stage a part of HEARTS ON FIRE. After THE ONLY THING THAT LOOKS GOOD ON ME IS YOU the first part of the show ended. They sure came back and did the encores. Moya told me before the show that Bryan did not come down to the barriers during THE BEST OF ME in Huddersfield, and so he probably had stopped doing this now, but to Moya’s surprise he did and the women next to Moya, hurriedly moved away their coats off the steps in front of them. Moya helped them in haste! However, he didn’t stop at either me or Moya, which was disappointing. We had no chance to give him our high five. He raced away too fast. The acoustic songs began with PLEASE FORGIVE ME. This was such a nice surprise for me. I hated this song when Bryan it sang to finish a concert because then always everything was over. Now I like it again. It was a few minutes past ten when Bryan finished this concert and he was surprised because it still was light outside. So he meant we all would find our cars in this lightness. They started a fire work display, but I thought it was only on the screens. When I saw the first photos of the gig I noticed that it was real. We went straight to the car and waited there to say goodbye to Alrun. Then we went home which wasn’t a problem with Susi’s help. Moya and I had two more days together. We watched the Germany/Portugal match on Saturday night, and it was nice to see Germany reach 3rd Place. This made my day too. Now Moya and I are looking forward to the Norwich gig on 20th July. Keith and Moya’s birthday.!!!!!!! We hope to have a good time.

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