“Hello… miserable
bastards!”
A despondent Ian Brown
salutes a seemingly disinterested audience, setting the tone for the rest of
the night. From then on the gig goes on uninspired, with the band getting out
of sync, long gaps, more quips from Brown. The Roses sound and look decisively
bored with Milan and cut the set short to retreat after a hasty “I Am the Resurrection”.
It ‘s September 1989
and the infamous gig marks the first and last time the four Roses would play in the
city for 23 years.
Last night they came
back, in the last date for the first European leg of their Reunion tour - off to Asia next.
The audience awaiting
them in Milan is very different. Most of them were toddlers or not even born in
1989 and mostly Italians, though a fair number of Brits has left the never
ending rain behind to enjoy the Italian sunshine while catching up with the
Roses.
We arrive at the
Ippodromo - where the gig has been moved from the original location of the
Arena Civica, following problems between the promoters and the City Council -
around 5pm, a few people waiting outside the main entrance, and are greeted by
the sound of “Waterfall” coming from inside the venue, as the Roses soundcheck, a pleasant treat.
“Sugar Spun Sister” and “Love Spreads” keep us entertained while we seek shades
under the trees.
Five minutes past
seven we are finally let into the stage area and from the start it appears that getting to the front is not going to be
hard. This is not a large audience, by anyone’s standards. A chat with the
stewards informs us that around 1,500
tickets were sold for this gig. It’s going to be an intimate affair.
The crowd is small,
but noisy and ready to party.
The Justice Tonight
Band warms things up nicely, as usual, and when they leave the stage, the
excitement is positively mounting. A
long wait for the main act helps things simmering further and when the now
customary “Stoned Love” by the Supremes signals that the moment we have all
been waiting for is finally upon us, it is clear that this lot are going to
make up for their small numbers with noise.
The Roses are welcomed
by a roaring cheer, and there are no “miserable bastards” waiting for them this
time, no “2,500 people and not a word!” comments, no “We’re having a bit of a
gap – we’re tired now”. Both band and audience are obviously up for it and the
singing starts from the minute Mani’s
bassline intones “I Wanna Be Adored” to the last
plectrum stroke Squire delivers at the end of “I Am the Resurrection”.
In between, the
performance moves happily along, with Ian Brown giving the crowd lots of vibes
and a fair few smiles, sneaking words in Italian in between songs.
This is a much more
“down to basics” gig, compared to the impressive shows of Heaton Park, Dublin,
T in the Park. There are no visuals, less lights, a shorter set (no “Bye Bye
Badman”, “Standing Here”, “Something’s Burning” and “Elizabeth My
Dear”), no gimmicks, just the band and their formidable musicianship. This is
what it should have been like that night in 1989. The band are tight and
evidently having a great time.
Once again, “Fools
Gold” is the centre piece of the show and the moment that always seems to send
them up a gear. From then on the energy coming on and off the stage is
tangible: “Waterfall”, “Don’t Stop”, “Love Spreads”, “She Bangs the Drums”
swell the warm summer air, while “Made of Stone”, “This is the One” and “I am
the Resurrection” cause the loudest singalongs of the night.
There are smiles,
banter, hugs and cheers at the end.
As per usual, no encore, the crowd is left
wanting for more, which is the best way to make an exit at the end of a
thoroughly enjoyable evening.
You can find this review and more at Louder Than War
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