This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony Hadley at The Big Weekend, Fantasy Island, Skegness - 2nd September 2007
So ok, Skegness isn't the nearest place for me, but it sounded an interesting gig and would make a weekend away for the family who love rollercoasters. I'd missed Humberfest as I was on holiday in Ireland, but I'd had to cut that holiday short as I had to do a training course at work, so a Tony gig would be an added bonus.
It had been a three gig weekend with Status Quo there on the Friday, Girls Aloud there on the Saturday and the line up for the Sunday evening was Bananarama, Go West, ABC, Tony and Human League.
I'd gone down to Fantasy Island on the Saturday night to see how the venue was set up and caught a bit of Ben Mills and Girls Aloud on the big screens you could see from outside the venue area, which was set up on one of the car parks. The place seemed to have quite heavy security, so I knew it would be almost impossible to speak to Tony the following day.
Arrived at about 1.30 pm and people had already started queuing for the 3.30 pm gate opening time. It was going to be a long time standing so when I met up with Tina we went for a drink. About 2.30 pm we joined the queue, which soon grew into the distance. We also heard the soundcheck which was a bonus.
The gates opened soon after 3.30 pm and we made our way to the stage and stood second row on the right. It was quite a long time before Bananarama came on stage, singing to a backing track and they had two dancers.
At around 6 pm, Go West came on stage, they sang their usual songs plus a Prince song and a couple of others. I laughed at Richard Drummie's comment that as we were at Fantasy Island but he hadn't seen the short bloke in a white suit (referring to the 1970's TV show Fantasy Island). Phil Williams, Phil Taylor and Richie Barrett played backing for Go West along with Richard Brook on the drums. Next up were ABC, Martin had Matt Backer on Guitar and Andy Carr on Bass but I didn't know the keyboard and keyboard/sax player, I'm not sure who was playing the drums but think it was Richard Brook.
At last it was Tony's turn. He was wearing a white shirt, black jacket and jeans. He said that he had stolen Pete Cox's style as someone had stolen his suit jacket at the gig at Culzean Castle the day before (so if you see this on ebay - this is where it has come from!). Tony's band was John Keeble, Phil Taylor, Phil Williams and Richie Barrett, no Andrea or Horny Boys.
First song was 'Somebody Told Me, followed by 'Only When You Leave', 'Lifeline', 'True', 'Through the Barricades', 'Gold' and 'I Predict a Riot'. Tony was quite chatty between the songs and mentioned that he thought the gig was on the set of 'Scooby Do' with the rollercoasters looming above the stage. I have a feeling there should have been another song but because of the distance between the stage and the audience (Tony mentioned again how he hates this gap), I was unable to get a set list. Tony then went off stage at the end of his set and some fans moved away from their place at the front. This was a mistake as the next thing that happened was that Go West and ABC joined Tony and his band on stage to sing 'Lets Stick Together', of course this was Tony's cue to get his guitar out. Two drummers, several keyboards, guitars and singers made an excellent finale. I'm not quite sure why Phil Williams was playing a sweeping brush though, although he did change to the tambourine later in the song.
An excellent show and after a short break to re-arrange the stage it was time for the Human League. Unfortunately it was also time for the rain which had been threatening all evening to start. I decided to leave and go back to my hotel.
Denise 5/9/07