This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony Hadley vs Martin Fry ABC: - Southampton - 6th May 2005
Well,
this was the last one on the tour, where has the last 3 months and 64 dates
gone? It only seems 5 minutes since 1st February in Oxford, yes thankfully
the wait at the stage door has got warmer (note to Tony - please tour in warmer
weather!) and this tour he has not taken as long to meet us all.
I was looking forward to it in some ways but in others I was sad because it was the end of a brilliant tour. As it was the last one of the tour, the boys were in party mood and had some surprises for us. Unfortunately the staff at the Mayflower were not in party mood and when I tried to get up and dance in the first half, I was told to sit down as apparently I was blocking people's view (I was in the aisle - so therefore not blocking anything!). I did try and say this to the jobsworth steward and Martin Fry did notice this conversation and spoke to me afterwards about it. It was all sorted out though and we were able to stand in the second half.
The set, which has become very polished started in the usual way with Up Up and Away. There were no surprises until my friend pointed out to me that there was a different drummer on Richard Brooks drum kit, wearing the rabbit eared headphones that Richard was originally wearing - I couldn't believe that it was Tony on the drums. It was during Martin's song You Get What You Give, John Keeble was on the other drum kit, but Tony looked pretty good at it, he was keeping in time with John. The next surprise was when Tony was singing The Best is yet to Come, was that John, Martin, Richie and the roadie Chris came across the stage wearing hats and fake black moustaches.
The first half was over far too quickly for my liking, but a chance to catch up with friends. The second half started with the She's Gone duet and then Martin singing Love. When it came to sing Time in a Bottle, Tony was brought his usual chair but Matt and Ritchie were brought small stools, not sure about the reason for that, but it did look strange with them sitting down low. The horny boys came out into the audience at the front during Free Falling and their routine during Walking in Memphis is superb and really funny. I can't listen to that song without thinking about their actions to it and wanting to do them! The roadie Chris also played bass guitar on two songs.
I think the rest of the set was the same as Salisbury, I went as usual to get my set lists from Chris the roadie, but unfortunately he gave me two from the first half. He has been great every time I have gone to get the set lists and knows exactly why I am there.
The show ends and I am elated that it was such a good show. Time to head for the stage door. The time waiting for Tony flies by as I am speaking to so many friends I have made going to see Tony. Some of the other members of the band come out first and I had a chat with Matt Backer, then Martin and finally Tony. Tony was in a very good mood and took time to speak to everyone. I held back a little whilst he was speaking to others, but he spoke to me over the heads of other people to me and asked me how I was, we also chatted about other things.