Englishman Steve Richardson has been a John Waite fan for over 20 years, but in all that time had never had the opportunity to meet John. Until April, 2000, that is. Steve was one of a few folks from the UK who made a trip "across the pond" to see John Waite live for the first time and meet THE MAN. Thanks to Steve for sharing his pictures and his hillarious story with Net Waite.
New York City ...April 13 - 16th 2000, will go down as one of the greatest weekends of my life for a number of reason. Having followed the career of John Waite for the last 20 years, it has been frustrating to have to buy his records on American import, the finest English singer/songwriter not even able to secure a proper release in his own country, this, coupled with the prospect of never witnessing the man himself in the flesh in a live environment…until now!!!,
Rewind to the summer of 1980: a 17 year old sits in his bedroom listening to the local radio show Castle Rock, live from Nottingham, England when the DJs announces the arrival of a new album by a band called The Babys. The album in question is "Union Jacks." He goes onto play Side 1 in its entirety only to break for advertisements and flip the album over and play Side 2 all through. This was some achievement by a band in a commercial radio environment. Having two songs played was a bonus but the whole album was unheard of. I had already acquired a healthy list of records since the mid-70s but I had not come across this band before. I sat up and listened to what would become my favourite album of all time.
Over the years I have bought thousands of records, CDs, cassettes. In general, I have managed to see every artist live I have wanted to over the last 22 years, with the exception of one--my all time favourite Mr. John Charles Waite. I would pre-order US import copies of his solo albums long before they ever got a UK release and each and every one has been preserved and loved like a family member (in some cases more than some family members).
In April 1999 I finally managed to bite the bullet and shell out on a top of the range computer (well, it was top of the range that week!). On getting it home, I opened the Internet up and typed J-O-H-N W-A-I-T-E expecting very little to pop up. I was surprised to see a fairly lengthy menu of choice, mainly on-line CD stores pedalling JW CDs, then I saw NET WAITE and pressed ENTER. For the next two hours I was mesmerized that there were fellow Waite-ites out there who share my passion. So NET WAITE was my first bookmark and my first E-Mail. So thanks to Elizabeth for taking my Web-Virginity!!! Then a link to a JW fanzine, and it was Brit based, well Scotland. (I didn’t even realize they could read or write that far north, never mind use a photocopier!) Hence the introduction of KEVIN SCOTT & NO BRAKES and my Waite-World was nearly complete. So, I made a deal (with myself) that if I ever, as if, got to see the man live then I would write a feature for the site that started my web-life and send a copy to KEVIN SCOTT (president of the NO BRAKES corporation) . I guess there’s not much chance that will ever happen, unless I go to America, nah! OK, so it must have happened as why am I writing this nonsense now???
Fast-forward to April 2000...Following the gathering of the UK John Waite fans in Lancaster (home of some singer from up North), we vowed that if JW played New York, we would get on the big bird and go watch him, never expecting it to happen. But on 17th March,an e-mail would inform us that JW was playing 2 gigs in close proximity in April--three weeks from now! I wondered how I could raise the money needed so quickly, so I joined e-bay and started to sell my old memorabilia from 1979/80 amazingly raising $1500 in 3 weeks! (So a big thanks to all the Americans who bought my Sparta, Iron Maiden, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Vardis records for which I paid about £2.50 for all of them!) In a whirlwind three weeks, flights were booked. We were flying VIRGIN which was appropriate for me, what with being a sweet and innocent young Brit venturing across the pond for a long weekend of merry making.
We arrived at The Mayflower on Central Park to be greeted by the doorman, opening the door to the once mecca of hotels. I think he was impressed with my tip ("don’t eat yellow snow!") the way he handled my baggage into the lobby. Later, my group and I ventured out to get some refreshment at the Whisky Bar.
As I was sitting in the bar, a low murmor went around the group. (I was hoping no one had noticed I wasn’t wearing my incontent pants tonight.) Alas, out of the corner of my eye, there he was, bloody hell, 20 years and there he was in front of me! "Sober up, Steve! It’s John Waite! It’s John Bloody Waite!!!"
What was I going to say??? Cut the cheezy, corny lines and think of something original. First of all I had to get on my feet, which I was proud of when I actually managed to, and it only took me 25 minutes. "Act cool." Kevin introduced me, "Hi, Kevin," I said, "And who’s this?" Doh! "John, This is Steve." Me: (dry mouth) "Hi John, good to meet you at last...bloody hell! Where did you get that jacket from, Burton’s sale?" John thankfully was pretty cool about my remark, thanking me for coming so far to see him, asking where I was from, how did I like New York, was I looking forward to the show. I wiped the dribble from my chin, and tried to answer his questions in a manner that would look as if I was coherent. It was over in an instant, or so it seemed, he was normal, yep a normal bloke from the North of England. I wondered then if would be genetically possible to have his babies! He then moved on to talk to the rest of the group, when I started to talk to Phil Soussan. (Phil is an erstwhile Brit and bass player with John. He also played in UK legends Wildlife which was mentioned to him on around 89 occassions in the next 3 days, which I think he appreciated! Also, he did play with some no-hoper called Ozzy Osbourne.)
So what an introduction to the city of New York! Ok, so how do I explain the next two days (Friday and Saturday)??? The fact that I *missed* John’s show at the Voodoo Lounge can only be put down to having a fantastic two days. (If you want to know the details please ask Mr. Waite himself, as I explained it to him when he asked why I didn’t make the show after waiting 20 years to see him. He actually agreed fully with my decision when I told him the details at the M&G in Foxwoods...more later)
Ok, so let’s skip to Saturday night and my first JW live experience. So after 20 years, 6 days 4 hours 3 minutes 23, 24 , 25 seconds I was standing in the place where the mighty John Waite would get to see me perform live. Nonchalantly siding up to one of the security guards I ask, "So, what time is John Waite on?" "Yo man, John who?" replies the security guard (obviously his wife had taken the family brain cell out tonight). "John Waite," said the shy Englishman. "Hang on Buddy, let me ask," he replies, nodding to another one of his beefy mates. "Hey duuuuuuuuuuuude this guy from Australia wants to know if Tom Waits is playing tonight." "No, nobody on here tonight, but we got the Russian Ballet next week, Tolstoy and his amazing performing frogs the week after, but no Wait guy."
Hiding the tear that was starting to fall from my eye, I turn to bang my head against the wall and whisper "twenty **$%^% years!!" I have travelled 20 years, 6 days, 4 hours 15 minutes 45, 46 , 47 seconds to be told that no-one is performing tonight. So I turn back to the security guard like a true Brit, starting to snarl I say "Thanks very much for looking mate, I really appreciate that. And don’t worry, I didn’t travel far." I think he got the picture. I walk inside the casino to see thousands of middle aged crinklies with purple perms pouring endless quarters into these big machines with large arms. I feel a bit fuzzy and go to look for somewhere to sit down and cry when out of the corner of my eye I notice a large billboard: Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton John, The Krankees and JOHN WAITE!
I run to check out the date and it’s TONIGHT. I fall to the floor and start to scream and kick my legs, only getting up to kiss the poster image of John (feeling a slight stir down below). I check the venue and he is playing the CINEDROME and, bloody hell, its a free gig. (No wonder so many Scotsmen had shelled out a thousand bucks to travel here.) The gig started at 11 p.m. so time for a quick cardboard burger and a beer before making my entrance.
The night club was small, with revolving strobe lights. I felt a certain deja-vous, recalling my lost youth of the 1980s dancing in my drain pipes to the new romantic bands of that era in small seedy clubs in the North Of England. Yep, I was a cross between Adam Ant, Simon Le Bon, Boy George, Tony Hadley and Spit The Dog. The stage was also quite small, and I decided to make my way to the front to get as close as possible to the action. I noticed a bunch or weird looking guys standing at the front of the stage and realized they were my fellow countrymen who had also traveled to see the show. I felt the excitement rising as the clock moved towards 11. The fairly healthy gathering started to push their way to stage centre as the lights dimmed, and I fell into a state of bliss. There, only three feet away from me was John Waite, standing all in black. Did I mention I had waited over 20 years to witness this??? (Oh, ok I might have.)
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So here I was all the way in the middle of nowhere witnessing my first ever JW live experience. So, what did he play? Well, I didn’t take a list because for the most part I was just soaking in the feeling of being there and being washed away by this magical moment. The voice was bang on form the band were tighter than a Scotsman’s wallet, all in all 20 years well worth the wait. Let’s just hope I don’t have to waite another 20 years!. The show passed in what seemed an instant, and I was left feeling drained and tired after singing my heart out to every tune. If you ever get to read this John, thanks mate and thanks again. ‘Twas a truly great experience! |
The Meet and Greet was next and I was sure I wasn’t going to make a fool of myself like in the Whisky Bar two nights previously. So I waited patiently thinking of a few intelligent questions, watching as John took his time to spend time with everyone in the line including the guy who had just unpacked a U-Haul trailer full of albums. The queue was shortening and my nerves were playing up. (Bloody hell--a 36 year old bloke feeling like a jelly. Pull yerself, together you pratt!) I grasped my few gifts. (Gifts?! Bloody hell…I had lost it!!)
Finally it was me, should I kiss him? (I promised I wouldn’t use my tongue.) Instead, I just went to shake his hand, but he grabbed me and threw his arms around me, which made me feel a bit more relaxed. He asked why I missed the New York show (HE KNEW!) so I whispered the reason in his ear. He agreed that he would have done EXACTLY the same if he had been in my shoes, even if he had waited 20 years! We talked like old mates, about record deals, England, The Russian Ballet, the price of milk... Then I remembered to give him the things I had brought him: a couple of copies of VIZ (a high brow English magazine for the intellectual mind) and a video of a TV show set in the North of England which I thought he may enjoy.
John then asked if I wanted a photo taken, so I handed him my camera and he took a great shot of me. (Thanks, John!) I thought of asking if he was available for my wedding photos, but thought better of it. As I had taken too much of his time, I retired gratefully thanking him. I got back to my feet, and wished him all the best.
So that’s it. Twenty years of Waiteing, and was it worth it. I vaguely remember the cab ride back to Mystic, with Charles Manson’s older brother driving the cab through the foggy tree lined roads, the rain beating down and he turns and asks me "if I like frogs, especially as they smush under the wheels of the car?" GULP. "Well," I thought, "if he is going to do away with me, at least I got to see John Waite LIVE!"
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