Reviews
London England
 

 

   
 

 May 6th &  7th 2000

  
 

Review by Alan Keetly UK  Vention Organizer

Well I think I am almost ready to give my report on Hv 2000. Margaret just
said to me "Do you realize that tomorrow is Friday,and that this time last
week we were in London. A week has gone by already !
So many memories .Met up with Dave White at Grahams house.Amazing,after all
these years to actually meet him.
We arrived at the Kenton to be greeted by Bob Winward, who was already
fired up and raring to go. Great meeting up at last !
Next off to the pub. It was hilarious to be guided around London By Bob
Winward, he knew the correct train and everything. But for him I reckon we
would still be lost on the tube somewhere.
The pub was absolutely heaving with Heepsters,and at one point they ran out
of beer ! Ha Ha, It was SO hot in there,but a really terrific
atmosphere,Heep playing in the background,good beer,the best of company.(oh
and Pete Wharton   had been there since 5.30..)Sheer bliss !
So to the Saturday....... We arrived early at the venue ,having followed
Lynn,(Lynn,that stick on the steering column is an INDICATOR !)

The sound system arrived and we started heaving it up the stairs. It was
HEAVY. We were all dripping with sweat after 10 minutes.
If anyone out there has ever lifted a B3 you will know what I mean,if you
haven`t, DON'T !

Ken arrived and got straight down to the sound check,he was really in a
buoyant mood,and determined to put on a good show.
As soon as they started playing I knew that we were in for something VERY
special.
In next to no time it was "Lets get this show on the road" time. Soon the
room was full eagerly awaiting the music.John started off with a
speech,followed by Graham ,who was very emotional. He had every reason to
be as well,if  like me you had been in on this from the start,you would
JUST start to realize  how much he gave of himself to get this together. A
mammoth undertaking. Without him and John there is NO way HV 2000 would
ever have happened. My sincere thanks go out to them,and to Iris , Lynn and
Margaret for their support.

The Heepjam started .I have heard the cd`s but this was the first time ever
I had seen them play. Fantastic musicians every one of them.
The Hensley family followed,VERY capable as well,Ken was SO pleased this
happened.
Eric Padberg amazed us with some magic.and it WAS amazing! But now the
crowd was waiting for the Hensley/Lawton band.
On they came,and they blew us all away! There was not a single person in
the room who wasn`t absolutely astounded by the band. SO professional,once
again Johns vocals were so amazing. Ken swayed on the Hammond,and it
brought back SO many memories of Heep gigs from the past. It was all over
far too quickly,and it was deemed unfair to expect anyone to follow after
them. Quite right as well. A special mention must be made here about the
contribution of Rueben and Justin from "Gunhill". they had to learn the
tunes and then play with 2 legends of rock,and they were just magnificent.
I know John was so proud of them.

Everyone was just so emotionally drained afterwards. We had witnessed a
piece of history.  Hensley/Lawton just HAVE to record something together.

Sunday arrived,and I was VERY nervous about singing "There Comes a Time".
Really was,I had already advised Ken that I was going to murder one of his
songs. He just laughed and said it wouldn`t be the first time that had
happened !
Afterwards 5 people came up to me and said I sounded like Ken !
That just goes to prove that there were at LEAST 5 tone deaf people in the
room :-))))))))))
It was fun really,in fact everyone gave of there all on the two days,all
done in the true spirit of the Heepsters. John had told me to just get up
there and do it ! So glad he gave me the confidence to have a go.
Then Ken and John sat down on stage and answered some VERY tough
questions,and to their eternal credit answered them with brutal honesty.
Some were a little personal,but no matter they just went ahead and gave us
honest and heartfelt replys.

Stay on Top band were next up,and I have to admit I was busy during the set
and never saw them.

Then Gunhill hit the stage,with a BANG. What a way to finish HV 2000. A
storming set,at full pelt,bombarding us with some great songs.
Quite how John managed to get through this weekend I will never know.he was
constantly in demand,but just smiled through it all. What a star. All too
soon it was time to say goodbye,very sad,I will admit to a few tears,no
lots actually, it was just THAT sort of event.
Every emotion possible had been experienced throughout the weekend,
great,great friends,just the best !
There is no better crowd of people than the Heepsters ,no way!
Many thanks to all who travelled ,sometimes,vast distances to be there,i
know you were not disappointed.

To anyone I didn't get to say goodbye to I apologies,but rest assured we
will meet again soon. WOW what a weekend !!!!!!!!!!!


Alan.