Hi Folks,
Those of you who are John Denver fans will know his song - Some Days are Diamonds. Well that is certainly how I shall remember 6th June 2000. A diamond of a day.
I travelled to Manchester with Mel C. The get together in the Mitre gave us a chance to meet up with fellow Surfin Seekers and share news about earlier concerts and talk about the concert to come and our feelings about this being the last show. Whilst sad at the prospect of this possibly being the Seekers last concert, I was excited at the thought of seeing them again live - 1968 and the Liverpool Empire seems a long time ago.
My seat in the concert hall was in row E but right in the middle. I had decided not to be too close to the front so that I could see the whole stage. I was a few rows behind most of my fellow Surfin Seekers. Luckily I had a woman next to me who was as mad about the Seekers as myself. Marlene from Bolton is a member of FOTS. We talked about our love for the Seekers music and I told her all about the Surfin Seekers. The concert started 30 minutes later than advertised, but I didn't really mind - it meant the whole of the concert was still to come. Once the concert began I was simply totally absorbed. We sang along when they asked us to and generally joined in the wonderful atmosphere. True it wasn't full but that didn't matter, each song got a rapturous applause. The first half just seemed to fly by and whilst the second half was longer it went so quickly I couldn't believe it when Athol started to introduce Carnival. Then we were up on our feet and singing and clapping our way through A World of Our Own. A short reprise and they were gone. It is difficult to find words that can sum up the feeling at that time - we had experienced a simply wonderful concert but now it was over. Marlene summed it up by saying they can't retire they're too good, they've got to come back. It had been a very special performance and Judith was superb.
After the concert we made our way to the "stage door " which was a large set of gates at the side of the arena. Whilst hoping that we might meet the group I never really thought that we would ( Keep a dream in your pocket ! ).Then at about 11.30 one of the road crew came down to the gate and told us that the group would be out in about 10 minutes and they would stop and talk to us. There was no way we were going home now. Sure enough about 15 minutes later the coach pulled up and out stepped our heroes. The next 5 minutes are like a dream. I talked to each member of the group - I think telling them how much I had enjoyed the concert. then a photo taken with Judith - feeling brave I asked for a kiss and she offered her cheek. Then a photo with Keith. Having been a fan since 1964 here I was standing around with the Seekers.
Well here is hoping that they have recorded the concerts. The content was different enough from the 25 year concert to merit a new CD. In the meantime I will make up a tape of the songs from the concert, in the order they were performed. That will have to do for now.
It really was a magical day. I've joined that elite group who can say " I've met The Seekers ".And if the Manchester concert is there last I can say "I was there". John Denver must have had such days in mind when he wrote "Some days are diamonds "
Cheers
Ken Johnson ( Still on cloud nine )