 |
" Rock To The River Festival" Imatra,  19th August 2005 all our pics under:
For the beginn some words about Imatra:
Founded in 1948
Population: 30 000
In the southeast of Finland, 7 km to Russia
210 km to St Petersburg
230 km to Helsinki
In the west Imatra is bordered by Lake Saimaa, which allows people to reach the town by boat from the Gulf of Finland along the Saimaa Canal.
Imatra and Svetogorsk (in Russia) are in the unique position as the only twin towns which gaze over the border between the European Union and Russia.
The Imatrankoski Rapids are Imatras most famous attraction, and travellers have been drawn to the rapids for hundreds of years. At the turn of the century the rapids - with Imatras famous hotel, the Valtionhotelli, standing on its banks - was the most popular tourist attraction in Finland.
From Helsinki to Imatra  On Friday afternoon at 15:34 the IC train left punctually the Railway station of Helsinki in the direction of Imatra. It was a very pleasant travel through the finnish landscape. We had some stops in bigger towns; Riihimäki - Lahti - Kouvola - Lappeenranta - Imatra. SLADE had maybe the same tour, because they arrived also in Helsinki by aeroplane. On the next day they had to go back to Helsinki for the flight to Denmark and gig at Olstykke. We arrived at the station Imatra and took a taxi to our hotel (4 km away). We were very pleased with our housing, very beautiful hotel and pension, remember the fact that we were only 7 km away from the Russian border. Looking around at Imatrankoski Back by taxi to Imatra Center soon. We liked to have a view around the centre and go after this to the eventplace. Our way went also to the Hotel Imatran Valtionhotelli. We found out later, that SLADE slept there.  Hotel Imatran Valtionhotelli standing by the Rapids completed in 1903. Valtionhotelli looks like a jugendstyle fairytale castle. Running into Dave Hill on the bridge The surprise was very big, when while walking on the bridge over the big river Vuoksi all of a sudden ! HEY ! There was DAVE HILL ! He was walking around and looking at the sceneries, there was also a big waterdam and waterfall.
What for a joy ! Of course we called him and waved him. He came to us on the other side of the street, near the hotel Imatran Valtionhotelli and we had a friendly HELLO and a short talk with him.
 He gave us some autographs on our SLADE pics and was baffled, that we had so much pics from Don :-)) He watched the pics and said then "What is this ? Don, Don, Don... ! " and smiled :-) It was a very nice talk with Dave Hill and we were very happy about this nice meeting. To the concert arena through the nature park We continued our way towards the concert arena lying 1 km from the center of Imatra. We walked through the first nature reserve in Finland - the Crown Park that was establisehd in 1842 by Tsar Nicholas I. Arrived on the eventplace we`ve got our bracelet for the entry and stepped on the concertplace. Allover we saw stalls with fanarticles (not from Slade) and some other stuff from the musicscene, also some stalls with sweets, icecream and food. The beer tents was marked off and it was forbidden to take the beer or other alcohol with you outside to the concertplace. A VIP - tent was also there, with a separate entry, we had not a tickets for this area :-( Meeting the best drummer in the world before the showtimeKalle Ahola band that was playing before SLADE was getting ready for the gig and started soon to play. On stage we saw also Don for our surprise near the drums. Of course we were looking for every step what he was doing and as soon as possible we took the chance to call him on the moment he came sidewards from the stage. What for a luck, with all this big noize he heard our calling " Hear Me Calling" !!! :-), the other band started already the music. We waved him and showed him with some gestures, that we liked to meet him, we was behind the barrier.
Don showed us a big question mark on his face, do you know me ??? Oh YES !!! Loud, so loud as possible.."please, can you come to us ??" The closer he got to us the bigger the smile grew on his face. It was a fantastic to meet him after a long time. We gave hugs and said some words, was pity that the music started already and in a big noize, we were near the loudspeakers in front of the stage. Don asked if we have a VIP card, pity NO, we have not, so we said.
"Wait please a moment, I will go and try to get two", Don said. But without success, he was after our talk also very buzy again and was away a moment coming back soon. The band before SLADE finished the gig and then Don came on stage again for checkup the drums, he was the only one from Slade, who was there. He saw us again and gave us a frindly smile and a waved to us. So we had also the chance to make some nice pics of Don from the soundcheck.
  John Berry came only short on the stage for the last check up later and we waved him, but he had both hands in the trouserpockets, took not a notice of us and showed us the back, when he was for the guitarcheck. 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 Slade are go The time was over for waiting ! SLADE came on stage and the audience gave them a big welcome. "Cum On Feel The Noize", the first song. The setlist was almost the same as in Denmark. See later please. Dave was in a fantastic mood, he jumped on the stage with a lot of energy and lightness, it was so great to watch him. With the smile on his face, he put the smile on our face too! Dave presented the band to the audience in a rousing way, all were enthusiastic and sang the songs, so loud as possible ! Dave animated of course also the audience to do this :-) John Berry showed also more rhythmically movements and gave a good show. Don is really amazing, he made a hard job again, he was brilliant, as well as Dave. Mal McNulty, our first gig where we heard and saw him , was also very good. His voice is another than Steves, of course, much deeper and louder, closer to the voice of Noddy, but never Noddy. He seemed concentrated and not so cool. Of course this all needs time, but he did also a very good job. Setlist: Cum On Feel The Noize Take Me Back Ome Lock Up Your Daughters Far, Far Away Everyday Red Hot Coz I Luv You Run Runaway Gudbuy T Jane Mama Weer All Crazee Now Get Down With It Encores: My Oh My Merry Xmas Everybody
All in all it was a very good gig. The audience was enthusiastic, close us, probably the youngest SLADE fan of the evening, maybe 5 years old, together with her sister and parents, sang some songs and had a selfmade poster "We love SLADE - we love Dave and Don " in the hands over the head, for present the declaration of love to SLADE.
  We met also SLADE fans from Helsinki and other finnish SLADE fans. It was a success evening, was cold, but so it is, when you have full moon and cold beer :-) On our way to the taxi station we went by the hotel, where SLADE slept and said in our thoughts once more THANKS for the good gig and the great sound and wished a good travel back to Helsinki and Denmark. At 3am we were peacefully in the bed and heard the SLADE sound still in our ears, also with the memory of the meeting with Dave and Don :-) In the morning we left after the breakfast the hotel soon and drove with taxi to the station. We had still half an hour time until the IC train took us for the travel back to Helsinki. We walked a little bit near the station around the very nice park near the river and enjoyed the sunbeams. Was a nice experience !
THANKS to the boyz of SLADE, thanks Don, thanks Dave.
K.O.R.
Monika and Ilpo, Helsinki
|
