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To the London Palladium last night for Shakespear's Sister, and I had a meet and greet ticket. Arrived ten minutes before the appointed 6 pm time and a front of house lady directed me to a side door. All of us VIPs hung around on the pavement until just after 6 when we were let in. Filing along, we were each handed a VIP badge to wear round our necks, a Shakespear's Sister Ride Again bag and a tour souvenir programme with the Sisters' autographs on the front.
We were held in one of the theatre bars for about three quarters of an hour, while a host periodically gave us updates : "the artists will be here soon, in the meantime please move over to this side". Finally Marcella and Siobhan came up the stairs into our bar to an enormous cheer, Marcella gave us a quick wave and they were escorted through to a side room. We formed a queue and were let through, as couples or individuals. A host at the front of the queue asked us all our names and where we were from when we reached the head of the line.
My turn arrived. I went through to the side room where the Sisters, in resplendent outfits, were standing in front of a backdrop. I said hello to each of them and told them I'd been a big fan from the beginning, had a photo done with them, thanked them and that was it.
Mooched around in the downstairs bar until it was time to take our seats for the support, a Ukrainian singer called Delena who sang some strong pop-rock songs and the odd ballad.
After a short interval the Sisters came on, Siobhan in a white cowgirl hat and jacket over a black silk outfit, Marcella all in black with 'Detroit' embossed on her top in gold. We'd stayed seated for Delena, but as soon as the Sisters appeared everyone leapt to their feet.
They opened up with an amazing rendition of one of my favourites, Goodbye Cruel World followed by Heroine. A lesser known track that I love, Dirty Mind, came early in the show. A few songs in, Siobhan announced that it was amazing to be back on a stage with Marcella Detroit. There was an enormous cheer, both Sisters said a few words about being back together, and they launched into My 16th Apology - Siobhan addressing some of the lyrics directly to Marcella, kneeling beside her at one point. Siobhan kept up patter between the songs, and often ventured to the very front of the stage during the songs, interacting with the fans around her. After a selection from the two classic albums (I thought of my late mate Alistair during The Trouble With Andre as a pal of his reckoned it was a spot on description of him) and a couple of the new songs, Siobhan announced "We had a song that hung around for quite a while, and it's one you've all come to hear..." Big cheer. "So, Marcella, take it away." The spotlight lit on Marcella and she did a passionate rendition of Stay, Siobhan sang her part very sexily, and they sang the climactic chorus huddled together with their arms around each other's shoulders. At the very end they kissed.
They closed the main set with a killer version of You're History, Siobhan at her sexy best slinking around the front of the stage. An enormous clamour of "MORE" finally brought Marcella back on to the stage with her guitar. She said she'd be doing the encore by herself as everyone else was on the bus, then introduced the band back onto the stage one by one, ending with the legendary ex-Adam and the Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni. Then she introduced Siobhan, Siobhan got us all to applaud for Marcella, and they launched into Catwoman. After that one, the Sisters said "I love you" to each other and Siobhan announced "We're going to say goodbye in our perverse way - by saying hello". They gave a beautiful rendition of another favourite of mine, Hello (Turn Your Radio On), the lyrics given new poignancy by current affairs.
We were held in one of the theatre bars for about three quarters of an hour, while a host periodically gave us updates : "the artists will be here soon, in the meantime please move over to this side". Finally Marcella and Siobhan came up the stairs into our bar to an enormous cheer, Marcella gave us a quick wave and they were escorted through to a side room. We formed a queue and were let through, as couples or individuals. A host at the front of the queue asked us all our names and where we were from when we reached the head of the line.
My turn arrived. I went through to the side room where the Sisters, in resplendent outfits, were standing in front of a backdrop. I said hello to each of them and told them I'd been a big fan from the beginning, had a photo done with them, thanked them and that was it.
Mooched around in the downstairs bar until it was time to take our seats for the support, a Ukrainian singer called Delena who sang some strong pop-rock songs and the odd ballad.
After a short interval the Sisters came on, Siobhan in a white cowgirl hat and jacket over a black silk outfit, Marcella all in black with 'Detroit' embossed on her top in gold. We'd stayed seated for Delena, but as soon as the Sisters appeared everyone leapt to their feet.
They opened up with an amazing rendition of one of my favourites, Goodbye Cruel World followed by Heroine. A lesser known track that I love, Dirty Mind, came early in the show. A few songs in, Siobhan announced that it was amazing to be back on a stage with Marcella Detroit. There was an enormous cheer, both Sisters said a few words about being back together, and they launched into My 16th Apology - Siobhan addressing some of the lyrics directly to Marcella, kneeling beside her at one point. Siobhan kept up patter between the songs, and often ventured to the very front of the stage during the songs, interacting with the fans around her. After a selection from the two classic albums (I thought of my late mate Alistair during The Trouble With Andre as a pal of his reckoned it was a spot on description of him) and a couple of the new songs, Siobhan announced "We had a song that hung around for quite a while, and it's one you've all come to hear..." Big cheer. "So, Marcella, take it away." The spotlight lit on Marcella and she did a passionate rendition of Stay, Siobhan sang her part very sexily, and they sang the climactic chorus huddled together with their arms around each other's shoulders. At the very end they kissed.
They closed the main set with a killer version of You're History, Siobhan at her sexy best slinking around the front of the stage. An enormous clamour of "MORE" finally brought Marcella back on to the stage with her guitar. She said she'd be doing the encore by herself as everyone else was on the bus, then introduced the band back onto the stage one by one, ending with the legendary ex-Adam and the Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni. Then she introduced Siobhan, Siobhan got us all to applaud for Marcella, and they launched into Catwoman. After that one, the Sisters said "I love you" to each other and Siobhan announced "We're going to say goodbye in our perverse way - by saying hello". They gave a beautiful rendition of another favourite of mine, Hello (Turn Your Radio On), the lyrics given new poignancy by current affairs.
