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<H3 class=post-title>The Best New Year's Eve in England with Eric Clapton, Pete
Townsend, Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh </H3>
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<H2>NEW YEARS EVE IN ENGLAND</H2><BR><BR>Article written by
<STRONG>George</STRONG> "Santana" Fender Stratocaster Gibson Les Paul : <BR>As a
professional rock musician for the last thirty years, I have had many
opportunities to experience the New Year's Eve in many countries around the
world. This particular New Year, however, I was in England and spent probably
the best time ever. No, it wasn't with the thousands crowded along the River
Thames to watch the firework display and queue up for hours to see London from
the London Eye and it wasn't at some 'posh do' that would set me back a month's
wages. It took place in a small leisure centre just outside a small Surrey
village, cost me less than £50 and not a drop of alcohol was available to drink.
<BR>'The best?' I hear you say but this sounds really boring... Oh no, my
friend, this is the third time I have attended this event and each time is a
magical experience and I can't imagine that it could get better but each year it
does, and this year was the New Year of all New Years! So what was it that has
caused me so much excitement? Maybe you are thinking I have experienced some
kind of religious revelation, perhaps I saw a star hovering over this small
venue in this small obscure English village?<BR><BR>Well, in one way you would
be right! But not one star - there were many. And these stars were not celestial
bodies but real human ones! One was called Eric, another Gary, there was Pete
and Joe, Andy and Richard. Let me share my story with you.<BR>Every year I am
lucky enough to get hold of tickets to this private function that is organised
by some of these above named to raise money for a particular charity close to
their heart. Because the venue is small, the tickets are limited to as many
people you can comfortably get into a large sports hall without contravening
Health and Safety Regulations. The hall is laid out with decorated tables around
the edge of a large dance floor and towards one end , a large stage is
constructed at one end which professional sound and stage technicians have set
up to give an impressive Wembley Arena output with the intimacy of a village
hall. <BR><BR>On this stage, every year a special band plays live for more than
three hours and it is this band that makes the celebration so magical. As a
band, it is completely unknown and you will never find reference to it wherever
you search in the musical media. Each year the band takes a different name and
this year it was called the 'Totally Abandoned' Band. Its leader, for one night
only, is probably one of the best rock and blues guitarist England has had and
is known worldwide. Some songs that you will all know from this guy are Layla, I
Shot the Sheriff, Lay Down Sally....now perhaps you can see why I am so
excited....yes, it's Eric Clapton!<BR><BR>Now Eric Clapton by himself would be
pretty mind-blowing. But put him together with Gary Brooker from Procol Harum,
Andy Fairweather Low originally from the 1960s British band Amen Corner and
still going strong touring with some of the best musicians of the 60s and 70s,
and to this mix Joe Walsh from the US band, The Eagles, stir in Pete Townshend
from the Who and sprinkle liberally with Ringo Starr from The Beatles and
........be blown away!!!! A jamming session pare excellence!<BR><BR>As a
professional musician myself, having spent 30 years of my adult life earning my
living in this precarious profession, to see 'The Big Boys' like this and to be
able to get so close to them was beyond any dream I could have had. Top this
though! My wife's friend and her family are the warm up band and this friend's
husband kindly took me backstage where I could have a clear and private view of
Ringo drumming whilst singing 'Boys'. <BR><BR>Later I sidled in there again and
this time was met by an extremely friendly Pete Townshend who shook my hand and
wished me a Happy New Year.<BR>So that was it....my New Year
celebration....breathing the same oxygen as my heroes. A big thanks to everyone
who made this event something I will take to my grave. Not just to the Boys but
to all the staff who made the night such a resounding success. Can't wait for
New Year 2009!!<BR>Happy New Year everyone. <BR><BR><BR>And, in Ringo's words:
'Peace, Man'<BR><BR>Here are some of my favourite songs from those Great
Guys.<BR><BR>Ringo Star(Beatles) with a little help from friends...(too many on
the stage)<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Start the year off right. <A title="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489" href="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489" target="_blank">Easy ways to stay in shape</A> in the new year. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>