My Europe shows

[Rike]

I'm now back from my tour more than a week and I think I share some pics and videos here.

I started my tour with 2 friends in Berlin. it was a special date for me, because my 1st BJ show was there almost 13 years ago, the boys never came back to my hometown until this year and it was my 50th BJ show - a good reason to celebrate. So I bought a package at the fanclub presale which included a backstage tour. I always wanted to do such a tour. a couple weeks before the show I learned that the promoter would move the show from Olympic Stadium to the much smaller Waldbühne. They said because of logistical reasons, but I say because of poor ticketsale. Whatever, I really love the smaller Waldbühne much more, it's more intimate. But since I know the venue I was aware that the band wasn't able to use that awesome stage there. What would happen with my backstage tour? Fortunately Sparkart offered a refund for all who doesn't want to do the tour undter those circumstances and I accepted. Instead we planned to camp out there for front row. So we did. It was a funny evening with old tourfriends and we made new and it was almost 2am in the morning, when we crawled in our sleeping bags. Luckily it was warm, the only bad thing were millions of mosquitos, but we survived ;-)
The show day was a very hot day (35°C/95F), so we were grateful, that we could wait in the shadow until we could go inside. who was at the venue before, knew there were a lot of steps down to the stage. finally there, we hat our spot almost at the center of the front row and the sun was behind the stage. good for us, but bad for all the people on the seats.
The show started with "That's what the water made me" and we got almost 3hours. I had a sign that is was my 50th show and got a thumb up from Jon, then I showed Phil the cover of his own CD, he was very surprised. There were a lot of request banners for Undivided, incl. mine (it would have been very fitting in Berlin), but Jon opted for Never say good bye, a request from a fan for a 150th show.
The audience in Berlin was fantastic, here a little glimpse www.keek.com/!aOA1cab

and my Berlin photos are here fotos.web.de/ui/external/df8h-J21QLKMIsLT_MTCJw99903

my videos
I'm with you
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaTV2kWdH38
Amen
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKjbkpooWo0
In these Arms
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MU1wZc-8JQ
Prayer acoustic intro
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRh5xqnpBW4
Never say good bye
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n2hW0TmLu0

[Rike]

next stop was Stuttgart. We had tickets on the stands, but that were pretty good seats very close to the stage. and we were able to see that car stage in all. ;-) And we could take our time and don't had to line up for entry. But it was the only show were we had seats.
When we arrived we were a bit shocked about the much smaller area comparing to the last time the band played there. Only the half of the space was prepared for the concert, and they sold DC tickets even at the show day. But we didn't change our tickets, because we had to drive overnight to the next venue.
The show was great again, a bit shorter than Berlin. But we got some highlights. Radio saved my live tonight was the 1st surprise this evening, then a awesome acoustic version of Superman Tonight. Then Jon reacted to a sign in the audience from a 11 yrs old boy, who dared Jon to sing Wanted with him. and that boy sang all 3 verses of Wanted alone, it was amazing. And it doesn't matter that that boy was the winner of German Idol for kids, he had the sign in Munich already. I heard from fans who were around them, that there wasn't any deal before about this.
here is a video of that performance, you can see how much fun Jon and all the others had
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXw3EFubx9g

Army of One is one of my favorites of the album and with Love's the only Rule we got another change in the setlist, and even with 2hrs 20 minutes it was a great show

my pictures
fotos.web.de/ui/external/pBrOj2t1RRq7msvoZx8Nbg99903

and my videos
Who says ft. Christina Stürmer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXpqqbtDDqo

Radio
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYlTkEAkzzU

Army of one
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU-XFxEJjBM

IML
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYEs_dkxkcw

[Rike]

after Stuttgart we drove to Cologne over night (with a little break at a friends house for a nap). This time we had a VIP package from eventim, so we didn't bother to get a number. We got our merchandise and wristbands at the VIP tent, then went to the pre-show party. But we only had a cold drink and went for the bathroom and waited that we could go inside of the DC. (right after the fanclub) we got a pretty good spot on the side of the circle, but the shows before Jon didn't go out there for a song. But we could put our belongings there and had a place to lean on while we waited for the show to start.
And then it began with Rockin all over the world. from that moment I knew it would be a great show and I didn't got disappointed. Radio again and right after I'd die for you. I almost died at this point ;-) Then Last Man Standing in the electric version, I couldn't remember when I heard that the last time. Then he pulled out Livin in Sin, I so love that song. But the surprises continued with Wild is the Wind. During Bad Medicine Jon walked around the circle, got a German t-shirt and then the encore : Whats left of me, Love's the only Rule and THIS AIN'T A LOVESONG - I was going to die again. What a show, why can't it be always that way?
And I have to say at this point - Phil X was doing an outstanding job all the time. I'm sure, without him Jon maybe had to cancel the tour.

my photos:
fotos.web.de/ui/external/RmEa5B5UQQOHZpQOeoZYyQ99903

and my videos
Rockin all over the world
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwviG-WBBDI

whats left of me
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaWkDvl1pDk

Radio
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2NiK3U-RaY

wild is the wind
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIsn4xfrReY

this aint a lovesong
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhAIYekQdJ4

[Rike]

we left Cologne the next day after a late breakfast and went to Prague. it was not a short drive (about 7hours) so we were pretty tired when we arrived at our hotel. We had a nice dinner on the terrace of the hotel in the evening sun and went to bed early. In the moning we had breakfast early and went to the stadium with all our tour stuff. we got our numbers and it started to rain. So we waited at a cafe next to the stadium for entrance. after we got our tickets and wristbands we were lead inside the building, so we could wait at a dry spot. Finally we could go into the stadium and I got a spot front row on Phils side. the rain got heavier, but we had raincoats and plastic bags to keep us a bit dry. The show was short, but the setlist wasn't that bad. we got This ain't a lovesong again, These days and a full version of Shout.
I only took a few photos, no videos this time because of the rain. I don't wanted to ruin my camera.

But there is a full video of the show on youtube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMUqo5vLrrQ

and here my photos
fotos.web.de/ui/external/WNHFtzABS7-ept5p_c1ezg99903

We stayed in Prague 2 more days for sightseeing, but it was raining all the time and I also lost my small camera, so I don't have pictures from that beautiful city

[Rike]

after a 2 day stop at my friends home we packed the car again and went to Switzerland. it was still raining all way long til Bern. We did a short stop at the stadium to check how many fans are there already and we ended with number 8,9 and 10. Fortunately our hotel was only 500 meters away. So we checked in and took our camping stuff and went back to the stadium. We had a nice dinner at a Italian restaurant and then we spent the evening sitting together, talking, drinking some wine and checking the pbp from Milan. When we read that they played Undivided there, I was very disappointed. I begged for this song at every show from Berlin til Prague. And my hope for playing some rarities in Bern was very low, because I remembered the 2006 show there, when the audience was very lame.
Ok, next morning woke us with sunshine. we packed our stuff, went to the hotel for a shower and breakfast and were back at the stadium to wait with all the others. it was a wonderful warm and sunny day, we got our tickets and after a while we could go inside and with our numbers we managed to go in the center. even when a certain Italian family could go inside before all of us. I had my banner for Undivided again and after a little fight with the security we could put on our banners and flags on the barrier.
they started again with Rockin all over the World, that gave me hope for some rare songs. and I was right. after Radio, I'd die for you, Army of one Jon pointed direct to me and then finally I got Undivided. I was in tears, but happy. But that wasn't the end of the surprisingly great setlist. Not running anymore - it was so awesome. Jon was so into the song, I had goosebumps.
And during Captn Crash Jon was throwing confetti in the audience, it was too funny. He mentioned before that it was in Bern where the arm waving and confetti throwing tradition started.
But then the encore, that were when I missed Richie a lot. Intro of Diamond Ring, IBTFY, Wanted and Blood on Blood, it was almost more I could take. But with help of my friends I survived this.

Jon and confetti (not my video)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqJkfDPrPhI

my photos
fotos.web.de/ui/external/Cb6m4HiKQ-eZxTKF739Dgg99903

and my videos

I'd die for you
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBJQwH22O80

Undivided
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8LYNkF12jM

not running anymore
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGCoQoEIXfk

Diamond Ring/IBTFY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFadpcRFuto

These days
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3JtsG47Ndo

[Rike]

I'm coming to the end now. my last show was Hydepark - London. I did the fanclubtrip this time and I don't regret it.
We arrived in London on July, 3rd and checked in at our Hotel. The Cumberland is very close to Hydepark and a nice hotel. We had a welcome party that same evening, it was great to meet old friends again and made new ones. The next day we had time for sightseeing and shopping before we had to get ready for the 4th of July party at the hotel with photo option with JBJ. So we dressed up, did make up and hair and then we waited expectantly for Jons arrival. But he was late, stuck in the traffic (no wonder at 5:30pm on a Friday in London). when he finally arrived he had to run for the bathroom, he looked a bit embarrassed. But then the photo shot started. we were about 200 fans, so it took a while. When it was my turn to get photographed, I thanked him for singing Undivided in Bern, he remembered all the signs. After we got all our photos done, he stayed for a short Q&A. someone was so nice and took a video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8guLprCmpc

and I took some pictures with my phone
fotos.web.de/ui/external/-a6XsjRTT9yBi2h0eUOsEg99903

after Jon left, we did a hell of a party

Next day was showday. We had to be pretty early at the entrance, where we had to wait at least 2 more hours. But finally we could go inside and we ended again on Phils side, almost under the bridge to the walkway. it was warm, very warm and sunny. Since Hydepark was a festival we had some supportacts. Bush were great, the singer is a bit crazy. he went to the walkway and jumped from there into the audience. it took him a while to get back to the stage. Kaiser Chiefs are not so my taste, but they weren't that bad either.
So now we waited for BJ to start. We heard of the strict curfew and had some expectations for the last Europe show. But we got a solid setlist, nothing spectacular. OK, we got Dry County and Blood on Blood. But somehow we expected more ;-) But the show was great, we had fun and we were covered with confetti, I still find some on places I never thought.
After the show we went to a pub for a aftershow drink and then it was time to say good bye for this tour.
The next morning saw me in a plane back to Germany, I had a Springsteen show to catch before I had to go back to work.

I took a few videos in London, but I don't upload them to youtube, the sound is terrible.

here my photos
fotos.web.de/ui/external/l_VitCvdTMeCxcpe19VxDw99903

[Rike]

and here is my photo with Jon

[T]

thanks for sharing, Rike. What a whirlwind! Nice pic with Jon!

[Kris]

*sigh* one of these days I wanna join you in your tour travels........

.....well, after I found a job, got a car and fixed the hole in my credit card.

Nice pic with Jon. very nice.