GBH - Reviews -Belgrade, Saturday May 9th, 1998
Introduction
This article and the accompanying press articles, poster and photographs were
kindly provided by Milorad Popovic (Mika) who is a native of Belgrade, the same
city which is of course better known as the capital of Serbia, 'Beograd' .. the big
white city, so beloved of NATO and all those other organisations which purport to 'keep the peace' throughout the world.
I most certainly had some interesting
e-mails sent before and during the NATO onslaught on Serbia and in particular
Belgrade and Novi-Sad. The true irony of the war was that the USA invention of the
Internet (it started as the ARPANET defence project in the 60's) really did prove its worth as
no amount of bombing during the late nineties campaign ever totally stopped the flow of e-mail to me .. ..
not all of it friendly either believe me !
It is always difficult to write objectively about these situations, ie: the Balkan war / wars, to
be sure there are many unspeakable things that have been happening in the
Yugoslavian and former Yugoslavian republics. Nothing however is ever so black and
white that you can apportion blame to one side alone and I am not going to do
so here.
I have corresponded with Mika
for what seems like some time now and eventually he asked me if I wanted some
photos of the May '98 gig that GBH performed in Belgrade. Sadly, it was the
last gig GBH performed there. Never minding anything else, it was actually
extremely difficult for GBH to even get into the country, they clearly recall
to this day that the border officials were giving them a real hard time and
that it was only the hard work of the promoter Nenad that finally persuaded
them to let the band in at all.
I received the photos and the account
from Mika and quite marvelled at them really. The photographs because of the
huge volume of people present .. 2,000 plus, I have never seen GBH play to
anything like a crowd that size more's the pity and then there was the account itself,. English
is hardly Mika's first language but he does an excellent job of summing it all
up. Perhaps I harboured an initial suspicion that the account was spiced up ?
Well maybe but I wasn't prepared for the final
instalment. Completely unexpectedly, an unmarked video tape dropped through my
letterbox, it was from Mika, I played it and as the penultimate band finished,
on-stage marches non other than Colin and he and the band team up for a
rendition of 'If the kids are united' by Sham 69. With very little in the way
of respite off go that band and on come GBH to give the Belgarde audience their all and the following account sums
it all up.
At the end of the day I don't give two figs for politics
and the politicians who practice it, British, Serbian, American whoever, you
can't judge people as a mass, only by the way they behave to their fellow human
beings. When I watch the video I just see 2000 Punks having a great night out.
"An end to war" says Colin at then end and too bloody right. Enjoy the review.
Nigel
The
review
It was May '98 in Belgrade. Nice weather, false peace,
goodlooking girls, always enough beer, and one incredible, but for a long, long
time desirable anouncement .. in our town !? Just a few days after, I heard a
commercial on independent radio station B-92 ( now B2-92 ) : '9.5.'98, Youth
Centre, Dancing Hall, Punk legends GBH !!! I can't believe it, but YES, GBH on
their way to my town !!! I can't describe our happiness for being able to see
people we had been listening to for all our lives ...
In spite of lot of
problems and humiliating treatment from Hungarian and Yugoslav customs
officers, as well as partially done visas in Yugoslav embassy in London, the
lads entered in YU after several hours mistreatment. The organizers of the gig
(Nenad Vlasic and Dejan Vladovic) even had to use their own private connections
in the government to enable that GBH could enter into the country (although
they had visas !) As you know this area is complicated even for simple things
like visas and the customs. Wankers! The Belgrade newspaper informed the public
about these problems.
And now about the gig. Warming up in the centre of
the town began at 5 PM. Several pubs near the Dancing Hall were occupied by the
Punks from whole Serbia, and large quantities of beer were consumed, and
something else as well ... Everybody was waiting for the gig impatiently ...
There is incredibly big hunger for UK Punks in Serbia. We were talking about
the days when we watched Angelic Upstarts, Exploited, UK SUBS ... Happy times!
Before the war, of course ...
Around 7 PM people started to gather in
the Youth Centre. Good atmosphere, a lot of Punks, a lot of beer, GBH arriving,
is there anything more beautiful ? Supported bands started to play with a
little delay ('The law of the stronger one' and 'Vox Populi'). Some rumours
were heard that GBH had some problems at the border, but everyone expected that
everything would be OK. And so we waited until 11 PM which was enough time for
having fun and getting drunk. Finally the legends of the worldwide Punk
appeared. The conversation with Colin, Jock, Ross, Scott, Pedro and Olaf began
but didn't last for a long time ... Friendly atmosphere, chatting in spite of
some signs of tiredness on their faces.
Dancing Hall crowded with people
(2000 Punks), some 500 unlucky Punks who couldn't enter in the hall stayed in
front of it. A little bit tense atmosphere in the hall, supported bands are
playing but everybody's thinking about GBH. GBH appeared for the first time on
the scene when Colin, Jock and Ross helped the lads from 'Vox Populi' to play
'If the kids are united'. Delighted Punks in trance, everybody's singing,
everyone's jumping, real euphoria. It seems that they prolonged the song for
one minute more but it doesn't matter.
There was a short break
afterwards and the long expected announcement arrived: 'And now one big welcome
for GBH !'. Their appearance on the stage was accompanied by big enthusiasm but
there wasn't too much talking, the gig started ... 'Diplomatic
Immunity!'
The big pogo is starting, the lads are playing without
mistakes, Colin starts to enchant the audience, there are few small incidents
with the security guards who react nervously (they don't understand Punk), but
in spite of big mess everything is OK. There is beer everywhere, as well as
someone's legs, warming up begins ... The gig continues with the 'Punk
Junkies', impressive sound, and Colin wants to break the invisible electricity
in the audience ...
I must say that the lads thought out well the songs
schedule as you will see ...
Here comes the 'Freak' and the new
watering with beer, the new pogo, the crowd begins to act more openly towards
the band, and one lad jumps on the stage and kisses Colin ... who announces
'Time bomb'. The band is impressive again, especially Colin who gives the
microphone to the lads to sing the chorus which they liked very much ...
Knowing about our national troubles, Colin announces the song which
describes our situation: 'Gunned Down'. It was as all in the hall remembered
the war and other stupidities ... Cool atmosphere and after the song Colin asks
the audience who will win the World Cup in France. The answer was clear:
'Serbia!'. 'All right' says Colin - 'there are five of us, that means we need
the six of you and we'll be the first !' He's right, although they are number
one, but in Punk !
Crying' is the next song, and then distortion
appears on Jock's guitar. We realize that the sound system isn't the best, but
it doesn't matter ... The same guy kisses Colin again which Colin deserves
absolutely and doesn't refuse, of course. The audience sings the chorus
together with Colin, the gig's slowly becoming a party, really positive
atmosphere ...
'
And now for everyone who enjoy the marihuana 'Drug
Party In 526' '. The audience jumps more frequently on the stage and sings with
Colin and even the security guards begin to enjoy the party (although they are
very conservative). It's visible how much people like Colin. This man (and
others from the band, of course) has unbelievable charisma on the stage and out
of it as well.
And then comes the song about something that no-one in
the hall misses ... 'Energy'. Everybody's singing the chorus, jumping on the
stage and the audience is so cool that some lads are trying to take over
Colin's microphone so that they can sing the chorus, but 'the old wolf' doesn't
give it easily. One guy was very persistent so that Colin awarded him with the
microphone. Watching all this the security guards only smiled.
We are
going on ... Here comes 'Malice In The Wonderland'. The Punks even don't think
of getting down of the stage, the security guards don't react, the familiarity
with the band is growing, Colin sometimes seems to be tired (reasonably
justified), he gives the microphone to the Punks, Jock, Ross and Scott don't
make any mistakes, they're really perfect.
No breaks, 'Seed Of Madness'
follows (there is too much of it in this country), tension is growing, we all
feel that the best is to come (lads you planned it perfectly) ... The Scott's
introduction rhythm (which is remarkable) is recognized by everyone ... 'I am
the hunted !' Real explosion of joy in the audience, the stage is already full
of Punks, Colin and the lads are still fascinating as if they haven't been at
the border for several hours.
'Nenad come to the stage and take the
microphone, you've saved us at the border !' Then Colin asks if anyone can give
him fire ? Of course, plenty of it ! 'Give Me Fire' says Colin and gets it!
Total chaos, total pogo, anarchy in the hall ... For the moment Colin sits
beside Scott's drums and sings and around him total chaos! And then 'City
Babies Attacked By Rats', and the crowd reacts fast, again some small problems
with the sound system but it doesn't matter, the party goes on. After that
'City Babies Revenge' with superb Jock's solo, complete joy in the crowd, it's
visible that the band enjoys in it as well, everyone on the stage is singing
... and then Colin says: 'Goodbye and thanks !?'
No way, they can't get
out so easily, so they're forced to continue. Here comes the legendary ( and
which their song isn't ?) 'Race Against Time' with the question 'Are You Ready
?' 'Of course, you just continue to play, we can do it till dawn ! Everyone's
sweaty but still persistent, Colin gives the microphone to one guy but
unfortunately the guy returns it to Colin - no break, lads !
Colin
announces next song with the following words 'We're not Spice Girls but we'll
win the Eurovision competition!' 'No Survivors!' The pogo is even stronger,
Colin takes off his T-shirt, he's sweaty and watered, the lads are playing
fantasticly, five people are trying to take over the microphone ... (!?)
' It seems to me that you wanted this ... Generals!' Of course, we
would like to capture you in Belgrade so that you can play every night, to make
up with all those lost years! The great capacity of Colin could be seen while
he was singing and taking photos of the crowd at the same time ... Man, you're
fantastic!
Again unsuccessful trying to finish the gig, the lads are
really tired but we are not, we are sorry ...
OK, we all like this....
'Big Women'! The stage is crowded, the security guards can't be seen anymore,
fantastic feeling, for the moment I thought that we knew each other for a whole
life ... Real party, good entertainment! Smile on every face, as well as
tiredness and sweat.
We all like something else - 'Alcohol!' Colin's
made so hot atmosphere that the last frontiers have disappeared between the
band and the crowd, we all felt as a part of one entirety! Satisfied Colin
sings with the crowd, and also Jock, Ross and Scott!
I thought that
'something' was missing. And Colin gives me the answer - 'Sick Boy!' Yes, that
was the cream of the cake which was wonderfully created and realized by the GBH
lads!
The end of this song is also the end of the gig, we couldn't
manage to keep them on the stage and Colin said goodbye with the following
words: 'No war, no hate, goodbye!'
That's it. The end. We went out
satisfied but thinking when we would see them again. Thank you, lads! You're
something special!!!
That's the way the gig was. At the end I would only
ask all the Punks to understand that they're really welcome in Serbia, and that
we miss a lot UK Punks. You must know that we are not like BBC and Sky would
like us to be. Our regime is awful, but they are not the people. I hope that
we'll have again (very soon) officially friendly relationship as we had it
before this stupid war.
In hope that you'll stop ignoring us when you
plan your future gigs, cheers to all Punks, we're expecting you in Belgrade ...
Mika-
micknena@eunet.yu
Translations of press articles
that appeared regarding the gig
<1>
In spite
of the warning that Kosovo is 50 km from Belgrade, GBH will play tonight in
Youth Centre. Punks are not afraid of Kosovo. The concert of the British Punk
band GBH will take place tonight in the Dancing Hall of the Youth Centre,
instead of the scheduled concert for May 24th in SKC. One of the organizers of
the gig Nenad Vlasic says that about a month ago German press published that
Kosovo was only a 50 km away from Belgrade. After that information all travel
agencies refused to organize trip in YU for GBH who were supposed to start tour
from Germany.
The members of the band decided to come to Belgrade before
the beginning of their tour - on their own !
The band which has never
made any compromises with Punk music was founded in 1980 in Birmingham, and
they become popular in '82 when they released "City Baby Attacked by Rats ".
GBH released 10 official albums more, they had tours in USA, Mexico, Portugal,
Israel, Europe, Japan ... and became model to the bands like Metallica,
Nirvana, Sepultura, Slayer...
The concert in Youth Centre will start at
7 PM and supported bands will be Belgrade Punks ' Vox Populi ' and ' The law of
the Stronger one '.
<2>
Two nights ago in Youth
Centre there was a gig of the British cult band GBH.
" Belgrade people
are fantastic " Colin Abrahal. To Belgrade like to the Safari Belgrade. Punk
band GBH played in front of 1300 mostly drunk and drugged fans in the Dancing
Hall of the Youth Centre. Old, but still vital Punk legends, after more then
ten hours mistreatment at the Yugoslav-Hungarian border, gave to the Belgrade
audience two hours of sincere energy, and were paid only 350 DEM per
member.
The GBH singer Colin Abrahal says for DT: " This is a dangerous
adventure for us. Like some people go to Africa on a safari, we came to
Belgrade.People are fantastic here, and it's a pity we were not allowed to play
more, because it was allegedly too late.
Once extremely strong Punk
movement which is considered not to have its place on the world's music scene
anymore, Abrahal comments for DT: " Punk is forever and it will never die . You
can't live of it,but my wife is generous ".
GBH arrived at the border in
Kelebija on Friday after midnight, and they entered our country on Saturday
afternoon.The guitar player Jock Blaid says for DT:" We have our visas but
without the seal. They were given to us in your embassy in London with oral
confirmation that with some 15 pounds tax those visas would be enough to cross
the border." One of the gig organizers Djordje Rakic explains for DT: "The
people from the embassy in fact gave them only the certificates that they had
asked for the 48 hours visas, and then they dumpped them off because of the St.
George's Day, the state holiday as they told them. At the border there were
some interventions made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, by some people
from the Youth Centre, as well as by our parents and finally GBH was allowed to
enter our country.
<3>
Cult British Punk band GBH performed last
Saturday in the Youth Centre, unusual spectacle. Before the gig, visibly tired,
the members of the band told for DT about their tragic experience at the
Yugoslav-Hungarian border in Kelebija.
"Hungarian customs officers
treated us as if we had been some junkies. They are real fascists. After long
and unpleasant search they even wanted to get us out of the no-one's land zone.
At one moment some very suspicious guys approached us, I think it's some
Hungarian mafia, and offered to smuggle us to your country for 3.000 DEM. Then
the organizers called us and told us that they would arrange our papers to
cross the border. We waited more than 10 hours" - says GBH singer Colin
Abrahal.
GBH guitar player Jock Blyth explains for DTM: 'It was
completely crazy. We had visas, but it turned out that they were not properly
sealed in the Yugoslav Embassy in London. Your men gave us those papers and
told us that with 15 pounds tax we would be able to enter your country without
any problems.'
"Yugoslav authorities treated us as if we had been the
least important people in the world. I can't understand why. We have the tours
all around the world all the time and the things like this one happened to us
only in Germany when it was divided ' - says Olaf Hertel, GBH's manager and
continues: 'Your government rejects people without any particular reason. When
we called the embassy to ask what it was necessary so that we could come here
and have the gig, they hanged up the receiver."
On our question if they
were afraid when they left for Belgrade, regarding that because of the actual
situation in Kosovo German travel agencies didn't want to organize their
transport, singer Colin Abrahal answers:
"We didn't feel any kind of
fear, but our arrival here we understood as a fucking dangerous holiday -
safari adventure in Africa. Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Croatia, bla, bla, bla, ...
All that is very confusing to me. I don't understand if Yugoslavia is separated
from Albania, if Serbia and Kosovo are the same country. Do you have any kind
of war ?"
"The only thing I know is that your president Slobodan
Milosevic is a bad motherf#cker and the United Nations should arrest him as a
war
criminal."