Anyone else miss the gig of his life?

[Jay]

Yeah, this was gonna be the gig of my life. Blur. Live. In London!

I'd seen them twice already (not much considering I've been a fan since Parklife - in my defence, I was only 15 when that one came out and Blur music finally made it's way to Belgium). The first time I saw them was in 1999, on their 13 Tour at Rock Werchter. That's a festival, so that wasn't exactly the real thing. Still, I was on top of the world finally watching them perform live! And then they came back, in 2003 for Think Tank, this time in Brussels in a proper venue (AB). Amazing, unbelievable gig. There was just one thing missing: Graham. So again, not really the real stuff, innit? (I did see Graham though, a couple of years later in another venue in Brussels, performing solo. And I even had the chance to chat with him after the gig. Wicked.)

Then came the gig of my life so far: The Good The Bad And The Queen. In an old church in Bristol. Being the only 2 non-British people in the room ("You came all the way from Belgium? Wow, cool" - It sure was), just 3 feet away from 2 of my musical heroes (Paul Simonon being the other one), I'd never been that close to musical heaven.

Their reunion gig in Hyde Park was gonna be the ultimate step. The tickets were printed, the flying tickets were paid for and the hotel was booked. Yes it really really really was gonna happen. Or so I thought. Two days before the gig I got this unbelievable abdominal pain. Went to the doctor and the verdict was phenomenally hard: surgery. I was in hospital during almost whole of Blurs reunion tour. Can you believe that? I hadn't had anything this serious for 15 years and just now this struck me. I couldn't believe it. And still can't.

But life goes on. And one of these days the double cd of the Thursday gig will arrive (surely I'd already ordered that). I'll be thrilled to have it, but it'll also be a little sour listening to it, knowing that I could have been there. Should have been there.

Oh well, I live on hope. Hope that there's gonna be new work and, maybe, another tour. If there is, I'll be there, no matter what. First gig they announce. Or maybe the second. But I'll be there.

For all the people that did get to see them somewhere this last month: you lucky bastards.

[MrMagpie]

^That's too bad, but at least you have your health, eh?

[tracy_jacks]

OMG that's horrible. Was it your appendix? If so, I know what horrendous pain you went through - but having to miss out on what was supposed to be the gig of your life must have been hard.

[Jay]

I wish it had been my appendix, I would've got outta hospital after a day! Nah, got rid of the bugger 15 years ago - and it wasn't even my appendix back then! They think this new problem might've resulted from that previous operation. Anyhow, let's just hope all's alright now and I don't have to rush back to hospital when Blur get back together again in 15 years' time.

[tracy_jacks]

Amen to that! (and hey, appendixes can keep you in the hospital for nearly three weeks too... mine did ) Seriously though, it really is horrible that you had to miss the gigs.

[LordConker]

Wow that's some rotten luck, sorry to hear that D:

I also missed that gig, but it has to do with a distance issue, with me being in an entirely different continent, plus I really wouldn't be able to afford the trip plus the ticket. I'm just left here to dream about Blur coming to South America again (They were here on 1999 in Argentina, but I was 10 years old and couldn't go), IF they even continue together as a band (Let's all hope so!).

[Hot Charity]

You poor sod.

I extend untold amounts of sympathy to you.

[englishtim]

Hi Jay,

I'm really, really sorry to hear that.

By a bizarre coincidence I ended up in hospital a couple of months ago with similar symptoms (blocked intestine caused by a fibroid - really nasty, big surgery and an impressive scar), and at one stage it was touch and go whether I'd be able to attend the gig. Thankfully I got lucky and recovered fast enough, although in the circumstances (and given the reports on this forum about random acts of violence in the mosh-pit) I'm relieved that I paid the eye-watering amounts of extra cash for grandstand seats.

I hope you're over the worst now. Yes, the gig was great (I was at the Friday show with my teenage son) but nothing matters more than your health. Think of the great shows by great bands waiting for you in the future!

Take care,

Cheers,
englishtim

[Foxxy1984]

i did and im very upset about it...my boyfriend was sooo close to purchasing all of the stuff but we had an argument like the day before of him getting me expensive stuff and that i hated it..i'm an idiot!!!!.... i will never ever again get a chance like that... it's bullshit

[Astroid]

Ouch. You're both lucky and unlucky at the same time.

[ninejuicyjulius]

Count me in. *sigh*

Even if there was a petition to bring Blur in our country, I doubt it would even push through. Blur's just not too popular here.

[MrMagpie]

Other than 1997, where they toured Southeast Asia and South America, they seem to stick mainly to their biggest markets (UK, USA, Europe)...I doubt that's going to change if they ever tour again...

[ninejuicyjulius]

^ Agree, Mr. Magpie. It's a market thing really. Heck, I even find it damn hard to find bandmates for a Blur cover band. lol

[MrMagpie]

^Yep, marketing plain and simple. Fact is, in 1997 they were on top of the world and could go anywhere. These days, probably nowhere outside of the usual UK/USA/Europe corridor...

[ninejuicyjulius]

Oh well. A live DVD is our only consolation.