Joop De Korte interview

[straitsway75]

...it's true that they let too much time pass, 6 years, before starting the car again, but as a mitigating factor Mark had the fact of having to recover from the divorce, the real for that long break

[Billy’s Tune]

Great answer Chris.
Did you ever consider walking, especially in those rehearsal days? I imagine that kind of environment would enlist one to think “wtf” but then I have zero idea how the contractual side of musicians plays out. If m cancelled the tour, it’s the record company versus him (or Ed), if you walk then have they got you by the balls??
And feel free not to answer, I’m not prying into contract details. That’s personal and private. I’m interested in how the mechanics of a behemoth like DS work!

And in those dark stare moments, could you challenge back and say no, this is the right way to go. Or was it just a closed conversation or don’t go there? Surely bringing a show together is a true group effort. It works when it works for all. Or in a dominated outfit, it is ‘yes boss, ok boss’?

[Love Expresso]

If I remember correctly the tour was planned earlier but had to be postphoned because of the Gulf war? So it was under a bad sign from the beginning..

10 weeks rehearsals (in the summer!) sound grueling, but to be honest, I expected nothing else than a perfectly rehearsed band. Reading about all those new members made be feel nervous if it would be as good as they were. Same feelings btw came up when the 96ers were announced. A completely new band...

LE

[Chris W]

...it's true that they let too much time pass, 6 years, before starting the car again, but as a mitigating factor Mark had the fact of having to recover from the divorce, the real for that long break

That's is factually incorrect. Mark's divorce didn't happen until quite a bit after the end of the OES tour.

[Chris W]

If I remember correctly the tour was planned earlier but had to be postphoned because of the Gulf war?

It was postponed by about 6 months.
Earlier in the thread I just wanted to remind people that Mark dictated how the music was played. As professionals and good band mates we all did our best to realise his ambition. When people say this or that about the tour, they forget that we are the workers and Mark is the sole power source in that and.

[the visitor]

I remember hearing the Woburn Abbey broadcast in 1992.  What struck me initially were two things, especially when I heard Walk of Life after having literally worn out my tape of Mandela 88, a rocking gig:

1) the band sounded massively more 'country'
2) the addition of the array of percussion (which you really hear on WoL) and change in drum sound.

By the way I also wore out the recording I made of the Woburn Abbey concert (the encores on tape 2 got chewed up) so was grateful for the OTN album... and the fact that there was little difference between the musicality meant an almost like for like replacement!  But it must have got boring to play I guess.

My favourite tour recordings are from BIA.  Ride Across the River is a good example of a song with structure but with what became the last 5 minutes of looser musical exchanges.

Joops interview doesn't seem to go into a huge amount of detail about the OES tour other than his reflection thay it was more 'professional' which I get, thanks Chris for your memories.

[Chris W]

The only 'country' element was Paul Franklin IMO.
People who were there don't like to talk much about the OES tour.
I remember the crew at the time saying it was one of the worst tours (by any band) they'd worked on, mostly by a large margin, because of the negative atmosphere and grumpiness. Lack of joy - if you will.
Talking to a few people who also worked on the 85 tour, they said that tour was a lot more care free, joyous. By the end, as the album had become a smash hit, they were all having a ball. And I think that memory (of the end of BIA tour) coloured their opinion on the lack of joy on the OES tour....basically making it feel worse (by comparison).

[hunter v2.0]

But, Chris, is Mark's behavior at that point so unreasonable? I'm not defending any bad behavior as such, but considering the fact he was having regrets about committing to the (long) tour and had no ways of pulling out (was trapped) AND that his marriage was falling apart – I mean, not exactly a great foundation. Plus, you were coming from an experience with a totally different artist, Paul M., an extrovert and livewire if there ever was one, and you've stated that you were not keen on the OES gig when DS contacted you. On several levels, the OES tour shouldn't have happened, and though there is a sadness that clouds the whole thing, there were a number of magic moments that have brought much, much joy to people.

[Robson]

...there were a number of magic moments that have brought much, much joy to people"

Yes! When the first time I read that the tour on every street was for many people in the band an average pleasure - I couldn't believe it. For example, the concert in Basel shows something different. I understand that life on the road is not only a stage and I don't know anything about it:)

[nando_5994]

Thank you very much Chris W for the information and sharing it with the forum members.  I'm glad that OES tour existed. There are incredible musical moments and you and the band, with the existing environment, managed to create excellent shows. On the eve of the concert in Lisbon, several interviews and articles appeared in Portuguese newspapers and magazines. In one of these articles they quoted Chris W saying that after some rehearsals MK told you that finally a drummer played SOS as he had imagined and that playing with MK everything had to be exact, at the right time without flaws or mistakes. Was it really like that?

[Chris W]

But, Chris, is Mark's behavior at that point so unreasonable?

It kind of is when it stretches to over a year.
It is no one else's fault he chose to undertake a tour, then regretted it, then started contemplating divorce.
You just have to make the best of it. Like we did.

[Chris W]

Yes! When the first time I read that the tour on every street was for many people in the band an average pleasure - I couldn't believe it.

1) We were being professional. It doesn't escape our attention that many thousands of people shelled out a lot of money to see the show, often travelling, hotels etc.
2) We were all making the best of it. You set your sights lower and find pleasure in small victories.
The bigger point is that we were selling out huge venues. as soon as mark walked on stage he got a massive standing ovation, before he'd even played a note.
So in reality, from Mark and John's point of view there was no reason to make it a miserable experience.

[Robson]

Yes! When the first time I read that the tour on every street was for many people in the band an average pleasure - I couldn't believe it.

1) We were being professional. It doesn't escape our attention that many thousands of people shelled out a lot of money to see the show, often travelling, hotels etc.
2) We were all making the best of it. You set your sights lower and find pleasure in small victories.
The bigger point is that we were selling out huge venues. as soon as mark walked on stage he got a massive standing ovation, before he'd even played a note.
So in reality, from Mark and John's point of view there was no reason to make it a miserable experience.

"You set your sights lower and find pleasure in small victories" - beautiful words

I understand. Thank you Chris. Your answers and reflections broaden the perspective of vision.

[hunter v2.0]

But, Chris, is Mark's behavior at that point so unreasonable?

It kind of is when it stretches to over a year.
It is no one else's fault he chose to undertake a tour, then regretted it, then started contemplating divorce.
You just have to make the best of it. Like we did.

I don't know, Chris. I just can't imagine the feeling of being in such a miserable place as Mark was then, knowing you can't get out of it for a year plus, and having to carry the load of being lead singer and lead guitarist. You made the best of it, but so did he, in my opinion. Considering it all, I'm surprised he didn't end up an alcoholic or coke addict.

[Robson]

It's a pity that Mark will never go back to those memories and how he saw it all.