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So we are on the way to Glastonbury, I have had very little sleep over the past 72 hours, for obvious reasons, and I don't sleep well on coaches, let alone noisy ones, especially when England are playing Germany in the World Cup competition!
When I am tired I either go quiet, or really nutty. This time I went for the quiet mode, though I was at one point very actively engrossed in a conversation with Muyiwa from Riversongz, about Celebrity circles, business affairs and trying to maintain a level of integrity, with both of our backgrounds rooted in all three!
When we arrive, we get to briefly engage with some of the band, who I can recall watching a few times with Stefano in Italy last year, on the 'Live at last' DVD performance at the 02 arena. Once again the energy amongst the choral is electric, even despite England's dreadful exit of the World Cup.
Stevie goes on to perform and the show is even bigger this time. As we step on stage, the thing that blows me away is the sheer size of the audience. As far as I could possibly see, there were people, all crammed together might I add, and even still I am sure there were just as many there that I couldn't see!!
The performance was incredible and the high after the show was second to none!
I am not sure which my favourite song of the set is, but it's a close call between 'Living in the City'and 'For once in my live'. I am convinced that Stevie's voice is even better live than on record!!
But even after the weight of the second night, the best night was yet come...
Find out why in part 8!!
Day 1, Hyde Park,
After arriving home at 4am, a really stressful 48 hours lead up and an early start in the morning; I arrive at the meeting point in Victoria train station, greeted by many of my family and friends, and pleased to know that the choral are a really cool bunch of people!
The coach journey is short but surreal, and the energy on the coach is fresh, which I assumed it would be. Some faces I know and some I don't, but what's really on my mind is, 'what are we singing, and better still what is my part!?!'
As we pull up to Hyde park, I am suprised to see so many old friends and faces I have worked with, all obviously playing with some of the other various artists.
Still all feeling very surreal, you can feel the egos bulging and tension swelling around the place but nothing suprises me these days!
An hour before we go on, we all get changed and have a quick run through of the songs, and everything is sounding lovely.
We are then told that we can go side stage to watch the performances, which everybody is only to happy to do! As I am walking towards the stage, Amy Winehouse pops up from nowhere, and is walking up the steps in front of me with a friend.
Here I am, minutes away from stepping on stage with the worlds most celebrated musician and singer, watching hundreds of thousands of people being blown away by the most amazing songs, and I am taking it all in, standing side by side with Amy Winehouse, stage left! Just so surreal!!!!!
Stepping on stage, the first thing I notice is the intensity of the lighting, as well as the composure of this man, who can see nothing, yet is controlling everything - from the band, to the mood, to the audience, all in a natural effortless way!
We sing two songs, and after coming off stage, I am flooded with phone calls and texts, by people who know me that were watching in the crowd. "Gav, am I right in saying that you just came off stage with Stevie wonder? woooahhh!!!!!"
I can certainly relate to what Erikah Badu once said, "What a day, what a day!"
Find out about the Glastonbury experience in part 7!
Thinking quick has now become a part of my make up, and there was no better time to execute this skill than now. So in order of events, my first thought was to text Silvia the guitar player of the band, who had just dropped me to the airport, asking her to call me, as I had limited credit left! She called me and after explaining the situation, she called Stefano, typically regarded as the 'Father figure' of the band, who called me back in seconds. After talking the whole thing through with Stefano, We agreed that the best thing to do was to check some flight options within the next 48 hours. After 15 minutes Stefano called me back, on my Italian mobile, which was now nearly dead, with a list of options, none of which were ideal! The one that sounded most suitable was the flight that was supposedly booked up, according to the check in attendant! Stefano suggested that airlines may reserve the last tickets for online purchases, so even though the flight is declared as fully booked, they may actually still have some seats available to online customers. After little thought and deliberation, I asked Stefano to go ahead with the online booking, fearing that the other stranded folk may actually be trying to do the same thing as me. I thought it would be safer to ensure my chances of being back in time, as opposed to feeling sorry for myself for being in this position! Stefano did the deed, I was once again relieved, this time being that the online transaction went through and I was still going to be there to partake!
There was of course the other small issue of how to get back to my Italian home from the airport because my flight was not until the next day - with no car and very little Italian vocabulary! However I somehow found my way, being the hunter that I am!
The other problem was that I was supposed to be attending a rehearsal with my band as well as doing a Michael Jackson tribute performance the day after my original flight booking, but would now still be in the air on my flight home because of the cancellation. Of course, none of this was able to cloud the fact that come Saturday evening, I would be standing behind Stevie Wonder singing along with some of my favorite songs with such a great legend!
Find out more about the tour in part 6 ...
About 2 hours after hearing Andre explain how upset the groom was, he forwarded a text with a glimmer of hope. The text was sent to him by the bride. The bride turned out to be an ex college friend, from Brits school! The text read,
"Hi Andre, sorry I missed your call, just heard that Gavin can't make the wedding, just wondering if there is a sutable replacement in mind, or if not what do you advise as I don't know anyone else?"
It was the response that Andre had imagined, but of course, Andre was quick to explain the whole situation with his discussion with the groom, and shared that he did not want to let anyone down. The bride however, had made up her mind that Stevie Wonder was the right choice to take, regardless of the fact that it was going to be at the expense of her own wedding reception celebration!
Both Andre and I later spoke, knowing that the replacement was already in place, and we were very relieved that the bride had a totally different tone and outlook, as we were both sure that left down to the groom, who was even mentioning legal action (though no contracts were formed), I would have been obligated to do the wedding reception, and would have done so even just for conscience and peace of mind sake!
So the story continues, with me at the airport, two days before the first gig, after queuing for an hour at the check in desk, thirst kicks in, and so I decide to go for a quick drink at the bar. As I am finishing my pastry, someone, obviously from London judging by the accent, walks past me whilst muttering to her husband directly behind me "I don't like the look of that 'cancelled' sign next our check in desk." Realizing that she was probably on the same flight as me back to london, I looked over to the check in desk that I had left, and sure enough, there was a cancelled sign up! I looked on the electronic flight display above my head to see what that read, and I was not at all happy to see 'cancelled' next to my flight details.
Now trying hard not to panic, I rushed over to the small but growing crowd of people circling this poor check in attendant who was breaking the news to everyone that there was a strike with air traffic control. The questions from angry stranded folk came flooding in, none more important than, "when is the next flight back to london?". The response was one of the most gut wrenching statements I have ever endured! She calmly stated, "There is one tomorrow but it is fully booked, so I would try the other airlines to see if there is one on Saturday, because we dont have any scheduled before then!"
Now I am stuck in Italy, with the biggest engagement of my musical career 48 hours away, and I potentially have no way to arrive back in london for it!
To top it off, I hear a lady in the crowd mentioning to her friend, that she has tickets to see Stevie Wonder at Hyde Park on Saturday, and needs to get back!
Find out how I managed to get back in London on time, in part 5!
I called Andre, minutes later, to find out what was going on, and the long and short of the story, was that as Andre explained the situation to the groom, the response was far from positive, and Andre was met by a very angry response, detailing how much he was disappointed with being let down, after everything had been agreed and arranged, for what was going to be the biggest day of his life.
Naturally Andre quickly realised that perhaps he shouldn't have assumed that the couple would be so sympathic like himself, and perfusely appologised, explaining that he would not ever let the wedding suffer, and had already found a replacement for me. I think more than anything though, the groom perhaps didn't like the idea of someone casaully being swapped around for his special day, and felt that what ever was going to be arranged would have been a second rate mock up!
Andre in his haste to rectify the situation, was only quick to try and slot me back in, as not to both let the couple down, and also not to destroy his credible reputation.
I totally understood, and actually was under the impression that everyone was going to take this stance, to be honest, maybe even Andre. I decided that I would go back to my original plan of doing both engagements if I could, schedules permitting, and if I am made aware that the times conflict, I would simply have to pull out of the Stevie gigs, which was actually if I'm honest, seemed the more likely of the two!
What took place next however, was a divine miracle!
Find out in part 4!!
So its the day after the Wonder'ful call, (excuse the terrible pun....) and I a lying in bed wondering what to do with a potential tour with Stevie, and an important wedding day, both falling on the same day!
My first move was to call Andre, with the intention of doing both, if time schedules permit. When I call Andre he is otherwise engaged, so I plot my next move, which is to word a smart text message. The text read something like this..
"Hi Andre I need to speak with you asap about the wedding to find out the times we are required as I have just been called to do a UK tour with Stevie Wonder. Needless to say I would like to do the tour, but need to know if I can somehow juggle the gig and the wedding falling on the same day. Please call when you are free!"
I wasn't sure of the reaction I was going to get, but I was really worrying for around 24 hours, as Emily had told me that she needed to have a definate yes or no within the next day!! I didn't want to just say yes without a plan B, as I knew that the wedding was only days away, but at the same time, as the band mates in Italy all kept drilling home, 'Stevie Wonder is not the kind of gig you decline so easily'!
Andre soon after, flooded my phone witht text messages, which were pointing towards the situation working in my favour. The last of which saying, "Best thing might actually be for me to find someone to replace you, I will make some calls just in case.!" By now I am starting to feel a little less pressure, and half an hour later Andre calls me on my Italian line!
The greeting was alot more encouraging than I thought, especially as I thought perhaps there would be a slight ill-feeling of betrayal or panic, but Andre was really pleased to hear this opportunity of a lifetime, had landed straight in my lap! I was fearful that he may see it as a big let down, but he turned out to be really understanding about the whole situation, and had already arranged a mutual freind to step in last minute, in order to relieve me of the pressure of trying not to let anyone down, whilst not turning down a Stevie Wonder tour opportunity.
My concience would not have allowed me to tell him that I just cant make the gig, but Andre somehow figured that this was way to big a chance to let slide, and I realised once again how privilidged I was to be firstly, potentially sharing the stage with such an Icon, and second, the older brother of the Choral director handling the tour!!
Of course I still had to fire off a text of confirmation, which I did straight after the call; I needed not to worry about not being in the country for the rehearsals, as Emily had offered to excuse me for my absense; also indicating the role we were to play as the choral was not at all going to be a difficult or taxing in any way.
About an hour after speaking with Andre, and confirming that I could make the gigs with Emily, I recieved a text that hit me like a thunderbolt! Text read, "Gavin, there has been a major issue my end, I am going to need you to do the wedding we were booked for, please call me asap!"
Find out in part 3, how things got turned upside down, and the dramas of the 3 hours following this panic text!
I can imagine the 101 questions running through your head after seeing the title of this blog, none more interesting than "How did Gavin Holligan end up backing for Stevie Wonder, especially when he is supposed to be away working in Italy until October?!"
Well the story goes something like this..
I am dismounting my keyboard and mic stand after what has been a fairly good gig with my friends of the 'Six in the City' band, and decide that I really should give my mother a phone call to say hi, and more importantly happy birthday! Stefano, the drummer of the band, being the kind gentleman that he is, is always giving me the pleasure of using up the remaining few minutes of his free call time at the end of each day, but as i pull away off the stage I realise that I have left my own mobile phone behind at home and I don't know my Mother's number off by heart! So I call my sister Emily, who's number I have managed to memorise, knowing that both her and my mum would be a matter of feet away from each other.
I was glad to hear Emily scream for joy as she answered the call, as we spoke for the first time since my departure to Italy. But what I wasn't expecting was her million dollar question moments later. "What you doing this weekend G?". After declaring that I had a wedding appointment to play for, she casually sighed, "oh, I was going to ask you if you were up for doing some backing vocals for Stevie Wonder." I was like, what are you talking about? She explained she was asked to form a choral for a couple of Stevie Wonder dates, including Hyde Park and Glastonbury, and thought of me! By now I was blown away by the sheer magnitude of this type of engagement, and of course very proud to hear my younger sibling placed in such an honourable post, by any vocalist or vocal directors standards!
Immediately I realised that this call was no ordinary call!!
I was only calling my Mother to share my congrats on reaching another year, and happened to have to call my sister, who happened to be putting a choral for perhaps the greatest singer-songwriter alive, who happens to be my greatest musical inspiration and influence, and happens to be doing some live UK tour dates, within the same week that I happen to be scheduled back in the UK in preparation for my birthday celebration!!
There are sometimes in life, when you are carefully reminded, and not in a subtle way, that someone else actually writes the script of our lives, even when we like to think we know the plot best!
There was of course only one major issue. I quickly remembered the night before, and me reading the text that came through on my mobile, which made the whole situation quite complicated, and stopped me in my tracks daydreaming of singing behind one of the most respected musicians of all time!
Text from a good friend and talented musician 'Andre Brown', who had requested my availability from early 2010, reads, "Hi Gav, hope your cool, just reminding you about the wedding we were booked to do is next week (Saturday), the bride and groom have also confirmed that they have hired a Grand Piano for you to play! look forward to seeing you, speak soon bro!"
What would you do next if you were me?
Find out how things transpired, and why I nearly walked away from the chance of a life time.. in part 2, coming very soon!
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