Hyde Park Report

What we got was Quadrophenia, complete (I think). No involvement from 
Clapton or Dylan and no non-Quad songs.

I thought the performance was brilliant from beginning to end. 
Unfortunately Pete's contribution was less than everyone would like have 
seen, but I guess that was inevitable.

The music wasn't overblown with orchestras etc and Johnny Thunderfingers 
really shone, especially on 5:15. I was glued to the big screen monitor and 
I'm sure that I saw Pete wince with pain when John started his solo!

Zak Starkey was superb on the skins. Electric guitar was supplied by Simon 
Townshend playing rhythm on a Telecaster and Geoff Whitehorn playing lead 
on something green. Simon was wearing the nattiest pair of shades I've ever 
seen. "Rabbit" Bundrick played keyboards and Pete confined himself to 
acoustic guitar, switching to piano for "Cut My Hair", or was it "I'm One"? 
Anyway, at times he looked like he was actually quite enjoying himself.

Phil Daniels (star of the Quad film) narrated between songs as Jimmy. Gary 
Glitter (yes, he) trundled out for "The Punk and the Godfather" to 
rapturous applause and nearly stole the show. We were all confused by 
Roger's eyepatch. It looked superb, so we thought it was just stage 
costume. Then, later on came "Dr Jimmy" and the line "Back to get that 
baboon, who tore out my eye..." and he lifted the patch to reveal an 
excruciatingly painful looking shiner. I thought it was a make-up job until 
I read about the rehearsal accident. I can only admire the way Roger turned 
this into a positive part of the performance.

Other guests included Trevor McDonald, a well-known British newsreader who 
read out reports of the seaside riots, and David Gilmour who graciously 
took care of "The Dirty Jobs". Star of the show, IMHO, was Adrian Edmondson 
as the Ace Face/Bellboy. He appeared from under the stage astride a vintage 
scooter, got his arse kicked off stage by Stephen Fry while struggling to 
pick up about 6 suitcases, then re-appeared and generally ponced about in a 
thoroughly hilarious manner.

We got an impromptu encore (5:15 again). A few seconds into it, Pete 
realises that he's forgotten to pick up his guitar. A roadie is summoned 
while Ade Edmondson mocks Pete by doing a few "air" windmills.

Then it was all over. For me it just flew by, but I'd thoroughly recommend 
the MSG show to all you Americans if this is anything to go by. It will 
probably be along the same lines, although some of the guests will probably 
be different. How about Walter Kronckite (sp?) for Trevor McDonald? 

Mark.