It's 18.52pm and I've just dodged the latest heavy shower which has engulfed this part of Somerset. Glastonbury 1998 has something in common with last time I visited this area for a festival. RAIN.
In 1970 Jeff Lewis and I struggled through torrential rain to watch the likes of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Airplane and the Byrds at The Bath and West Showground. The music was superb and it didn't matter about the weather.
1998 Glastonbury and the style of festivals has changed. £80.00 for a ticket, several stages, and fences erected by festival fans around tents to stop people taking shortcuts. I've camped with the others right in front of the New Bands Tent. No Voids or Shiney Friends here (except as the audience ) but reading the programme you get (which is part of the entrance packet you are provided with on surrender of your ticket) one Eliza Carthy will be appearing on Sunday at 15.40pm on this very stage.
Now how coincidental is that ? Miss Carthy is high on the list of artists that Isle of Wight Rock want to book onto the Island. Can't wait.
The site is strange described as being as big as East and West Cowes put together, it straddles a multitude of fields, copses and a total of 600 acres in all. There is human activity everywhere. The 90s to me have been better than the 80s for in terms of music, Im looking forward to seeing some of those acts which have been played in our house over the last few years.
In 1970 at Afton it was the White Panthers, at Glastonbury its The New Age Travellers who live on the perimeter fence. Living their lives in their old coaches and British Telecom wagons. The gates are proper turnstiles, the security people are beefy blokes with special gear, not hired rockers from the holiday camp.
The ultra-red scanning you get on the way out allows you to get back in. Yes I had to go out to the van to get some more gear, at the old style festival it was car, tent, one stage and sit down and enjoy the music. At this festival its park your car, lug your camping gear miles to the camp site, choose a stage pitch tent and stand and sample the music which is on offer.
Tomorrow is going to be interesting . . .
Its 9.16 am. its raining , but everybody is in good spirits. Jessie said that the rain sounded worse in the tent. Earlier this morning I saw the dawn come in to the sound of drums and bass. Here's something else that is different ( or perhaps I was to knackered to understand or to get involved in back in 1970 ) The atmosphere at 3.00am was electric, the sounds of drum and bass echoing from the jazz stage or its general vicinity was unbelievable .The sound was pulsating, laying in my tent it felt like I was being sucked into a vortex of sound and then catapulted out the other side.
The toilets (some things never change ) are awful. when is some one going to sort out the problem of human waste. Its 3.00am and its pissing it down.The first music is due to start in about one hour on the Pyramid stage, the New stage and the Other stage.
26/6/98 14.35pm
Well I found the acoustic stage, but it was closed until about 13.00pm.I wasn't worried I spent my time watching Taj Mahal. I got to the Pyramid Stage in good time considering the mud and the hoards of people making their way to God knows where. When I got there I found out that Beth Orton had arrived but a band called Gomez were coming on.
A five piece from Southport ( I think ) they have a singer whose voice is a cross between Jim Morrison and Paul Rodgers. They were pleasant and very laid back. In fact I nearly went to sleep on my feet. I enjoyed them though and I expect that they will be big one day. They would have gone down a bomb supporting Donovan or some one similar. The lead guitarist who also doubled up on vocals looked amazingly like Liverpools Steve McManaman.
I pointed this out to the organiser. ( Oh I didnt tell you did I? ) I was standing by the sound desk minding my own business when this guy who I recognised immediately was trying with his lady to get on to the sound desk itself. The security chap said "You need a pass" He said "But Im the organiser" To which the security man said "They all say that." I take this opportunity to introduce myself. "Hello I'm Pete Turner from the Isle of Wight, I was at Bath in 1970." Michael Eavis replies "So was I" I think to myself I know that because it's that Festival which created this one.
Beth Orton is still missing. There are loads of people looking for her. Anyway Taj Mahal arrives on stage. What I saw of him I thought he was brilliant. He did Queen Bee and Leaving Trunk in a really fine set. Great keyboards and excellent guitar work with a fine horn section. Can't wait for Cambridge to come.
I'm writing this whilst listening to a band called Laika. Named after the first dog in space, and there pretty good, very good drums (I wonder what they look like ) sounds like Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun with a girl singer.
When it stops raining Im off in search of Kate St. John and Michael Clarke. Beth Orton's still missing. Perhaps shes in space with Laika?
Pete Turner aka Jiffy Wilmslow