GERMANY REPORT
Neu-Isenburg, Hugeonottenhalle, 7 March 1998
Open Road Tour
Report By Ingrid Narres

A week without Gary is over and after only three hours sleep Sabine and I started very early in the morning to the first of our next three destinations on the Open Road tour. We arrived in Frankfurt at 9.30am and found the hotel where Gary was in quite easily.

We checked in and decided then to take a breakfast in that very nice hotel. In the restaurant we met some friends and had an interesting chat with them - everybody was looking forward to the concert in the evening. We remembered the last concert in Hanover and everyone curious how good todays show would be.

After we had finished the fantastic (but expensive) breakfast we went out to the hotel-lobby thinking about what to do now. Suddenly someone whispered: "The band is coming." Mike Stevens, Chris Dagley and Milton McDonald were coming trying to get a breakfast as well. As they found out that the time was already over they decided to go shopping in Frankfurt. Sabine and I did as well and spent the next few hours on Frankfurt's most famous shopping street.

When we returned to the hotel we started our preparations for the concert. After 20 minutes by car we arrived in Neu-Isenburg at the 'Hugenottenhalle'. The venue was again sold out but the average of the audience was very young.  

At 8pm Kinane came on time on stage and started her show. She had changed her outfit and styling very much since we saw her last time and we could also see a change at the dancers - they had improved their own appearances alot. All the girls went wild when they saw the two male dancers. One big reason was that one of them looked a bit like Jason Orange. It was funny to see how the dancers enjoyed the reaction of the audience.

Half an hour later everyone went absolutely mad when Gary's show started. It was just a battle for the best position - all the young girls tried to come as close as they could to the stage. Gary started like every show with 'Labour For Love' and carried on with 'Love Won't Wait'. After these two songs he tried to welcome the crowd but the screaming were so loud that it took nearly 5 minutes until Gary was able to say something. Even Milton was laughing and shaking his head because he couldn't believe it.  

Gary asked the audience to go one step back to help the girls in the front row. Then the show carried on with "Everything I ever wanted" and "My Commitment". The crowed sung every single line together with Gary. Next song was "Back for Good" but before Gary could start this one a bar of chocolate flew on the stage. Because of the heat in the room it was a very soft one, nearly fluid.

Gary picked it up, asked for another one but didn't get it and opened therefore this one. He dunk the chocolate out of the packing and started to groan - the atmosphere went on the top.

During "Back for good" Gary was hardly to hear and it was the same with the Take That - Medley. But the dance-routine was sadly missing today.The audience didn't calm down afterwards and so Gary and the band got also better and better on stage.

After the show we went back to our hotel, took a shower and went then into the hotel-bar. It is a famous bar in Frankfurt and therefore it was absolutely full. But we found some of our friends who were standing next to some billiard-tables. A few minutes after we entered the bar a very interesting man wearing a very old blue Adidas jumper entered it as well - Gary Barlow. We couldn't believe it, seconds later he stood on our table together with Chris Healey and Mike Stevens. The rest of the band was following shortly after them. We all said hello to everyone around and ordered some drinks. Mike and Gary were very interested into billiard and asked for a game.

First Gary and Mike Stevens were playing against a guest and this poor guy lost that game. So Gary got more interested and he and his band started playing now in two teams against each other until the bar had to close. The awful bit was that alot of fans were coming into the bar and were standing around this pool-table - sometimes so close to the table that it was really difficult for the band but especially Gary to play. Sadly in the end of the night Gary's team lost. Well Gary, wish you more luck next time.

End of Report