CONTAGION TOUR 2003

Germany: Karlsruhe // France: Sarlat // Belgium: Verviers // Germany: Paderborn, Essen, Hamburg, Stuttgart // Holland: Zoetermeer, Rijssen // Switzerland: Basel // Hungary: Budapest // Poland: Wroclaw, Krakow, Warszawa, Bydgoszcz, Katowice // Slovakia: Nitra // Austria: Worgl // England: London, Bradford // Scotland: Glasgow // England: Dudley // Spain: Madrid, Barcelona // Holland: Amsterdam // Belgium: Verviers // France: Paris

Switzerland - Basel - Z7
The day off: It was decided to travel directly to the Z7 in Switzerland so that we could park outside for our day off. Dr. Feelgood was playing that day and the guys at the gig kindly gave us backstage passes and let us use the facilities. Some of us had planned to book into some hotel rooms for the day, but unfortunately we had arrived the same weekend as a large clock makers' convention… would you believe it?! So there was definitely no room at the inn. Again the guys at the Z7 kindly lent us one of their minibuses and we drove up into the mountains, where we enjoyed some fantastic views, excellent fresh air and a rather good bar. After watching the gig, Mick, Steve and Clive headed to the local motorway service station where they were hoping to buy some water. Whilst searching for an open shop they found themselves stranded on the other side of the motorway, because while they were buying the water, the service station (and the bridge) had been closed and locked up! There seemed to be no way back, the only help the guy at the petrol station offered was to wait until 6 am. They decided to ask a Dutch couple in a van for a lift to the next nearest bridge from which they could walk over and get back to the tour bus. Luckily they agreed and the trio got their lift and then trotted back to the bus about an hour later than expected. So much for the day off!The gig day: Wow, they've done the showers up! For many years the Z7 has boasted a rather dodgy shower cubicle floating around in the middle of a large undecorated room: Not any more!! This is the icing on the cake for what is already one of our favourite venues. The catering is always brilliant, there are laundry facilities and the hospitality is excellent … oh yes … and we did a gig! Actually it was a really good gig and most of the band and crew agreed that it was perhaps our best performance so far. We also had our biggest Z7 audience so far. Spirits were high by the time we got on to the tour bus and headed for Budapest. Champagne was drunk and the film of the evening was "24 hour party people".

back to Arena Live