Procol Harum in Zoetermeer, 2002

Bert Visser's brief report

Bert Visser writes to BtP about the recent Procol show in Zoetermeer

Hello Guys and Dolls,

First and probably last time I saw and heard Procol Harum live perform. Made a big impression on me.

The music and of course some nostalgia made it a wonderful evening. I came in special for my Sixties keyboard hero Matthew 'Celestial' Fisher. It was a little bit (tiny little bit) a pity that Matthew did not have a little bit more prominent role during their performance, I thought his famous Hammond-sound was a little bit to weak compared to that of the excellent guitar-player. Bit more power would have been better, but with the exeption of this minor thing I enjoyed the evening immensely and so did my son-in-law (24 years of age and a musician himself). He even bought himself a T-shirt.

I told him that his bandmates will probably ask him what Procol Harum means, ha ha!

In the Sixties (1967–1970) I did play electronic organ in a blues band in Veendam/Holland. Matthew Fisher and Booker T Jones were my great heroes at that time (and still are). In 1970 I started sailing Merchant Marine as a Radio-operator and did that for 20 years so the Procol Harum album A Salty Dog has a special meaning to me.

OK everybody out there that was it. I hope you're kind of happy with this comment.

Thanks, Bert