Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

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Some philatelic glimpses of Procol Harum's connections with Wuppertal

Chief Whaler Michael Ackermann, who is the organiser behind Procol's forthcoming German orchestral/choral concerts, and with whose 'Whaling Stories' the BtP team is collaborating to present the 'Echoes in the Night' celebrations in Wuppertal just after Easter in 2013, sends us these intriguing stamps from his collection, which really emphasise the pre-war grandeur of the town.

He writes, 'These are nowadays collectors' items. They were released for commercial reasons by an old soap-factory in Wuppertal.'

From the top they show the Thalia (now demolished, sadly: but The Paramounts played there on 11 September 1966); the Stadthalle (where Procol Harum will play on 5 and 6 April 2013) and "Ruhmeshalle" – today Haus der Jugend and Live Club Barmen – where the 'Echoes in the Night' Convention will be held on the afternoon of 6 April, and the end-of-tour party later that evening. This is also where The Palers' Band will play, of course.

Scrutinising these stamps, you'll notice they refer to 'Elberfeld' and 'Barmen': these are two of the townlets that coalesced into the might of Wuppertal when the latter was created, in 1929. The others are Vohwinkel, Ronsdorf, Cronenberg, Langerfeld, and Beyenburg.


 

Procol dates in 2013 | Wuppertal booking-index

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