Roland reports, in words and pictures, from the after-show celebrations at the Paramounts gig in Southend last night:
While early pictures from Gary's Sunday gig in Southend are already coming in, here's a few more from Saturdays Paramounts reunion (from Roland's camera):
Robin Trower, Mick Brownlee
Robin Trower: I haven't played those
songs for 40 years. I won't get my head around
what's happened for a month. We're gonna do this every 40 years.
Gary Brooker: Robin Trower … such marvellous playing … notes full of meaning.
Chris Copping
Chris Copping: It's fantastic to play
with Rob … all that he's learned in this time.
It's like a black bluesman, this surge of electricity comes from him
when he's playing.
Brownlee, Brooker, Trower, Copping
Mick Brownlee: I've had a pretty terrible
year [his illness] and right now I feel great, on top of the world.
This was only sorted out less than a week ago. Robin and I got
together when he played Dartford.
I told him this was happening and said we'll get your Mum and Dad
along.
And Robin said I'll come along but I won't play. And then he said,
“I might get up and play one or two.”
Franky Brooker: Suddenly Robin was
ringing us asking what numbers we were doing.
Then Gary sent an email! [His first] Chris Copping was very
impressed.
Three great Procolers: Brooker,
Trower, Copping
Dave Bronze: An unforgettable occasion.
Magic, the only word for it.
Forty years on and no rehearsal … and they can still play like that.