June 14th 2003
My dear friends
I would firstly like to say what a great day this is for me in being honoured by my Queen in her birthday honours list. I have not seen the newspapers yet but believe it is for 'services to charity' and I would like to thank my wife and my friends and associates who must have put my name forward.
All we need now is a 'Grammy' for The Well's on Fire to make 2003 a year to remember.
We have had a fantastic time with the band since starting concerts on 03/03/03 and I would like to thank all the people who came to see us and those we were lucky enough to meet in a hectic schedule.
Of course, we have visited Europe in the last couple of years so to be in USA for the first time since 1995 was very exciting. We're still not sure if we played to 3,000 people or if it was the same 300 every night! There were some wonderful faces out there and it was a pleasure to play for you.
I personally feel that this PH has come of age and is solid. There is a great commitment and I believe that ghosts have been buried this year and we can move forward.
This band felt so good to sing with! – if I can quote Ginger Marshall from New York who told me, "'The band plays all the new songs like 'old Procol' and all the old songs like 'new Procol' and you can't hear the seams." We thank Ginger and all of you for your fantastic support – especially Roland, Jens, Diane and John for 'Geekian' efforts.
We felt a great love and we loved it!
Yours forever
Gary Brooker MBE
A further exchange of FAXes between BtP and GB clarifies the word 'Geekian' as used by the Commander, above