Brooker for Bosnia

NYC, 21 November 1995

Gary Brooker took an outstanding part in the Bosnia benefit, 'Lilies of the Field', organised by Annie Haslam in 1995. The origins of this show are well-explained at the Annie Haslam website here.

We found a good illustrated review of the show at the excellent Roy Wood website here, in the section labelled 'vault'. Bruce Dumes is the author – he also kindly sent us these two illustrations – and he has given BtP permission to quote ...

In an e-mail Bruce added, 'I meant every word, I was completely blown away by the power of his performance. It was really an amazing concert, really incredible -- I'd seen Procol Harum in the early 70s, but seeing Brooker in this context was a real surprise. I just got an album collecting the Paramounts stuff, and I can't believe how outstanding it is!'

We understand from Tim Brennan that Gary also played Holding On. Tim wrote ...

'And, yeah, if you can believe it – in person – Roy Wood, of the Move, etc., doing Blackberry Way, Fire Brigade, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, Chinatown, California Girl; Steve Howe doing five Clap-like acoustic numbers, all in a row; Ian MacDonald doing I Talk to the Wind and In the Court of the Crimson King; Justin Hayward, solo, doing all-acoustic versions of Tuesday Afternoon, Questions, In Your Wildest Dreams and, if I recall, You Can Never Go Home. Why can't we have these every year?'
Gary Brooker, me and Roy Wood sharing a laugh backstage at my 'Lily's in the Field' benefit show, Irving Plaza, NYC, 1995! (caption copied (exactly) from Annie Haslam's Facebook page)

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