M6 GIG GUIDE 1999

* = Mechanics gigs supporting Celine Dion.

+ = Mechanics gig supporting Rod Stewart.

1999 Set List: A Beggar On A Beach Of Gold/Get Up/Ordinary Girl/Now That You’ve Gone/Another Cup Of Coffee/Whenever I Stop/My Little Island/All The Light I Need/Every Day Hurts-How Long-I Can’t Dance/The Living Years/All I Need Is A Miracle/Over My Shoulder/Word Of Mouth.

There was nothing wrong with the attitudes expressed by the fans at the gigs which I attended during this tour. In fact, the fans were equally at home with the new material which featured extensively in the new set. The tour wound up with a handful of stadium shows where the band were the opening act for such unlikely artists as Celine Dion and Rod Stewart of all people! A second single; Whenever I Stop was also issued but once again it failed to emulate the success of preceding Mechanics offerings. The band wound up the year with a televised performance for German TV’s “Ohne Filter” show which was recorded in front of an invited audience at the TV studios in Baden Baden on 19th September.

Planned appearances at several European festivals in the summer of 2000 were immediately cancelled following the shock death of Paul Young on 18th July 2000. His death at the age of 53 took everyone, fans, band members and management by surprise and activities with the Mechanics were immediately put on hold. Thankfully, Paul’s legacy of recordings both with the Mechanics and Sad Café will ensure that he is always fondly remembered and I for one have many great memories of Mr Young which I will always treasure.

The Mechanics’ story has continued however, but that is something for another edition, folks!