May 10th 1994 – Granby Halls, Leicester
Gigs came thick and fast in May 1994 and a big big shock before this gig even took place.
Deacon Blue announced on 27th April 1994 that they were going to split up at the end of this tour!! Shhhiiitte!! The band were flying high at the time, they had an albun in the charts, the compilation “Our Town” and had numerous big hits. There was a strange atmosphere as the crowd gathered knowing this. Assumptions were made that Ricky was desperate for a solo career, which he probably was interested in, but I think it was more forced upon him by what others wanted to do, but you got so little information on the “Why’s” in these days.
The band had been together sing the late 80s. Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh sharing vocals, James Prime on keyboards and Dougie Vipond on drums.
Anyway, it was going to be a blast of a singalong!
Cracking slow piano start to the gig with Ricky Ross (Vocals) playing and singing as the rest of the band gathered on stage to burst into “Raintown” and “Bound to Love”.
I guess a greatest hits tour has a chance of success and it was one after the other, hit after hit and singing loud!! Then the slow bit through “A Brighter Star” to “When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)”. Lorraine’s vocals were all alone on “Cover From The Sky” which is such a great and haunting song.
It was about now it started to feel so strange that this was the last tour, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, the band were laughing, the crowd was on form, quite sad and yet such a happy concert. Maybe a weight was being lifted too.
Time to get the party back on the road, with the hits section and big singalong and dancing.
…and then it was over, the band were gone and only a couple of tour dates left before no more Deacon Blue…..we could only hope they came back together someday.
Set List
- Born In A Storm
- Raintown
- Bound To Love
- Fergus Sings The Blues
- Your Swaying Arms
- Real Gone Kid
- A Brighter Star
- The Wildness
- Chocolate Girl/I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
- Cover From The Sky
- When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)
- Your Town
- Only Tender Love
- The Day That Jackie Jumped The Jail
- Bethlehem’s Gate
- Wages Day
- Dignity
- All Over The World
- Loaded
- Kings Of The Western World
- Twist and Shout/Twist and Shout
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