After getting the info about possible meeting with Chris the Sunday time had divided onto “before” and “after” the meeting and the concert. ... And now, the time is inexorably coming to 17.00, me and some more fans are staying in the hotel's hall and waiting for Mr.Norman who is going to meet with us right after the soundcheck. Here came his tour manager and confirmed that Chris Norman will be here every minute. Our excitement mounts. And now... "Here comes the sun" ... Chris comes inside the hall from the street. He came rather ordinary, like an ordinary guest, without a pomp and crying of a crowd. He passed to us and greeted everyone of us. I had a feeling that he was in a state of light coma ;-) because of such a hard tour schedule. Chris comported himself not familiar but at the same time he didn't pose himself as a “star”. I would say that he is a person, the artist who knows his own worth and respects his fans. And now, my dream which I'd followed for 30 years finally came true, I'm speaking with Chris Norman. Of course, that was not a heart-to-heart talk but only a small introduction, exchanging with several phrases and photo session, but that was already enough to feel myself a very happy man. Last time I was on his concert in “Rossia Hall” in 2001. That show was just grand. I get a lot of videos with Chris's european gigs which are usually filmed through handy cameras. That's why the picture and sound quality on these records is rather poor. Therefore I was very interested to see Chris's concert again alive.

And now, we are in Kremlin Hall. Of course, the event of meeting with the star had to be celebrated, and that was done in a bar. The hall was not full (thanks to god) and I got the opportunity to change my seat from the 32nd row of the parterre to the 3d one. The first chords of “I'll meet you...” pleased me very much. The sound was very rocky and inclining to the fact that Chris had increased guitars' domination in arrangements. The start was very nice, Chris was in good voice, the band was a good background. By the way, I liked the band and their musical and vocal abilities very much. Traditionally “Stumblin' in” was performed. To my mind, the girl singer hadn't a bit sustained her voice or to say better she sang not so loud, and that was corrected by amplifying her microphone. Then the show went like clockwork. Chris was magnificent and the audience helped him as it could. The show has passed on one breath. I was waiting for “Little Lucy” and Chris's piano playing at it's beginning and “Alles...”. Unfortunately, there were no such songs in set list. What a pity! But at the same time I've heard “What can I do” which was excellently played and sang by Chris and just marvelously sang alive by back singers. Also I was deeply impressed by SUPER hit of Gabriel, I just sat and couldn't say a word. And the last chord was, of course, “Rock'n'Roll”. Yeah, this is a great master! I wonder how competently and accurately and using his charisma he had breathed new life into his old hits and hits of other artists. Just no words! And, certainly, his trick with comic performing under playback at the end - although that was not a new trick but I saw it for the first time and simply was struck by that thing.

After show we went to Hard Rock Cafe, and there once again went through all what was heard and seen. We had a great atmosphere and I say a huge Thankyou to all who was there!

This is maybe not a report but just impressions from the old admirer of this great talent and musician. Of course, I can't be considered as an uninterested person, so my opinion can be preconceived.

So.

As soon as I got news about forthcoming Russian tour the first thing I made was that I combed all known web-sites about our hero to clear up about his possible visit to Ukraine. Alack... Till the end of the year it was only Germany, Germany, Germany, one can learn all it's geography. So I had to think over a trip to Moscow. Though, to tell the truth, without real chances. Chris Norman was in Kiev in May, 2001 but that time I missed his concert. Surely, to see Chris's gig alive was my unrealizable dream from my childhood. Though I was on the concerts of new Smokie in 1991 and the newest one in 2004. So that, when several days before the tour I got the message that maybe, not definitely, possibly, suppose, what if – in short there was possible to meet Chris personally (!!!!!) – the decision was made. And it didn't matter what kind of meeting and how long could it be, the main was that it became possible just theoretically!

I ordered a ticket to the concert to my old friend, got into the plain and rushed to Moscow.

Probably the meeting with Chris should not be described. The matter concerns my feelings. And they were at the breaking point during that period of waiting, especially the last week. The tour has already started. I looked through all available information about the gig in St.-Petersburg. And all that had only poured oil on the flames... There appeared a question about the present to Chris. All my family tried to solve that question almost 3 days. Finally we decided to present him one resourceful photo and a bottle of national Ukrainian vodka with pepper. Seems, Mr. Norman was satisfied.

During our meeting Chris has showed a height of politeness, cordiality, benevolence and sincerity while talking with connoisseurs of his talent. There wasn't any aplomb, arrogance or so called "professionalism" though also wasn't any allusion to familiarity. He had found right words for everyone as in questions so in the answers and that looked naturally and organic. And for the notice, people say he always was a such way. To my mind, his such a simple and sincere attitude to people had been of great importance for achieving by him such high levels. After all he understands in his soul that his works are sent to us, and while supporting him we help him to create new works.

I had a feeling that I 'd made one of the most important things in my life. That was my first experience of communicating with a star. And as I've said already, before the meeting I was worrying a lot. Because, firstly, I would never, for example, take a seat near a celebrity in a restaurant (don't want to offence anybody – we're all different people) or watch for somebody at staff entrance falling under public excitement (by the way, the stars are also behave themselves in other way in such situations). And secondly, I was worrying because after our meeting I felt myself delighted but it could be also a feeling of dissapointment and then devastation... But a big role here has played a form of our meeting. Big Thankyou to those who had organized it, who took part in it and, of course, to the Maestro himself! He didn't let my childhood dream to be smashed to smithereens but, quite the contrary, made it a reality. For me that was the MAIN result of many years expectations.

So that was the first part of my "mission" in Moscow.

And after that we set off to the Kremlin. Yes, the orders in Moscow are rather severe, it's okay. The guards, examinations and things' inspection... In the hall I bought a tour booklet and a T-Shirt. It was a bit funny with a T-Shirt. I was told in one of the 4 points of sale that the largest size was L. It's small for me... And I made sure of that in other 2 points. But I bought it, don't know why, just as a souvenir. 15 minutes later while passing by the last point of sale something had compeled me to go there and ask again about the size. Yes, here was my own XXL! They changed my T-Shirt without any problems. That's it.

Me and my friend had our seats in the 10th row of parterre right in a centre. We took our seats and he began to inquire me about the actual works of Chris Norman. It should be said that my friend Sasha is my former classmate. Together with him at the end of 70's we were "taken ill" with the music of Smokie and began to learn to play guitar. After that he had graduated from the famous Gnesins' music college and now is a professional musician. I told him as it was possible in detail the story of "Smokie & family" after 1982. Certainly I accentuated the works of Norman. I set a stress on the fact that during all those years his progress, creativity, productivity and versatility had greatly outrun all other members of the "family" (in spite of all respect for them). Especially I tried to suggest to my friend the idea that Norman is a talented composer who is not afraid to experiment with styles and sound (not getting caught in an endless loop of the old Smokie sound). And that is not a tribute to a fashion of time but an ability of the artist to work in different ways. And often even better than many others who are most popular. He knows it, and he really makes it. Also I told about his highest mastery, especially on live concerts. This is of great importance, and it corroborates his outstanding concert form. Having known before the approximate set list, I said to Sasha that there will be some surprise in the form of performing somebody's rock classics and haven't said what exactly it will be. And I said, then you'll undertand it all. My friend listened to me attentively but on his face I caught the signs of some distrust. Maybe because we come to love Smokie mostly for the hits of Chinn-Chapman and for the famous Smokie sound created in that times (which is still beloved and every new somg in this style still enrapture us). That sound soon had become a cliche which sometimes was broken by their own first-class songs. And the band had stopped their activity after 1982 and was not in a good form. So at that time my friend had stopped his interest in Smokie. And his old passion took the form of a passing fad. I think many of us know this feeling. So, my friend also wasn't acquainted with the works of our heroes during last 20 years. That's why his scepsis had some definite basis.

To say short, having that kind of talk we whiled away the time until the concert. The public actively filled the hall…

... And finally the lights dimed down, the audience has liven up. Someone behind us bawled out: "Chriiiis, come on!!!!!". Under recognizable theme from "Sarah" the Band came onto stage and then the Maestro himself appeared. And "I’ll Meet You At Midnight" has rumbled. Just so – rumbled, because the sound of the whole concert was so rocky. This is very good old choice of Chris – to make the concert sound more hard. While listening to studio records we always try to appreciate a richness of arrangements etc. but live concert is first of all a power, an energy. Here audience is more active, and artist has the possibility to show his real qualities. And Chris showed them in full measure. What an outstanding performing!! He's a real rocker! What a physical form! And what a charm!! The audience was dissolved in it from the first second and stayed in such state for a long time also after concert. During the show Chris conducted himself all the time in different ways. Once he was a cool rocker, then there were waves of lyricism and romanticism, there was nostalgia, short talks to the public, comments to songs, and again cool rocker... And the whole gig in such a way. It all happened so naturally that there wasn't absolutely any smallest hint at his age. The most frequent word towards the audience was "fantastic!". It's not my idea but this man just LIVES on stage and in music! Really!

I liked the whole band very much, they are real professionals. To be a good musician is not enough, you must have so called sense of ensemble. This internal state inheres not to all, by no means. Chris Norman Band worked as a single whole. Especially I liked Shannon Callahan. Obviously, she is a star! During the concert I had a thought that those members of the band who are younger (Martina Walbeck, Dorino Goldbrunner) probably grew up on Smokie's music (because they are from Germany), and now they have occasion to play it headed by the Maestro himself! I think they are very proud of it and this must oblige them much. They played old hits of Smokie with special feeling, without unnecessary improvisations but in a way their hearts suggested them.

Also I liked very much rather original choice of Chris Norman to use constantly three guitars plus bass. Lead guitar of Joey Albrecht using sustain, gain etc., pure acoustics of Shannon and very interesting instrument of Chris. Such a black Fender in shape of Stratocaster (JD Hooligan), electric guitar with hollow body. First-class sound. Such a rich, "juicy" rhythm guitar. He also used Variax Acoustic guitar with Line6 processor which allows to imitate sounds of different guitar types and to change tune. When playing ballads Joey also took something similar and Chris played on 12-string acoustic guitar. In general, three guitarists – it's great. The richest string palette and completely filled from top to bottom sound's texture.

But the main prize for the public was just amazing voice of Chris! It can't be described by words. Covering a wide range, working in different registers, using various vocal techniques. It was really “Changing All The Time” – now softly and tenderly, now merrily and rocky, and sometimes at the full tension and with a great effort!! Look, we are talking not of an opera singer but about a rock musician! And the mainest thing was in extraordinary emotionality, expressiveness and heartfeltness of this VOICE! What has it got to do with age? It goes right from his soul.

Repertoire of the concert consisted of good old classics, solo works, new songs and some things from other acts. Undoubtedly, performing of everlasting and already national Soviet "What Can I Do" has become a very dear present for us! In that way Chris underlined his attitude to all fans from the post-Soviet countries. My friend once again declared that it's a song for all times and nations. And after I has explained him the facts of performing this song by Chris in Russia he began to nod respectfully.

I won't discuss the set list in detail. Everything was rather enough. Though, of course, we wanted more and more and more... Speaking about old things I'd like to hear alive, for instance, “Stranger” and “Jet Lagged”. Of the last works – “Amazing” and most of all “Million Miles To Nowhere”. But what was a set in “Growing Years medley”! In general, I'm not Peter Gabriel's fan in post-Genesis period, but I was simply shocked HOW can sound “Sledge Hammer”!! And what a funny thing is “Donegan's Gone”!! But most of all I enjoyed “Midnight Hour”. My friend visibly came alive, and his doubts have gone without a trace. Though in the beginning of the show he tried to grouse (as a professional musician) about imbalance of back vocal microphones, about excessive protrusion of Joey's guitar in acoustic items... But, you know, the Kremlin hall is not the same to Albert Hall… And in such moments for the audience it's more important not how it SOUNDS, but how it's PERFORMED! So, when the stage burst out with Zeppelin's “Rock'n'Roll” (and this band is our common favourite classics) my friend simply jumped out of himself! Though, I was doing the same.... That was my promised surprise for him.

By that time people already were near the stage and expressed their feelings to Chris and the Band with all their might. And that was with absolute reciprocity! In spite of prohibition, many people were making photos. By the way, I tried to make a shot already during “Stumblin' In” and nearly was moved out by security for that... Imagine yourself, to wait for it so many years and to be taken out after the 4th song! I still feel goose-flesh when think about it! But at the end of the gig I finally unburdened myself.

So that's how finished the second part of my “mission” in Moscow.

After show we gathered in a foyer. We were happy and thunderstruk in all senses. Made photos around the Chris's poster and left to one wonderful place to celebrate that evening. And it was just great to finish that beautiful day in a hearty company of like-minded friends. That was the third part of my “mission” in Moscow.

What can I add more?
   About the child's dream? It came true in such a wonderful way!
   About Chris Norman? He made all for we could regard to him in the same way!
   About the people who were near me the whole day? How good we were!

P.S. And that's not all! Only 6 days after that, on June 3, I met with Alan Silson and was on his concert in Kiev! But this is quite another story...