Report: Seeing Barry Gibb in London (October 3, 2013)
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Following the moving report about Barry in Birmingham, here is another report from our reader Toro, who saw Barry at London 02 earlier this month.
Live in London
I’ve been to London because I wanted to be there when Barry sang "Immortality."
I’ve never been to a Bee Gees’ concert before. So it was my very first experience of seeing "real" Barry.
I stayed at a hotel located one tube stop away from the O2 Arena. In fact, it was within a walking distance of the venue, and I could have a good view of O2 from my hotel room overlooking the Thames.
When I went down to have a look at O2 in the morning, there was not a single poster of Barry in sight. Everything was so quiet that I felt even a little uncomfortable.
However, when I stepped out of a restaurant near O2 after a quick bite before the show, I noticed a sign that said: "Bee Gees Menu." Later I learned that they had special Bee Gees-themed menu for one night only. If I had known in time, I would have tried that!
Once inside O2, the opening act was already on and the huge arena was almost full. The audience stood up as soon as the first song "Jive Talkin’" started. It was so hot! Third song into the set, I decided to sit down and to just concentrate on listening to every note. From between the dancing, singing crowd, I was watching the stage and the huge monitor on the side wall for what could be seen of Barry. I could not see the expressions on his face that well, but he sounded great and strong, and was looking really great. He looked very slim and fit.
Also, there was this inexplicably warm interaction between the artist onstage and the audience. It was a truly memorable concert.
I was also fortunate enough to see Barry in person before the concert. Just in case I had prepared and practised a little speech, something I wanted to say to him, but words failed me in front of Barry. But he listened to me with those unforgettably gentle eyes while I stammered in my not-so-great English. He was such a gentleman. -by Toro
Thank you, Toro. Her friend "Songbird" was also planning to fly from Japan to London with her, but was obliged to cancel her trip at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. When Barry was notified that he was inspiring her to carry on at such a very difficult time in her life, he listened ever so attentively and nodded quietly.
Sometimes Barry looked just too sad while he spoke about his brothers onstage. But in this life we all had to go through losses and sadnesses. To see Barry trying to move on in the face of all of that is an inspiration not only to long-time fans, who have been there throughout the years and have grown up with Barry, Robin, and Maurice, but also to everyone. Mythology Tour in that sense is not just about music, it is about our journey in this life. What a ride it has been, and we are so very fortunate that it is still going on.
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