September 21st, 1985
It was Saturday, and in the evening of September 21st, 1985, David Cassidy played his first concert in the UK. The first one after 11 years. The previous one took place in Manchester, on May 28th, 1974. Manchester City Football Ground. The last song was Bob Dylan's, 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue'. Such a great and meaningful choice.
Recently my FB friend, Krysia Jenkins, has told me that she remembers David performing that song in Manchester. "Forget the dead you left. They will not follow you. Strike another match, go start anew' (Bob Dylan). We have the audio from the 1974 Manchester concert, with this last song. Rather bad quality, but it's so emotional listening to David's version of Bob Dylan's classic.
https://www.davidcassidy.com/fansite/ConcertPages/1974May28_ConcertAudio.mp3
But let's return to September 21st, 1985. The beginning of the David Cassidy UK Tour. 20 concerts, 21 were planned, but one was cancelled (the second one in Nottingham according to the website). David told Daily Express (July 26, 1985) about the upcoming tour : ' It's a terrible risk. I've always been rewarded by risk taking, both in relationships and in my career. Without risk there are no rewards. But on a professional level I no longer have a fear of failure (..) I hope that this time the audience will come and listen - to me."
The first concert was at Cornwall Coliseum, St Austell, in Cornwall of course. In the 80s it was one of the largest indoor venues and it had licenced capacity of 3400 standing and a seated capacity of 2600.
So what was the first song after 11 years ? 'Could It Be Forever', like in Oxford and London? Difficult to imagine but we have set list only from those two concerts. But probably everywhere was the same..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYJgpQ64L3Y
A known music critic, David Wigg wrote : 'Seventies pop idol David Cassidy has stormed back into the big time. His first British tour for 11 years has been greeted ecstatically by fans who have never forgotten him.' David said. 'It's wonderful to be back.'
My very good English friend B., saw David's three concerts in 1985. Also the first one. She had a very good place, the fifth row, in the middle. She's told me she was too happy and too excited during that first concert to remember anything. But she knew that David was nervous too. For the most part of that first gig, DC avoided eye contact with fans, just found himself one point, somewhere above the fans' heads, to look at and concentrate on singing..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PevCVL7WBY
the pic is from the last concert (October26, 1985, Windsor) took by Sharon Jull (The David Cassidy Official Website)
And please sign the PETITION..
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