Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 20. The World Tour 1974. Part 2
For the first time David was to play a concert in Scotland, at Shawfield Stadium in Glasgow.
Before it, he made a pit stop in a small town called East Kilbride. The Town Council there was
running a spring clean campaign and a global superstar agreed to do an official opening at
this remote place.
14 year old Linda Thompson, the school newspaper editor, met David and
got his autograph. ‘I remember him being really short and wearing an embroidered jacket -
very showbiz - and lots of makeup. He was very pleasant to all of us.’.
The concert took place on May 24, 1974, there were about 10,000 fans, and a lot of cases of
fainting and hysteria. Just two more left.
On Sunday, May 26 David played a concert in London. At the White City Stadium. With a
35,000 audience, mostly young girls, desperate to get as close to him as possible. Already
during that tour there were concerts that could have ended tragically.
David was very tired and
counted the hours remaining until the end.
It was the most written about David Cassidy’s concert ever. Even now, after nearly 50 years
when a tragedy at a concert happens, the White City experience is remembered. Even though
the stadium itself was demolished in 1985. And even that David Cassidy and the parents of
Bernadette Whelan, the fan who died in May 1974, are dead.
Why did that 14-year-old school girl die? She loved David. Going to his concert was a dream
come true for her. There were many reasons why the White City concert ended that way. For
the English fans, it was one of the last opportunities to see their idol. Everybody knew he was
to stop touring. The concert was not seated, and all tickets were one price, £ 2,20. It was not
too expensive to encourage parents to go with their kids. People at the back felt they had the
right to be at the front too. They paid the same.
There was a plan to erect a huge back protection screen over the stage so everyone could
have a good look at David, but the Greater London Council turned it down.
It was extremely hot and humid. A lot of girls were waiting all night long. To add to that problem
they didn’t want to lose their place in the line so they went without water or anything to drink.
Many came from different parts of the UK.
The concert started at 8pm. It was Sunday, and the
audience was allowed to come in at 6pm.
Many newspapers gave unverified, sensational information. After 50 years, it looks like The
Times was closest to the truth. “One girl in a serious condition and 13 with minor injuries were
taken to hospital last night after the crowd surged forward and crushed dozens of girls against
stage barriers. Dozens more were treated at the stadium (..) The hospital said most of the girls
taken there were hysterical and suffering with minor cuts and bruises. Four were admitted and
one was in the intensive care unit..’ .
David was devastated. He phoned Bernadette Whelan’s parents, offering to do anything he
could to help. He sent flowers to the hospital with the message: ‘To Bernadette. Please get well soon, best wishes and love from David Cassidy’.
He said at the press conference ‘I hope
to God she makes it’. ‘I don’t feel responsible, yet in a way I do. I haven’t slept well since this accident. It shocked
me deeply. I didn’t see anything and I thought everybody was having a good time. I’m tired
and just had enough'.
On May 28 David played his last concert on that tour, his last in the 70s, at Manchester City
Football Ground, at Maine Road.
Many parents didn’t allow their daughters to attend that last gig, and only 10 000 were in the
audience.
Before David came on stage, DJ Ed Stewart appealed to the screaming fans: ’You
know what happened at White City. If there’s any danger, we will stop the show.’. David made
his entrance disguised as a St John's ambulance man. Flanked by two genuine first-aiders,
he succeeded in fooling the crowd until he reached the stage. After he sang his last song, Bob
Dylan’s ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’, a hysteria started. Some fans were treated, but there
were no serious injuries.
Bernadette Ann Whelan passed away four days after the White City concert. The official cause
of death was ‘traumatic asphyxiation’. In the coroner’s own words, she was a victim of
contrived hysteria.
Because of that tragedy, no one wrote about the music. And both those concerts were
exceptional. In summer of 1974 a live album recorded during the last two concerts was
released. After playing together for a few months, David and his band reached an outstanding
level. The single from it, ‘Please, Please Me’ peaked at number 16 in the UK.
The album,
called ‘Cassidy Live!’, produced by Barry Ainsworth and David himself, was number 9 in the
UK at the beginning of August.
Dave Thompson wrote in the review: “Cassidy Live!’ is a peculiar document. On the one hand,
standing as an indication of just how fierce the hysteria around the lad was, but, on the other
hand living proof of what a sensational showman he was.(..) Few period live albums come
even close to capturing its excitement.’.
On the poster, sold with the album, were David’s written notes. He thanked people who were
with him since the beginning of that tour, those who were responsible for his security, his road
manager, those who recorded and engineered the album, the musicians who played with him.
Art Munson, Dave Garland and Dennis Parker (they were at the first part of the tour), Steve
Ross, Michael Been, Matt Moore, Henry Diltz, Kim and Dave, Richard Delvy who was with
David from his very first concert in March 1971, and his backing singers Gloria Grinel and
Trish Turner.
“And of course to the many thousands who stood in the hot and in the cold, the wind and rain
and sleet and snow, but never soured and kept us doing our dance. Those who saw it all, who
we played for. We (me) love you.”
If the cover of this album had featured any other name than of the global teen idol, this album
would have been regarded as one of the best live records of the era. It was issued as a CD
edition only in 2012.
A listener can only admire the level of professionalism of the young singer and his band. How
they managed to give an outstanding performance in such unusual circumstances, with 35,000
girls, screaming and fighting to be as close to their idol as possible.
Daily Record co./uk ‘Fan who met David Cassidy’, November 28, 2017
The Sun, May 29, 1974, p.5
The Daily Express, May 29, 1974
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