5.6.2008:
Our friends
in Saint-Petersburg met the band in Pulkovo
airport. They’ve been waiting for Roger, but he
arrived in private jet and went directly to
Astoria hotel, where the press-conference began
(at 8pm approximately). In the evening our
friends (they’re musicians) invited Ian
Ritchie and his wife Holly to the
local The Point club and they all were jamming
together till 3am.
6.6.2008: About 2pm a group of
fans met in the center of Saint-Petersburg and
moved to the Palace square. At 3pm all the band
(except Roger) arrived for soundcheck.
Ian Ritchie was glad to see us and we get
some photos with him. At 3:20pm the soundcheck
began. Roger Waters was on stage
already.
During the soundcheck snippets
from “Have A Cigar”, “In The Flesh”,
“Mother”, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”,
“The Happiest Days Of Our Lives” were
performed. Also one of the torches was tested
and square was cleared from the people.
Fotos ©
Petrovich
Entrance was opened at 7:10pm.
Before the show we prepared little inflatable
pigs. Jon Carin and Chester Kamen
were walking on Palace square and saw them. Jon
get a photo of the pig (“Welcome Roger” was
written on its belly). Jon and Chester signed
our tickets and we got some photos with
them. Ian Ritchie also took a photo of us
waiting for the show and greeting him:
Ian Ritchie - Fans me fourth from the left).
And here’re some photos from the show:
Petrovich Fotoalbum
Some of VIP seats were prepared
for the guests of XII International Economic
Forum. Roman Abramovich was there as a
guest too, and watched the gig from the second
row. Some seats were empty in the first rows
(due to last sales and high prices), so me and
my friends were sitting in the second row
instead of 14th (behind Simon
Wimpenny).
There were NO Dmitri Medvedev in
the audience.
The show began at 9:15pm and was
amazing! Dave had some technical problems with
guitar during “Wish You Were Here” and it
was the only negative occasion. The effects were
very impressive. The soap bubbles during “Shine
On You Crazy Diamond” and, of course,
inflatable astronaut and pig (neither of them
were in Moscow 2006). The Pig was painted by
Russian artist. There were such slogans (in
Russian): “Free at last”, “Don’t cry,
don’t fear, don’t ask”, “For our and your
freedom”, “Marusya” (Russian female
name), “Atas!” (Russian slang for
“Danger!”), “Zenit-Glazgow 2:0”, “Make
Art Not War” (in English). The pig had flown
away again, we don’t know, what’s happened with
it.
The second part was
sensationally. Roger went and sang the 3rd
verse of “Money” to the super-VIP-guests.
Carol Kenyon sang “The Great Gig In
The Sky” perfectly!
After the end of “The Dark
Side Of The Moon” the audience (except
super-VIP-guests) ran closer to the stage and
stood there during the encore. Seemed Roger was
really happy to see this.
7.6.2008:
After the show
he and the band went to Pelorus (Roman
Abramovich’s yacht) and came back to the hotel
about 3:30am June 7. Roger and the band left
Saint-Petersburg early morning June 7.
