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 14^th (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 3^rd 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.