Hellgium - the day that wasn't meant to happen
A few months ago, I tried to get a ticket for Werchter over the internet, as per earlier in this thread, but I failed to do so, my command of Vlaams not being any good whatsoever. In retrospect, I should have given up then.....Anyway, Jan (Little Boy Lost) came to my rescue and got me the ticket......
Hereby follows a tale of woe that would test the mildest-mannered amongst us.
Train to Brussels was fine, got in only about 3 minutes late, no problemo. Asked a train staff guy (in French) if he spoke English. Non. Fair enough, I know enough French, I say to myself. I asked him which was the train to Leuven. Dix-sept. On I get. An hour later and no sign of Leuven, so I rang Jan (who lives in Leuven and was waiting for me there with the tickets). "Just coming into the University now"......
Friendly neighbourhood rail guard had sent me not to Leuven, but to the French University of Louvain-la-neuve, some 30km south of Brussels and 50km from Leuven. Shite. Order on at 7.20, it was now 6.00. I asked at the University Travel Centre which would be the quickest way to get to Leuven, they said that I should get on the next train (in half an hour) and that would get me to Leuven at 7.27. I suggested to Jan that he should go on without me, that I would see him there, but Jan stoically wanted to wait for me regardless of his own fate in terms of seeing the gig.
We arrived at the venue perimeter just before 8.00 to hear BLT being played. A 1km walk to the entrance gates, during which time we heard True Faith and LWTUA, saw us faced with a queue 50 deep just to show the tickets. Temptation came and went without us moving more than a few yards. As desperation took hold we barged through a few rows, and got to a vantage point where we were actually able to see the stage through the entrance gates, some 300m ahead of us. Blue Monday, and with it the Order and our hopes of seeing the band, came and went. Twenty minutes later we got the fucking wristband on and into the venue. I was that close to chewing the bastard off and chinning the nearest Turk, you have no idea what homicidal rage was brewing at that stage.
We met up with some of the Vikings, Al, Greg, Ness, Steve, Simon, Neil, tother Steve, but couldn't get hold of Geri and Deek. We heard from ATR and found our way to the food area. As Kraftwerk came on in the marquee, the heavens opened, and stayed open. As we were running so late I still had my overnight bag with me. Three hours of pissing rain later it dawned on me that the next day's clothes were drenched as well. I've been happier.
At least Kraftwerk were good, but we gave up after that and headed for the bus back to Leuven queue. Unfortunately the deluge had turned not only the venue fields into a quagmire that was ankle-deep, but it caused the run-off pit from the toilets to overflow as well, so we had a twenty-metre stream of shit to deal with. Shitstream lover I ain't.
Got back to Jan's at 2.30. What a night. Don't think I have ever been so disappointed over a New Order gig before. Not so much for me though, but for Jan. I've seen the band 50+ times, Jan hasn't seen them for twenty years.
If anyone with band management connections is reading this, please urge them to return to Belgium soon, in an indoor venue. Not in another twenty years. Jan at least deserves this for his patience and suffering, not least his hospitality.