Golden Memories.....the Festival of The Tenth Summer

Word leaked out before any promotion started.

New Order and The Smiths were sharing a bill at GMEX that summer. The lads were buzzing with the news. To young working class lads in the North West with an eye on fashion, a burgeoning record collection and both feet immersed in youth culture, New Order and The Smiths were the ultimate. Most liked both bands, but the ones with their feet more in the Casual camp preferred New Order, the more alternative types favoured The Smiths. Both on one bill was going to be the highlight of our summer. Personally, I was New Order mad. My obsession had grown to other Manchester bands so as news came out of the full bill, the potential of seeing A Certain Ratio and The Fall live was extremely exciting.

By some feat of logistical genius, we got the bus into town as soon as tickets went on sale and six of us committed ourselves. I couldn’t wait.

When the day came, we met up at 8am in the precinct. It was a half hour bus journey into town so we stocked up on cans of cheap bitter and dope the night before. The bus was due in 20 minutes so we cracked open the first of many beers. By the time we approached town, the six of us, on the back of the bus, upstairs (of course), had smoked 15 fags each, drunk four cans each and were so desperate for a leak that we couldn’t even talk. Paul Harris couldn’t wait and pissed in a beer can. It overflowed all over his hands. We laughed until our sides and bladders ached. This was going to be a day to remember.

Around the brand new GMEX building, the streets were paved with band t-shirts. Xmal Deutchland, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Fall, the ubiquitous Joy Division and, everywhere, The Smiths. I remember hoping that New Order upstaged The Smiths because they were my band.

There was something distinctly Factory-esque about the GMEX, inside. It was huge, echoey, minimalist and slightly surreal. We only had eyes for the toilets and practically ran through the corridors behind the seats. The bar was next, of course. I remember making a tactical decision to buy pints in twos. The bands hadn’t started. We bought two rounds each. It was around midday and we had had way too much beer. When the first band came on Murph was already asleep.

Memories become blurred around this point. I remember hearing the jazz/funk/punk pitter patter of A Certain Ratio echoeing around the arena and it seemed completely fitting. To this day, when I hear “Flight”, I am back there, wideeyed, charged on alcohol, slightly stoned and awestruck. Mark E Smith walked past us in Wellingtons. The Fall played later and were absolutely awful. We didn’t care. Later, we sat smoking and wasted on a balcony outside. I remember all six of us taking a long walk around town in the afternoon to clear our heads. Word spread around the arena that The Smiths were playing at 6 o’clock and New Order last. I was delighted as I didn’t want my heroes to support anyone.

Expectation built prior to The Smiths and the place was suddenly flooded with bespectacled youths in cardigans. I still remember Morrissey marching around the stage, waving a banner and playing the crowd for all he was worth. They were excellent. During their set I bumped into Nick, an older lad who loved both bands and who had taken me to my first New Order gig. “New Order will never top this!” he screamed in my ear and was sucked off back into the moshpit. After The Smiths, as I queued for the now overflowing toilets, it seemed as if an awful lot of people were leaving. I was worried for my heroes. Was this going to be an anti-climax?

Derek Hatton came on stage to thank Factory for a recent benefit gig. “You Scouse Bastard!” roared the crowd and he hurriedly backed off stage under a hail of plastic glasses. OMD were attacked with a tray by a stage invader. This was Rock n roll. The gig was to celebrate ten years since The Sex Pistols came to Manchester and this all seemed entirely fitting.

Our second wave of alcohol had taken hold by the time New Order came on stage. The crowd sang “Here We Go”. In true, inimitable New Order fashion, they opened with the drumless sound collage of Eligia as the crowd surged this way and that. This was the perfect antidote to The Smiths' crowdpleasing.This was New Order at their most beligerent, most majestic. Others used to pay little attention when new songs were played, but to me they were the pinnacle of the show. I remember the opening bass sequence of Paradise and committing it to memory. It sounded incredible. The whole arena was rocking, literally, as the set reached its climax. Ian McCulloch joined the band on stage looking cool as ice smoking a fag. Then they were gone. The place roared for an encore and they duly re-emerged to more football chants. Then the lights were up: game over. I was suddenly grabbed by a delirious Nick who I bumped into again in the surge to leave. He was ecstatic. “I said they wouldn’t top it but they did!”

They certainly, certainly did. I had lost my watch, spent all my money, had a raging hangover, had to queue hours for the bus home, but had had a day to remember.

the precinct- was that swinton, salford or another? i remember the gig.

a wonderful account. you should write for the NME.

david ball wrote: the precinct- was that swinton, salford or another? i remember the gig.

a wonderful account. you should write for the NME.

Thanks David. Writing it brought back the memories too. I seem to remember I was wearing the very same t-shirt in your avator at the time.

It was none of the above precincts, but close to both. I can't say where as my on-line stalker, Jarv, could be waiting for me next time I go back home.....

A very good account of a fantastic day...Did you go to the fuckin shitehouse of a gig at Liverpool with a similar line up..NO,SMITHS,FALL..

Manchester did it soo much better

Yes, but not as glorious as their appearance at Nantwich Conservative Club in 1981. I was four-and-three-quarters and half-cut on stale Farley's rusks and undiluted Ribena. Two songs: one was a 40 minute version of "Everything's Gone Green" (cut down to a more funky 20 minutes cos Steve needed a fag) and an untitled song with a working title of "You Fuckers Think We're Dead Avante-Garde (But Really We're Just Taking the Piss)" and Barney's Pernod-drenched, ad-libbed lyrics which went something like "Ta for your money/Aren't Sequencers Great?/We're A Bunch of Chancers/TURN THE LIGHTS DOWN YOU FOOKIN' PISSFLAP!!!".

Sublime, ageless, timeless, if-you-werent-there-you-wouldn't-understand, etc, etc, etc.

So you've remembered which year it was now, have you, Blunder?

Doctor Clayhead wrote: Yes, but not as glorious as their appearance at Nantwich Conservative Club in 1981. I was four-and-three-quarters and half-cut on stale Farley's rusks and undiluted Ribena. Two songs: one was a 40 minute version of "Everything's Gone Green" (cut down to a more funky 20 minutes cos Steve needed a fag) and an untitled song with a working title of "You Fuckers Think We're Dead Avante-Garde (But Really We're Just Taking the Piss)" and Barney's Pernod-drenched, ad-libbed lyrics which went something like "Ta for your money/Aren't Sequencers Great?/We're A Bunch of Chancers/TURN THE LIGHTS DOWN YOU FOOKIN' PISSFLAP!!!".

Sublime, ageless, timeless, if-you-werent-there-you-wouldn't-understand, etc, etc, etc.

Doctor Clayhead wrote: Yes, but not as glorious as their appearance at Nantwich Conservative Club in 1981.

you were there too?

Paul Trowell wrote: A very good account of a fantastic day...Did you go to the fuckin shitehouse of a gig at Liverpool with a similar line up..NO,SMITHS,FALL..

Manchester did it soo much better

Paul

You refer to "From Manchester With Love", the gig Derek Hatton was there to say thanks for.

I didn't go but I always wanted the t-shirt - which had its own Fac number.

I believe New Order came on at 7pm that night. Did you go to both?

Leggy D wrote: So you've remembered which year it was now, have you, Blunder?

Once again, I wholehearedly and sincerely apologise for my offence of confusing the year 1987 with 1988.

This gig, however, was 1986, and not the one discussed.

I, however, will refrain from asking you to do the same. A simple verbal warning is all I will issue.

El Jarvo wrote:

Blunderer wrote: It was none of the above precincts, but close to both. I can't say where as my on-line stalker, Jarv, could be waiting for me next time I go back home.....

On-line stalker, Mr Cahill? I've been here 5 years and have posted a billion times. You've been 5 minutes and have moaned and whinged your way through every other post. Who's chasing who one wonders?

But, as I'm wont to say so often in these scenarios, Bless.

Oh, and in the above review ... you appear to have missed out the bit about 'bigger boys' pushing you around and making you cry.

There there.

Why don't you try and play nicely now, huh?

* Goes white * * Hurries back down garden path and back into house * * Locks door * * Phones police *

and as i usually say

"Oh I'm not readin all that"

J.A.K wrote:

and as i usually say

"Oh I'm not readin all that"

Oh I'm not readin all that!

(only have to type O now, and it automatically does it)

A great, great day. Thanks for the write-up, brought it all back. Me and my mate actually watched The Smiths from the area behind the stage - where one of the bars were - and I'm sure we were the only people in there at the time! NO were awesome, I was right in the thick of things near the front. Superb!

Yes, lowlife, I remember it. There was a big, open, cavernous area behind the stage serving beer. There was another bar to the left of the stage and a small one on the balcony, if i remember rightly.

Tim wrote:

Oh, ye Gods, don't be so melodramatic!

This is a forum, a message board, a place to discuss, to debate, to have a laugh, to take the mickey....

Don't take it so seriously.

What would you rather have on your board? First hand accounts of New Order gigs from the past (which plenty have enjoyed, by the way), debate as to whether New Order should or should not continue, or people asking where you can get the remix of Krafty from?

Let your hair down, relax, it is ONLY A FORUM!!!!

I have been on lots of forums in my life and some of the clientele on here make it the most precious I have ever been on.:D

All together now.....

"We're like Crystal.....we break easy...."

Blunderer, you must serve your apprenticeship in 'the Shed' before making such comments, there's a hierarchy here. It's all about post counts.

KNOW YOUR PLACE

What would you rather have on your board? First hand accounts of New Order gigs from the past (which plenty have enjoyed, by the way), debate as to whether New Order should or should not continue, or people asking where you can get the remix of Krafty from?

We quite happily had all of these for several years before you came along and started making sweeping generalisations and shitstirring!

Believe it or not, you are not the only person to have been there from a long time ago. Several people on here are veterans of JD gigs and have followed New Order since the very early days, myself included. A number of people would argue that their best days were indeed the mid 80s, myself included. I wouldn't dream of suggesting that they should pack it in now though, that they are over the hill and no longer relevant, as that patently isn't true, as so many from here will testify to.

What you don't seem to have gathered yet, Blunderer, is that while this place started off as a message board, it has become a lot more than that, with hundreds of people from here meeting up on a regular basis, not just for New Order gigs. We have two JD/NO tribute bands that also attract good sized crowds and have put out a few records from the site too. We recently organised a successful charity event in London that was well attended by members of this site.

I'm sure you don't need me to point out that your coming on here and telling everyone that the old days were the best, that the band are no longer relevant etc is extremely badly timed given that so many from here have got so much enjoyment from the recent gigs and social gatherings, and we have just found out that there may not be anymore New Order gigs.....

I suppose the ultimate irony is that New Order themselves hated the live shows around the "glory days" of the mid 80s, as Peter Hook testified himself in an interview he granted me for this site. As far as they are concerned, they are now much more professional and happy with their live performances than they ever were when the setlists changed every night, things broke down on stage, songs were played half-written, half-cut and half-remembered. Nowadays they sound and perform as they always wanted to. Go figure!

So they wanted to sound shit? And perform half assedly?

Fair enough.

tim, That is a fair response, so deserves a fair reply.

I know New Order are precious to some of you and some of you are clearly still devoted fans. I was a fan, now I have other priorities.

However, I am not here to call you all tossers – you do what you do, I do what I do.

My agenda is not to disrupt your board, my agenda is to improve your board. I want to provoke discussion and debate. And you can say what you want, I have done that in spades.

But it is only a bit of fun – surely that is obvious. It doesn’t matter that much. I don’t claim, and have never claimed, to know more about New Order than anyone. I don’t post anything without a smile on my face. I will say it again – it is a forum, not real life.

The likes of Ally claim that all I have done is repeat myself and make negative comments. The reality is I have posted lots of positive stuff which people have enjoyed. I am sure you can’t be bothered to look, but the facts are here on the forum for all to see.

My “crime” on this board was to say I think New Order should have split up years ago. I say this from a position where I feel I can comment. I have seen them since their “comeback” at Manchester Apollo in 98, NYNEX 98, Liverpool 01, MEN 06 and Blackpool 06. I enjoyed the Apollo massively but will not be going again as I don’t like what I see any more.

But it is not important in the scheme of things.

If my opinions are threatening to you, argue back with me, tell me why I am wrong. That's what forums are for. Jarv tried to do that and I enjoyed sparring with him.

It was only when he started stalking me things went a bit pearshaped.

At least there seems to be some good views and discussion here again......keep me going till the next set of GIGS! KEEP IT COMING.

I must have been too busy or something cos' never heard of Blunderer. But what a bloody memory he has bearing in mind he was pissed and stoned that day. Nice account though, Just one of many fading memories (for me anyhow) of Manchester's finest (after JD). This would have been in my top five gigs along with Futurama, Brixton Ace, Hacienda 83, RFH and CLP.

O

shit its stopped workin

(try again)

O

Oh I'

(gettin there)

Oh I'm not rea

nah give up

El Jarvo wrote:

Blunderer wrote: If my opinions are threatening to you, argue back with me, tell me why I am wrong. That's what forums are for. Jarv tried to do that and I enjoyed sparring with him.

It was only when he started stalking me things went a bit pearshaped.

Fcuk me, you write a decent retort then you obviously realise you ain't put anything bitchy in print, so have to go and edit it to try and have a pop.

Bless. There there. Etc.

Do I have to spell it out for you, Jarv?

It was a joke. J.O.K.E.

Look it up in the dictionary!!!!

Now you are catching up, Jarv!

ally wrote:

Blunderer wrote: The likes of Ally claim that all I have done is repeat myself and make negative comments. The reality is

Yes, let's have a look at the reality:

Blunderer wrote: Sorry, but they should have quit while they were ahead, after Technique, or maybe Republic (at a push). They are now no longer important or cool and I prefer my memories the way they were.

So why do I keep going to see them? It feels like duty I guess, but I will definitely not be going again.

They were the best band on the planet but now they are just another bunch of aging rockers.

Blunderer wrote: They are finished. Yesterday's Men. They ceased to be relevant after Acid House. Technique was the last record that meant anything. Even when Republic came out they had had their best days.

Shrinking gig attendances. Flagging record sales. Mediocre records. Expanding wastelines.

The sad thing is not that they are quitting now, the sad thing is they did'nt do it 15 years ago before besmirching the memories.

Blunderer wrote: My points, in summary, were:

New Order are no longer important or groundbreaking. Their gig attendances are falling Their record sales are falling They are getting old They were brilliant.

Blunderer wrote: New Order are now just another ageing rock act. Once brilliant. Now no longer.

I was a fan, now I am a grown man who is not a "fan" of any group.

And I stand by what I said. They are no longer important to the music scene. They no longer break any ground or do anything new.

Gig attendances are right down.

Record sales are right down.

They are 50 years old and should be making their living elsewhere.

You're completely right, you weren't repeating yourself at all

Not bad, Ally, however, you cleverly cut off the rest of that sentance which was:

The likes of Ally claim that all I have done is repeat myself and make negative comments. The reality is I have posted lots of positive stuff which people have enjoyed. I am sure you can’t be bothered to look, but the facts are here on the forum for all to see.

You obviously could be bothered to trawl all of my posts to find four comments which are similar. I take that as a compliment.

You totally failed to address the actual point made, though.

El Jarvo wrote:

Blunderer wrote: Now you are catching up, Jarv!

Bless. There there.

EDIT: Anyways, you gonna tell us about these US gigs you attended? I am genuinely intrigued to see another Brit's eye-view of concerts Stateside.

Jarv. I am glad we are getting along now. I think we are very similar. I like you, I really do, you scamp.

Remember Abba??

US gigs. What would you like to know?

El Jarvo wrote:

Blunderer wrote:

El Jarvo wrote:

Blunderer wrote: Now you are catching up, Jarv!

Bless. There there.

EDIT: Anyways, you gonna tell us about these US gigs you attended? I am genuinely intrigued to see another Brit's eye-view of concerts Stateside.

Jarv. I am glad we are getting along now. I think we are very similar. I like you, I really do, you scamp.

Remember Abba??

US gigs. What would you like to know?

Just where you've been would be good for starters.

Do I detect a note of cynicism in your post, Jarv?

Come on....come out and say it.....

lets leave them to it now folks.

they've got a lot to talk about.

lock the door fellas on your way out.

El Jarvo wrote:

Blunderer wrote: Do I detect a note of cynicism in your post, Jarv?

Come on....come out and say it.....

Nope. I know a lot of lads who've done the Order in the US, including a couple who even went in 1985, when you didn't really need to go in 1985 cos New Order did so much over here.

Just intrigued as to where you went. A fair few people here still eulogise about Jonathan Scott's roadtrip across the Deep South in 1989 which featured in Paradise magazine way back when. Think that invoked a wanderlust in a lot of people.

Fair enough. I just thought you might not believe I had seen New Order in the USA, that was all.

I must be getting paranoid.

J.A.K wrote: lets leave them to it now folks.

they've got a lot to talk about.

lock the door fellas on your way out.

Indeed! Time to leave the playground- i'm outta here, before i get myself in further trouble! Night all.

Vaguely positive?

That,my friend,is a fucking great post,well put.& pretty much reflects my thoughts exactly,even from becoming a fan thru' BM.I like it,I like it a lot...take a bow

Great post - even now, it is somewhat hard to explain to anyone here in America how special NO is. I heard True Faith on the radio a couple weeks back while getting my haircut - it is such a rarity that it totally made my day.

a wonderful account. you should write for the NME.

Hmmm.....

Anyway, this is boring for everyone else.Come on Ally, let's be friends. Jarv and i built a relationship on mutual respect which I know will last a lifetime.

Surely you and I can do the same.

We're on the march with Ally's army

Blunderer wrote:

However, I am not here to call you all tossers – you do what you do, I do what I do. My agenda is not to disrupt your board, my agenda is to improve your board. I want to provoke discussion and debate. And you can say what you want, I have done that in spades.

What improvements do you plan to make?

As you have so many other priority's and much more important things to do...are you sure you have time to come along and improve this site?

And surely the board was better in the good old days.... in fact shouldn't you be passing notes at the back of the class rather than using this new fangled internet malarkey?

Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect! ~Owens Lee Pomeroy

Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory. ~Franklin Pierce Adams

Things ain't what they used to be and probably never was. ~Will Rogers

Blunderer wrote:

Paul Trowell wrote: A very good account of a fantastic day...Did you go to the fuckin shitehouse of a gig at Liverpool with a similar line up..NO,SMITHS,FALL..

Manchester did it soo much better

Paul

You refer to "From Manchester With Love", the gig Derek Hatton was there to say thanks for.

I didn't go but I always wanted the t-shirt - which had its own Fac number.

I believe New Order came on at 7pm that night. Did you go to both?

Yes did both but wished I had missed Liverpool...Shit freezing venue and NO done and dusted for about 8 o'clock..Had a right job getting hold of a ticket as well

I had a bloody great day.I think this was the very first gig held at G-MEX,and it was my second NO gig. There was a standing enclosure surrounded by barriers,so I was pissed off when I couldn't get any furthur in. Remember John Cooper Clarke "..the fcuking birds are fcuking fat...the fcuking beer was fcuking flat". Frank Sidebottom! Bill Grundy,looking a bit pissed.Derek Hatton with one foot in plaster! Remember The Fall with Brix,I liked some of the new tunes they were bringing out at the time. I remember Pete Shelley with his band at the time "ZAP". OMD were due to come on early afternoon.Just the 2 of them with "Winston",their 8 track. So I managed to sneak through the barriers to the front.Where I stayed the rest of the day. Well till I wanted a pint.Felt a bit snide,I asked this bloke if I could borrow his ticket to get back in,and did he want me to get him drinks.He give me money for two pints,and I bought 2 pints. "You can't bring them in" AH BOLLOCKS.So I necked 4 pints,it was only fair. Could find that bloke though. THE SMITHS!! Can't believe they were on at teatime. Mozzer with his "Queen Is Dead" placard,and threw his shirt into the crowd as is written in stone with all Mozzer gigs. And finally New ORDAHH!!! Amazing set,can't remember half the stuff they played,though I remember McCulloch coming on to sing CEREMONY from this crib-sheet. Lost my new watch amongst the aggressive dancing,spindle got knocked out.AARGH! Remember after the gig,sifting through the shit on the floor for my watch...what did they play? ...THE VIKING THEME!!!

Minx wrote:

Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect! ~Owens Lee Pomeroy

Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory. ~Franklin Pierce Adams

Things ain't what they used to be and probably never was. ~Will Rogers

"Fuck me...a TRAM!!"..Alan Bradley

nostalgia isn't as good as it used to be. oh wait, yes it is. lol

El Jarvo wrote:

MONTY The Elder! wrote:

Minx wrote:

Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect! ~Owens Lee Pomeroy

Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory. ~Franklin Pierce Adams

Things ain't what they used to be and probably never was. ~Will Rogers

"Fuck me...a TRAM!!"..Alan Bradley

I was in Blackpool exactly one week after that was broadcast. End of 89, I think?

Never to return .

Neither will Alan Bradley :rip:

MONTY The Elder! wrote: I had a bloody great day.I think this was the very first gig held at G-MEX,and it was my second NO gig. There was a standing enclosure surrounded by barriers,so I was pissed off when I couldn't get any furthur in. Remember John Cooper Clarke "..the fcuking birds are fcuking fat...the fcuking beer was fcuking flat". Frank Sidebottom! Bill Grundy,looking a bit pissed.Derek Hatton with one foot in plaster! Remember The Fall with Brix,I liked some of the new tunes they were bringing out at the time. I remember Pete Shelley with his band at the time "ZAP". OMD were due to come on early afternoon.Just the 2 of them with "Winston",their 8 track. So I managed to sneak through the barriers to the front.Where I stayed the rest of the day. Well till I wanted a pint.Felt a bit snide,I asked this bloke if I could borrow his ticket to get back in,and did he want me to get him drinks.He give me money for two pints,and I bought 2 pints. "You can't bring them in" AH BOLLOCKS.So I necked 4 pints,it was only fair. Could find that bloke though. THE SMITHS!! Can't believe they were on at teatime. Mozzer with his "Queen Is Dead" placard,and threw his shirt into the crowd as is written in stone with all Mozzer gigs. And finally New ORDAHH!!! Amazing set,can't remember half the stuff they played,though I remember McCulloch coming on to sing CEREMONY from this crib-sheet. Lost my new watch amongst the aggressive dancing,spindle got knocked out.AARGH! Remember after the gig,sifting through the shit on the floor for my watch...what did they play? ...THE VIKING THEME!!!

Monty. This sounds wierd but I was searching the detritus after for a watch too! I even saw Tony Wilson backstage and asked him if he would announce it from the stage.

As if he would....

Remember John Cooper Clarke "..the fcuking birds are fcuking fat...the fcuking beer was fcuking flat".

EVIDENTLY Chickentown

John Cooper Clarke....a Mancunian and Factory legend! I have a few of his books at home. Touching in places as well as funny.

i actually went and spoke to john copper clarke a few months ago.he was going in vip entrance at a gig ..all in black of course.very thin and haggered.he's had a hard life apparently

Blunderer wrote:

MONTY The Elder! wrote: I had a bloody great day.I think this was the very first gig held at G-MEX,and it was my second NO gig. There was a standing enclosure surrounded by barriers,so I was pissed off when I couldn't get any furthur in. Remember John Cooper Clarke "..the fcuking birds are fcuking fat...the fcuking beer was fcuking flat". Frank Sidebottom! Bill Grundy,looking a bit pissed.Derek Hatton with one foot in plaster! Remember The Fall with Brix,I liked some of the new tunes they were bringing out at the time. I remember Pete Shelley with his band at the time "ZAP". OMD were due to come on early afternoon.Just the 2 of them with "Winston",their 8 track. So I managed to sneak through the barriers to the front.Where I stayed the rest of the day. Well till I wanted a pint.Felt a bit snide,I asked this bloke if I could borrow his ticket to get back in,and did he want me to get him drinks.He give me money for two pints,and I bought 2 pints. "You can't bring them in" AH BOLLOCKS.So I necked 4 pints,it was only fair. Could find that bloke though. THE SMITHS!! Can't believe they were on at teatime. Mozzer with his "Queen Is Dead" placard,and threw his shirt into the crowd as is written in stone with all Mozzer gigs. And finally New ORDAHH!!! Amazing set,can't remember half the stuff they played,though I remember McCulloch coming on to sing CEREMONY from this crib-sheet. Lost my new watch amongst the aggressive dancing,spindle got knocked out.AARGH! Remember after the gig,sifting through the shit on the floor for my watch...what did they play? ...THE VIKING THEME!!!

Monty. This sounds wierd but I was searching the detritus after for a watch too! I even saw Tony Wilson backstage and asked him if he would announce it from the stage.

As if he would....

I think the Vikings plundered them on their conquests!