04/05/94 - WEMBLEY ARENA, LONDON

Summary of the show (available on DVD) by Bryan King:
October 2005 - As I watch this DVD, It reminds me how BA has changed his live show over the years. Maybe it's age, maybe it's maturity, maybe it's a combination of things.

Now I am not saying that it was better at one time than another. I'm thankful for new material. I'm thankful to still see BA in concert once every few years due to his limited US touring schedule. I like the acoustic versions of songs at the end of shows. Evolution is inevitible and I am thankful that BA is an artist that hasn't faded away into obscurity and that he genuinely loves playing music and going out and performing it.

But in 1994, his live show was different. He was 34, selling out arenas on BOTH sides of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and was still young enough to have that "recklessness" about his stage personality. For those BadFans who have been turned onto BA in the late 90's or the 2000's, let me shed a light on what you used to see at a BA show.

There was a time when his body couldn't keep still during a song. His head would rock up and down and his foot would thump along with the snare drum beat.
There was a time when a guy named Dave played bass and Tommy played keyboards.
There was a time when the band didn't dress the same. Dave wore shorts, Keith wore a sleeveless top and BA was known for wearing jeans and a white Tshirt.
There was a time when Keith jumped backwards into the front few rows of fans and kept playing his solo.
There was a time when BA threw his microphone and his stand into the crowd for them to keep singing the na-na-na's of Cuts Like a Knife.
There was a time when the "B-stage" was a surprise and the band played four to five cover songs each night at the back of the arena.
There was a time when BA pulled a GUY up on stage to sing a song.
There was a time when an acoustic guitar wasn't needed for any show. All songs were electric and they were LOUD.
There was a time ...well, you get the picture

All these thoughts entered my head when I watched this gem of a DVD from the May 4, 1994 (the 3rd of 6) show at Wembley. It brings me back to when I thought BA was the coolest guy who rocked hard, sang with enormous energy, rocked the house and looked so cool doing it.

This DVD has just recently come into circulation after spending many years as a video in PAL format only. I had never seen it until 11 years after the performance and other live videos from the So Far So Good tour such as Milan, Pittsburgh and New Jersey gave me my taste of the tour. But this London DVD is the first COMPLETE 1994 concert performance available.

Luckily, it's also the best video footage of a 1994 show as well. With similar vantage point as the Pittsburgh '94 video, but closer and without as many "black-out" moments.

During the spring of 1994, BA has been on the road to support the release of So Far So Good since January. In only four months, the band had been to the Middle East, Far East, Australia/New Zealand, South Africa, one show in New York City and three "homecoming" shows in Vancouver. While the band toured Europe extensively in both Fall 1991 and Summer 1992, they returned in Spring 1994 for 15 shows in only two countries: Italy and England. The Italian dates consisted of nine shows in nine cities. The UK dates were much simpler to follow along with: Six shows. All in London. All at Wembley Arena. Of the run of shows that BA has done as Wembley, six is the most of any of them so in terms of box office power, there was no time bigger than 1994 when BA was more popular in the UK.

Looking back at BA's career, 1994 had to be the peak of his popularity globally. He could go anywhere in the world and fill an arena. Please Forgive Me was a huge hit and So Far So Good was in the top 10 on charts in many countries. Performance-wise as well, '94 is tough to top. Great shows lasting well over 2 hours. He was two years away from the lights and bright coloured clothing of the 18 Til I Die tour so this was classic Adams. Simple, hard-rocking, sell-out crowds seeing a man at the top of his craft. To have it documentedon this DVD is a real treat.

One of the top moments of this show was Keith bringing up the "pulsating cactus". You have to see it to understand it, but it's a great Keith moment.

The Songs:
All six shows had unique aspects to them and being in the same market for so many shows, the set list had to be somewhat retooled each night to offer repeat customers something new. At this show, the highlights include the opening There Will Never Be Another Tonight into an awkward choice for the #2 song - Heaven. Once the band settled into the usual set structure, a rarely performend Diana (the first time that song has been captured live on any type of video format) is played in place of the usual One Night Love Affair. With Somebody closing out the main set, the Bstage portion of the show has some real gems: Most notably She Came In Through the Bathroom Window and Get It On Bang-A-Gong. When returning to the main stage, the customary '69 and All For Love close the show.

Setlist:
There Will Never Be Another Tonight
Heaven
House Arrest
Kids Wanna Rock
All I Want Is You
Hey Honey...I'm Packin' You In!
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
This Time
Please Forgive Me
Touch The Hand
Cuts Like A Knife
Diana
Thought I'd Died And Gone to Heaven
It's Only Love
Everything I Do
Run To You
When The Night Comes
*Audience Singer*
Somebody
***b-stage***
C'mon Everybody
Can't Judge A Book By Looking At The Cover
Little Red Rooster
If You Leave Me
Get It On Bang-A-Gong
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
She's Only Happy When She's Dancin'
***b-stage***
Summer Of '69
All For Love

 


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This show can be purchased on DVD along with many others at bryanadamslive.net