PHOTO John Lambton Around 13.00 on the Saturday we got a call from Heathrow asking us for direct clearance and security to be at code red Status. Ian Warner Chief of mearfest security south and master of the keys and phone chargers, spring into action Airforce's caravan came in for a steady landing. Ian armed with two table tennis bats, a traffic cone and a fading pen torch guided the craft to a secure docking point. After several years wait and high expectation Airforce had landed! We were not to be disappointed....... Formed back in the eighties the band features Doug Sampson on drums (The ex Iron Maiden Drummer who features on the famous Soundhouse tape release that made Maiden go stratospheric at the birth of the NWOBHM) Airforce really were MAGNIFICENT in every sense of the word Tony Hatton and Chop Pitman were in full flight mode and took us all up to the highest of altitude's with their excellent classic Heavy Metal. I chose to dedicate the whole set to my lovely drummer and fine ambulance man, Jeff Fuller, who we sadly lost in May just gone. Half way through the set I read my poem 'A drummers lament', with a firm hand on my shoulder for support from Chop, I read my words. It was a tough one, as members of Jeff's family were there in the audience, including his lovely Wife and daughter Heather Fuller and Debbie Fuller. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as lead vocalist Ivan sang his heart out to there big hit 'Heroes' Wow and what a powerful vocalist! An incredible performance from an Amazing band. They also seemed very pleased with the home made arts and crafted THANK YOU card Claire and Amélie made for each and every band. It is now proudly displayed upon the wall of Airforce's basement pub! Moments like this make you realise just how far we have come in such a short time, just three years ago was our first Mearfest at the Boarderline London, and how the last act of love is always remembrance.
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Third up on the bill were local lads The Dead Can Wait. I have been waiting a very, very long time to meet Mick Hare. Mick had been in two bands in the Reading area, the legendary After Dark and later Iron Heart. To me as a very young man, Mick was an icon and I remember reading reviews of both bands at the time, going to listen records in Reading to get tickets for gigs. Also witnessing both amazing bands in concert I could never of dreamed I would be standing on the stage with him. I have to admit there were tears as fatigue and the sheer emotion of the moment hit me as I introduced them. Well they blew all of us away The most incredible set unfolded and the voice of Ashley Stone was totally unbelievable ! Myself and many others, were stunned and I'm not saying this lightly Combined with the rest of the band including guitarist Steve McLoughlin, I have not enjoyed a set like that for many years and I go to all sorts of gigs at all levels. The Saxon track 'Wheels of Steel' was pure fun and really sealed what was a tremendous achievement. I knew then and there that Mearfest had come of age. The Dead can Wait were amazing Eleven out of Ten just like their amps GLORIOUS ! MORE PHOTOS TO COME, ALSO CHECK OUT OUR 1979 REVISITED PAGE MEMORIES
Around 1982, I was working as an apprentice electrician. I was meant to go into work on a Saturday to complete some big installation. There was however Slough Record Fair on at St Mary's Hall, Herschel street starting at ten am.
A quick phone call with cotton wool up both nostrils and a few words being 'economical with the truth' and I set off. With a wallet containing a few pound notes (remember them) I practically ran to Slough I bought three items that day after searching the entire hall. Aragorns 'Black Ice' single, Praying Mantis's captured city double fold out ep Tino Troy and also.....Witchfynde's masterpiece 'Give em hell'. Andro Coulton formed Malleus with his wife Shaz Coulton just after leaving Witchynde in the early eighties. We were very honoured to have this new line up play Mearfest this year and they really did us proud. All their classic songs were played including tracks from their new album 'your nightmare calls', Gram Swan hit all the right notes in all the right places and for me the magic was there. Suddenly the clouds darkened, cars in the village hall car park changed into MK 1 Escorts and Ford Corrina's. For a wonderful moment I felt I could maybe go get a pint of Double Diamond for 23p from Marie Edwards and Karen Barker as the epic 'Give em Hell' was performed to perfection. Andro and Shaz had that week previous suffered a devastating bereavement, Shaz had lost her beloved father, but like true professionals they said the show must go on, so not only did they play, they both stayed the whole weekend, signing records and having photos taken with new up and coming rock talent and rock royalty legend buddies. They set the spirit free ! AS MORE PHOTOS EMERGE I WILL ADD HERE AND TO 1979 REVISITED MEMORIES PAGE This was a total surprise to us both by NWOBHM band Rampant, Jimmy had worked so hard in preparing this for us, he learnt it on the drive down in his car!!! But you can just see and feel the passion and love as he performed it with every morsel of his soul. Below are the original words from Brian's poem for Molly. Our Unique Angel of Dreams Born Sleeping Today 2013 Oh how we longed for you Our Unique Angel of Dreams Within your Earth Mother you grew Floating in the depths of her love And yet, your brief encapsulated life Drew such a myriad of purpose Our world blossomed into joy and light Grew rich in strength and expectation Now transcended into heaven Held in a shawl of shining stars Your cord of love unbroken Your loving Presence, forever ours 12th August 2016 By Brian Mear When I was introducing the song I welled up and didn't think I was gonna through it. I was so touched to see the response and bring more than a few tears to peoples' eyes. Thanks so much for capturing this moment so wonderfully. This was improvised and unrehearsed vocally, other than the original 1st verse of mine, and I had learned Brian's words in the car on the way there so for me personally it was a nerve stretching moment that could go either way and I'm so pleased it worked out cos I so wanted it to be a dedication to Molly and the rest of the lovely Mearfolk. Love to all and long live Mearfest and rock and roll !!! To say the opening thirty minutes of mearfest's 1979 Revisited was a bit brutal, would be an understatement, I was fighting Amélie for her baby pink kids ear defenders. With less than two weeks to go till kick off, I had to source equipment local to the venue urgently We needed Guitar cabs and larger than average drums for the mighty Thunderstick. Way back not so long ago, I used to rehearse at SAFFRON STUDIOS in High Wycombe with my band Trinity so I gave my old mate Dave a call. Turns out he could source the drums, but needed to ask resident band D.O.H for two of the cabs. They willing supplied them but with only one gig under their belt, could I squeeze them on first? I've always been wary of band logos I can't read, what with guttural vocals and metalcore this is not my thing by a long way, however I took a risk as I sometimes do. Enter Denial of Humanity (D.O.H) a local High Wycombe band, with an international line up from Portugal, Poland and England. Before their slot, Daniel the lead singer was so very polite and asked Claire if she had any problems with him using the odd swear word in his set? He was at the time in the childrens nursery GREEN room where Amélie was happily playing with aunty Carol Lyon and a million toys, that did not belong to her. Claire said that even though she was only two, and she won't be in the main room because of the noise, but there are other kids around...... MY GOD!!!!! They were ferocious to the point of complete madness...... Daniel Soares tore the roof off the bunting clad village hall, as he emitted noises that I've never heard a human make in 33 years of being a Paramedic or within music, we did not have to worry about swear words as I could not understand a word of it, but what an unusual and talented front man he is. Darrel and Adam were brilliant guitarists, as was Patrick on base and the brilliant Toby on the skins. It was louder than hell and John Thomas Bell twiddled his knobs faster than Billy whizz on speed. There were looks of amazement and in some cases fear on the audience, all searching in vain for any ear plugs. Well we do things a little differently here at Mearfest and one things for sure it was very different, but so worth having them open the show! Afterwards the lads metamorphisised into the nicest bunch you could ever meet. They brought their families and children down to share the entire day with us all They couldn't have shown greater respect or humility and the speeches off stage by Danny were fantastic I really loved them and they did exactly what I expect bands to do at Mearfest Honour our stillborn daughter Molly and bring something to the table Denial of Humanity we salute you all ! AS MORE PHOTOS EMERGE I WILL ADD TO THIS BLOG AND 1979 REVISITED IN MEMORIES CLICK ! OUR LOYAL AND LOVELY PATRON DIBS HAWKWINDER |
MEARFESTBrian & Claire Mear pride themselves on putting on a good show. Photography is Claire's passion, only the finest collection of images will be added here by the best photographers. ARCHIVES
April 2022
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