Alphaville arrived at Lima without Bernhard, who joined the band on 28 May. And I was lucky because I had to go to the airport to pick up Bernhard as karina´s father didn´t know enough English. So I had to interprete Bern. Karina was the organizer of the trip. She was very friendly and nice, as well as his father Francisco.
As soon as I get to my hotel on May 27th, I phoned Karina to meet Marian. At that moment they were doing an excursion to the Pachacamas ruins. So she told me that I should go the hotel in 2 hours. Then I was standing at the entrance of the hotel waiting for Marian and the band. Suddenly a van parked and a few guys I didn´t recognize got out of it. But then I recognized Marian and I felt that something paralized me. Yes, I was in front of the person I ever wanted to meet and who was my guide in most of difficult situations. He thought I were a journalist so he passed as if I didn´t exist. But Karina explained KP and Marian that I was a fan from Argentina who went to Peru only to see AV live and I was introduced to KP and Marian. My hand was trembling. Then they invited me to drink something and we talked a lot. Oh my! What a friendly, wide and nice persons they are! There are no words to describe their kindness.
At the hotel Marian told me that the gig at the Disco Bauhaus planned for the next evening were cancelled and that they would go only to know the place and listen to music. So the night on 28 May after picking up Bern at the airport, I went to Bauhaus in the van with the band. The disco was nice but not too big. We stayed there drinking beer and talking with other people from Peru. I have to say that Peruvian people are very friendly and nice. They were so kind.... In one those days they had an interview in a TV show, which was very boring and with stupid questions (so I´ve been told).
Next day was the great day. On the afternoon the band was doing the soundcheck and a guard didn´t let me enter the place, so I waited for someone that recognized me to let me in. After one hour a boy from the organization team saw me and gave me permission to see the soundcheck. I entered the Convention Centre and there were Marian , KP, Martin, the sound engineer, and the guys who played the percussion and the guitar. Sorry, but I don´t remember their names. As KP allowed me to film I turned on the camera and shoot whatever I could.
Now let´s go the show:
There were not too much people because,
in my opinion, the promotion of the concert wasn´t enough. Only the
day before some ads were seen in the streets. Most of the people didn´t
know who AV were and that they would play live in South America for the
first time and IN PERU!!!
The concert was supposed to start at 9 p.m. but the band appeared on satge at 10:30 p.m.!! Some Peruvians, who had to see the show standing, were upset and didn´t wait for anything to show their disagrrement.
Suddenly the lights turned off and a soft music started to sound. The only one missing was Marian and when he appeared "Soul Messiah" started to sound. The audience screamed a little and then listened to the music very concentrated because Marian sang in a way that everyone could have been felt touched by his feelings.. Then they played "A victory of love": phantastic version with Marian Gold showing that he is a great singer. After this, one of my favourites songs made his presence: "Guardian Angel". Bernhard were playing the keyboard with his usual poker-face. The show was going OK and when the turn for "Forever Young" came he said something like this: ".. . now a pretty old song...". He started to sing and the audience screamed. I remember some people with tears in their eyes. I have to recognize:
I have my eyes a little wet. It was a sad moment because Marian interprete the lyrics with great emotions. It was the same version they played in every show: beautiful piano Intro by Maritn.
Marian made photos of the band and threw the camera to the audience, but this time did it more softly and seeing where the camera could fall so no one were hit.
They also played Wishful Tinking in a very nice version ful of energy. In Euphoria and other songs the guitarrist played very good changing the original sound of them.
The show ended with Marian singing a nice Apollo and shouting "Gracias Lima!!!"(Thanks Lima!!)
After the show the band, except for Marian, went to the Bauhaus from where a van would pick up them to go to the airport where a plane were waiting for them to go the Machu Pichu ruins.
Let me add something: Marian, Bernhard, KP and the other guys are very wide and very friendly people. I never thought they would be so kind to sign autographs, made photos, etc. And Bernhard, despite his poker face in interviews, photos and concerts, is a great and friendly person. That´s for sure. Hope that every fan of AV has the chance to meet them. And hope that if some day AV band has to end we keep on building this phantastic paradise: ALPHAVILLE FOR EVER!!!
Gustavo Gabriel Carrizo - Buenos Aires - Argenina.