Arrived in Montreal from London Heathrow in the early evening of the 4th, December. The air was cold to breathe for me. Coupled with the dryness of 7 hours aircraft air consumption I was a little concerned about my singing voice. After some thoughts about getting some preventative medicine from a drug store I decided against it. I would deal with that problem if it actually happened.

Serge met me at the airport and drove me to the hotel, The Wyndham. Very nice indeed. A bit quiet but that’s ok. I’ve had enough exciting times in hotels in my life. I freshened up and we went to have dinner in a restaurant inside the adjacent shopping mall. We discussed Genesis and Musical Box history after choosing from the extensive menu. I felt at home on the North American continent again.

I crashed by about midnight, or 7 a.m, to my body. The next morning I watched some ice hockey highlights on tv. Hockey has always been my favourite sport so Montreal is a great place to be for that. Montreal is a very interesting city. I was located on the French side which makes it all the more so. A North American city with a European flavour to it. I walked and shopped for Christmas presents for a few hours, had a rehearsal (voice seems ok), then a sauna (I love hotel life), and then went to the gig at 5:30 for sound check. Did you hear that? I said 5:30! In the afternoon! This was luxury. When I was on tour with Genesis I was a roadie. We got up in the morning and went to the gig. We were there until midnight at least.

The Montreal Spectrum is a converted theatre with a capacity of 900 people. The crowd was obviously there to hear and see The Musical Box perform a re-enactment of the Selling England By The Pound tour. On the second night, the 6th, there were people waiting in a line at least 100 yards long in the cold and snow fully 2 hours before I was due to go on stage as the opening act. I was treated very well when I took my camcorder out front to walk along the line. A number of people knew who I was from the previous evening. The crowd was clearly in anticipation of the show and there was a buzz in the air.

It was an honour and a privilege to perform in front of such an informed and appreciative audience who know so much about the history and music of Genesis. I watched The Musical Box set on the second night (I could stay awake) and now I know why they do it and why the crowd wants to see it. I saw the original tour in the early seventies and I was deeply moved by the power and delicacy of Genesis. Peter Gabriel’s character performances were to stay with me until this day, especially as the old man at the end of the song The Musical Box. Supper’s Ready is still the most important piece of music to come out of the progressive movement as far as I am concerned. Something about the original music and this band’s performance of it reignited the fire that was set alight in me so long ago. I am very proud that they have asked me to open for them and I shall do everything in my power to bring a quality performance to any concert I have the privilege in which to participate in the future. Bully for The Musical Box!

Click here to see pictures of the gig