Meatloaf, Wembley Arena, 27 April 1982
My second attempt to take advantage of my newly discovered photographic skills did not go well. Meatloaf was on a comeback, having suffered from voice and mental health issues following the success of “Bat out of Hell”, an album I could listen to time after time. This was billed the “Dead Ringer Tour”, and the single, “Dead Ringer for Love”, in which Cher also performed, became a top 10 hit in the UK. I had tickets for both Birmingham NEC and Wembley Arena in quick succession. My ticket for Birmingham was on the second row and at Wembley I would be sitting on the front row — I guess I was pretty keen to get some tickets as soon as they went on sale, securing prime vantage points for both concerts.
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I decided to target the Wembley concert with my camera and would take the opportunity to have a great time taking everything in without having to worry about the camera in Birmingham. I thoroughly enjoyed that first concert, and was looking forward to the re-run at Wembley.
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Security at Wembley was tight, but I did not anticipate a need for my recently purchased 200mm lens which allowed me to discretely place the camera in a way that was unlikely to arouse suspicion. I managed to get through and head towards my seat, to then discover I, along with a number of others, had been relocated due to a late change in the stage configuration for the event. We were no longer in the front row, but moved pretty much to the very back of the arena. Everyone affected was up in arms and we demanded to see someone in authority. We were led away to make our case to the arena management. All complaints were to fall on deaf ears and we were all resigned to taking our places towards the rear of the arena. What I did not realise was that would then require me to go through security again before being allowed back in! I had already unpacked the camera and only when they asked to look in my bag did I realise I risked having the camera confiscated or even being thrown out altogether. My pleas that they had already looked through my bag also fell on deaf ears! Fortunately they only made a cursory glance and I was able to proceed to my seat at the back of the arena.
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