November 10 to 25 1997, Ball Of Fire tour

The Ball Of Fire tour continued After Berne, I had no contact with The Skatalites and the Ball Of Fire 1997 tour until tuesday 26th of November, when the tour was in Paris, where I meet them for the last show of the tour. Stuttgart (LKH), Erlangen (E-Werk), Leipzig (Connie Island), Hamburg (Fabrik), Dortmund (Live Station), Den Haag (Paard), Cean (La Fonderie) And then The Skatalites went for the very first time into Africa. La Reunion is a french island close to MadagaSKAr. That was a great moment specially for Rolando Alphonso, as he told me later. Island of La

October 23, 1997, France, Nancy, Jazz Pulsations

Second last day for me on the Ball Of Fire 1997 tour I have a single room (I don’t remember why). We’re in the Hotel Ibis in Nancy. Because Shay was with the both Lloyds in Paris, I have seen the rooming list and I wasn’t on the list, but a name of an old friend of mine. It was a bit strange for me to see this, without knowing about it. I mean, I knew, I have to leave the tour in Strasbourg the next day, but I didn’t know why. Now, I realized, that I was out and

October 21, 1997, France, Tourcoing, Le Grand Mix

Sixth day of the Ball Of Fire 1997 tour At the breakfast I was talking with Lester Sterling about Peter Tosh. Lester told me, that Peter Tosh used to call him “Mr. Sterling”. Later, when Tosh was famous, Lesters brother Keith Sterling was in the Tosh band, so they met again. Tosh didn’t recognized Lester, so Keith introduced him to Tosh. And Tosh said: “Hello Lester”. That’s how things are chaning.

October 19, 1997, France, Plouneour Trez, Les Hesperides

Fourth day of the Ball Of Fire 1997 tour The breakfast in Rennes was as small as all the other ones so far on this tour. Brevett is a lot talking in monologues. The feeling in the crew is not that easy as it should be. It’s too much moaning about this and that. I don’t know who is talking shit, but nobody is on the same line. The way to this wonderful place was all through the nice Bretagne.

October 17, 1997, France, Apremont – Le Grand Duc

Second day of the Ball Of Fire tour 1997 The breakfast in Bordeaux I was talking with Will Clark about his wonderful session last night and about Lady Diana. He told me he’s in a new life since 10 days. Barney the driver told me, he has less troubles with the young american ska bands.   The band took too long for soundcheck. So Shay and I played soccer in the audience. They tried to play My Boy Lollipop (a Millie Small hit from 1964 and Barbie Gaye Original from the 50s), but it was awful. Lester Sterling had the

October 16, 1997, France, Bordeaux – La Lune Dans Le Caniveaux

Beginning of the Ball Of Fire tour 1997 I have no particular pictures of this date in Bordeaux. In my diary I have found the following about that day. It is Thursday, 16th of October 1997 (exactly 20 years ago), 2.45 PM, I am at the Montparnasse train station in Paris. I should sit in the train to Bordeaux now, but I was running to the wrong train. I wasn’t easy, because I only had little time for changing. And there were two trains called BORDEAUX. One “promené” the other “depart”. This two french words upsetted me a little. That’s