Crunchie Tour Live Reviews

.............................................................................................

FRIDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 1986 

REVIEW BY CHRIS KEEN AKA SOUL BROTHER

Before you read the live concert details, please bear in mind I was only 15 at the time and I have copied the text word for word.

I was so excited that I couldn't sleep last night for the excitement. School seemed so boring, all I could think about was the concert. It soon came to 3:35 pm, home time! I could not wait, I would soon be there.

As soon as I got home I checked my 'concert things'; I had film loaded into my camera, my money was all ready, a pen for autographs and most of all my ticket!! At 6:30 pm my Dad was home from work and within ten minutes we were heading off to The Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham. My stomach had butterflies and I was feeling really excited by now.

As we reached the Concert Hall I made arrangements where to meet my Dad after the show. Straight off into the building and I was into my money, I bought a scarf and poster.

I went up some stairs to find my seat, showing my ticket to an attendant proving I'd got a ticket. There was lots of teenagers eagerly waiting. I purchased a tour programme and got a free tour pen too.

It was now time to get seated. I had my ticket checked again and let into the Hall. I soon found my seat, B13. It was a fantastic position, middle of the second row from the front of the stage. The actual stage was only a few feet from the first row. We were in for a good view!

The support act came on and as for all support acts they had a tough act to match the brilliance of the main band. Infact I didn't like them, 'Modern Talk' (or something similar). I took a photo anyway.

Once they had finished the stage filled with 'roadies' clearing the way for FIVE STAR! At this stage a security man saw I had a camera and told me that the management didn't want any photos taking of the group. I was disappointed and had a grumble about it to the guy next to me (who was also disappointed because he was taking photos for his friend)

The stage was coming on nicely, a huge Five Star logo at the middle of the back.

After ten minutes, and many microphone checks 'one, two......' etc........, the lights went down.

The crowd screamed, whistled and shouted. The front row ran to the stage and other people stood up. An announcer began,'Here is what you've all been waiting for..........Delroy (runs onto stage to screams)...............Doris.............Denise.............Lorraine...............Stedman.........FIVE STTAARRRRRRRRR............(crowd really screaming loud now!). As each member of the group came on as they were announced the crowd kept on screaming. A strobe light was also flashing, very spectacular. Each member looked great wearing their blue suits as they launched into 'RSVP'. The crowd were dancing and clapping and I forgot all about not being able to take photographs.

As they performed we were all smiled and waved at. Doris kept giving the thumbs up. At one stage I clapped and waved so hard Denise saw me and looked and waved back................I was thrilled!

'Show Me What You've Got For Me' was then performed. Denise then welcomed us all, 'Hello Nottingham....(cheers from crowd)......here is our biggest hit..............System........(pause)........Addict......' Again the crowd clapped and sang along.

Next came, 'Love Take Over'

'Stay Out Of My Life'

'Rain or Shine'

'Let Me Be The One'

During the songs the crowd were encouraged to sing along, with their microphones being held out into the audience.

Next Denise asked' Who wants to come and dance with us?' As you would expect a huge response from everyone. She continued by saying' You've got to work for it...........by clapping your hands as loud as you can to the next song' Well that was not a problem as they sang 'All Fall Down'.....But..Lorraine then announced they had got to leave, but would be right back.

They then rapped (yes, rapped!!) 'We'll be leaving you now, but will be back real soon. So prepare yourself for Five Star in part two'

I'd not heard them do this before so was initially surprised, but it was very slick.

The band stayed and played a couple of instrumental tracks, one of which was 'Winning'. Soon Five Star were back in their red sequinned suits. They then introduced us to the band members.

'Are You Man Enough' was next, Denise asked 'Well, who wants to dance with us?' (screams). I was waving my hand in the air and Denise pointed at me and that was it, I jumped over the first row and was on that stage like a shot. About another 7 people were picked too. Doris was nearest to the side of the stage I walked on and she greeted me and asked my name. The music was so loud I couldn't hear her very well, I told her my name and then she asked do you know 'Are You Man Enough'? I couldn't hear her very well and she must have thought I wasn't much of a fan (oh, dear!). They began singing and put their arms around us, Lorraine swapped with Doris and the boys with their partners. WOW! I couldn't believe how bright the lights were, infact it was hard to see beyond the first few rows. I wondered how they didn't squint with the lights!! It was all over too soon and we were escorted off the stage by some security guys. I spent the rest of the concert at the front of the stage, clapping and dancing to:

'Can't Wait Another Minute'

'The Slightest Touch'

Denise then thanked us for making 'Silk & Steel' number one in the album chart before leading into 'Find The Time' and

'If I Say Yes'. It was then time for them to go and they left the stage. The crowd wanted an encore and everyone screamed, shouted and stomped their feet. The announcer then came on and said,

'Do want them back?'

Audience 'Yessssssssssssss'

Announcer 'I can't hear you'

Audience ' YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS'

Announcer 'OK, Give me an ..............F..........'

Audience ' F'

Announcer'................I................V............E............................S...............T..............A..............R...............' (the audience repeated each letter after announcer)

Announcer' WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THEN?'

Audience ' F I V E S T A R' (shouted and screamed)

Five Star returned and did an encore of 'Rain Or Shine' , with the audience going wild. Flowers were thrown into the audience. It was during this encore I noticed camera flashlights from behind me. I thought right I'll get a quick photo. I got my camera took two quick photos before having my camera snatched off me by one of the security guards!

I continued watching wondering if I would see my camera again. Soon Five Star were waving and saying their goodbyes.

They left the stage and the concert was over. The security guard gave me my camera back and said 'Sorry' and explained he was only doing his job. I was just glad to get it back, infact the two photos are printed here for you to have a look at! (one better than the other).

We all got a free Crunchie bar as we left the Concert Hall...........I bought two badges and before I knew it my Dad was there, telling him of the my great night watching my favourite group, 'Five Star'.

.............................................................................................

18th September 1986

TOUR / HAMMERSMITH ODEON / LONDON 

- Reviewed by Damon Rochefort

When i first interviewed Five Star a couple of years ago, they were giggly, cute and slightly tiresome. Subsequent meetings, as they started to take off, showed some maturity, and a great deal of potential, but i never expected this. Thousands of screaming pre-pubescents wailing in Wham style as five Romford kids jump about in front of a Cadbury's logo.

Sensibly, nobody pretended to play any instruments. They danced, they smiled, they screamed back at the audience several dozen times - and they occasionally attempted a vocal harmony. And they were fab.

The boys may have looked a bit knackered after the first 10 minutes and the costumes made Doris and Lorraine look ever so slightly podgy, but otherwise it was wonderful. The hits were trotted out with charm and expertise and Deniece, with her cute voice and magnificent make-up, stole the show.

'Rain Or Shine' sounded extremely mild next to the great 'All Fall Down' and 'Can't Wait (Another Minute)'but the kids sang along with gusto to everything.

These kids are going to be bigger than Wham ever were (Are you sure? Young Gun, Ed). Honestly. At least they won't take me by surprise again. (What do you mean 'Silk And Steel' is number one????)

.............................................................................................

15th September 1986 TOUR  

BRISTOL COLSTON HALL - 

Reviewed by Andrew Panos

'REIGN AND SHINE'

Outside in the hall the screaming crowd are definately right behind their idols. Even before 5 Star come on stage much of the audience (ranging from ages 12 to 20), has crammed to the front to get a better view.

Tonight's concert is sold out and at first Bristol's Colston Hall, which resembles a local town hall, seems quite a small place. With it's capacity of 2,000 people 5 Star probably could have filled it three times over.

Eventually the lights fade and the massive 5 Star stage logo lights up as Stedman, Lorraine, Deniece, Doris and Delroy stroll onto the stage waving at their fans.

Dressed in their customary sequinned outfits (a sort of aqua blue colour), they take their places at the mikes as the backing band (all hand-picked by dad Buster) play the opening bars to 'R.S.V.P'.

The sequinned wonders immediately launch into their slick and snappy dance routines. You'd think the energetic dance routines they perform on TV would be too tiring to keep up for a 1 1/2 hour live set. Each person's movements are in perfect timing with each other. The hetic pace is kept up for 'System Addict', 'Love Take Over' - in which Deniece arranges an audience singalong - and then 'All Fall Down'.

By this time the Fab Five are perspiring heavily and Deniece annonces that everyone's going to have a glass of water. Stedman holds his glass up to the audience and teases..'Does anybody want to get wet?' Then all five proceed to shower the audience with their glasses of water. Stedman urges everyone to wave their arms along for the next song, 'Rain Or Shine'.

On stage Stedman is obviously the sex symbol. He gets the most cheers for the largely female audience when each member introduces themselves. 'Hello I'm Stedman' quips Deniece. 'And I'm Delroy' says Doris.

Being the youngest, Delroy seems the most nervous and during rehearsals he specially asked for his mike to be turned down slightly. Deniece by comparrison takes to the stage very well. Live her voice is as impressive as on record and she lets out passionate wails and screams on the next song 'Let Me Be The One'.

Now it's time for a break during which the backing band play an instrumental track 'Wining', while 5 Star costume change. They eventually return dressed in bright pink sequinned jump suits and launch into 'Find The Time'.

The next few songs, from the 'Silk And Steel' album might at first not seem like ideal 5 Star material. Titles such as 'Are You Man Enough', 'The Slightest Touch' and 'If I Say Yes' could be considered a mite too suggestive for 5 Star but Deniece's delivery is all demure, pouting seduction rather than anything downright 'naughty' and 'Princelike'.

The crowd eventually coax them back for an encore of 'Rain Or Shine' during which the five shower their greatful audience with flowers. Deniece throws her towel out to two boys in the audience who proceed to scrap vigorously for its ownership. Some more 'Goodnights' and 5 Star's second ever concert ends to rapturous applause.

And after the final pirouette and lots of crowd cheering all five stand with their hands aloft 'Goodnight' waves Deniece as they all trundle off stage.

'We didn't think we'd enjoy the live work as much as recording and TV apperances but this is MUCH more exciting' says a breathless Lorraine minutes after the concert.

And there's 2,000 screaming fans who couldn't agree more.....