Final Joel gig

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 1

Final Joel gig

By

DAVE WILSON

Before they allowed us into Lancaster Park we were frisked by security guards. A male guard for the men, a woman for the women. Pockets, bags, purses, they delved in search ... of what? "Cameras, tape recorders, booze,” the guard said, methodically checking for anything that could be used to make a bootleg record of the concert Outside the gates thousands lined up with their tickets, while on the sidelines a few downed stubbles and cans. The beer would get into the park, but in a human container.

Patrolling the streets, Ministry of Transport officers * on point duty tried to control the

endless convoy of cars that prowled in search of the impossible — an empty space near the park. Inside the park uniformed St John Ambulance officers were ready for the fainting, sprains and the headaches. A contingent of 50 Christchurch police patrolled for incidents that didn’t eventuate. The crowd that came to see Billy Joel and John Farnham were more interested in fun than creating a disturbance. Billy Joel’s world tour ended in Christchurch, Noo Zealand. "This is gig number 151. This is the end, right here,” he said and the audience roared recognition.

Review, page 8