Friday, January 28, 2011

The R'n'R Nonno's Diary - The second day in Abruzzo


Friday morning and a 30 minute run along the seafront to proceed to another good stroll before more pasta variations at lunchtime.
Promises of another show at night with references to an artist that changed the history of music … CHUCK BERRY!
I was skeptical… Chuck Berry playing a show in Abruzzo? How could this be possible?
The the "Summer Jamboree" Festival really did exist and was headlined by the Man himself. I had seen Chuck Berry before, in about 1975 back home in England at the same venue where I saw AC/DC the first time.
No longer does he strutt his stuff like a younger man and no longer do the riffs come from his fingers, his voice remains the same but the words do not flow from his songs. But hey! We are in the presence of true greatness! A living Rock'n'Roll Legend that spawned the dreams and aspirations of some of rock's greatest stars: Lennon, Richards, Hendrix and our very own Young brothers, to name a few…
It was a great surprise and a pleasure to see him again. All thanks to AC/DC Abruzzo. Cheers!! I just hope nobody saw me with my umbrella again!
PS I think Matteo enjoyed the jive that was also part of the festival

"...and give Tschaikovsky the news..."

Alan and the AC/DC Abruzzo Steering Committee with Antonio (whom we met in Perth the previous February and took him to his first AC/DC show...READ THE STORY)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The R'n'R Nonno's Diary - The first day in Abruzzo

A small portion of Italian Pasta for R'n'R Nonno in Abruzzo

Thursday 5th August 2010 and I'm finally flying to Italy to visit Matteo, Stephano, Andrea and Marco from AC/DC Abruzzo.
Was good to see M and S at the Airport for a warm Abruzzo Welcome.
It wasn't long before Matteo's mother was laying out the lunch table for an introduction of true Italian Pasta (promised in Sydney!!).
Lunch over, time for a stroll along the beach in beautiful sunshine, before it rained… Hey, this is Italy in Summer!
That evening I was taken to see my first Italian rock band: Litfiba at Stadio Pirani. Carrying an Umbrella, like a perfect English gentleman! Matteo said Litfiba was probably the best rock band in Italy back in the '80s and 90's. Then they split up and came back together just a year ago. I quite enjoyed the fact that "Shoot to Thrill" was chosen to warm up the crowd before they came on. Honestly, although I did not understand the lyrics in Italian I did hear mentions of the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and the Pope. Matteo said it was better not to translate what the singer said about them…
M and S said Litfiba brought back a lot of memories from their teenage. They also said that tomorrow they have a special surprise for me. Something that should bring lots of memories from my teenage too… ???

R'N'R Nonno with the infamous AC/DC Abruzzo's "Need 1 ticket" sign