A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
‘Johnny was fronting the greatest rock’n’roll band in the world.’
EUROPE
Bursa Kültürpark Open Air Theatre, Turkey
June 9, 2015
★ When you hear ‘rock concert in Turkey’, chances are you think ‘Istanbul’. So it was with curiosity that I joined Europe on this leg of their 2015 tour, on the back of War Of Kings (part of their latter-day, de-80sifiying rock renaissance). How much of an appetite would there be for them in this relatively orthodox pocket of northwest Turkey?
In a festival line-up composed of Turkish pop and classical acts, Europe were the sole rock band. The space was packed. The bar sold only popcorn, soft drinks and candyfloss. In the UK you’d expect the audience to consist largely of people who remember the band from the 80s. Here the dominant group was 20-somethings in War Of Kings, AC/DC and Slayer T-shirts, who enthused about Europe, Iron Maiden and Cinderella. For some it was their first gig.
Europe played superbly, but it was the crowd that made this feel special. From the beefy, ‘grown-up, the response was one of giddy delight – and all without a drop of alcohol in sight.