|
26-03-1980 / Bombay / Rang Bhavan / INDIA The Police arrived in Bombay on 24-03-1980 and stayed at the Taj Mahal Intercontinental Hotel. Since Hawkind performed in India in the early seventies The Police became the first British rock band to work their way into the country's huge record market by playing one show in Bombay. The concert raised £5,000 for sick children and was organized by the Time And Talents Club, a group of 48 middle-aged ladies. Huge linen signs around the city proclaimed "Police - Not Cops but Pops". All tickets for the show sold in one day. The venue was an open-air auditorium, rather curiously surrounded with buildings. The lighting was very minimal, only a small cluster of lamps on two poles. One of the chief organisers from the Time and Talents Club stood up on the stage before the band came on to make a short speech. After the show Sting reacted: "We were just amazed at the reaction. Since no big rock band had played here before no one had any idea what to expect, but once the kids were on their feet they were just as wild as any audience anywhere" (Evening News; 28-03-1980). On 27-03-1980 Sting, Andy and Miles left Bombay and went on their way to Cairo (with stops in Maskate and Aboe Dhabi). Stewart decided to stay one extra day with the BBC crew. |