As Adrian Steenland this I felt the need to write down the most memorable september days ever for me. Yesterday is history, but the memory in burned on my heart forever.

Thursday, the 27th of September was the biggest day of that year, or maybey of the last years for me. After reading so many reviews of gigs in the states, i sometimes got a bit envious. I must admit. But the 27sth of September 2001 was the day we in Holland were able to see John live, playing Holland for the first time in his live, Boerderij in Zoetermeer.

Early in the afternoon I took off with my wife Henrike to Zoetermeer and I got there at about 16:30. (4:30pm) Much to early as John wouldn't play till about 21:45. (9:45pm) But I thought, sitting at home I would not see John for sure... So I'd to take the chance.

Nobody was there, when we got there, not even Adri Steenland.Who said he'd be there (would he be sorry later). Well, we wandered around, knocked at some doors, looking everywhere, hoping to see a glimpse of John. Then one door wasn't locked, and in the distant, oh my heart skipped a beat. I heard the voice... John??? Yes, he was DOING A SOUNDCHECK. But there got someone from the venue so hazard arrived. I was scared he would send us away. But after asking very, very polite he said ''Sure, take a look. These are very nice guys''. Meaning John and Damon and Buck. There we go into a fully empty venue: only his manager (Jeff van Duyn) some sound men and the boys. Well, they soundchecked for 45 minutes and we sat in silence, me and my wife. Keeping a low profile, not fully understanding that it was really me sitting there and John singing. If I had planned it, it would never have happened. But you see were courage can get you and luck. BTW, I think John was wearing glasses? And after seeing us they were gone, so maybye I am blind or John is a little vain. But this was a solo performance for me and Henrike, my wife.

After that we went outside again, seeing and meeting Adri Steenland and his wife Marian and a lot of other dutch John Waite fans, whom I heard of but never met! And, of course Petra Berends, Willemijn, Anita, Jorg and his wife Anita and so many more. We were like a family awaiting boxing day, so thrilled, so nervous but with our hopes set high. As we appraoched the starting point of the gig the crowed grew, remember there weren't any advertisements for this gig. It was a Goldcircle evening, including Magna Carta.

Then at 22:15 (10:15pm) sharp John entered the stage. Looking great with a white long Blouse and black trousers with stripes and black leather shoes. He was very nervous and agitated, wouldn't stand still for a moment all the time looking at the setlist. Later on Sjaak de Bruyn, the man from Goldcircle Holland told me that John had been that nervous that he wouldn't play and wanted to cancel the whole thing. Why: because he felt guilty for not having played Europe for so long, it took a lot of talking, but John got on stage.

And what a show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I instantly lost my interest in Marillion, this was sooo good, so great, so fantastic. I wanted it to last forever, but it took about 75 minutes. But since he was gonna play 45 minutes this was very profitable for us. John welcomed his old friend Adrian Vandenberg who was there also, also Bert Heerink the lead vocalist of Vandenberg. (Bert Heerink did the dutch cover versions of Missing You, Isn´t it Time and Time stood still. Annotation Petra) We screamed  along with every song, the crowd was filled with sacred admiration.

The setlist:

In Dreams
When I  See You Smile
Keys To Your Heart
NYC Girl: "For our friends in New York"  John was visibly moved when he sang this one.
Change
Whenever You Come Around
Thinking ´bout You (all the time)
Downtown: "About being on the top and being totally fucked up"
Missing You
Fly
Masterpiece Of Loneliness (partly)
Isn't It Time
Time Stood Still:  With a print of the lyrics, cause John did not remeber them, but he liked the lyrics.
Encore: Head First

Then the lights went down and we were left in total exhaustion but very satisfied speakless and breathless over what had happened. But after some serious beers the spirit entered again!!!

Still one thing to go The Meet & Greet but S***T so many people wanting to shake John's hand talk to him. It irritated me a bit, I wanted John for myself. But very soon that egoistic thought left, of course there were more people who shared their admiration with me, making photographs for Adri, cause his camera broke down and in the end I got there. John remembered Adri, Marian but also Petra Berends from the airport. (The dutch fans had found out the guys´ arrival and so few days afore they welcomed a totally surprised John Waite at the Amsterdam airport Schiphol. Annotation Petra) And me. He said: "Wouter... I keep seeing that name everywhere, we must keep in contact and how is Kevin Scott?" (Kevin Scott from Scotland was the editor of the "No Brakes" Fanzines between 1997 and 2000. Annotation Petra.) After signing some things John left with his manager and Sjaak from Gold circle. By that time it was 1:00am (1:00) the next day. We embarked on the way back. It was the end of a day long to be rememberd and never to be forgotten.