"Look at 'em," said Jeff Crozier, "they're hovering like vultures!" Jeff pointed to the small platform on top of the stage where a gang of local rock muso's were watching the Deep Purple, Free and Manfred Mann like hawks... picking up all the tricks they could... and there were a lot of tricks to be picked up from Free lead singer Pail Rogers. He was singing brilliantly and rocking all over the stage at the same time, not missing a beat, never going off key...
Andy Fraser cattin' around with his bass guitar... Ian Meldrum took one look and went running towards the stage claiming he needed an interview... he warned Andy that our own Mitchwas waiting to pounce, and Andy showed a lot of interest... By the time they rocked out "All Right Now", the audience was wild... but there wasn't mich space to rock around in... every seat in the hall was filled, and along with Russell Morris and others I was standingin the back balcony... in fact, the place was so packet that Ross Wyllie was actually propped up on the stage... half expected to do "The Star" with Deep Purple backing him, but Ross was only there to watch.
Manfred Mann came on and stunned 'em... for me, they were the best thing of the night... Chapter 3 are a beautiful sound... Manfred himself gave a display of effortless showmanship and his playing was astounding... We always knew about Mick Rogers' talent, but seeing him in this kind of musical company was quite awe-inspiring... Russell Morris was only one of the people knocked out by Mick's guitar-playing, and his lead vocals. His singing is beautifully mouled to the group's sound. Mick may be at the top luvvies, but he hasn't forgotten us... "I recognise a lot of faces from Berties, Sebastian's and the Tum" he told the audience... and little wonder, because it seemed that everyone in Melbourne was there, which only goes to show that rock-freaks WILL turn out for a show that features a world-class line-up... Manfred Mann rocked into their "Mighty Quinn" hit and the whole place was clapping and singing along with them... like Free, the crowd screamed for more when Chapter 3 left the stage...