Tokyo • Thursday, November 21, 2013

About

This was the third of three shows at the Tokyo Dome. This was also the last “Out There” show of 2013.

From For Whom The Bell Tells, December 4, 2013:

Wednesday 20th November:

There is no show today but we have an awesome evening as Paul threw a surprise birthday party for Nancy on the 24th floor of the hotel we are all in. It’s a private event so not fair of me to report on all the details but special surprises included a Queen tribute act called Gueen and a Beatles one called Parottsu (The Parotts). Gueen had us in stitches and Parottsu had us all up dancing and singing our hearts out. We couldn’t help but think how nerve-racking it must have been for them playing in front of Paul and equally what kind of memories it evoked for Paul. They got the thrill of their lifetime when we all screamed for Paul to join them and he did! He sang ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ with them. What a treat for everyone! Nancy’s birthday is a night we’ll be talking about for years to come.

Thursday 21st November:
Last concert – Tokyo show 3
The last couple of weeks have flown by. The last show of any tour always brings mixed emotions with it. Whilst people are looking forward to getting home we’ll all miss the shows and our second family away from home. It is safe to say we’ve all had an incredible time. At the venue the crew are all in high spirits and looking forward to another great night.

Paul arrives for the final soundcheck around 4:30pm. Even more fans are assembled outside now then on the previous concert days. He’s all smiles as he walks in the venue and greets crew members with friendly hugs and shares some banter about the previous nights party.

Meanwhile across the country in Fukuoka another first that involves Paul is taking place. Back at the wrestling some ‘NEW’ banners appear ahead of the day’s final bouts. The prize money that the fighters receive is based on the sponsorship of each bout and the banners of the sponsors are paraded around the dohyo (the ring) prior to the bout. This is the first time an international rock star has ever sponsored the sumo! This itself creates more front-page news the following day!

Back in Tokyo and word is out in the local Japanese media that the new Ambassador Caroline Kennedy is expected at the show tonight. Masa tells me that Paul’s visit is the story that keeps giving and all the press are chomping at the bit for any information about Paul and the Ambassador possibly meeting.

Sure enough she does come to the show and meets Paul minutes before he takes to the stage for the last time on this run.

The final show is another monumental occasion and the highlight came when Paul stepped on stage for his second encore. When he launched into ‘Yesterday’ every member of the crowd responded by waving a red glow stick in the air. It was a total surprise to Paul and he was clearly moved by the gesture. It was really quite a sight to behold, a sea of 50,000 glow sticks swaying in time to the closing songs. A beautiful parting gesture from Paul’s fans who had made the entire Japanese experience totally magical.

Then it was back to the hotel for a few drinks before we’d all be going our separate ways the following morning. The consensus amongst Paul, the band and the team was that this was their best trip to date to Japan and we’d all been blown away by the reaction to Paul wherever he’d been over the last few weeks.

Before Paul left for the night he went round the crew saying goodnight, goodbye and thanking us for our work. I think I can speak on behalf of the crew by saying that it is us that should say thank you (or domo arigato) to Paul for being part of such a mega experience and part of such a special team.

Stuart Bell

Last updated on February 7, 2021

Tokyo Dome

This was the 17th concert played at Tokyo Dome.

A total of 25 concerts have been played there • 1990 • Mar 1st • Mar 2nd • Mar 3rd • Mar 5th • Mar 7th • Mar 9th • Mar 11th • Mar 13th • 1993 • Nov 12th • Nov 14th • Nov 15th • 2002 • Nov 11th • Nov 13th • Nov 14th • 2013 • Nov 18th • Nov 19th • Nov 21st • 2015 • Apr 23rd • Apr 25th • Apr 27th • 2017 • Apr 27th • Apr 29th • Apr 30th • 2018 • Oct 31st • Nov 1st

Setlist for the soundcheck

Setlist for the concert