SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2006                               BIRMINGHAM MAIL
 

SHOWBIZ: After 25 years, the Osmonds can still send Brum audiences crazy

CRAZY HORSES…
Jay, Jimmy, Merrill and Wayne Osmond on stage at the NIA last night.
Picture: Alan Williams

We Love Them For a Reason!

Some may think them a little sad, but Osmonds fans are among the most loyal around and chief among them must be Solihull worker Lindsey Campton (pictured).  She joined thousands of other devotees at the NIA last night.

A tremor of excitement ran round the auditorium and the first chants of “we want the Osmonds” started to ring out.

As the lights dimmed, this noise grew and then, coming out of the smoke, the Osmond brothers appeared. The NIA went wild.

It’s been over 25 years since the Osmonds first took t the stage in the UK, and it seemed they had never been away – Osmondmania hit town.

For the last night of their tremendous 20-night UK tour,
there they were, looking suave, sophisticated, maybe a
little greyer – but without a doubt, drop dead gorgeous!

Hit after hit range out – Down by the Lazy River, Love for a Reason, We’re having a Party, One Bad Apple, and a selection of songs from their fabulous album The Plan – the crown sand their heart out and the Osmonds loved it.

By the looks on their faces they were enjoying
them-selves as much as we were,

Text Box: Like one big family The emotion started early when fans, like Corrinne Vernon, from Nuneaton, Trudy from Cardiff, and KJ, who had travelled down from Glasgow, met with Merrill and Jay outside the stage door, where the guys spent over 45 minutes talking to and having photographs taken with the fans, despite the bitter cold.  Merrill summed it all up perfectly when he said: “We are all like one big family – we have all grown up together.” That’s exactly how true fans feel.  There is a rumour that this is to be the last time the brother’s tour together – and after nearly 50 years in the business, who can blame them? But let’s hope the welcome they received from the UK fans convinces them otherwise.

 

and seemed
truly amazed by the reaction of their fans.

Each of the brothers had their own moments, with Merrill leading the way with his still silky voice. Wayne wooed the crowd with is baritone tones, Jay wowed us all with his fantastic drum solo, and Jimmy took us back to our youth with Long Haired Lover from Liverpool.

But the biggest and best surprise of all was when Brother Alan joined them on stage. Alan, suffering from MS, very rarely appears anymore – however his appearance sent the fans into a frenzy!

His brothers looked upon him with pride as he took his rightful place at the centre of the group. The standing ovation said it all.

They finished with their signature song – Crazy Horses –
and brought the house down once more. What a truly fantastic
night, and the fans’ memories of the show will stay with us for
the next 25 years.  Let’s hope they come back soon.

Text Box: What do you think?  Were you at the show – were the Osmonds as good as ever?  Write to Birmingham Mail, PO Box 78, Weaman Street, Birmingham, B4 6AY or email: eveningmail@mrn.co.uk