Hola.. from John Lawton

[John Lawton]

Hi everybody……

A few days have gone by now since HV08 and we are still here in Spain……
I have to say, that Heepvention went further than any expectations I had, when Alan and I first
plotted the event, over a year and a half ago, it was just fantastic…..
To stand on that stage and be able to relate to most people by their first name is a very
humbling experience….

To everyone who took part in the jam sessions…..absolutely wonderful, it just shows how talented
some people are. I know a lot of you were nervous, but it really didn’t show…
In this respect, a load of thanks goes to Phil for holding it together tighter than Joe Keenan’s wallet ;-)

Circle Of Hands were absolutely awesome, but I knew that from the gig in Holland last year.
The Deiggj band (family) were also a delight, and I am so glad they made it. If any of you get the
chance to go to the Faroe Islands, do it, you won’t be disappointed, but don’t eat Puffin, there’s
no meat on the legs…:-))

I think the addition of the Flamenco dancers was a success, especially to Pete Wharton and all
those who sat at the front. We wanted to give a little taste of Spain, and that most certainly worked.

Highlight for me, was the impromptu unplugged set, together with Lee and Ken…..
I was kind of hoping Lee wouldn’t let it go with out joining in ;-) and that he most certainly did.
I had no idea he was on stage with us (had my eyes closed as is normal for a blues singer)
but then to hear his voice joining in, it took me right back to the recording days, when Ken, Lee
and myself, would be in the studio doing backing vocals…priceless…

Unfortunately, vocally I did over do it a bit during the 3 days, too much talking at high volume,
the air conditioning in the building, the auction, joining in with the jams, sleepless nights at Alan’s
(he knows what I’m talking about) barking dogs, Spanish Cockerels who have no idea what time
to crow, somebody tell them its only 3 am..not dawn yet..;-)
So sadly when it came to the HLKND set, there wasn’t much left (everybody say YES JOHN !!)
but I managed to struggle through…..

To all of you who came from far and wide to be there…LOTSA HUGS…
Will we do it again ?? another 8 years and I will be 70 J, maybe on my Zimmer frame….
Everybody say NO JOHN !! :-))
Take care and if you see me on the road somewhere drop in to say Hi….

p.s. Thanks Esa, for this fabulous site!!!

John.

[Gitta Löwenstein]

Hi John,

what else can I say? I only can subscribe to the previous statements...you, Iris, Alan, Margaret and all the others, who helped, to make this great event possible, did a very hard work and I want to thank you all again!
I remember, when I first was on stage with you in Netphen, to help singing the end of LADY IN BLACK, you said to me, that this wasn´t the last time, singing together and it wasn´t;-)))
I also found new friends...and I will never forget this wonderful time in Spain for the rest of my life!

Gitta

[Egil "Heepaholic"Bokn]

John.
What you, Iris, Alan and Margareth did for us is just priceless. All those great moment and the highlight for me and Marianne; The jam with Lee and Ken. Priceless, just priceless !! So many friends that we haven`t seen for a while and lotsa new friends to be found. Enjoy your stay in Spain and please do keep in touch with us all through this great site.

Best of regards and keep on rocking.
Egil & Marianne

[John]

Hi John, you and Iris did a wonderful job along with everyone else Alan, Margaret, Phil, Mike(Muzzy) and all involved. It was great to see you again after 9 years. Thanks for coming to the airport to lead me to the Hotel and make sure me and my sister were checked in. You know at the end of the week, I was finally getting used to going around without getting lost, but then it was time to go. I had a wonderful time and thanks for the invite months back when I didn't even know about it. Keep in touch. Hola from Canada :)

[Gianfranco]

Come to Brazil my friend!! I hope to see the OTR playing here in Curitiba, maybe a few heep songs during the show... Thanks for making our lives better, ligther and hopefull.

[Ed Halliburton]

It's just typical of John to be self-effacing and gracious to all of us. After aIl, though, it was John who put this magical event together, along with his faithful "staff" of Iris and Alan. We thank you all for your Hurculean efforts. I myself was humbled to be in the presence of the former members of Uriah Heep and to learn that all of them are wonderful people. It was well worth the effort to come to Spain to be a part of this singular event and I look forward to meeting all of the Heepsters around the world next year (?)

[Herluf Hermansen]

I just have to say that I am glad, I finally got a chance to play with you John. You remember when you were in the Faroes and we had to find a replacement drummer? I thought that sucked, but now it doesn't matter anymore. Whenever you get sick is the exact wrong time to get sick, hahaha ... but I am rocking now!

You guys did a great job with this HeepVention. I will certainly be there next time.

Herl

[Staf Pypen]

How nice of you John, it is a pleasure knowing you. And what you and your "equipe de choc" pulled of here, simply magnificent. I am pretty sure I will never forget what was going on in Spain on those 6 days of joy before, during and after the Heepvention. It was worth it's price. No doubt about it.
Congratulations to you, Iris, Alan, Margaret and the others behind the scene. You are "The Stars".

Staf / Frieda

[Alan Keetley]

How very typical of John to thank all and sundry, but lets not forget just how much he and Iris put into that weekend. Believe me the input from them was immense. Just remember Iris did ALL the posters, tickets, programmes and worked incredibly hard to make sure you all had a hotel to go to when you got here! As you can imagine its not an easy task to organise something like Heepventions, but I will tell you all now that without John and Iris this would NEVER have happened in a thousand years. There effort and enthusiasm kept it all on track. And I can honestly say we never had a cross word in the whole 18 months. Once again, that says everything about them. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for everything, and I mean everything. We feel very humbled to be able to call them our friends. I tried to say that in my opening speech, but felt the emotions coming on, so backed out! To all who attended, you are the REAL stars of HV 08. Many thanks.Margaret and the kids send love to each and every one of you.

Alan