RIGA - In America, the '80s may be stranded in ironic VH1 nostalgia specials, but in the rest of the world, the decade has never ended. On this side of the earth, Michael Jackson is still the moonwalker and not the self-mutilated freak who's been put on trial (what like twice, now) for child molestation. Phil Collins is still cool. Tallinn has a bar that only plays Dire Straits songs, which is meant to be only half-ironic. And people know the name Chris Rea.
Quick show of hands: Who knows who Chris Rea is? Okay geezers, you can put them down now and wipe that knowing arrogant, late baby-boomer look off your face. For the rest of you, "You mean you haven't heard of Chris Rea?"
Rea was one of those Brit badass bluesy '80s guitarists. Think Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits. Wait, you know the 1989 album "Road to Hell," and the title song that begins with the lyrics: "Well I'm standing by a river. / But the water doesn't flow. / It boils with every poison you can think of." You know, it's played on every classic rock station in America, once every three hours or so. That's the guy.
Well Rea will be playing in the Baltics this week, doing the usual one-show each in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Unfortunately, the mood will be bittersweet. Cancer hit the 55-year-old Rea a few years ago, he had a pretty brutal operation in 2002, and he's announced that this year's European Tour will be his last.
Chris Rea, we hardly knew you…
This is the sort of thing that makes you stop and reflect why everyone loves the '80s in the Baltics. I know there's the whole thing about how some of this stuff came through on Radio Free Europe just as communism was crumbling. But that was almost a generation ago. Is this some sort of "Goodbye, Lenin" nostalgia thing? Or is it that the 80's in these parts was what the 50's was like in America, hence leading to its own "Leave It to Beaver"- type yearning? Discuss amongst yourselves.
Back to Chris Rea…
Rea, with his distinctively deep hoarse voice, was the son of an ice-cream parlor owner in England. He first came to prominence in the late 70's with the hit single "Fool (If You Think It's Over)." There followed a succession of hits throughout the 80's. Pathetic conformists listened to Jon Bon Jovi. The people who knew it was just about the music listened to Chris Rea.
Just go to the show.
Chris Rea concert
Tallinn's Saku Arena -
March 13
Riga's Arena Riga -
March 14
Vilnius' Siemens Arena -
March 15
More info: www.chrisrea.com
