Destination Docklands - The London Concert - Photos
Discussion
Can’t really believe it was 20 years ago this week (8th & 9th October 1988) that Jean Michel Jarre set London’s Docklands alight.
I remember my Mother talking about the concert being on and stating it would be good to go and see, but you probably wouldn’t get anywhere near it.
As time went on, the one concert scheduled for September was changed to two dates in October of 1988.
The setting was London’s Royal Victoria Dock, lined with cranes, warehouses and old grain silos. Jean Michel Jarre selected the location as the backdrop for his industrial sounding album Revolutions. At the time he wanted to link his music with surroundings, using the saying he used quite a lot “visual techniques.” Roughly interpreted this meant lasers, dozens of searchlights and S
t loads of fireworks.
I was 13 at the time, and only knew Oxygene IV. It was the concert that got me into Jarre’s music.
On the Saturday I remember coming along the A127 over Gallows Corner flyover in Romford, seeing the sky alight with searchlights from the docks. We parked up on a highpoint in Collier Row and watched the last few minutes of the show whilst listening to the simulcast on Radio 1.
The next day we enquired if there was anywhere to park in the side roads. Although we didn’t have tickets, we went up with my Uncle who is disabled, and managed to get a parking spot just near Connaught. No one could direct us to a disabled parking location so we were allowed to park down a side road.
It was tipping down with rain, quite windy and the music wafted over from the docks in big chunks of sound. The searchlights were going for miles around.
I decided to take my camera along and get some photos. I was out in a field, in Newham, in the dark. I had a Pentax ME Super, with if I remember correctly a 50mm lens on a tripod. I was rushing backwards and forwards to my Uncles minibus to stop the camera getting drenched.
It was a remarkable event, I have never seen a firework/lightshow as good since.
I’ve been searching high & low, but unfortunately I couldn’t find my original Destination Docklands photos, I could only find some scans I did a few years back on a not very good scanner.
I hope some of these bring back some memories of 20 years ago!!
First up. The Royal Victoria Dock, circa 1989/1990. Note the emptiness of the skyline compared to Docklands now!!
Millennium Mills and the Smaller Premier Mill at the front are the only two buildings from the concert now standing. Millennium Mills was painted white specially for the projections.
Onto the night of the Concert.
Revolutions.
September – Jean Michel Jarre’s tribute to Dulcie September.
And finally 20 years on, the redeveloped docklands with the Millennium Mill and Premier Mill being the only two buildings from the concert left standing. The big space on the left was where the old CWS Mill stood, and this was also used as a massive projection screen.
It still surprises me how many people you speak to, even today who saw the concert from the surrounding areas!!
I remember my Mother talking about the concert being on and stating it would be good to go and see, but you probably wouldn’t get anywhere near it.
As time went on, the one concert scheduled for September was changed to two dates in October of 1988.
The setting was London’s Royal Victoria Dock, lined with cranes, warehouses and old grain silos. Jean Michel Jarre selected the location as the backdrop for his industrial sounding album Revolutions. At the time he wanted to link his music with surroundings, using the saying he used quite a lot “visual techniques.” Roughly interpreted this meant lasers, dozens of searchlights and S
t loads of fireworks.I was 13 at the time, and only knew Oxygene IV. It was the concert that got me into Jarre’s music.
On the Saturday I remember coming along the A127 over Gallows Corner flyover in Romford, seeing the sky alight with searchlights from the docks. We parked up on a highpoint in Collier Row and watched the last few minutes of the show whilst listening to the simulcast on Radio 1.
The next day we enquired if there was anywhere to park in the side roads. Although we didn’t have tickets, we went up with my Uncle who is disabled, and managed to get a parking spot just near Connaught. No one could direct us to a disabled parking location so we were allowed to park down a side road.
It was tipping down with rain, quite windy and the music wafted over from the docks in big chunks of sound. The searchlights were going for miles around.
I decided to take my camera along and get some photos. I was out in a field, in Newham, in the dark. I had a Pentax ME Super, with if I remember correctly a 50mm lens on a tripod. I was rushing backwards and forwards to my Uncles minibus to stop the camera getting drenched.
It was a remarkable event, I have never seen a firework/lightshow as good since.
I’ve been searching high & low, but unfortunately I couldn’t find my original Destination Docklands photos, I could only find some scans I did a few years back on a not very good scanner.
I hope some of these bring back some memories of 20 years ago!!
First up. The Royal Victoria Dock, circa 1989/1990. Note the emptiness of the skyline compared to Docklands now!!
Millennium Mills and the Smaller Premier Mill at the front are the only two buildings from the concert now standing. Millennium Mills was painted white specially for the projections.
Onto the night of the Concert.
Revolutions.
September – Jean Michel Jarre’s tribute to Dulcie September.
And finally 20 years on, the redeveloped docklands with the Millennium Mill and Premier Mill being the only two buildings from the concert left standing. The big space on the left was where the old CWS Mill stood, and this was also used as a massive projection screen.
It still surprises me how many people you speak to, even today who saw the concert from the surrounding areas!!
Excellent! I was there for the first show. Nearly missed it - got my dates mixed up and only just made it to join my mates on the tour coach from Nottingham after an 3am coach from University in Bradford.
Was an amazing night though - still have the posters from the show in a roll somewhere upstairs...
Was an amazing night though - still have the posters from the show in a roll somewhere upstairs...
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