Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

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Ms Hagen, Messrs Brooker, Economou and Schoener

meet Micky Messer


Sam Cameron reports in words and pictures on Gary Brooker's musical meeting with Nina Hagen, during a 'Rock Meets Classic' 1985 show in Japan, broadcast by satellite to Germany. This Threepenny Opera duet was seemingly impromptu, and is entirely unconnected with the Brecht-Weill tribute album made by various rock musicians …though Hagen herself has recorded Brecht / Weill … see here for example.

Niclas Economou begins with an impressive improv of Mackie Messer with a bit of Whisky Bar thrown in. Gary sits opposite him a very long way on another piano …

… peering bemusedly, and begins to sing the Brecht / Weill song more in the style of The Angler than in the spirit of the original

Now Nina Hagen's band join Gary and begin to jam on the piece. Note sheet music on the Brooker piano.

Enter the lady herself to sing in the spirit of the original.

Now she exhorts Mr Brooker to come and join her.

Nina in her conveniently-zipped garment.

Nina close-up … before Gary joins her, and she encourages him to condemn Mack's pimping

Gary acts out the part with sympathy to Mack
(an unusual take on the piece)

Schoener gets into the picture. Still Nina tries to get Gary to condemn Mack … and still she tries …

Brooker's most impassioned moment

Gary and Nina on the big screen above the band.

'... how did I get into this … ?'

The credits roll, masking the Brooker-Hagen kiss


Back to Gary Brooker's page at BtP

More about Rock Meets Classic


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