Dinners with China Crisis

MANILA, Philippines - For the past few days, I’ve been swamped with inquiries about where China Crisis concert tickets are being sold. Every time I answer it’s a free concert at the Eastwood Mall and Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill, the typical reaction is disbelief followed by the line “there’s gotta be a catch” but there really is none. It’s free!

China Crisis was one of the top bands of the second British music invasion of the ’80s. They are at par in talent and popularity with Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club, Simple Minds, Style Council, The Lotus Eaters, The Cure and the like also known as the “New Romantics.” Unlike most contemporaries from the “New Wave” and “New Romantics” era who have disbanded or parted ways, Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly, its founding members have managed to stay together, record and perform for over two decades, thanks to their cult following in the UK, Europe, US and even in the Philippines.

I’ve always been a fan of China Crisis and regularly featured them in my weekly TV show back in the ’80s called Eurorock. It ran for an odd three years and was shown exclusively on MTVS from the UK and some parts of Europe. Who would have guessed that two decades later, I will be working and socializing with these guys?

Bringing China Crisis to Manila excited me. It’s some sort of departure from the easy listening or oldies artists I normally fly in. This is their second coming — the first back in 2002 where they performed at PICC.

These two concerts (Jan. 21 at Eastwood Mall and Jan. 22 at Venice Piazza, McKinley Hill) are made possible by the great people of Megaworld headed by ’80s music aficionado Kevin Tan.

Dinner #1

…and Casino Filipino’s Richard Gabriel (leftmost) and ’80s Café owner Jon Yauder

My first dinner with Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon a.k.a. China Crisis together with road manager Gus Douglas happened at Paparazzi Italian Restaurant at Shangri-La EDSA Plaza on a slow Monday night. I was nervous at the outset because I didn’t know what cuisine they preferred. It turned out they were very flexible and eat mostly anything. The three-hour dinner went well. I found out that both of them are music teachers when they’re not touring at the Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts And their boss is Sir Paul McCartney. I got flabbergasted! They even mentioned that Sir Paul occasionally pops up and lectures the students.

Our dinner host, the lovely couple from Baguio JB and Jen Bautista, dyed-in-the-wool China Crisis fans peppered Gary and Eddie questions about their songs and singing career. I could tell they were for real because they brought 10 different China Crisis CDs to be autographed. One little gem I learned from the conversation was the song Black Man Ray is a tribute to their idol Ray Charles. Over steaming cups of latte, we said our goodbyes. The Bautista couple from Baguio swore to watch both concerts.

Dinner #2

The second dinner happened at ’80s Café at Ortigas Center next day. Café ’80s is a quaint venue adorned with memorabilia like albums and posters of prominent ’80s artists. It is run by young couple Jon and Cynthia Yauder. I got nervous again when I read the menu featured mostly local fare like sisig and the like. Most artists I’ve offered it to flatly refused except Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet who gobbled it with gusto.

I asked China Crisis to chill with beers first as I ordered a platter of sisig. The sizzling sisig platter arrived and the guys got curious. I offered it to them and to my surprise, they loved it and ordered for a spicier version. I didn’t mention what the ingredients were and just said it was pork with onions and egg.

Two plates of sisig later, China Crisis fans started arriving. I don’t know who spread the news but the guys were gracious enough to sign autographs and pose for photos. One die-hard fan brought around 20 limited edition China Crisis Vinyl singles to be autographed. As more habitues of Café ’80s arrived, we headed for the Richmonde Suites (China Crisis’ official residence) for much- needed shut-eye.

China Crisis Live is happening tonight at 8 at the Eastwood Mall and tomorrow, Jan. 22 at Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill. Once again, the show is free and open to the public.