It’s 911 for ‘Miles Away’

Concert promoter Steve O’Neal has shaved his head. It’s his new look for the new year. But I suspect one of his reasons for trying to look like Michael Jordan or Yul Brynner is to cover up the hair he lost after a widely-published press release showed the wrong telephone number to call in reserving tickets for the Zombies shows he’s staging at the Araneta Coliseum on Monday and the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Tuesday, Valentine’s Day.

The wrong telephone number missed the right number by a digit. The correct telephone number to call for tickets to the Araneta and Ynares shows is 911-5555. That’s the number to dial to connect to Ticketnet. Of course, the Zombies are also performing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Glorietta Makati tomorrow night and the number to call for reservations to that show is 893-4661 to 64.

O’Neal says Ticketnet telephone operators were called by an individual whose telephone number was inadvertently published in the press release. I understand the individual was swamped by an avalanche of phone calls inquiring about Zombies tickets.

Luckily, the error hasn’t dampened public enthusiasm for the shows. Tickets are selling briskly, reports O’Neal, and Ticketnet is deluged by callers some of whom initially dialed the wrong number.

As for the individual whose telephone number became an instant Ticketnet line, I hope he’s a Zombies fan. If he wasn’t before, he should be by now because from the flood of calls he got, it has probably dawned on him that this British Invasion band of the ’60s must be worth watching. After all, the Zombies began performing in 1963 and they’re still going strong to this day.

The Zombies arrived Tuesday morning and are billeted at the Manila Hotel.

Lead vocalist Colin Blunstone, acknowledged as one of the finest English singers ever, told O’Neal upon arrival that he’s definitely adding the hit "Miles Away" in the Zombies set list for the Manila shows. Blunstone recorded "Miles Away" as a solo artist and the song has enjoyed repeated airplay in the Philippines. It’s a romantic theme song for a lot of couples and with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Blunstone said he’s dedicating it to the lovers of the world, particularly in the Philippines.

O’Neal says Blunstone and keyboards artist Rod Argent closeted themselves in a London studio rehearsing the song for hours to make sure they get it right on stage. Apparently, Blunstone has never sung it live before. So "Miles Away" will make its historic debut on stage in Manila. For a Zombies diehard like me, the song alone is worth the price of admission. Blunstone recorded many more singles as a solo performer and will be singing his hits during the Zombies tour. Among them are "I Don’t Believe in Miracles" "Old and Wise" and "Misty Roses."

But the song list will be loaded with Zombies favorites like "She’s Not There" "Tell Her No" "Time of the Season" "The Way I Feel Inside" "Goin’ Out of My Head" "I Love You" "Indication" and "I Remember When I Loved Her."

It’s the Zombies’ first Asian tour in nearly 40 years so Blunstone, Argent and the rest of the band are excitedly promising an unforgettable series of shows here.

By the way, Blunstone and Argent will be Cito Beltran’s guests on his "Straight Talk" show on TV tonight and the Zombies will perform two songs on TV’s "Eat Bulaga" in a special TV appearance tomorrow.

Don’t forget. For tickets to Monday’s Araneta and Tuesday’s Ynares concerts, the right number to call is 911-5555. And for the Hard Rock show tomorrow night, it’s 893-4661 to 64.

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Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said the other day beating Ginebra in the semifinals was the Barakos’ preparation for Purefoods in the best-of-7 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) San Mig Coffee Fiesta Conference finals that got underway at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

"Our big guys, particularly Enrico (Villanueva) and Mick (Pennisi), were physically and mentally challenged in the Ginebra series and they proved themselves against guys like (Eric) Menk and (Romel) Adducul," said Guiao. "Now they’re up against Kerby (Raymundo), (Jondan) Salvador and (Marc) Pingris. I think they’re confident of what they can do. We expect Purefoods to walk it up like they did against Air21. But we’ll wear them down. We’ll run and use our depth. We’re prepared for any kind of game–fast or slow. Their strengths are their quickness and outside shooting. Their weakness is the lack of a post game."Before Game 1, Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio visited the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at 10 in the morning with his wife Jin and prayed for God’s help at the Adoration Chapel in Antipolo where the family relocated only three weeks ago to a new home.

Guiao said he had no special ritual before the series opener. He prayed a decade of the rosary with his wife Jenny and sought St. Joseph’s guidance in the car on the way to the coliseum yesterday afternoon.