Blah Blah Cafe, the Jean-Michel Jarre forum

[Dr_Jones]

It was played in Hong Kong. Although not the version you hear on the CD.

[Jote]

What was the reason they added “souvenir of China” from La Defense to the Hong Kong album if the song was ‘t played at the 1993/94 shows ?

Maybe the quality of the recording or "well, we already have a PLD version ready to go, other tracks are not from Hong-Kong anyway so why bother"

[nexxxus]

For me, the Hong Kong double CD is the only way to have an official souvenir of the EIC tour on CD.
An enhanced version to coincide with the Hong Kong event. A bonus.
I appreciate it for its sound quality and length.
Like the EIC VHS, which is a reference for its production, quality and long play.

I was less picky back then, but if all new releases could be of this quality, then I would be a happy fan again.

[dzoolook]

but if all new releases could be of this quality, then I would be a happy fan again.

same here

[Finaero]

IIRC, the PLD version of Souvenir of China is actually the same one from Docklands. So I guess it makes sense that the Docklands one was reused and reworked for PLD, the PLD one was reworked for the PLD video and that one was further reworked for the Hong Kong album because the tapes were already there - and that way they didn't have to use anything from Hong Kong itself

[Oxygene]

The reason Hong Kong got a release and not any of the Europe in Concert concerts is because JMJs production company for the tour, CICS, went bankrupt and any release of that tour would mean money would go to the curators. At least, that's the story I read back in the day.

I heard this bankruptcy was also a point of contention between JMJ and Geiss and that's why Geiss left

Never heard of this. And I seriously doubt it. There were rather "artistical differences".

[Oxygene]

The only flaw I notice in the record is a very abrupt cut in Chronologie 8 at the point where the choirs come in.

At the concerts during Chronologie 8, Jean-Michel introduced the musicians with him on stage. This was cut out of the song on CD. That's probably the reason.

[Oxygene]

Following the financial difficulties of CICS
Jean-Michel Jarre explains

Jean-Michel Jarre: despite everything, a new tour this year.
(Photo Pat/Stills.)

“The role of an artist is to go on stage and deliver a show to the public, not to take on the responsibility of management that he does not control,” insists Jean-Michel Jarre following reports that CICS, the production company that organized his European tour last summer, has been in default of payment since January 14 and may file for bankruptcy at the end of the month, leaving several million francs unpaid.

“My European tour was a success,” adds the musician, “but cancellations and the unprofessionalism of a Spanish promoter penalized the organizers of the CICS company. This explains the shortfall, both for suppliers and for myself, as to this day I have not received a single cent from this tour.”

Nevertheless, it should be noted that insurance companies are expected to soon pay CICS (of which Jean-Michel Jarre holds 5% of the shares) compensation corresponding to the cancellations of concerts, which will allow the company to pay its service providers, including three companies (lighting and stage electronics) that have already filed for bankruptcy.

Despite these financial difficulties, Jean-Michel Jarre still plans to carry out a world tour this year, starting in March in Hong Kong, with the majority of providers he has been working with for over ten years.

J.-L.W.

Not to forget, that a concert in Düsseldorf was planned for June 1994. Even the press conference had taken place already. But at short notice, the concert was cancelled and the local promoter went bankrupt. But from what I know from that time, this was indeed the fault of the promoter, who failed to make payments he promised. Most of the fans never got their money back...

[Dr_Jones]

Wasn't it because local authorities thought the concert with the lasers and fireworks was too close to an airport?

[Richard-Eastham]

Wasn't it because local authorities thought the concert with the lasers and fireworks was too close to an airport?

According to CONDUCTOR OF THE MASSES - Issue 14 - Winter 1994, that was indeed the reason given for the cancellation. Either an early concert in what would effectively be daylight, reducing the effect of the lights and lasers, or no show at all, as it could not go on beyond 11pm because of the nearby airport:

https://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn2 ... ol1413.jpg

Interestingly, I do not recall COTM reporting on the bankruptcy situation of CICS after the Europe in Concert tour at the end of 1993, and they were always pretty fair, reporting on the bad press as well as the good press.

[MarnixB]

If it was was bankruptcy why release a video of Barcelona and not a cd ? Isn’t that not strange?

[Dr_Jones]

The VHS was released in France in 1993, around the time the Chronologie 2 single was released (the videoclip features footage from the Barcelona concert, and some behind the scenes footage).
The bankruptcy was early 1994.

I don't remember the exact release date for the rest of the world, though.

[Oxygene]

Wasn't it because local authorities thought the concert with the lasers and fireworks was too close to an airport?

Indeed that was one of the official reasons that was given to the public. But a promoter should have taken this into account long before. Like this year in Stuttgart, where Jarre also had to start quite early due to noise protection regulations, etc.
Another reason that was given officially was that the turf in the stadium needed to be replaced, which is something totally different than the first reason given and also not very convincing.
And I was told by someone who was involved with the promotion that the financial situation of the promoter was the real problem. There were even rumours, that the promoter ran off with the money from the ticket sales (12.000 tickets were already sold)...

I also remember that actually the Düsseldorf concert was planned for a release on CD, instead of Hong Kong.

[Dr_Jones]

It's always the promotor, isn't it?

[Oxygene]

It's always the promotor, isn't it?

In this case it was...
I remember that most of the fans never got their money back and Jarre heard (not always friendly) comments by fans on this "incidient" even many years later when he played concerts in Germany...