In 2010 Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) returned to the scene and Australians were pretty much the first audiences to see him live on tour after 35 years away from the music industry.
eSKae and Boi were both honoured to be a part of history as he began his return to the limelight and were equally humbled to be part of the team that built a tour that would take us with him on an amazing journey for the next two years.
NOTORIOUS…..
Notorious in the 60’s & 70’s for sex, drugs and rock & roll, Cat Stevens was known to be one of the hardest artists of that era to work for. Thankfully he had chilled quite a bit by the time they got to work with him but, he was still someone who kept you on your toes.
PEACE, LOVE & RELIGION….
They got to see the world through his eyes and belief system of Peace, Love and religion. Although obviously a religious man, not once were they instructed or expected to not drink or change their lifestyle in anyway at all. This was great because these times were some of the best they’ve ever had together on the road, travelling on a Tour Bus up to their eyeballs in wine & song, something they experienced on an almost daily basis.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
Somewhere in there there was some serious work and many long days & nights doing what they do, eSKae as Yusuf’s Stylist & Wardrobe manager and Boi, Yusuf’s Piano tech as well as Keyboard/Percussion/Piano tech for Pete Adams & Kwame Yeboah.
CAN YOU PLAY THIS…..?
At one point during rehearsals Yusuf needed some Tambourine on a song and Kwame looked at boi and said “Boi, can you play this?…… My hands are already full playing keys” and boi was like…. “Yeah of course” So boi can honestly say that he has played percussion for Yusuf Islam to tens of thousands of people worldwide.
DON’T MIND IF I DO….
Boi was really getting into photography at the time and was a little forward in jumping in on the action when the band were doing a photoshoot to promote the Australian tour and the next photo was the result of that.
WE ARE BLESSED….
The next few photographs are from the rehearsals in London before taking the show through Europe.
“We have been blessed with the situations we have found ourselves in, and this experience would have to be right up there as one of the best” boi&eSKae
