R O LLING ROCK E RS Stars have come out to play in force
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this year — Sweet music to the ears of rock's specialist hauliers. If only the fans didn't dance on the trailer roofs...
An explosion, a shower of sparks and Michael Jackson is suddenly on stage, staring straight ahead and immobile, as he prepares to entertain the rain-sodden masses in Wembley Stadium for the next two hours. Few of the fans will be aware that the diminutive star dancing to a chart-topping rhythm relies on 78 trucks to carry his show across Europe.
It is the biggest tour ever, according to London-based Edwin Shirley Trucking, which began life nearly 20 years ago touring David Bowie from the back of one three-tonne former bread van.
Del Roll, one of the four Edwin Shirley directors, was Bowie's drummer in the late sixties: "In those days you'd just turn up with a three-tonner and have a go."
The summer of '92 has been exceptionally good for some of the operators which specialise in transporting rock groups. Edwin Shirley has also toured Genesis, Bryan Adams and Bruce Springsteen throughout Europe.
This year people have taken the bull by the horns," says Roll. He has been transporting Michael Jackson since May in a tour that finishes later this month. But when CM dropped in backstage at Wembley, Roll had yet to see the show.
"I went to the rehearsal at Universal Studios in Los Angeles to calculate how many trucks would be needed," he explains, adding that showtirne is when he normally catches up with the paperwork.
The next stop after Wembley is Vienna and drivers are issued with bulletins which include route changes, town plans and details of parking. Roll is respected as a logistics mastermind — the 78 vehicles include 22 carrying the sound, lights and scenery; 27 in three sets of nine leapfrog across Europe with four stages while another three groups of two leapfrog carrying the stage roofs and the "flying carpet", an elevated walkway.
The Vienna stage is being set up while the Wembley fans queue. At the same time the Glasgow stage is being dismantled to go to Germany.
Roll says the boom this year has happened because the industry works on an "every other year" basis. Last year Edwin Shirley was kept ticking over by a "steady selection" of music business clients, including opera and ballet companies. The Roiling Stones were the company's major act in 1990 — a mere 30 trucks compared to Jackson's 78 — but the group's singular popularity put others off touring.
Edwin Shirley's vehicle fleet includes eight tractors and 40 stepframe trailers, with American Aeroquip load restraint and ramps, considered by Roll to be the most robust for heavy equipment. A hard core of owner-drivers are also employed, driving in the firm's livery.
Before a wheel turns, a detailed routeing plan is agreed. Jackson's agent proposed a route and Roll decided whether it was practical. A budget is agreed with the star's production company. "We set our price based on a specific itinerary — if that changes the price changes," explains Roll.
The image of sex and drugs and rock'n'roll is as faded as Springsteen's jeans. The industry has become stable and professional: "The wild rock'n'roll parties have gone — people talk about their mortgages," admits Roll.
When the Jackson show ends with a flourish Roll's drivers start their engines for the long journey to Vienna.
itT his year and last are the best we've ever had," says Mark
Guterres, owner of Eurotrux of Melksham near Bath and Transam Trucking of Diss, Norfolk. Both outfits specialise in transporting rock groups.
This year's clients have included Elton John, Guns n' Roses, Def Leppard, Diana Ross, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and Cher.
"In May and June everyone decided to tour," says Guterres, "There were tours we were asked to quote for that we had to turn down." A fleet of 50 vehicles was supplemented by owner-drivers. Both companies are on target to meet last year's figures when Transam turned over £2.5m and Eurotrux Elm.
The business is flexible. Last year AC/DC toured with 25 trucks, finishing in Barcelona. "They put on an extra date in Moscow so we hired a giant Antonov tank transporter to fly in 14 truck loads of equipment, followed by an aircraft carrying three fully loaded trucks," explains Gutteres.
Drivers are employed by the job but there is a core of 30 regulars — five have been with Guterres since he set up in 1978. He used to be a roadie so is aware of the industry's golden rule — you can never be late: "I pulled a driver off a tour because he was an hour late loading."
If a driver is stuck in Scandinavia in a blizzard and a wheel nut needs changing, he has to do it — "You can't go back to bed because you will miss the show," says Guterres. The pressure to be always on time works both ways. "Rock'n'roll drivers don't make good general haulage drivers because they are used to getting well treated — when a driver turns up at Wembley he gets unloaded on time."
Competition can be fierce — especially as much of the work is not up for tender because clients choose 'favourites'. Eurotrux and Trans= aim to keep their trucks rolling all year round and accept small tours as well as the majors.
Typically, a six-week European tour with three trucks will cost the client £40,000 and Guterres spends £100,000 a year flying out relief drivers: "I advise if a journey is not legal — if you get caught running over hours in Europe your truck keys are taken."
Redburn Transfer of Linfield is unusual among rock hauliers in that its family origins go back to 1870 when as Redburn Transport it used horse-drawn wagons for general haulage work.
Its move into music came about because present owner Chris Redburn found seventies fame in pop group Kenny. When those glory days ended Redburn decided in 1981 to combine his love of music with the family background in haulage and resurrected Redburn, which had closed during the seventies.
Tours this year have included Simply Red, Prince and Pavarotti, with Prince the biggest at 15 vehicles. "We limit the big tours to about two a year," says Redburn. "We don't want too many trucks on the road at one time because you lose quality control."
The operation relies on Scanias, which Redburn maintains have a better residual value than most trucks, as well as excellent aftercare service. An exception is a single Volvo F12 Globetrotter, which has proved a success.
The company has had an average year, with a lucky break when the French lorry drivers called off their blockade just as Prince went into Europe. Redburn views the new year with optimism but says: It only needs a crisis like the Gulf War and American acts will not come over. In this business nothing is guaranteed and the contracts are short-term. It's a question of keeping performance standards or you won't get the job again."
Fans dancing on trailer roofs, putting broken bottles under wheels, pulling the handles on the fifth-wheel coupling and covering trucks in graffiti are among the annoyances Sheffield operator Stardes has faced in 10 years on the road.
"It can be a load of grief," says Stardes boss David Steinberg, a former nightclub owner. His wife Sue is partner in the business which specialises in touring the newer, chart-breaking groups.
The company has grown from one tractor in 1982 to a 75-vehicle operation. Tractors are mainly Dafs. "We are one of the largest runners of 45-foot trailers in the UK, with 18 in the fleet," says Steinberg. Stardes offers a self-drive rental service and has supplied five vehicles to Edwin Shirley for the Michael Jackson tour. Steinberg is also pleased to have supplied five artics to Frank Sinatra, for what may be 01' Blue Eyes' last tour.
Steinberg reckons it has been a fair year, with 41 outdoor shows, but worries that there is not enough money in circulation for ticket sales. He believes the industry will shrink to four operators, with firms jointly buying diesel cheaper. "Eventually, I think the big boys will become interested," he says, pointing to TNT's involvement with Torvill and Dean.
For the moment the ice remains firm — Stardes plans to add a third depot to its Sheffield and London sites and is ordering six new Daf Spacecabs. However, Steinberg is sickened by price wars between competitors: "The recession is hitting the entertainment industry — it will get worse before it gets better." 0 by Patric Cunnane If" ibbett & Britten drivers John Smith and Bill Sadler have just returned from Romania; they took a 7.5-tonner loaded with clothes, blankets and other provisions to help the people of Chiojdani, a remote mountain village.
As well as T&B many other businesses donated supplies, including Body Shop, Laura Ashley and British Airways. More than £1,000 was raised at a "Romanian Rave". The upper parts of the village are only accessible by horse and cart — the Hawk is certain there are some hauliers still refusing to switch to motorised wagons who may be able to help out.