Take your mind back to 1989.
Obviously I wasn’t alive back then, but let’s ignore that for the time being.
The Cold War is coming to an end, the threat of nuclear war is receding and
communism over Eastern Europe is coming to an end. The following year the
Soviet Union would collapse and Germany would be reunited again after 45 years.
1989 was a year of change, a change in Eastern Europe and a change in Love City
Groove. They were performing one of their 3 tours within West Germany, and in
November they would perform in Berlin.
From 7:17pm to 8:00pm of the 9th
November 1989 a broadcast was made by the local Federal Republic of Germany News station in West Berlin. This broadcast was also received
by the vast majority of the East Berlin population. The broadcast portrayed
this message, that from this day hence, the passage between East Berlin and
West Berlin, hence the Capitalist West and Communist East, would be relaxed.
This message was perceived by many as to mean that the way was becoming more
open, and so a few minutes after the broadcast ended, thousands turned out onto
the streets from both ends of Berlin to try and pass through the security and
demand the free movement between the East and West. The guards were confused by
these matters, normally it was only one or two East Berliners a week – and when
that happened they were to be shot on sight and/or taken to prison. However today
thousands were ramming themselves against the mauer and demanding the removal of the tor. This was unprecedented. The guards were receiving no orders
from their chain of command and there was chaos. Finally, at 10:45pm the guard
opened the gates, allowing the East and West to come together once again.
Over the next few days the wall
came down piece by piece. It crumbled along with the Deutsche Demokratische Republik ideals, and in those ruins were the
pieces of the wall. Nope no metaphysical metaphor there guys. Love City Groove
were, by complete coincident, playing in Berlin during this historic date. And so, when
the wall was destroyed my father ventured out with thousands of others to
collect pieces of concrete – knowing that one day he could look back at it
remembering his little hold on History. Unfortunately the hotel they were
staying in housed a very nosy and who is still to this day very disliked, maid. Whilst
the band were out doing what bands do best, sightseeing, Beanz went and picked
up one of the thousands of pieces of the Berlin Wall. He brought it back to the
Hotel, and, that night as they ‘hit the town’ (not literally) the maid stole
it. She stole it and he returned to the UK lacking a piece of history. So, if
you’re out there Frau Maid; I hate you.Glossary
- Tor - Door/Gate
- Mauer - Wall
- Federal Republic of Germany - West Germany
- Deutsche Demokratische Republik - East Germany
