My mission in the '60s was to bring my bohemian manifesto into popular culture.
Donovan
6 Music's Freak Zone
Thursday 26 October 2006
FREEDM Studio, Roundhouse, London
Radio 2's Sold on Song
Friday 27 October 2006
FREEDM Studio, Roundhouse, London
Photos
See live shots from the shows
Bounding onto the stage clutching a white rose, Donovan treated a packed audience to a selection of his greatest hits. Cradling a green guitar (who we later found out was named Kelly) and accompanied by the nimble double bass of Tom Mason, the still surprisingly elfin troubadour strapped on a harmonica, launched into 'Catch The Wind' and had the audience singing along by the second verse.
And the hits just kept on coming; 'Jennifer Juniper', 'Colours', 'Season of The Witch', 'Universal Soldier', all delivered with freshness and vitality. Donovan's introductions had an impish mock seriousness to them which only seemed to add to the charm of his performance.
Vashti Bunyan took the stage to sing 'Voyage Of The Moon' along with her longtime friend, and the set finished with a crackling version of 'Sunshine Superman' which left the crowd baying for more...
The next night Donovan returned to the FREEDM Studio to discuss his song writing with Pete Mitchell as part of Radio 2's Sold on Song series. Touching on his friendships with Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and The Beatles, Donovan talked about his influences, his early desire to be a jazz drummer and the power of Transcendental Meditation. Along the way he played many of the songs that earned him the title of 'The Prince of Flower Power'.
Donovan kept a clearly devoted audience entertained with a string of anecdotes, including how he ended up writing some of the lyrics to Yellow Submarine, found himself completely penniless in Greece on the day he got his first number one and how he taught John Lennon a fingerpicking guitar pattern on the banks of the Ganges. He finished off with a sprightly take on 'Mellow Yellow' which had the crowd enthralled.
Your thoughts on Donovan:
Mike Zarro
Excellent show. Highlights were Voyage of the Moon from HMS Donovan Lp, it is one of his most beautiful songs and The unreleased song The Promise intended for the 1996 Sutras LP.