European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 31, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Caught in the acts amps Michael Abrama Chris Rea is on the Road. Not on the Road to hell As the title of his new double Platinum album might suggest but on an eight country Jaunt through Europe performing Irish blues Rock. Like most of the slide guitarist s albums. Road to hell is a concept album. Where on earlier records Rea concentrated on relationships on Road to hell he sings of pollution and violence. These themes Are reflected in Rea s live shows. With the House lights still on in the concert Hall in Karlsruhe West Germany last week a dry ice machine pumped out fog until the few thousand fans were bathed in a thick Mist. The Mambo jumbo mix of wind storm and radio traffic announcements that opens Road to heirs title track thundered through the speakers. Quot this must be what hell is  said a fan. Rea and his seven Man band took the stage finished Road to hell i and ripped right into Road to hell ii. The song ended in More fog and booming fireworks above the stage. Showing his expertise on slide guitar Rea led his band a anchored by Veteran musicians Max Middleton on keyboards and Andy Fairweather Low on guitar a through a selection of old and new tunes including the anti to violence you must be evil and Texas a tune about the search for peaceful wide open spaces. Closing the two hour show with his 1987 hit the rollicking let s dance Rea returned to the Road to hell theme with Tell me there a a heaven a song about a child s Hope for an alternative to a violent world followed by the optimistic looking for a Rainbow. Rea s european tour continues through mid March. For dates and venues Check the Quot on stage Quot pages in tomorrow s stripes Magazine. A by Michael Abrams when i told my husband i wanted to join a physical fitness club he put his paper Down. Quot what Lor Quot he asked. Quot you stored the stationary bicycle in the garage slip covered the Treadmill and made a planter out of the rowing  Quot the club has a Stair climbing machine Quot i said. He took off his glasses. Quot we moved out of a perfectly Good House 10 years ago because you hated living in a two Story House with All those  Quot that was  Quot your exact words were if god had wanted me to ascend to the second floor he would have awarded me frequent flier Points Quot Quot Don t you Ever forget anything Quot Quot remember How you used to stack laundry at the Bottom of the stairs and make one trip a year Quot Quot Are you finished Quot Quot there were diapers in that pile the Day the last kid graduated from High  i should never have brought it up for discussion. I knew he would t understand i was Young then. When you re Young you never think there s going to be a Day when your derriere makes flapping noises on the Back of your Knees when you walk. That s because men Are Buill differently from women. They re Flat. Men can sleep on their stomachs and the bed will still look like it s made. They Don t appreciate that any woman Over 40 needs a Stair climber to firm up Muscles. Quot forget the benefits of muscle toning Quot i said. Quot a Stair climber would accelerate my heart  he said a Why Don t you just look at our american express Bill from Christmas i know you. You won t stick with it. You have the interest Span of a 2-year-old.&Quot Quot Why would you say a thing like that Quot Quot remember our trip to the statue of Liberty you climbed Halfway up and wanted me to Call you a cab. And what about our trip to Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone you took one look at All those Steps and said when you re married 30 years who needs to kiss another Stone Quot he relented. I knew he would. I had him drop me off at the mall to buy a cute Little Stair climbing outfit with Matching headband. He parked a mile away on purpose. He knows i hate curbs c l990 Erma Bomback stars and stripes bookstores / stars and stripes bookstores Pride of the air Force Challenge of Vietnam they were american bravest men a seasoned veterans and Young daredevil pilots with dreams of glory in the air. Court Bannister an air Force Captain overshadowed by his famous father driven to prove his Worth to his comrades a and himself. Toby Parker the Brash first lieutenant who gambled his innocence in the flames of War. And Woll Lochert. The special forces major who ventured deep into the Jungle to Rescue a downed Pilot a Only to discover a face of the enemy for which he was unprepared. Author Mark Berent is a Veteran of distinguished flying crosses. Three Tours in Vietnam and Winner of the Silver Star and two rolling Thunder a stars and stripes top 10 paperback is available for $4.45 10% off from the $4.95 cover Price at most bookstores. Top 10 paperbacks Are part of our comprehensive Bookstore discount program which will provide you our customers with Over $2.6 million in savings in 1990. Stars and stripes bookstores stars and stripes bookstores Cut h it 33 / it z o Cut h 33 0 m Ltd do o o 7? 3 o 33 m to it wednesday january 31, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 17