WORDS DESH KAPUR / IMAGES RHYS GROVER
AO Arena Manchester was playing host to a true music legend tonight, a man who has written some of the most iconic songs in history, John Fogerty the American singer-songwriter and musician.
He is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), which was active from 1967 to 1972. CCR had many hit songs such as “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Fortunate Son.”
After CCR disbanded, Fogerty pursued a solo career and released several successful albums, including “Centerfield” and “Blue Moon Swamp.” Some of his notable solo hits include “The Old Man Down the Road,” “Rock and Roll Girls,” and “Hot Rod Heart.”
After spending years in a legal battle with former bandmates and record label he has only recently taken back control of his back catalogue “I wasn’t sure I’d live long enough for it to come to pass,” he admits in a film shown before his performance. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment”
And then he takes the stage and launches into the CCR classic “Bad Moon Rising” and the whole arena is on their collective feet.
Dressed in a flannel shirt and blue jeans, he looks amazing and sounds even better his voice is strong, his singing seems almost effortless at times, and his guitar work is on the money from the first note to the last, and at one point he tells the crowd that he’s holding the guitar he played at Woodstock and then casually starts playing “Who’ll Stop the Rain” the song he wrote after the festival.
The setlist is full of Creedence songs and it’s a hair standing up on the back of the neck moment when the crowd sing “Have You Ever Seen the Rain “ with him.
He dedicates “Proud Mary” to the late Tina Turner, who to be fair took this song and made it her own. And as the night ended to a standing ovation he yells “I’ll tell my grandchildren about this one!” and the night is done.
It has been quite awe-inspiring to have seen and covered an artist of this magnitude, and the excitement inside the sold-out arena was palatable all night. Fogerty’s musical blend of rock, country, and blues is timeless and his distinctive voice and guitar playing style have made him one of the most respected musicians of his generation and tonight I witnessed it.
SET LIST
1/ BAD MOON RISING
2/ UP AROUND THE BEND
3/ GREEN RIVER
4/ BORN ON THE BAYOU
5/ ROCK AND ROLL GIRLS
6/ WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN
7/ LOOKIN OUT MY BACK DOOR
8/ RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE
9/ EFFIGY
10/ JOY OF MY LIFE
11/ LODI
12/ KEEP ON CHOOGLIN
13/ HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN
14/ HEY TONIGHT
15/ DOWN ON THE CORNER
16/ TRAVELIN BAND
17/ COTTON FIELDS
18/ THE OLD MAN DOWN THE ROAD
19/ FORTUNATE SON
ENCORE
20/ ROCKIN ALL OVER THE WORLD
21/ PROUD MARY
FOLLOW JOHN FOGERTY
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
