Rolling
Stone – I wanted to show off Chrístõ’s new,
default outfit somewhere it would look good. I had decided that he was
going to dress in black leather. Originally, it was a short waist jacket,
accentuating a slim figure, and leather trousers, too. But leather trousers
are actually a terrible idea. There is almost no weather they are suitable
for, and nobody would wear them all the time. And then I hit on the idea
that he would have exactly the same leather jacket that the Ninth Doctor
wore, only this would be a NEW one, shiny and unscufffed. This would tie
Chrístõ, the first incarnation, with the Ninth, the implication
being that it is the SAME leather jacket but Chrístõ had
it when he was new, Nine found it again all those centuries later when
he and it were scuffed and battered.
And he took it to the Isle of Wight Festival, 1969. It was the year of Woodstock in America, and here in the UK, the Isle of Wight Festival was much the same but with slightly less sex and drugs. Or so I’m told. The top acts on the two night line up were The Who and Bob Dylan, as well as Free, Tom Paxton, Joe Cocker and The Moody Blues to name just some of the acts that still ring bells so many years on. It was a good weekend by all accounts. Ricki Farr, the organizer of the event, told the festival goers “You are the blessed generation. You are the body beautiful. Thank you.”
I had all of that planned when I decided to look for a good title for the story and came across the lyrics to “Like a Rolling Stone.” Now, Bob Dylan is slightly before my time. I was a toddler in 1969, so although I had heard of the song, I had never before heard it. When I did, thanks to the wonders of the internet and downloadable music, I had not only a title but something of a subplot. The verses of that song are a mystery to me. I only have the vaguest idea what it is about. But the chorus could be the theme song for a wandering Time Lord.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
This after Chrístõ had explained to his two new friends that he comes from a planet orbiting the star on the bowstring of Kasterborus. This is a part of the Doctor Who mythology, of course. Kasterborus is a constellation of six stars, in a double arrowhead shape. From Earth, these six stars are allegedly the bow of Sagittarius. Well, it makes for a beautiful legend, anyway. And it gave Chrístõ something to talk about with his new friends, and a reason to feel a little melancholy in the aftermath of the concert.
Incidentally, Dylan WAS late on stage. Nobody knows why!
http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/iow1969.html
