Neal Of Arabia: Dead Star's Last Hurrah

Riyadh in June is very much a time of farewells and au revoirs among the expat community. With the end of the school year looming, families are jetting off to spend the summer with family and friends, or to take a holiday in a cooler climate, returning as the temperature in Saudi starts to return to a more tolerable level and the new school year begins.

For Elliot & Abigail the goodbyes are final, because they are leaving the British School to continue their education in the UK.

The other Year 11 members of Dead Star, the school's rock band, are also leaving the Kingdom for new schools, so last Wednesday the staff helped them to organise a farewell "gig" in the Sports Hall during the lunch break. Thanks to the time flexibility my job with Novell gives me I was able to go along and record their swan song for posterity. I shot video as well as stills but am currently having some technical challenges getting the video imported onto the computer. Will update the blog when/if I succeed.

Elliot on guitar and backing vocals during Stockholm Syndrome

Evan rocking out on vocals

The school's PA system struggled to bring out the individual instruments in some places and the lighting was disappointing but despite that the band played a tight, well-rehearsed set of famous rock covers:

Stockholm Syndrome by Muse
Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin
Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
Sweet Child O'Mine by Guns 'n' Roses

Elliot with the new guitar he got for working hard to finish his GCSEs

For Seven Nation Army the band swapped roles. Here you can see Elliot on vocals, JP on drums and Evan on rhythm guitar. Versatile!

JP doing the solo in Sweet Child O'Mine

Metal Axeman in the making.

An impressive line-up of songs that demonstrates their talent, dedication and hard work. Elliot is determined to be a Rock Star and, judging by this performance, I think he might just make it.