Ayreon, the global rock sensation from a tiny village in Brabant, hasannounced a new concert series after years of absence. The world-famous musicspectacle will return to Tilburg in September 2023 for three rare liveperformances, called Live Beneath the Waves. But while his fans are cheeringin the curtains, the mastermind from Brabant behind Ayreon is mostlyoverwhelmed by the tension.
A video on Facebook. Dark images from pop stage 013, with ominous, quasi Jaws-like music. A single man and a dog. The dates September 15, 16 and 17, 2023and a thumbs up. That’s it. But Arjen Lucassen from Oudemolen didn’t need morethan those 17 seconds to get his yearning fans foaming at the computer to bookairline tickets and hotel rooms.
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Because his fans, from really all corners of the world, had to wait four yearsfor it. Out of necessity, according to Lucassen. “The concerts had a two-yearcycle. It started in 2015 with the theater production, in 2017 we did AyreonUniverse, in 2019 the Electric Castle shows followed and in 2021 we had bookedshows again in 013, but it soon became clear that that could not take placebecause of corona. If you depend on so many fans from abroad, we didn’t darethis year either. All those costs. Everything is getting more expensive.”Nevertheless, ‘Ayreon 013 2023’ did receive the green light. “It’s excitingand also a little scary.”
Lucassen wants to unpack. “This will be the biggest concert to date, with a10-piece band and about 20 vocalists. What fans can expect? A show from 2.5 to3 hours. Of course you want to spoil people who come from this far.”
“We perform the entire album ‘01011001’ and play some extra surprises in theencore. An Ayreon best-of? I don’t think so, actually. I think it’s more funto play songs I haven’t done yet. That’s more exciting.”
“When I pick up a guitar on stage, the nerves just don’t make a note come> out.”
It is not the first and certainly not the last time that he utters the words’scary’ and ‘exciting’. It draws the musician. For a world-renowned multi-instrumentalist with a wealth of experience, Lucassen is anything but aclassic rock star. Not a man who remodels a hotel room and hunts skirts, stifffrom drink and drugs. At 62, he still has just as much stage fright as in hisyoung, wild years. “Terrible,” he laughs. “Always had it. If it’s not aroutine, I just can’t play because of the nerves. I much prefer being in thestudio creating things. That’s why I started Ayreon and sit not in a bandeither. I haven’t rehearsed in 30 years. When I pick up a guitar on stage, itjust doesn’t come out.” Chuckling: “All I do is sing. And I can’t really singat all.”
“Other bands are touring. I’m just a terribly antisocial recluse and just> let the whole world come here.”
What is he most looking forward to? “When it’s just over,” he says with awink. “If everything went well, I’ll play my last note and we’ll get into thedressing room. That euphoria, that feeling, is really unbelievable.” Justlike, continues the Ayreon foreman, the warm glow of 3000 fans descending onhim. “Those people are so happy that you are playing live again. It’s actuallysuper selfish. Other bands tour and go to their fans. I’m just a terriblyantisocial recluse and just let the whole world come here,” Lucassen laughsout loud.
“Again: going to a show is a real hell for me, but after a show I go crazywith the band and fans. I just have to hold on to that feeling.”
Tickets for Live Beneath the Waves go on sale on October 27. A ticket costsabout 70 euros. There is room for a total of 9,000 visitors over the threeevenings.
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Long queues of fans in Tilburg for a unique concert of Brabant rock great