By
CPL Brenton Burley
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SGT
Peter Gow leans into the rendition of Scream Machine as
the RAAF Air Command Band and the Central Band of the RNZAF
tackle the task of entertaining the crowd before the Bledisloe
Cup rugby clash in Wellington.
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Photo
by RNZAF
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IN
A show of solidarity across the Tasman, the RAAF Air Command Band
has combined with the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band to make
history.
Together they turned on a stunning performance for the pre-game
entertainment spectacular before the Bledisloe Cup rugby union
match in Wellington on July 17.
It was the first time a combined band of Australia and New Zealand
has been formed.
In appalling conditions, which included horizontal rain and 8-degree
temperatures, musicians from the bands pumped up the 37,500 strong
crowd with stirring and inspirational performances of Heroes Live
Forever, Let’s Get Loud, and Scream Machine, which featured lead
trumpeter Sergeant Peter Gow.
Corporal Stephanie Lambert was the vocalist during the entertainment,
featuring prominently with the performance of the Australian anthem
for an estimated television audience of about 4 million viewers.
Event manager Marie Blundell described CPL Lambert’s voice as
“a touch of magic”.
Despite the terrible weather, and the Kiwis retaining the Bledisloe
Cup, the event was an incredible success and it’s hoped that many
more cross-Tasman ventures involving the bands will happen.
