By Matt Elias
(This report comes straight from London, where MTV News is covering the Police's final U.K. show. Check out the first post here.)
We spent the morning touring the festival grounds for the Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park. Before we were allowed on site, we had to throw on some very stylish neon-orange-and-yellow vests (since the stage is still being built).
After walking around the grounds, I have to say that this might be one of the nicest locations for a festival, rivaling Lollapalooza's Grant Park in Chicago. There is a freakin' pond right behind the backstage entrance, plus people are riding horseback throughout the park — it's gorgeous.
Before the fest kicks off Saturday, there will be a special concert on Friday in the same spot, celebrating Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday. Among the performers, Amy Winehouse is "scheduled" to play, and the talk around town is whether she'll actually show up. One of the local gossip rags reported that her backstage dressing room has been turned into a makeshift clinic, just in case anything goes wrong. Oh, and there will be an ambulance standing by — you gotta love that free British health care.
Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to peep any of this. My neon-orange vest didn't give me the level-four clearance. Fortunately, the good folks at Hard Rock scored us tix to the event, so check back here Friday night to read my full report.
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