Abs was alongside quite a few well-known artists and stood out as one of the best performers during the pop festival. His energetic dance moves, break dancing, singing and rapping talent and even playing the piano was better seen live surprising the huge crowd at RUMBA. His blasts from the past, If Ya Gettin' Down and the Five megamix were popular towards fans and played a major part in establishing Abs's solo career.

We had been waiting for this event for a year since Abs said he'd come back to Rumba. This time he had his own songs, own solo material and it was worth it. All those memories will be on this page as we try to include the most information / pictures we can from the event itself to Abs's appearances during the week and a half.

HELP THIS PAGE BECOME A SUCCESS! DID YOU GO TO RUMBA?
Please submit pictures, reviews (we don't just want one - we want loads!) and anything else we'll find useful!

Schedule | Fan Pictures | Official Pictures | Reviews | Links

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ABS' SCHEDULE AT OZ (**Taken from ABSESSIVE)

Tuesday 3 December - (Perth)

1:20 PM ... hotel interview with the SUNDAY TIMES

2:00 PM ... prerecord interview at 96FM with Shano & Mel in East Perth

11:00 AM (gates open) ... RUMBA concert at Perth's Burwood Dome (92.9 FM) ** Abs scheduled on stage at 7:05 - 7:25 PM

Wednesday 4 December - (Perth - Adelaide)

9:30-10:30 AM ... Abs goes to SWAN RIVER for 92.9 FM Radio's 'Go Parasailing with Abs' competition

12:45-6:00 PM ... Abs flies to Adelaide on Qantas flight # 592

HOTEL - HILTON INTERNATIONAL, VICTORIA SQUARE

Thursday 5 December - (Adelaide)

DAY OFF

Friday 6 December - (Adelaide)

10:45 AM ... prerecord interview with Cherylee Harris for Channel 7's AM ADELAIDE (airs starting 11am)

11:30 AM ... hotel interviews with DB MAGAZINE

11:00 AM (gates open) ... RUMBA concert at the Adelaide Oval (SA-FM)
** Abs scheduled on stage at 7:15 - 7:35 PM

Saturday 7 December - (Adelaide - Melbourne)

... morning interview for THE DRUM

10:30 AM-12:10 PM ... Abs flies to Melbourne on Qantas flight # 686

7:00 PM until LATE ... Abs DJs at HEAT Discotheque & Cocktail Bar at the Crown, Southbank for the Kyle Sandilands Fundraiser. Sponsored by FoxFM. Adults only. Tickets $20.00, with door proceeds being donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia & TLC for Kids. To pre - purchase tickets phone 03 9699 2222, between 10am - 6pm, weekdays.

HOTEL - GRAND HYATT, COLLINS ST

Sunday 8 December - (Melbourne)

11:00 AM (gates open) ... RUMBA concert at Melbourne's Telstra Dome (Fox FM) ** Abs scheduled on stage at 6:40 - 7:00 PM

Monday 9 December - (Melbourne)

11:10-NOON ... hotel interviews with the HERALD SUN and the SUNDAY HERALD SUN

12:30 PM ... interviews with Ace Radio Network, BUZZ Magazine, The Examiner (Tasmania), COAST FM, KROCK, POWER FM and 7LA

3:15 PM ... prerecord interview at NOVA 100 radio (airs later tonight on NOVA 19's)

4:00 PM ... prerecord a national interview for MCM/Austereo with Ian Strachan

6:00-7:00 PM ... Abs goes to Central Reserve to co-host live FOX FM's SMS TOP TEN BBQ & do a meet and greet with listeners

Tuesday 10 December - (Melbourne - Brisbane)

2:05-3:10 PM ... Abs flies to Brisbane on Qantas flight # 620

HOTEL - SHERATON BRISBANE, TURBOT ST

Wednesday 11 December - (Brisbane)

10:00 AM-1:30 PM ... interviews with RAVE Magazine (Jan 6 or 13), TIME OFF (Jan 6 or 13), SCENE (week of 17 Dec), Q (early Jan) and the SUNDAY MAIL

11:00 AM (gates open) ... Rumba show at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (B105 FM) ** Abs scheduled on stage at 6:10 - 6:30 PM

Thursday 12 December - (Brisbane - Hamilton Island)

9:15-10:45 AM ... Abs flies to Hamilton Island on Qantas flight # 746

* Private party on Hamilton Island sponsored by NESTLE

Friday 13 December - (Hamilton Island - Sydney)

2:55-6:10 PM ... Abs flies to Sydney on Qantas flight # 1617

HOTEL - STAMFORD PLAZA in DOUBLE BAY

Saturday 14 December - (Sydney)

8:15 AM ... Abs arrives at Fox Studios to perform two songs & a live interview on Channel V's JABBA's MORNING GLORY show (Abs on-air starting 9:40 am)

(??? time) ... Abs meets the competition winners from TV HITS

11:00 AM (gates open) ... RUMBA show at Sydney's Telstra Stadium (2Day FM) ** Abs scheduled on stage at 6:15 - 6:35 PM

** Abs will host the exclusive after show party at the SHARKBAR nightclub at the Shark Hotel

Sunday 15 December - (Sydney)

DAY OFF

Monday 16 December - (Sydney)

10:00 AM-5:00 PM ... promotion day in Sydney. Interviews with MTV (week of 23 Dec), STUDIO D, FOX KIDS, CHEEZ TV, BIG ARVO, SATURDAY DISNEY, SMASH HITS/DNA (Feb issue), DAILY TELEGRAPH, K ZONE (early Jan), BIG HIT, NW, NINE MSN (18 Dec), DOLLY and 96.1 THE EDGE (18 Dec)

7:10-8:00 PM ... Abs co-hosts live the NATIONAL HOT 30 COUNTDOWN from 2DayFM studios in Bondi Junction

8:25-8:40 PM ... live interview at NOVA 969 FM radio in Pyrmont

Tuesday 17 December - (Sydney - London)

4:20 PM ... Abs departs for London via Singapore on British Airways flight # 016. He arrives in London on 18 December at 4:55 AM.

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FAN PICTURES

Jabba's Morning Glory (Channel V) - Click on the thumbnails to enlarge. (**Thanks to Cheri for the pics)



Rumba - Sydney (**Thanks to Cheri again for the pics)



Rumba - Brisbane (sorry for the bad quality - I blame my camera and my camera skills!)



Melbourne FOX FM Barbecue (**Thanks to Tash)

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OFFICIAL PICTURES (*Thanks to Rumba)

NEW ZEALAND - AUCKLAND 31/11/2002

PERTH - 3/12/2002

MELBOURNE - 8/12/2002

BRISBANE - 11/12/2002

**The other Rumba's haven't been put up yet on the official Rumba site...

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RUMBA REVIEWS

BRISBANE RUMBA (From Krystle)

Rumba was a HUGE event....and no one seemed to mention Abs yet in my opinion, he was the best performer there. (well obviously!) It was a long wait, I arrived there at 9:00am where there wasn't even a line yet, when there wasn't even a VIP area. I was right on the far right side of the floor area right in front of the speakers and right above the Rumba TV. The view wasn't great, but considering my height, I had to get the front row somehow.

The Sugababes were straight before Abs, while I did notice a smaller crowd on the time Abs was up. The break seemed never-ending as I eagerly awaited Abs, not that a short video on the Rumba TV helped. Now don't ask me exactly what it is, as I told you before, I was right below the screen! He was wearing a nice singlet and I think he was showing us a little from backstage and crushed some cookies on his feet or something.

The performance was the main highlight as soon as he got on. There were lights all over with his dancers on his special Abs set, with the well-known logo on a red sheet. He began with images flashing over the screens with highlights from Five and some photos from the present. Then he raced onto the stage with Bitchin' - my favourite Abs song which didn't seem to hype up the crowd. However, Abs's enthusiasm on the stage was obvious as he jumped all around the stage. (He was the only one who walked to the corners a lot which pleased me a lot!)

Then he went straight into Shame (his latest single over here) where him and his male dancers continued to impress me. But the biggest crowd pleaser in his performance was his own version of If Ya Gettin' Down. There were new naughty raps added in and then ahhhh the recorded chorus with the lads in it. (unlike *cough* Sophie Monk who sung I Need Somebody)

Next, Abs said he'd "slow things down a bit" and performed one of the tracks from his album "Roll With Me." He brought out a piano on the left side which I was annoyed 'cause I couldn't see!...as he sung the first verse from there before getting up and singing again. After Roll With Me, Abs finished up with his most well-known song over here, What You Got. Watching the music video quite a few times, Abs stood in front of his female dancers as he started singing. From there, he started jumping around the stage again finishing up with some impressive break-dancing.

Abs jogged off the stage with lights flashing all over the stage. We waited for a while as a mini-chant was kind of going on! Then more images flashed on the screen of Abs from Five's old music videos as Abs performed a medley of We Will Rock You, Everybody Get Up and When The Lights Go Out.

Then Abs brought the whole crowd cheering when he jumped down the stage and went into the front area while also allowing us (and me!) to touch his body. He then ran back up and thanked us all and what a great show it was...

It was a display of all of Abs's talent, he sounded great live, we could all see his enthusiasm and how well he planned this tour. (especially compared to Iio!) Thanks Abs for a great show! Now let's hope for a concert next...*fingers crossed*

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USEFUL LINKS

The Official RUMBA Site - It's not updated anymore as it used to be, but for the hugest archives of pictures from each Rumba around the country go here! Those photos were produced only for that site really so go there quick before they delete the whole website to get ready to Rumba another year (I hope!).

ABSESSIVE - During Rumba, they had a special section including audio messages from Abs himself, pictures sent in by fans, Abs's promotion schedule (when to look for magazine / newspaper articles featuring him) and a nice Christmas card!