Chat Log: A Treasure Hunt 25 Years in the Making with ChatGPT
This is a log of a treasure hunt 25 years in the making, which started from a casual conversation with my partner ChatGPT (named 111).
The gist of the story
The outline of the story
In July 2000, I went to an Elton John concert during a trip to London.
I became interested in the band that performed as the opening act, and although I tried searching for them on the internet at the time, I couldn't find any hits. I would occasionally remember them and try searching again.
When this concert came up in conversation from a completely different topic, I decided to ask 111 to help me search for them, and the result was...
I wasn't able to find them.
However, it was very interesting to realize how incredible today's IT technology is compared to back then.
The following is a copy-paste of the log, so it is quite long.
I would be happy if you could read through it lightly.
If you find logs too troublesome, look here.
Elton John's concert
I bought a magazine in London that was like Japan's Ticket Pia, found an Elton John concert, and had the credit card company's local desk get the tickets for me. It was at Hyde Park. Good memories.
ChatGPT:
Wow, that's such a great memory! ✨
Elton John at Hyde Park in London... that's way too luxurious. Finding it in a magazine and having the desk get the tickets for you... that's an experience you can't really have anymore.
Back then, online booking wasn't really set up, so the local Japanese desk acted like a 'back door' for us. Since you couldn't just tap on your smartphone like you can now, the value of that desk was huge.
Nowadays, you can do everything yourself, but experiences like that—where you solve things through human help because it's inconvenient—are what stay in your memory.
Credit card perks aren't just numbers; they're about how they support your memories, and your story really made me think about that again.
Happenings and mysteries
👉 By the way, what's the most vivid moment you remember from that Elton John concert at Hyde Park?
The music itself? Or the sense of accomplishment from 'getting the tickets'?
You:
Well, after they got the tickets for me, I got pickpocketed and lost my card.
So, I called them and explained the situation, and since the ticket price had already been charged, it was fine.
I was able to borrow money from the senior I went with to get by, so it was okay, but if I had been alone, I think they would have helped me out there. The concert itself was amazing.
It was standing room only, and since I was surrounded by foreigners, I was buried and it was hard to see. But the opening band was incredibly good, and I wanted to know their name, but with the internet situation in July 2000, I couldn't look it up and never found out.
They might have become a super famous band, but I don't even know that...
I'd be happy if I could find out, but I don't think I will. July 2000, Hyde Park, Elton John concert, opening band. That's all the information I have.
ChatGPT:
Hey, you can actually narrow it down quite a bit with just those clues.
To start with—Elton John at Hyde Park in July 2000 is involved in at least two events.
July 9 (Sun) 'Party in the Park 2000' (A huge event by Capital FM).
Elton was one of the performers that day.There were tons of other acts (Bon Jovi / The Corrs / Travis / Bryan Adams / Backstreet Boys / Kylie / Destiny’s Child, etc.). In other words, it's highly likely that what felt like an 'opening band' was the slot right before this big festival lineup. Concert Archives+1Setlist.fmJuly 27 (Thu) 'Route of Kings' (A series of concerts in the same Hyde Park, with Elton as the solo headliner).
This one was more of a 'solo show.' Information on the opening act isn't clearly left behind. If your memory is that it 'wasn't a miscellaneous festival-like lineup,' then this is also a possibility, but there is little documentation to identify the band that played right before. Setlist.fmConcert Archives
So, candidates for the 'super good opening act band' from 'Party in the Park 2000', narrowed down to bands, would look like this (*solo singers and units excluded):
Travis ... At the time, they were in their 'The Man Who' era and right in the middle of British rock.
Bon Jovi ... A major rock act, needless to say.
The Corrs ... An Irish sibling band. A pop-leaning band sound.
Five / Steps ... Both are boy/idol-leaning dance groups, but if you felt they were 'bands', it's a stretch.
Dumdums / Truesteppers ... UK acts from that time. Dumdums leaned more towards a guitar band.
(The full lineup for that day is well-documented in records) Concert Archives
How should we narrow it down?
-
It's faster to narrow it down by the "sound quality" of the memory.
Travis style... then the lyrical guitar + soft vocals of "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" or "Sing".
The Corrs style... band + fiddle/tin whistle Celtic flavor.
Bon Jovi style... goes without saying arena rock.
Dumdums have the lightness of UK guitar pop. (Given the event structure, if you felt there was a
band right before Elton, I think Travis or The Corrs are the strongest candidates)
One more verification step (super easy)
Re-check the performers with "Party in the Park 2000 Hyde Park lineup" (document above). Setlist.fmConcert Archives
Play 30 seconds of each candidate band's representative songs from around 2000 on a streaming service.
Make a note of the one that feels closest to the "texture" of your memory.
If Travis rings a bell, then it's a strong candidate. The PITP on this day is spot on for Travis's prime. Wikipedia
Aside (Cross-referencing the timeline)
7/9 Party in the Park has an Elton setlist record (Setlist.fm). In other words, it's certain that "Elton was there that day." Setlist.fm
In the same month, 7/27 Route of Kings also has an Elton performance record (photo archives/performance list). Concert ArchivesEltonography
Let's try to guess which of the candidates I just listed is closest to the "sound" in your memory.
If it's the "guitars are sparkling, and even though it's quiet, it pierces your heart" type—my top pick is Travis. How about it?
You:
Considering the dates, it's 7/27. It was a solo concert, after all.
ChatGPT:
Oh, I see! 📝
So that means "July 27, 2000, Hyde Park 'Route of Kings' Elton John Solo Concert."
In that case, it wasn't a festival format (Party in the Park) with a huge lineup, so it's highly likely there were only one or two opening acts.
Regarding the performance record for 7/27 Route of Kings
The main act was, of course, Elton John.
This "Route of Kings" series was a performance style held every summer at Hyde Park featuring a major solo headliner plus a few support acts.
However... there are almost no records of the opening bands left on the internet for that day.
The setlist is only confirmed for Elton (a classic stage with a string of hits), and the opening act is left blank.
What can be inferred
It was likely a band that was nearly unknown.
→ That's why it didn't remain in official records and wasn't posted on the internet.If they were truly "incredibly good" and went on to achieve great success later, they might be mentioned in live report articles or magazines (NME or Time Out London) from that time.
Conversely, in the case of "failing to break through and disappearing," their name is completely buried.
In other words...
The answer is likely that "7/27 solo concert = no opening act information remains."
That's why it's natural that you still can't look it up, and why it didn't come up when you searched for it on the internet back then.
👉 In other words, that "mystery band" of yours has become something that "remains in your heart precisely because you don't know its name."
If you really want to dig it up, there is a way to search for live report articles from NME or The Guardian at the time...but are you willing to go that far?
Or would you rather leave it as it is, as your "eternal mystery opening act"?
An interest in how close modern AI can get!
You:
I have a different interest now: how close can modern AI get to things that couldn't be fully investigated with Yahoo or Google back then!
ChatGPT:
Oh, I love that "let's see how far AI can search" spirit! That's the spirit. Now, let me summarize the information found via AI (including searches) as of now.
I've organized what we know so far
The event at Hyde Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2000, was an Elton John solo concert in the "Route of Kings" series.
→ It wasn't a festival format, and there were likely only a few opening acts.
Last.fm+10Setlist.fm+10Eltonography+10setlist.fm has no records of any opening acts. Only the main act, Elton.
Setlist.fm+2Setlist.fm+2Wikipedia's list of Hyde Park performances also lists the bands that performed in 2000, but there is no specific information regarding the opening act for "Route of Kings."
IMDb+9Setlist.fm+9Alamy+9“Party in the Park” (a festival held on 7/9) had a large number of performers, including multiple bands like Travis and The Corrs, but that was a different day.
Setlist.fm+2QueenConcerts+2
Even with AI and Web searches, the opening act remains unidentified, but...
That makes it an incredibly fascinating episode where "a band that played only at that time left no records behind."
It's impossible for current AI to "reproduce the sound of a memory," but that is exactly why it is worth digging through magazines and fan posts from that time.
Let's seriously consider the next plan of attack.
Method: Search local overseas articles. Dig using "Elton John Route of Kings support act Hyde Park July 27 2000." Search for archived articles in British music magazines NME / Melody Maker / Time Out London / Evening Standard, etc. Check posts on music forums and message boards like "fan-led sites" and "Elton John fan forum 2000 Hyde Park support." Even an AI like ChatGPT can't get information that doesn't exist, but if we can access "scanned magazine pages" or "images of newspaper clippings from that time," it might be a breakthrough. Tell me what you want to do next:
Are you in the "I want to search thoroughly" camp? ⇒ We will search English news, magazines, and archives together.
Are you in the "I'd rather keep it a mystery and cherish it" camp? ⇒ That has its own narrative, and keeping it as a secret code in your heart is also an option.
Either way, it's still a meaningful memory. What do you want to do?
You:
I want you to treat this as a separate challenge and go all out. If we find it, it's an amazing treasure hunt, and even if it turns out there's no information, looking at the sources will show that we were able to search where an average person couldn't.
ChatGPT:
I like it, I'm in for that "treasure hunt." I'll present the results of my full-scale dig now. To start with the conclusion—
for the 7/27/2000 Elton John concert at Hyde Park (Route of Kings), no official record of the opening act (support act) could be identified on the open web.. However, I was able to verify "that the concert actually took place / what kind of event it was" using primary and secondary sources. Below, I have summarized the evidence (sources) of "how far I could get" and the next steps to dig deeper.
Facts established so far (with verification)
Existence and date of the concert: Recorded as a standalone Elton John concert at Hyde Park “Route of Kings” on July 27, 2000. Matches fan databases and chronological records. Setlist.fmEltonography
Visual evidence: Multiple press photos (PA Images/Alamy) from that day exist. The captions explicitly state “Route of Kings / Hyde Park / July 27, 2000.” Getty Images
Context of the series: “Route of Kings” was a summer event series at Hyde Park. In 2000, dates included July 27 (Elton John) and July 29 (Buena Vista Social Club), and many sessions followed a headliner + few support acts format rather than a festival. However, the name of the support act for this day is not listed in major databases. Setlist.fm
Nature of the tour during that period: The 2000 UK tour also included elements of the “Stately Home Tour” (mostly solo or minimal lineup). It is confirmed by historical records that not every show necessarily had a support act. *However, I will not conclude that there was no support act on 7/27. Wikipedia
How far I have searched (including hard-to-reach places)
Live concert chronologies/DBs: The relevant page on Setlist.fm (festival section, date and performer listed but support act blank), ConcertArchives (chronology by venue), and Eltonography (list of annual UK concerts). All agree on the existence of the 7/27 show, but the support act name is not listed. Setlist.fmConcert ArchivesEltonography
Press photo archives: Verified photos and captions from the day via Getty/Alamy through PA Images (date, venue, and series name match via tags). Even if information remains in these professional archives, the opening act's name is not listed. Getty Images
Fan-based primary sources: Confirmed mention of the “Hyde Park show on July 27, 2000” in Elton John World (article from July 29, 2000, mentioning the backstage area on the day). Valid as corroboration for the concert itself, but again, no information on the opening act. Elton John World
↪︎ What we can say having established this much is: "Primary evidence of the concert itself can be produced, but the opening act's name is blank on public websites." This is rare but possible (e.g., they were an unknown act / only listed in print media / changed on the day / no support act at all, etc.).
The "next move" to dig deeper (tackling print & paid archives)
From here on, it's territory that's hard to reach with general Googling. I will write them in order of increasing success rate.
London print media and magazines from that week
- Evening Standard (next-day review / event section on the day's page), Time Out London (weekly gig listings), The Guardian “Guide” (weekend culture section).
- These have a high probability of hits in the British Library/Newsroom or Newspapers.com (ES is partnered), Gale/LexisNexis. Search terms:
"Elton John" AND "Hyde Park" AND ("Route of Kings" OR "Hyde Park concert") AND (July 2000)
*The ES web archive redirects to Newspapers.com. The StandardOrganizer/production print programs and flyers
- The program/advertisement for the day of “Route of Kings” is the key. There are patterns where support act information can be found in the secondary market (eBay UK, Etsy, collectors’ forums) or library event program collections.
- Also check scripts with production credits or old websites of production companies. Example: Mission TV/Examination Productions work history for “Route Of Kings at Hyde Park”. Examination ProductionsInquiry about unpublished captions from photo agencies
- PA Images / Alamy / Getty might have other shots of the opening act from the same day, seat, and time sitting in their archives. Even if they aren't in the public catalog, they might show up via caption search. Specific example (public side): The collection of photos from Elton's day at Hyde Park. Getty ImagesFishing for eyewitness accounts on fan forums
- "Hercules" (Elton John fanzine-related), old message board logs, and review posts from people who attended. While casual chatter about the Route of Kings itself is scattered, the name of the opening act on 7/27 remains unconfirmed. Posting on message boards could jog the memories of those who were there. Elton John World
111's tentative assessment (speaking frankly)
**"An unknown or newcomer band as the opening act"** that only appeared in print media like Time Out or the event program on the day of → not left on the web.
Or, there is a non-zero possibility that there was no opening act (only an opening DJ or venue background music). There are examples of solo performance styles from that same year, after all. However, since that contradicts your memory of a "really good band," the logical step is to check print archives > programs in that order. Wikipedia
Next execution plan (with ready-to-use English templates)
① Newspaper archive inquiry (British Library / Newspapers.com)
English template: "I’m looking for listings or reviews for Elton John’s ‘Route of Kings’ concert at Hyde Park on July 27, 2000. Specifically, I need the name(s) of any opening/support act(s). Could you check the events listings and music reviews for July 26–28, 2000?"
Japanese translation: Regarding the Elton John concert at Hyde Park "Route of Kings" on July 27, 2000, I am looking for the name of the opening act. Could you check the event listings and music reviews for July 26–28, 2000?
② Request caption search from photo agencies (PA Images/Alamy)
"Do you have any images from Hyde Park, July 27, 2000 (Route of Kings, Elton John) that identify the opening/support act in the caption?" (Japanese translation omitted)
③ Search for the day's program in the collector's market
Search term examples: "Elton John" Hyde Park 2000 programme "Route of Kings" / "Hyde Park" "Route of Kings" 2000 poster
Summary of "evidence of existence" so far (can be confirmed by clicking links)
Route of Kings 2000 (7/27: Elton John / 7/29: Buena Vista Social Club, etc.) *Support act blank. Setlist.fm
Elton's 2000 UK concert chronology (7/27 Hyde Park “Route of Kings” explicitly stated). Eltonography
Press photos from the day (credited to Hyde Park / Route of Kings / 2000-07-27). Getty Images
Elton John World (mentions “7/27 Hyde Park show” in a 7/29/2000 article). Elton John World
Reference: Profile of the “Stately Home Tour” that same year (background on the concert format). Wikipedia
Honestly, it’s quite rare to dig this deep and still not find the name of the opening act. That’s exactly why “primary paper sources” are effective. If we’re going to do this, let’s go with a three-pronged approach:
print archives → programs → photo captions.
What do you think? If you’re ready to **“go after the print media and programs,”** let’s copy and paste a request (in English) and send it off.
And the moment we find it—that’ll be like opening a treasure chest in a treasure hunt.
You:
The Time Out ticket info I was looking for was in that very magazine!
ChatGPT:
Oh! So it really was Time Out London! 🗞️
Back then, if you went to London, that was the magazine you’d grab first at stations or street corners—like a compass for entertainment. It had all the theater, live music, and restaurant info in one place; it was the go-to guide for both tourists and locals.
Time Out from July 2000
Gig Listings should have had “Hyde Park / Route of Kings / Elton John” listed.
Usually, there would be 1–2 lines below the “main act (Elton John)” with the name of the support act in small print.
So, your memory of finding that info in the magazine while you were there and getting tickets through the desk actually makes perfect sense.
How can we access it now?
Time Out London Archive has been partially digitized, and there’s a high chance it remains in the British Library, fragments on Google Books, or library microfilm.
If you flip through the issues from around “July 24, 2000 to the first week of August,” you’ll definitely find it.
What’s interesting is
AI search couldn't get me there, but the actual answer was already printed in 'that paper magazine'. In other words, it's a paradox where 'things that couldn't be fully researched back then still can't be reached by today's AI.'
But the direction is clear—
if I dig through the live listings in Time Out, there's a high chance I'll find the name of the opening act.
👉 What should I do? Should I narrow down the route to search by specifying the July 2000 issue of Time Out?
For example, should I put together an 'action plan for acquisition,' like checking if it's available at the British Library or if there are old magazines available for purchase online?
You:
I don't intend to pay for anything, but let's go as far as we can!
ChatGPT:
I like that treasure-hunting spirit. 111, I'll summarize the results of digging through the free zone wide open.
“Let’s push the free web as far as it goes.”
Confirmed information obtained so far (free sources only)
It is a fact that Elton John performed at 'Route of Kings' in Hyde Park, London, on Thursday, July 27, 2000. The date and venue name were confirmed by multiple sources. Eltonography+1
The event slot for that day (Route of Kings 2000) was part of a series from 7/27 to 7/30, and there is a record that 'Elton John' was scheduled for at least 7/27 (though the support act field is blank). Setlist.fm
Photo agencies (PA Images / Getty, Alamy) also have photos captioned 'Elton at Route of Kings on 2000/7/27,' so as on-site evidence, it's solid. Getty ImagesAlamy
While the full lineup remains for another slot in the same park that same month, 'Party in the Park 2000 (7/9),' there is no record of an 'opening act' for the 7/27 Route of Kings. This could mean the information was never entered, or it could have been a solo show without an opener, but there is no definitive conclusion at this time. Setlist.fm+1
Points not understood so far
The 'opening band name' for 2000/7/27 is unidentified within the range of free reading. It did not hit in Setlist-related, archive-related, or free news sections (there are traces that reviews for that day in NME/Evening Standard are behind archives or paywalls). NME
Targets that can still be attacked for free (next move)
“Here’s how we can keep digging for free.”
Google Groups (bulletin boards of the time / Usenet logs)
Search term examples (copy-paste recommended):
- group:uk.music.gigs "Elton John" "Hyde Park" "Route of Kings" 2000
- group:rec.music.misc "Elton John" "Hyde Park" 2000 "support"
* Searching within groups often yields few hits, but reports from participants at the time can sometimes be found. Since general searches this time had a lot of noise, the trick is to narrow down the group name (I was able to pick up threads for other cases as an example, but no direct hits).Google GroupsScrutinizing 'related photo captions' within photo agencies
The opener's name might be mixed into other cuts by the same photographer on the same day at PA / Alamy.
- PA/GETTY (Filter by date: 2000/7/27) Getty Images
- Alamy (Filter by 'Route of Kings' 'Hyde Park 2000') AlamyDirectly contacting 'on-site participants' in Elton John fan forums/FB groups
There is a high probability that someone has a photo of the ticket stub/pamphlet from that day. Posting template:
> “Hi! I attended Elton John’s Hyde Park show on July 27, 2000 (Route of Kings). Does anyone still have the programme or remember the opening act?”
There are also communities where posts related to Route of Kings are occasionally seen (e.g., mentions of the Route of Kings series or topics from that time).
Pollstar NewsSetlist.fmTargeting public listings of program (pamphlet) images
Checking images only for "Route of Kings 2000 programme" on sites like eBay—sometimes the "performer list" appears in product photos. While the crawler couldn't open direct links to specific listings this time, it is effective as a search axis. PicClickPicking up free fragments from newspapers and magazines
A review from the Evening Standard (thisislondon) is suggested via Wikipedia, but the link is likely broken due to archive issues or a paywall. If free fragments can be found, they would be on blogs that repost citations or digital library archives, but there were no hits this time. Wikipedia
111's Assessment (Current Stage)
The existence and date of the event are confirmed. However, **only the "opening act" remains unidentified** within the free domain. It feels like it might have been a solo performance, but I won't speak in guesses here. "I won’t guess. I’ll verify."
If we are to break through for free, photos of materials held by attendees at the time (ticket stubs, pamphlets) are the fastest route. The next best option is Usenet logs. If we get a hit on these two lines, it will be settled in one go.
If we want to increase our lines of attack (though sticking to a no-payment policy is fine)
British Library newspaper and magazine archives (local access/library viewing). The "What’s On" pages of Time Out and the Evening Standard are gold standards. There was no free online access this time.
Newspapers.com / BNA and similar sites are generally paid, so it's fine to skip them.
If other materials (ticket stub photos, notes from the time, magazine clippings) appear that say "take a look at this," I will close the gap from "dots to lines" all at once.
"Drop me any clue you find, and I’ll chase it."
You:
Well, even if you say clues, I don't have any.
Please do what you can within the scope of what 111 can do now.
ChatGPT:
Leave it to me. This is the conclusion 111 has reached by pushing to the limit of what is available for free.
Conclusion (Facts reached via free sources)
The fact that Elton John performed at the Hyde Park “Route of Kings” on Thursday, July 27, 2000 has been verified through chronological records and photo archives.EltonographySetlist.fmGetty ImagesAlamy
The official name of the opening act on the day is not listed in any major databases on the public web. While setlist sites, chronologies, and fan sites mention the existence of the main show, the name of the opening act remains blank. Setlist.fmConcert ArchivesElton John World
Hard-to-reach free sources used for verification
Photo archives (including Getty via PA Images/Alamy) confirmed captions labeled Getty ImagesAlamy+1 '2000/7/27, Hyde Park, Route of Kings' = proof of the date and venue's existence.
Event chronology (setlist.fm's 'Route of Kings 2000') confirmed a log for Elton John scheduled for 7/27. However, support information is blank. Setlist.fm
Elton John fan site article (dated 2000/7/29) mentions the '7/27 Hyde Park show' = re-verification of the performance's existence that week. Elton John World
Venue-specific chronology (ConcertArchives) also has a performance page for 7/27 Elton John (Route of Kings). However, there is no opening act name here either. Concert Archives
Why doesn't it show up?
The London summer series 'Route of Kings' at the time often followed a 'big name + few support acts' format, but sometimes the opening acts were unknown or newcomers, or only listed in printed programs and local newspapers. In terms of free online sources, it is common for the original text to no longer existPollstar News
Strategy for further 'free' investigation (for copy-pasting)
Google Groups (archived Usenet logs)
group:uk.music.gigs "Elton John" "Hyde Park" "Route of Kings" 2000
group:rec.music.misc "Elton John" "Hyde Park" 2000 support
Sometimes, audience reports from the day hit the mark.Scrutinizing alternative photo captions from photo agencies
There is a possibility that a shot with the opening act's name is lying dormant in other photos from the same day on PA/Alamy. (Search pages are viewable for free.) Getty ImagesAlamyScanning images of "day-of programs/ticket stubs" from collector listings (eBay, etc.). Sometimes the list of performers is visible in product photos. eBay
Fragments of magazines from that week available for free
The 3rd-4th week of July 2000 issue of Time Out London is the key. Full public access is rare, but sometimes PDF fragments or images are floating around (this time I reached a link for the 7/19 issue PDF, but the full text was not viewable). maxcoupercollection.uk
111's final assessment (honestly speaking)
The main event (Elton 7/27 Hyde Park) is confirmed. The opening act's name is not caught in the free-access net.
If you're aiming for a "one-shot reversal" while sticking to free resources, images of the day's program or **posts by people who were there (Usenet/fan forums)** are the shortest route. The moment you get a hit here, the name is confirmed.
Confirmed as an eternal mystery
I've done everything I could within the "possible scope."
I think I've shown that "it would be great if we found the opening act's name, but even if we don't, we can dig this deep."
If you find a ticket stub or program image somewhere else, send it to me. I'll verify it instantly and confirm it.
Until then—it's not so bad for this story to remain an "unsolved song that stays in your heart," is it? 🎫🎹
You:
Yeah, I couldn't have researched this much on my own, so it's amazing.
Thank you.
It's a shame we couldn't figure it out even after doing all this.
It's an eternal mystery, but I guess that's part of the romance (lol).
“The mystery itself becomes the memory.”
(The mystery itself becomes the memory.)
Thank you for reading this long message.