Welcome to the Ray's Gigs website!

Here's the latest - updated 9th August 2022

Tuesday 09 August 2022.

This is going to be a great few days this weekend...SEE YOU THERE...
So many great bands each night that i have seen before over the years.
Thurs 04 Aug to Sun 07 Aug - REBELLION FESTIVAL is held in Blackpool.
Rebellion is the UKs number one punk related festival in the UK.
I have been to it several times before , including when it used to held in Morecombe
as "Holidays In The Sun"....my last time was in 2012.
Over 10,000 punks and other musical tribes mix happily for a great atmosphere.
It did not take place in Aug 2020 and Aug 2021 due to Covid, but they are back with a bang.
Over 300 bands playing over multi-stages indoors with many legendary big names playing.
This year they have added an outdoor R-Stage at Blackpool Tower.
Blackpool has hundreds of great value bed & breakfast hotels.
Headliners and highlights include.......
Thurs 04 Aug - Levellers + Circle Jerks + Hawkwind + Spizz Energi + The Boys
Fri 05 Aug - Stranglers + Sham 69 + Undertones + Skids + From The Jam + The Professionals
Sat 06 Aug - Gary Numan + Cock Sparrer + Peter Hook & The Light + Cockney Rejects + Wedding Present
Sun 07 Aug - Squeeze + Billy Bragg + Stiff Little Fingers + Tom Robinson Band + Hollie Cook + Buzzcocks
www.rebellionfestivals.com - Visit their website here
for more info on the line-up and to buy tickets....straight after the festival ends you can buy tix for Aug 2023.
20 June UPDATE - The stages and set times for Rebellion and R-Fest have now been announced after weeks of scheduling and shuffling.
01 August UPDATE - R-Fest, starting this Thursday in front of Blackpool Tower on the promenade, are offering free tickets for NHS key workers. Although the country and government moight have stopped clapping for the NHS, R-Fest want to show their gratitude for everything they did during the pandemic by offering one hundred tickets per day to the wonderful NHS workers.
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Seeing thousands of punk rockers walking around Blackpool really is an amazing sight.
Great to meet up with friends from London and all around the country.
A fantastic atmosphere, will no trouble in the venues or outside whatsoever.
We have an incredible choice of over 60 bands daily, over the multi-stages.
I will easily see over 100 live music events this year, but doubt any will be as enjoyable as this one.
THURSDAY
MICK ROSSI INTERVIEW...a 30 mins chat about his career with and after Slaughter & The Dogs.
KNOCK OFF...my friend wanted to watch this band and the following band.
Lots of good catchy singalong tunes including "Football, Beer & Punk Rock".
A great thing was all the bands had use of the big light show here at all the venues.
DIRTBOX DISCO...they came on with a mixture of face masks, wigs and make-up.
Again, lots of uptempo catchy singalongs including "lI Don't Wanna Go Out With You" and
"My Life is Shit".
SPIZZ ENERGI...Spizz played a few of his classics from 40 odd years ago including "6000 Crazy",
"Soldier Soldier" and "Where's Captain Kirk?".
CIRCLE JERKS...are playing a rare visit to the UK...this hardcore punk band from Los Angeles,
formed in 1979 , and played a mental 32 songs in their 60 mins set, that the moshing crowd loved.
THE BOYS....arrived on stage at 9.30pm for their 55 mins of catchy pop punk gems.
They had a nice big screen showing record covers and info on each song , which included
the year it was released and who wrote it.
Lots of their oldies from the late 1970s played including "T.C.P.", "Cop Car", "Brickfield Nights"
and "Sick On You " along with a few good tracks from their most recent album release "Punk Rock Menopause", which was released in 2014.
Overall a great opening night.
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FRIDAY
THE VAPORS arrived on the outdoor R-stage at 1.30pm for their 40 mins set.
Catchy pop tunes played including their big hit "Turning Japanese".
JILTED JOHN & band arrived on stage at 2.30pm for his very enjoyable & humourous set.
He pretty much talks rather than sings the lyrics, and great to hear "Gordon is a Moron" again.
TOYAH & band arrived on stage at 3.35pm for their 55 mins set.
Toyah is currently making great Sunday lunchtime videos for social media with her husband Robert Fripp.
She looks fab for her 64 years of age , and nice to hear her big hits "It's A Mystery" and
"I Want To Break Free"....and she says "she is wetting her knickers " at the thought of supporting
Billy Idol on his UK arena tour in October.
BOOZE & GLORY...another band that my friend wanted me to see.
Lots of folks are proudly wearing their t-shirts and they played a very lively set.
They ended their set with a rousing "Only Fools Get Caught" that the crowd went wild to.
THE PROFESSIONALS...feature punk rock drumming legend Paul Cook from The Sex Pistols.
A great set that mixed their own material with a couple of Sex Pistols gems.
Set included "Just Another Dream", "Going, Going, Gone", "Silly Thing" , "Lonely Boy" , Kick Down The Doors","Problems" , "1-2-3" and "Steppin' Stone".
SLAUGHTER BITE BACK...feature original SATD guitar slinger Mick Rossi.
Slaughter And The Dogs were another punk band that were around during the heyday of punk.
Great songs played including "Boston Babies", "Hell in New York", " East Side of Town",
and 'Cranked Up Really High".
THE BLOCKHEADS...the great lyrics of Ian Dury still live on with a new singer,
including "Sex & Drugs & Rock n Roll", "What A Waste", "Sweet Gene Vincent"
and "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick"...and a rousing finale of " Blockheads".
I think they still have three original members in the band.
SHAM 69...arrived on stage at 9.50pm for their 55 mins set.
Another band with three original members playing.
Luckily i was in situ with the band before as for Sham the doors were shut as venue reached capacity.
Lots of their superb catchy singalong hits played including "Borstall Breakout" , "Angels With Dirty Faces",
"If The Kids Are United", "Hersham Boys" and "Hurry Up Harry"...an excellent set.
THE RAMONAS arrived on stage at 11.05pm for the 50 mins of Ramones covers.
The all-female band sound great and the singer does a neat Joey Ramone , and
they whizzed through many Ramones classics, just like the real Ramones did.
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SATURDAY
THE LEE HARVEYS
999
GIMPFIST
POP WILL EAT ITSELF
PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT
GARY NUMAN
MOTOHEADACHE
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SUNDAY
ALTERED IMAGES
BUZZCOCKS
HOLLIE COOK
TOM ROBINSON BAND
RUTS DC
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
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THE FRIDAY LINE-UP WAS MY 7300th SHOW SEEN BY ME SINCE 1973.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL PRICE TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR REBELLION AUGUST 2023.
will be adding bits n pieces of the review when i can

Updated 3rd August 2022 Permalink

Tuesday 02 August 2022.

Tuesday 02 Aug 2022.
A full house of 88,000 at Wembley Stadium saw England's fantastic win at The Women's Euros 2022 Final.
Film director Gurinder Chadha links her 2002 classic film "Bend It Like Beckham" with England's triumph.
So many film people kept telling her " No one wants to watch a film about women and football".
They said "It's not commercial" ..."And now look".
A little story related to the film...
In April 2003 I went to Australia...by accident STATUS QUO were the only major band playing.
I noticed on 20 April and 22 April they were playing the same venue in Coolangatta.
This seemed a good idea to catch them twice..which I did.
A great venue too...as all standing for only 1000 fans.
At the venue I was thinking why are Quo taking a day off when we are in the middle of nowhere...I asked a member of the venue staff...was anything happening on the day off.
It was a Monday...he said "Monday is film night ,and we don't cancel that for anything".
The film was "Bend It Like Beckham" ...which I also saw.
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Monday 01 August 2022.
R-Fest, starting this Thursday in front of Blackpool Tower on the promenade, are offering free tickets for NHS key workers. Although the country and government might have stopped clapping for the NHS, R-Fest want to show their gratitude for everything they did during the pandemic by offering one hundred tickets per day to the wonderful NHS workers.
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Saturday 30 July 2022.
LADY GAGA live at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, North London.
Lady Gaga plays the second ot two massive sold out shows at this football stadium.
Capacity for each of these shows is 50,000.
Same venue that i saw two Guns N Roses shows on July 1 and July 2 this year.
Lady Gaga is playing 19 stadium and outdoor shows in Europe , Japan and North America.
Lady Gaga is giving her first public live performance of her #1 selling, critically acclaimed, and GRAMMY-winning 2020 album, Chromatica, Gaga’s 6th consecutive #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. The show included fan favorites from the latest album including “Rain on Me”, “Stupid Love”, and “Alice” as well as hits from her massive and iconic discography such as “Bad Romance”, “Poker Face”, and “Shallow”.
I saw Lady Gaga in 2009 when she was a hotly tipped support act to The Pussycat Dolls.
Also a few other times ,including a secret gig at Annabel's members club in 2011.
Should be a very theatrical show with lots of extravagant costume changes and dancers.
Another stadium show with some very expensive ticket prices.
They're priced at the following, including booking fees...
Pitch standing ticket - £85.40
Gold circle standing - £167.50
Seated ticket - £51.65-£167.50
Pitch standing early entry - £191
Gold circle early entry - £266
Hot ticket package - £261
Lady Ga Ga's debut album "The Fame", which turned 10 in 2019, has reached a huge milestone in the UK, passing 3 million combined sales across physical, downloads, and streams – which makes it 10-times platinum!
A friend who went to the Friday show said no support act...Lady Gaga on stage around 8.30pm.
That means if you are a hardcore fan who wants to get to the front of your allocated standing area,
doors open at 5pm and it is 3 1/2 half hours wait with nothing to see or do.
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No support act seemed a bit odd, and just some basic tunes over the pa.
The crowd are very colourful, and full of "Little Monsters" and LGBTQ+ folks peacocking.
At 8.25pm - we get a few minutes of Lady Gaga images on the big screen.
LADY GAGA & band arrived on stage at 8.30pm and play for two hours.
I have a great view in the gold circle, next to one of the two catwalk stage extensions.
The dancers and band members used the catwalk extensions more than Lady Gaga.
Pretty amazing to turn around, and see the huge crowd that Lady Gaga is performing to.
I can actually feel the heat from the plume of flames Lady Gaga is regularly blasting out.
The stage production is brutalist grey granite, along with the big screens.
Lots of incredible costume changes between the "acts".
A stunning trio of her early anthems opened the show, performed with an army of dancers.
Lady Gaga got stuck into all the dance routines , with her dancers.
"Born This Way" and "Shallow" were among the gems played on the b-stage in the middle.
Tonight's version of "The Edge of Glory" was stunning.
The crowd were given wristbands that lit up every now and then.
This worked best for the final hour, as it was nice and dark then.
A visually excellent show, that certainly rivalled the likes of Madonna.
Full LADY GAGA setlist played tonight....
Prelude
Opening Film (Video Introduction)
Bad Romance
Just Dance
Poker Face
Act I
The Operation
Alice
Replay
Monster
Act II
Flowers
911 (Extended intro; shortened)
Sour Candy (Shortened)
Telephone
LoveGame
Act III
The Birth of Freedom
Babylon (Extended intro; dedicated to Alexander McQueen)
Free Woman (Extended intro)
Born This Way (Piano acoustic into full band)
Act IV
Tamara
Shallow (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper cover) (Extended)
Always Remember Us This Way
The Edge of Glory (Piano acoustic; shortened)
1000 Doves (Piano demo version)
Fun Tonight (Piano acoustic into full band)
Enigma (Extended outro)
Finale
Sonnet
Stupid Love (Extended)
Rain on Me (Extended Intro)
Encore:
Hold My Hand
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Note: From "Born This Way" onwards for 40 mins Lady Gaga was on b-stage

Updated 31st July 2022 Permalink

Saturday 30 July 2022

Friday 29 July 2022...5pm to 5.45pm...preview open day....
BONE DADDIES - 1a Philimore Gardens, off Kensington High Street, London W8.
Note - This building used to be BILL WYMAN'S Sticky Fingers Restaurant & Bar.
To celebrate their new Kensington opening, Bone Daddies are giving away 500 free bowls of Ramen on Friday 29th July from 4pm.
Having established themselves as one of the most popular Ramen chains in London, Bone Daddies now boast 9 London locations.
On the menu you'll find a wide range of delicious Japanese flavours to slurp your way through. Pick from a pork, chicken or plant-based broth jam-packed with incredible ingredients and various levels of spice.
We had one of the chicken bowls each....very nice and filling...all their ramen bowls normally cost around £13.
then a 30 mins walk to Shepherds Bush Green.
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Hi-energy boogie-blues legend (now aged 72) on his "Good To Be Bad - 45 Years Of Rock" world tour.
I saw him headline The Royal Albert Hall in 2009.
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The venue looks very full tonight, with mainly older folks.
ANDREW DICKSON arrived on stage at 8pm for his 30 mins.
Solo singer-songwriter who didn't really suit the bill as a support act to the lively George T.
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS arrived on stage 8.55pm for their 90 mins set.
Five of them on stage include lots of sax.
George is looking very youthful for his 72 years.
Lots of nifty guitar playing from him, including plenty of lovely bottleneck guitar.
Many songs had extended guitar solos and bits of jamming.
All his best known songs that his fans know, were played.
A really good set.
Full GEORGE THOROGOOD setlist played tonight...
Rock Party
Who Do You Love? (Bo Diddley cover)
Shot Down (The Sonics cover)
Night Time (The Strangeloves cover)
I Drink Alone
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Amos Milburn cover)
Gear Jammer
Get a Haircut
Bad to the Bone
Tequila (The Champs cover)
Move It on Over (Hank Williams cover)
Encore:
Born to Be Bad
Outro song over the pa (God Save the Queen - National Anthem )

Updated 30th July 2022 Permalink

Thursday 28 July 2022.

Thursday 28 July 2022...7pm to 10pm...
GUN CONTROL with me on drums had a rehearsal in North Acton.
We ran through our 10 song setlist three times.
We will have a stand-in singer for our gig in Shepherds Bush on Sat 13 Aug 2022.
It was the second of three rehearsals we will have for the gig.
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Wednesday 27 July 2022.
27 July 2002...It was 20 years ago today that THE SEX PISTOLS played Crystal Palace Sports Arena.
Their first show since 1996 Filthy Lucre tour - The Pistols at The Palace .
What a great day on what was the hottest weekend of the year so far .I got to C Palace area at noon and did not get back home until after 5am .Sadly missed all the support bands apart from Rapture who were ok .I had backstage passes so was there before and after the band did their 90 mins stunning set feat songs they had never played live before .I watched them from the front .Anarchy In The Uk,God Save The Queen and Pretty Vacant are the 3 greatest singles of all time .After there was a great party at the venue then on to another party for the band at a venue in Wandsworth , SW London . What a mega day .
I went to a rehearsal earlier that month in North London as Jones, Cook, Matlock got ready for it.
There is some decent footage of the gig on YouTube.
Fact...it is the longest show The Sex Pistols have played in their career.
Later that year i would be in California, USA for their only other show that year.
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Sunday 24 July 2022.
EALING BLUES FESTIVAL WEEKEND at Walpole Park, Ealing, London W5.
A great value small weekend festival...Chris Jagger Band headlined the Saturday.
Day tickets are just £10 plus £1 booking fee....or £12.50 on the door.
Weekend tickets are just £17.50 plus £1.75 booking fee....£20 on the door.
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A couple of thousand folks here...and quite a few here i know.
A mainly older crowd, so many have brought picnics and fold up chairs.
7.45pm to 9pm (75 mins) - ROBERT HOKUM and the GREAT WEST GROOVE BIG BAND.
They did a decent set of blues covers and some blues instrumental jams.
They ended playing longer than the headline band tonight.
Robert Hokum puts the event on, so his band always get to be main support before the headliners.
9.40pm to 10.40pm (60 mins ) - WILKO JOHNSON BAND
I was lucky to see the legendary Dr Feelgood with and without Wilko Johnson in the late 1970s.
Have seen him solo a few times and was at his one-off show with Roger Daltrey at
Shepherds Bush Empire in Feb 2014 to promote the album they did together.
The blues trio feature funky bass player Norman Watt-Roy (ex Ian Dury & The Blockheads) and
drummer Dylan Howe (who is the son of Yes guitarist Steve Howe).
Wilko Johnson is now aged 75, and has survived his cancer diagnosis back in 2013.
Wilko still has that unique chopping guitar style, as he often machine guns the audience.
Norman Watt-Roy funky bass is still loud and very upfront.
An odd thing happened after around 30 mins as Norman Watt-Roy was sick on stage.
They took him backstage for a couple of minutes as Wilko jammed away on his guitar, until his return.
Several solo songs played including a couple that felt a bit ramshackle in places.
Highlights of the show were the four Dr Feelgood classics played...
Going Back Home
Roxette
Back In The Night
She Does it Right
An enjoyable show.

Updated 25th July 2022 Permalink

Sunday 24 July 2022.

Saturday 23 July 2022....7.30pm show...
SISTER ACT - THE MUSICAL live at Hammersmith Apollo.
I am back to see this great musical a second time.
Looks pretty full again, even though seats in front stalls blocks are costing over £100 each.
Beverley Knight is fantastic again - her acting and singing really is top notch.
Now aged 49, Beverley is pretty much the UK Diana Ross, with the hair to match.
With a mainly female crowd, this feelgood musical about Sisterhood hits the spot.
Like the last time, there was a full standing ovation at the end.
Beverley Knight is not there on Sunday 24 July as she has a gig with Jools Holland,
so if you are booking tickets, check what days Beverley Knight is performing/not performing.

Updated 24th July 2022 Permalink

Friday 22 July 2022.

Friday 22 July 2022.
GUNS 2 ROSES live at Sub 89, Reading.
The UKs top GNR tribute band play this all standing 600 capacity club venue near Reading train station.
I saw Guns 2 Roses back in 2005 at The Hard Rock Cafe in London.
I recently saw the real Guns N Roses at Tottenham Football Ground.
www.sub89.com - Visit the venue website here to buy tickets.
Also buy them via Live Nation and Ticketek...£15 plus booking fee in advance or pay on the door.
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Always nicely to be up close to the stage at this cool club venue.
GUNS 2 ROSES arrived on stage at 8.30pm and played for 1 hour 45 mins.
As most visitors to this site know, I love a good quality tribute band.
Tonight Axl and Slash are the main two lookalikes and soundalikes as judging by
what the singer said , it appears that the second guitarist and drummer were stand-ins as
the regulars were on holiday....he didn't seem impressed about them taking time out...
All the classic tracks from the "Appetite for Destruction" album were played and sounded fantastic ,
along with cover versions they are known for, and a couple of deep cuts only hardcore
Guns N Roses fans would know.
A really good show.
Full setlist played by GUNS 2 ROSES tonight....
It's So Easy
Mr Brownstone
Live and Let Die
Knockin' On Heavens Door
Attitude
Welcome to the Jungle
You Could Be Mine
Drum solo
Rocket Queen
November Rain
Yesterday's
Slash guitar solo (discards his shirt for the evening)
Sweet Child O Mine
Bass solo then into Another One Bites The Dust
War On Drugs
You Ain't The First
Used To Love Her
Don't Cry
Nightrain
Paradise City
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Thursday 21 July 2022...7.30pm show...
SISTER ACT - THE MUSICAL begins a six week run at Hammersmith Apollo.
Check Out This Heavenly Cast
UK soul singer BEVERLEY KNIGHT joins the sisterhood as Disco diva in disguise, Deloris Van Cartier. Comedy legend JENNIFER SAUNDERS takes up the habit as Mother Superior alongside an all-star cast, featuring The Greatest Showman and Tony® Award-nominated actress Keala Settle, television and stage star LESLEY JOSEPH, Hackney royalty and Olivier Award-winner Clive Rowe and
Hairspray’s rising star Lizzie Bea.
Brace yourself sisters for this sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music. Sister Act tells the hilarious story of Deloris whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.
Featuring original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this is one nostalgia-filled trip that you will never forget. Join our congregation at Eventim Hammersmith Apollo London and Raise Your Voice for the feel-good theatrical event of the summer.
It is on here from 19 July 2022 to 28 August 2022.
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This was preview show number three in the run up to the press / VIP night next week.
This large venue looks pretty full...not easy to fill this venue for around six weeks.
Before the show starts , we have disco classics played over the pa and the mirror ball is in action.
SISTER ACT was on for around 2 hours 15 mins over two sets of 70 mins and 65 mins.
There is a nice big typical theatre type stage production, plus an orchestra of around 20 musicians.
I have seen Beveley Knight on stage a few times over the past 20 years.
Tonight she is fantastic in both her acting and her powerful soul singing voice.
Highlights included the final section of the first half, where all the nuns get to grips with singing.
At the start of the second half, the nuns enter through the stalls seating area and walk to the stage.
A very enjoyable mix of comedy and music, and will def see it a second time.

Updated 22nd July 2022 Permalink

Wednesday 20 July 2022.

Wednesday 20 July 2022.
JUANES live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Juanes, is a Colombian musician who was a member of the rock band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards. According to his record label, Juanes has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide.
This is his only UK show on his European Tour.
Sadly i have never been to South America...would be great to watch a big rock band play there.
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Level 3 is closed tonight.
The crowd is pretty much 90% Columbia / Spanish, with 75 % of them females.
BELLE MT arrived on stage at 8pm for their 30 mins set.
A couple of guys playing some laid back Ed Sheeran type songs.
JUANES arrived on stage at 9pm for their 1 hour 45 mins set.
There are lots of Columbian flags, small and large dotted around the venue.
Six musicians on stage including keyboards and some nice percussion.
JUANES still has his trademark long hair and the females here are swooning.
The entire crowd are up and dancing from the start, to create a great atmosphere.
There are a couple of highlights for me.
After 30 mins he jumps into the crowd with his guitar and microphone and sings a song there,
with all the fans closely surrounding him , inches from his face.
He performed a couple of cover versions , Bob Marleys "Could You Be Loved" and for the
second encore he donned a Flying V guitar and rocked out to Metallicas "Enter Sandman".
Apart from the two cover versions, the lyrics and stage banter are all in Spanish.
The crowd loved it, and the show ticked along ok.
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Wednesday 20 July 2022.
Happy Birthday to SEX PISTOLS drummer PAUL COOK who is 66 today.
Paul is still playing gigs with his post Pistols band...The Professionals.
Hopefully 2023 will see him in the all-star group Generation Sex playing UK shows.
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Tuesday 19 July 2022.
Happy Birthday to Queen guitarist BRIAN MAY who is 75 today.
The UK’s best-selling albums of all time:
1. Queen – ‘Greatest Hits’ (just passed the seven million UK sales figure....incredible)
2. Abba – ‘Gold’
3. The Beatles – ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’
4. Adele – ’21’
5. Oasis – ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’
6. Michael Jackson – ‘Thriller’
7. Pink Floyd – ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’
8. Dire Straits – ‘Brothers In Arms’
9. Michael Jackson – ‘Bad’
10. Queen – ‘Greatest Hits II’

Updated 20th July 2022 Permalink

Monday 18 July 2022.

Monday 18 July 2022.
MODEST MOUSE live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Indie-rock band from North America who have released several albums over the past 25 years.
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Level 3 is half empty tonight , but overall the venue is pretty full.
Northern Ireland female singer-songwriter SOAK arrived on stage at 8pm for her 30 mins set.
Some lo-fi songs from her recent album out on Rough Trade Records.
MODEST MOUSE arrived on stage at 9pm for their 1 hour 45 mins set.
Six musicians on stage, and seven on stage for a few songs in the middle of the set.
Their quirky indie-rock sound soon had folks dancing at the front of the stalls standing.
The setlist included several tracks from their recent album "The Golden Casket".
Cool oldies played included "We Are Between", "Dashboard", "Bukowski" and
their best known track "Float On" (official video approaching 100 million views on YouTube).
A good show.
Full MODEST MOUSE setlist played tonight...
3rd Planet
Fuck Your Acid Trip
Fire It Up
Dramamine (Life Like Weeds outro)
We Are Between
We're Lucky (short version)
Dance Hall
Dashboard
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
Wooden Soldiers
Bukowski
King Rat
Broke
Float On
Doin' the Cockroach
Back to the Middle
Encore:
Leave a Light On
Teeth Like God's Shoeshine
Japanese Trees
Lampshades on Fire
Spitting Venom
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Sunday 17 July 2022...6pm to 9.30pm..
THE 606 CLUB presents REBECCA POOLE / PURDY at Fulham Palace, Bishops Park, London SW6.
Adults/Youth 11 & Up: £18.50 :: Children 4-10: £12 :: Children 3 & under: Free*
Legendary Chelsea Jazz Club hold their annual outdoor summer party.
An outstanding singer, Rebecca Poole (also known as Purdy) simply oozes charisma, which combined with her sultry style and surefooted vocal delivery makes her truly impressive. Her many career highlights include touring as support to Jools Holland, performances at Wembley Stadium and the Royal Albert Hall and a singing part in the popular Netflix series 'The Crown'. With influences ranging from Nina Simone and Peggy Lee to Nancy Sinatra and Henry Mancini, Rebecca's own songs have a vintage flair refreshed by a thoroughly modern attitude. But she's also a marvelous straight ahead jazz singer and this show will also showcase that side of her musical personality! Appearing with her band, featuring expat Australian Brandon Allen (Kyle Eastwood, Omar) on sax.
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A lovely sunny evening before the two "red alert" days of scorching weather on Monday and Tuesday.
Some of my history with this venue....
Before i started going to gigs in 1973 , my dad used to take me here as Lyons Cakes would have
a carnival day fete where they gave out loads of free cakes, and we would get bags full.
In the 1980s there was a restaurant & bar on Fulham Palace Road that i visited half a dozen times
when it was used pretty often for aftershow parties for bands playing at Hammersmith Odeon.
I went here for a wedding here 20 years ago , when my niece got married.
Punk icon JOHN LYDON'S London house and HQ is just two minutes from the venue.
Around upmarket older 400 folks here sitting at tables, on chairs and on the floor.
Folks are bringing in huge picnics and you can even bring glass bottles into this event.
The show was pretty much on for two hours over two sets of 45 mins and 75 mins.
Mainly jazz covers that you would know, and some you wouldn't know.
Folks are dancing in front of the stage during the second set.
Such a cool relaxed vibe here, and it made a nice change.

Updated 18th July 2022 Permalink

Sunday 17 July 2022.

Sunday 17 July 2022.
One of the greatest gigs i ever saw was 26 years ago today.
17 July 1996 - THE SEX PISTOLS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
I saw them five times on their Filthy Lucre reunion tour including Paris and Milan.
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Saturday 16 July 2022.
SOCIAL DISTORTION live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Social Distortion play the second of two shows at this venue, on their European Tour.
I have seen them three times before, of which two were in America.
Nov 1996 - The Garage, London.
Sept 2002 - Devore , California - one of several bands supporting The Sex Pistols outdoor all-dayer.
Jan 2004 - Hard Rock, Orlando, Florida.
Californian punk band Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by Mike Ness(who still fronts the band) ,
and were inspired by the Sex Pistols and many other British punk bands as well as rock acts such
as the Rolling Stones.
Their several album releases have sold over three million copies worldwide.
Looks like the Friday show is sold out, but the added show on Saturday will be half empty.
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As expected not really a good idea to add a second show in London.
Level 2 and 3 are closed, and Level 1 is half empty so maybe only 600 out of 2000 tickets sold.
I bumped into my journo mate Mark from Record Collector. He was telling me about a week of gigs
he went to recently in different cities in mainland Europe, including Iron Maiden, Scorpions and KISS.
LOVEBREAKERS arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 30 mins set.
The band are from Birmingham, and played some good catchy pop punk tunes from their debut album.
GRADE 2 arrived on stage at 8.15pm for their 40 mins set.
The band are from The Isle of Wight, and play a set of fast punk tunes.
They have released their second album on Hellcat Records.
SOCIAL DISTORTION arrived on stage at 9.15pm for their 1 hour 40 mins set.
A small crowd but still lots of moshing and crowd surfing throughout their show.
The security pit team certainly earning their money tonight.
The twin distorted guitars of Social Distortion sound great all through the night.
Oddly, second show on the trot where the headline band included a cover of "Wicked Game".
The vocals could have been a bit clearer , but overall a very good show.
Full SOCIAL DISTORTION setlist played tonight...
Road Zombie
So Far Away
Reach for the Sky
Bye Bye Baby
I Wasn't Born to Follow
Mommy's Little Monster
Sick Boys
Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)
Machine
Ball and Chain
Gotta Know the Rules
California (Hustle and Flow)
Tonight
Dear Lover
Born to Kill
Encore:
Untitled new song
Don't Drag Me Down
Story of My Life
Ring of Fire (Merle Kilgore cover)

Updated 17th July 2022 Permalink

Friday 15 July 2022.

Thursday 14 July 2022.
THE STRUTS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Modern day glam rockers are playing a UK tour between European Festival dates.
Dave Grohl called them "the best support band The Foo Fighters ever had".
They seem to have had more success recently in North America rather than the UK.
CARDINAL BLACK are the support band.
I saw them play a really good set at this venue supporting Myles Kennedy in Dec 2021.
-------------------
Level 3 is closed tonight, and Level 2 is half empty so maybe 1200 out of 2000 tickets sold.
Rock is Alive as we have two great bands tonight.
CARDINAL BLACK arrived on stage at 8pm for their 45 mins set.
Cardinal Black have been ticking over for a decade or so, and play a really good set.
Some very nifty guitar playing and some powerful soulful rock vocals.
They play their own headline gig at The Garage on 22 Sept 2022.
THE STRUTS arrived on stage at 9.10pm for their 95 mins set.
At last i am getting to see The Struts for the first time as their last couple of London gigs
have clashed with other stuff, from what i can remember.
The Struts perform in front of a giant British flag, to the intro sounds of Gary Glitter.
Their flamboyant singer Luke Spiller has been compared to Freddie Mercury, Justin Hawkins ,
Mick Jagger and Tim Curry....and you can see bits of them all in his live performance.
He even plays piano like Freddie Mercury too, and works the crowd perfectly.
The band do play the same type of classic rock that The Darkness focus on.
Luke is a total live-wire on stage, and is soon sweating buckets.
The show is really entertaining , and just great to watch.
They finish the show with their excellent track "Could Have Been Me" , which has seen the
official video have over 12 million views on YouTube.
The band take their bows to their outro song of Only Fools & Horses tv theme tune.
Full setlist played by THE STRUTS tonight...
Primadonna Like Me
Body Talks
Kiss This
I Hate How Much I Want You
Fire (Part 1)
One Night Only
Dirty Sexy Money
Are You Falling With Me (worldwide live debut of their new single)
Low Key in Love
Mary Go Round (acoustic)
Put Your Money on Me
Medley - Put Your Hands Up / These Times Are Changing / Bulletproof Baby / All Dressed Up (With Nowhere to Go) / Only Just a Call Away / Where Did She Go
Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)
Wild Child
I Do It So Well
Encore:
Strange Days
Could Have Been Me
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
SEX PISTOLS "GSTQ" is best selling vinyl single of 2022 so far in the UK.
Vinyl Singles Chart 2022 – to end of Q2.
1 God Save The Queen Sex Pistols
2 The Lakes Taylor Swift
3 Ooh Do U Fink U R Suggs & Paul Weller
4 We’re Gonna Get There In The End Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
5 Brilliant Adventure EP David Bowie
6 Hunter’s Moon Ghost
7 Making A Fire Foo Fighters
8 Rock The Casbah The Clash
9 A Celebration U2
10 Who’s That Girl Madonna

Updated 15th July 2022 Permalink

Thursday 14 July 2022.

Wednesday 13 July 2022...I went to two theatre events today.
MATINEE
From 04 July 2022 - Broadway star FELICITY BOSWELL replaces BEVERLEY KNIGHT
in The Drifters Girl at The Garrick Theatre, London.
with the sensational Adam J Bernard (Dreamgirls), Tarinn Callender (Hamilton), Matt Henry (Kinky Boots)
and Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Showboat).
Discover the remarkable story of The Drifters, one of the world’s greatest vocal groups, and the truth about the woman who made them. Felicity Boswell stars as Faye Treadwell, the legendary manager of The Drifters, who, alongside her husband, fought for three decades to turn Atlantic Records’ hottest vocal group into a global phenomenon.
From the highs of hit records and sell out tours to the lows of legal battles and personal tragedy, The Drifters Girl charts the trailblazing efforts of the world’s first African American, female music manager and how she refused to ever give up on the group she loved. Thirty years, and loads of hit songs later, there is no doubt that Faye Treadwell was and always will be, The Drifters Girl.
With an unbelievable soundtrack of some of the most iconic songs in history, including Save The Last Dance For Me, Under The Boardwalk, Kissin’ In The Back Row Of The Movies, Stand By Me, Come On Over To My Place and Saturday Night At The Movies.
Beverley Knight is in it until end of July, then she joins the cast of Sister Act at Hammersmith Apollo.
--------
No surprise it is an older crowd here , who remember the act from the 1960s and 1970s.
I saw Ben E King in 1977, after he had departed the act for a solo career, and later in 2001.
I saw The Drifters in 1993 but not sure who was in the line-up back then.
It was pretty much a two hour show over two sets of 65 mins and 55 mins.
The Drifters were pretty much a four man vocal harmony group.
Lots of great stage costumes from that era and great dance routines.
Plenty of great hit songs...some performed twice...with some comedy thrown in through the show.
Felicity Boswell was excellent in the lead role, of being a black female music executive back then.
The Drifters were famous for breakaway band members forming their own versions of the act.
Everyone suing each other etc and run-ins with Atlantic Records.
Coming to the UK and they hits written over here by Roger Cook & Roger Greenaway.
A very enjoyable show.
then
EVENING
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL present CORTEO at The 02 Arena...opening night...
Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.
The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music turns lyrical and playful carrying Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.
The concept and disposition of the stage bring the audience in a theatrical atmosphere like never seen before in Cirque du Soleil arena shows. The set curtains, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and the central curtains, which were hand painted, give a grandiose feel to the stage. This sets the tone for the poetry of Corteo.
The cast of Corteo includes 51 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors from all around the world.
www.cirquedusoleil.com - Visit their website here,
for more info and to buy tickets.
In London from 13 – 17 July 2022 before continuing across the country with shows in Manchester from 5 – 9 October 2022, Glasgow from 12 – 16 October 2022 and Birmingham from 19 – 23 October 2022.
--------
Celebrity guests who graced the red carpet and enjoyed the performance from the cast of Corteo included Martin Lewis, AJ Pritchard, Arlene Phillips, Grace Chatto (Clean Bandit), Julia Bradbury, Lydia Bright and no doubt more.
The huge venue is transformed into an intimate theatre experience.
The stage is in the middle of the floor.
Level 4 is closed off and everyone has a great view from the stalls floor and level one.
There is no need for any big screens.
The show is pretty much on for two hours over two sets.
It is a typically CDC production featuring stunning costumes and a visual colour explosion.
The live band play joyous rhythms.
Sixteen acts dazzle you with their incredible skills in a very enjoyable show....
Four women perform aerial acrobatics on three chandeliers.
Six artists perform on Trampo Beds.
Five artists perform with Cyr Wheels.
An artist performs contortion like shapes on a suspended pole.
The giant clown performs a light-hearted golf routine.
Artists Marionette , like a live puppet.
A gypsy performer dazzles with a multitude of hoops.
A child-like helium balloon dance over the crowd was an excellent highlight.
Teeterboard acrobats
High flying between two stations, which brought gasps from the crowd.
Crystal glasses and whistler showcase, perform a haunting melody.
Three jugglers perform with rings, hoops and clubs.
A ladder acrobatic specialist.
Romeo & Juliet opera roulette, perform the unexpected.
Duo-straps display
Horizontal bars display, that kept you on the edge of your seat.

Updated 14th July 2022 Permalink

Tuesday 12 July 2022.

Tuesday 12 July 2022...7pm to 10pm...
My band GUN CONTROL (with me on drums ) had a rehearsal in North Acton.
It will be the first of three in the run up to our gig in Shepherds Bush on Sat 13 August.
Our singer cannot make that date, so we have a temp singer in for that gig.
We pretty much went through our eleven songs, three times each.
Our temp singer did a great job, for the rehearsal here.
Move over The Rolling Stones, Gun Control are back in town.
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
Monday 11 July 2022.
MARC REBILLET live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Marc Rebillet plays the first of three sold out shows at this venue, on his European Tour.
Marc Rebillet is an American electronic musician and YouTuber from Dallas, Texas, currently based in New York City. He is known for improvising electronic songs that feature comical lyrics.
--------------------
MAYA DELILAH & band arrived on stage at 8pm for their 30 mins set.
Singer-songwriter performed a decent set of pop with a jazz hint.
MARC REBILLET arrived on stage at 9pm for his 95 mins set.
I am always keen to look out for new and interestingly talent.
Three nights sold out at Shepherds Bush Empire...this guy must be worth checking out, right?
Many of the crowd have come in their kimonos as the artist is known to wear them.
To call him a DJ is a bit restrictive. He uses a loop station to make music, but that’s where the relationship to other DJs ends. Rebillet also employs a piano, his impressive vocals and myriad other instruments to create catchy, improvised songs.
His opening words to the crowd are "You Pieces of Shit", and there is plenty of rudeness after.
He said most of the set is improvising full songs from scratch. No two performances are the same.
The tone is set with Rebillet strutting onto the stage in a ‘Loop Daddy’ silk dressing gown and a pair of shiny Brown brogues. He milks the applause as he interacts and greets the crowd as he starts with his show.
The venue filled with energy and his enthusiasm is contagious and spreads from the stage, turning the venue into one big dance party straight off.
It is not long before he de-robes and performs the second half of the set in his underpants.
There is crowd participation as he goes into the pit to banter with the crowd and he crowd surfs.
There are fireworks and smoke plumes to help with the basic DJ console on stage.
The crowd loved it, but it to me it was just mildly entertaining.

Updated 12th July 2022 Permalink

Sunday 10 July 2022.

Saturday 09 July 2022
PEARL JAM + STEREOPHONICS live in Hyde Park, London.
Pearl Jam play the second of two massive outdoor shows at this venue,
as part of their European Tour.
Grunge rock legends Pearl Jam have sold over 85 million albums worldwide.
I have seen Pearl Jam several times, including Paris, France in 2006.
I have seen Stereophonics around 20 times since 1999, including Paris, France in 2003.
----------------
STEREOPHONICS arrived on at stage at 5.50pm and played for 70 mins.
Even the big screens look great for the support acts at this venue.
Singer Kelly Jones is in shades , telling us that he has loved Pearl Jam since the 1990s.
Lots of great catchy hits to sing along to in the sunshine.
Full STEREOPHONICS setlist played tonight....
C'est la vie
I Wanna Get Lost With You
The Bartender and the Thief
Hanging On Your Hinges
Do Ya Feel My Love
Maybe Tomorrow
A Thousand Trees
Have a Nice Day
Catacomb
Pick a Part That's New
Mr and Mrs Smith
Fly Like An Eagle
Sunny
Just Looking
Dakota
----
PEARL JAM arrived on stage at 8pm and played for 2 hours 10 mins.
One of the most amazing things about Pearl Jam is the way they change their setlist so much.
Two nights in London will mean pretty much two different sets of songs played as singer
Eddie Vedder told the crowd " we are gonna play a whole bunch of songs we didn't play yesterday".
Indeed they seem to add or change songs even during the set itself.
Eddie Vedder is certainly a man of the people, who cares about the loyal Pearl Jam fans
and worldwide issues like Ukraine and the terrible gun laws in North America.
One of today's support acts JOHNNY MARR joins them for a couple of tracks.
Lots of nifty guitar playing from Mike McCready which included a totally stunning guitar
cover version of Van Halen guitar solo anthem "Eruption".
The stage lights are used a lot more as dusk falls.
As usual a mix of lesser known songs and classic gems like "Alive" are played.
Eddie Vedder is a massive fan of The Who so we get a nice cover version of "Baba O'Riley"
as the last track played this evening.
A great show.
Full PEARL JAM setlist played tonight...
Intro track over the pa - All You Need Is Love (The Beatles song)
Corduroy
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
Why Go
Deep
Wishlist
Garden
Throw Your Hatred Down (Neil Young cover) (with Johnny Marr)
Do the Evolution
Animal
Dance of the Clairvoyants
Not for You (audience voted between "Not for You" and "Whipping")
Rats (tour debut)
Faithfull (European tour debut)
State of Love and Trust
Eruption (Van Halen cover)
Black
Porch
Encore:
River Cross
Leash
Alive
Yellow Ledbetter
Baba O'Riley (The Who cover) (with Johnny Marr) (Also with Andrew Watt)

Updated 10th July 2022 Permalink

Friday 08 July 2022.

Thursday 07 July 2022...2.30pm to 10.45pm...
SOHO HOUSE FESTIVAL, Gunnersbury Park, West London.
A new location for this top notch event, that changes venue every few years.
I have been to it pretty much every year , over the past 15 years...bar covid years 2020 and 2021.
Most of the 5000 folks here have paid £325 each to attend, and tickets are only open to
Soho House Members and via the event sponsors like YouTube, SKY tv , TikTok etc.
For that you get eleven bands over two stages, and all day complimentary drinks and food
from over 20 providers....and there is a full complimentary funfair as well.
Includes champers, different spirits, wines, beers, lobster, Pizza East, Dirty Burger and much more.
They always seems to be lucky with the weather, as it is another lovely sunny day.
The changeovers are quick as only five to ten mins between acts so you kinda choose the ones
you like to see , and the other times you are eating and drinking and generally mooching about.
They always put on a nice mix of good hotly tipped new acts and more well known older acts.
Having said that , half of this white middle class crowd don't really even watch the bands.
SPORTS TEAM arrived on stage at 3.45pm for their 30 mins set.
They released their debut album on 5 June 2020 on Island Records and Bright Antenna Records.The lead single "Here's The Thing " (last song played tonight) was released on 17 February 2020.The album received four out of five stars from NME, and was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2020....a really good lively set.
SELF ESTEEM arrived on stage at 5.10pm for her 35 mins set.
She is backed by three female backing singers & dancers.
Some good songs with sweary girl power attitude.
WET LEG arrived on stage at 6.45pm for their 35 mins set.
Over the past year they have become one of the most hyped acts in the country.
Since i saw them supporting at The Forum, their debut album went in at number one in April 2022.
The two main girls do a good job of playing nice breezy pop tunes.
PRIMAL SCREAM arrived on stage at 7.25pm for their 50 mins set.
Easily the best band on my radar to see for me on today's bill.
Booby Gillespie is still one of the coolest rock stars out there, dressed in all white tonight.
A nice big screen featuring great pre-recorded images.
A great set , with many gems played including...
Swastika Eyes
Jailbird
Movin' On Up
Country Girl
Rocks
FATBOY SLIM arrived on stage at 9.15pm for his 60 mins set.
As he is a DJ, his show is very visual with loads of lights and big screen images.
He is an ideal headliner for this crowd that likes to dance.
Always good to hear his golden oldies "Praise You", "Right Here, Right Now" and
"The Rockerfeller Skank"...an enjoyable finish to an excellent day out.

Updated 8th July 2022 Permalink

Thursday 07 July 2022.

Wednesday 06 July 2022.
OLIVIA RODRIGO live at Hammersmith Apollo.
19 year old American female plays the first of her London two shows here that sold out pronto.
Her world tour included Glastonbury Festival a couple of weeks ago.
Rodrigo, who took home Grammy Awards in April 2022 for best new artist and best pop vocal album for "Sour" , and best pop solo performance....Her worldwide breakout hit single was "Drivers License" .
Rolling Stone mag voted "Sour" as their best album of 2021.
Support comes from BABY QUEEN.
Baby Queen, is a South African singer based in London. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, she moved to London at 18 to pursue a career in music and signed to record label Polydor in 2020.
-------------------
No surprise that 90 % of the crowd are females under the age of 30.
The many merch stands here are doing a roaring trade.
BABY QUEEN arrived on stage at 8pm and played for 40 mins.
They are given a tiny space in front of Olivia Rodrigo's stage production.
A really good set of pop punk tunes.
OLIVIA RODRIGO arrived on stage at 9.20pm and played for 65 mins.
Olivia Rodrigo is certainly one of the hottest new female talents on the planet.
Just one album released, but awards galore and big venues everywhere all sold out.
Rodrigo’s lyrics resonate powerfully with a teenage audience, as her passionate bedroom ballads and nimble covers articulate both heartbreak and rage.
The crowd sing every word loudly to every song from the album.
A few nifty alt-pop punk tracks played, then an acoustic section, then back to the livelier tracks.
NATALIE IMBRUGLIA joins her on stage , as they both belt out Natalie's big 1990s hit "Torn".
Natalie still looking incredibly youthful for her age of 47...she looks more like Olivia's older sister.
You can easily see Olivia Rodrigo headlining arena's when her second album comes out.
A really good show.
Full OLIVIA RODRIGO setlist played tonight...
Brutal
jealousy, jealousy
Drivers License
Complicated (Avril Lavigne cover)
hope ur ok
enough for you / 1 step forward, 3 steps back
happier
All I Want
favorite crime
traitor
Torn (Natalie IMBRUGLIA cover) (with Natalie Imbruglia)
deja vu
Encore:
Good 4 U (with ticker-tape over the stalls )

Updated 7th July 2022 Permalink

Tuesday 05 July 2022.

Monday 04 July 2022
TEARS FOR FEARS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Tears For Fears are playing a full summer UK tour, with most venues being outdoors.
This show is actually the smallest venue on the tour, so no surprise it sold out pronto.
Their recent album "The Tipping Point" entered the UK charts at number two in March 2022.
They were massive in the 1980s and sold over 30 million albums worldwide, which included
8 million albums in North America alone, where they have just completed a full tour.
They had seven Top 10 hit singles in the UK between 1982 and 1985.
I saw them seven times at Hammersmith Odeon when i worked front stage security there.
Twice in 1983 and five times in 1985.
-----------------
No real surprise that the venue is rammed solid with a mix of hardcore fans and over 100 folks
on the guest list including....
VENUS WILLIAMS (the day before she was one of the 25 tennis legends paraded at Wimbledon).
MATTY HEALY (singer with The 1975)
IAN BROUDIE (Lightning Seeds)
STEVEN WILSON (singer-songwriter)
ROB STRINGER ( head of SONY MUSIC)
the band gave a shout out to a few past producers who all took a bow from seats in Level 1.
TEARS FOR FEARS arrived on stage at 8.30pm and played for 1 hour 50 mins.
They mentioned about playing indoors in London as it will be a better sound that the outdoor gigs,
but no big screens tonight, which the band seemed thankful that their facial images are not seen up close.
They play a couple of their biggest hits very early on, which was a surprise.
New album tracks and old album tracks ticked along ok.
The older fans were keen to dance to the older hits from the 1980s.
They said the last time they were at this venue was when it was a BBC tv venue in 1989,
to record the Wogan show.
A really good show.
Full TEARS FOR FEARS setlist played tonight...
No Small Thing
The Tipping Point
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Secret World (Snippet of Wings' "Let 'Em In")
Sowing the Seeds of Love
Long, Long, Long Time
Break the Man
My Demons
Rivers of Mercy
Mad World
Suffer the Children (Vocal by Lauren Evans)
Woman in Chains
Badman's Song
Pale Shelter
Break It Down Again
Head Over Heels / Broken
Encore:
End of Night
Change
Shout

Updated 5th July 2022 Permalink

Monday 04 July 2022.

Sunday 03 July 2022...I went to two very nice events today...
1.30pm to 6.30pm
JACKIE ST CLAIR SUMMER BBQ GARDEN PARTY - Holland Park, London.
Jackie and her husband Carl are hosting their annual BBQ for over 200 guests in their stunning house.
A small army of chefs, waiters , security and helpers are making sure everything runs smoothly.
A dozen or so well known names are here including...
ED BICKNELL - best known as manager of Dire Straits December 1977 to August 2000.
Had a great chat with him about when as an agent he got Dire Straits to support Talking Heads at The Roundhouse (I was there) and when Dire Straits played Hammersmith Odeon shows in 1983 (I was there) to promote a new electronic item called ' the compact disc" , and told me the whole story of how it came about.
ANDREW RIDGELEY ( ex Wham member with George Michael) (see my Facebook page for a photo)
LEEE JOHN (ex Imagination ) (arrived a bit late as he came direct from a gig in France the night before)
DON BLACK (legendary songwriter)
PATTIE BOYD (was married to both George Harrison and Eric Clapton)
JOHN LODGE (Moody Blues)
MARK FULLER (ex owner of The Embassy Club and now Karma Sanctum Soho Hotel)
KATIE MELUA (singer-songwriter)
ELAINE PAIGE ( musical theatre singer)
JULIEN MacDONALD (fashion designer)
AMANDA CRONIN (Real Wives of Belgravia and socialite)
PANDEMONIA ( 6ft plus in full pvc dress , including face, was very popular for selfies)
ELIZABETH EMANUEL (fashion designer who with her husband designed Princess Diana's wedding dress)
PHILIP SALLON ( fashionista who has been around since the punk rock and new romantic heydays)
JONATHAN SHALIT (music and entertainment manager)
KELLY HOPPEN (interior designer)
RICHARD YOUNG (celebrity photographer )
TONY MOORE (ex Cutting Crew)
TOUKER SULEYMAN (Dragons Den)
ROSS KING (ITV Hollywood Correspondent)
LIZZIE CUNDY ( radio presenter)
BRUNO TONIOLI ( choreographer and judge on tv dance shows)
ARLENE PHILIPS ( choreographer and judge on tv dance shows)
At 5.30pm we had some live performances.
A blonde female opera singer sung from the balcony.
Tony Moore performed Cutting Crew hit "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight " plus a covers medley.
Then a male singer and female singer performed some of Jackies fave songs.
There was a full buffet BBQ lunch for all including beef, pork, chicken etc.
The ice cream lady had lots of yummy different flavours.
Champers, wines, Pimms, beers , coffees etc were all flowing throughout the afternoon.
A really lovely afternoon here.
www.jackiestclair.com - Visit Jackies website here.
Features photos from her modelling career in the 1980s to the current day.
-----------------------
then
THE ROLLING STONES live at Hyde Park , London.
I have seen The Rolling Stones over 20 times since i first saw them five times in 1976,
which were four of their six shows at Earls Court Arena and a huge outdoor event at Knebworth.
Their current tour will be their first in Europe since the sad death of their drummer Charlie Watts.
---------
Hyde Park is a great central location, but the all standing situation is not really to my liking.
The Rolling Stones arrived on stage at 8.15pm and played for 2 hours 5 mins.
The main three swagger on like the proper rock stars they are.
The guitars kick in and the sound is really good, and the big screens here are fantastic.
Mick Jagger defies his age as he struts down the catwalk stage extension , moves and dances not stop,
waves his arms above his heads, and generally winds the crowd up with his jovial stage banter.
Plenty of classics played in the set, and it's great they are changing the setlist a bit each night.
Yep, The Stones are still rockin'...a great show.
"Angie’, ‘You Got Me Rocking and ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ made their SIXTY tour debut while the newest Stones song, the 2020 single ‘Living In A Ghost Town’ was removed from the set.
Full ROLLING STONES setlist for tonight...
Street Fighting Man (from Beggars Banquet, 1968)
19th Nervous Breakdown (single, 1966)
Tumbling Dice (from Exile On Main Street, 1972)
Out of Time (from Aftermath UK, 1966)
Angie (from Goats Head Soup, 1973)
You Can’t Always Get What You Want (from Let It Bleed, 1969)
Like A Rolling Stone (from Stripped, 1995)
You Got Me Rocking (from Voodoo Lounge, 1994)
Honky Tonk Women (single, 1969)
You Got The Silver (from Let It Bleed, 1969)
Happy (from Exile On Main Street, 1972)
Miss You (from Some Girls, 1978)
Midnight Rambler (from Let It Bleed, 1969)
Paint It Black (from Aftermath US, 1966)
Start Me Up (from Tattoo You, 1981)
Sympathy for the Devil (from Beggars Banquet, 1968)
Jumpin’ Jack Flash (single, 1968)
Encore:
Gimme Shelter (from Let It Bleed, 1969)
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (from Out of Our Heads, 1965)

Updated 4th July 2022 Permalink

Sunday 03 July 2022.

Fri 01 July and Sat 02 July - GUNS N ROSES play Tottenham Football Ground, North London.
Support acts are Gary Clark Jr and Michael Monroe.
Get there early to see the amazing 60 year old Michael Monroe, who is pretty
a 100 per cent uptempo rock n roll legend in the vein of early David Lee Roth.
Here is some mad information on these shows. To build the stage at this ground starts a
whole week before on Friday 25 June.
Never got around to seeing a footie game there, so this will be my first visit to Spurs new ground.
I first saw Guns n Roses back in 1987 when they headlined Hammersmith Odeon when their
classic debut album "Appetite For Destruction" started to take off.
I have seen them over a dozen times, plus i saw Axl Rose front AC/DC for that one tour.
Both shows are sold out...with a 50,000 crowd each night...
Not sure why tickets for concerts in stadiums are so expensive?
My security chums told me Guns n Roses Gold Circle was £160 plus booking fees,
and you could even pay £225 plus booking fees for early entry Gold Circle.
-------------------
I went to both shows by GUNS N ROSES...both times i was in the gold circle.
Friday was dry but we had a bit of rain on the Saturday.
The band have been posting set times of three hours but that is pure rubbish,
as they are always coming on late, and this venue has a 10.30pm curfew.
FRIDAY SHOW
Oddly i see Michael Monroe by backstage tonight , but he does not actually play for reasons unknown.
GARY CLARK JNR arrived on stage at 5.30pm for his 45 mins set.
Gary & his band did a really good set of uptempo blues rock, and had use of the big screens.
During the changeovers there were great tracks played over the pa including Sex Pistols, Sweet etc.
GUNS N ROSES arrived on stage at 7.45pm and played for 2 hours 30 mins.
There was a massive 90 mins changeover between bands, but it was even longer the next night.
American country pop singer CARRIE UNDERWOOD joined them each night for a couple of songs,
and she was great as she looked full on Sunset Strip rock chick and her vocals were top notch.
Those classic tracks from "Appetite For Destruction " still sound as utterly fantastic as ever.
There is no extended walkway from the stage but Axl, Slash and Duff make use of the
walkways in front of the big screens.
A great show.
Full GUNS N ROSES setlist played tonight...
It's So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Chinese Democracy
Welcome to the Jungle (Link Wray's "Rumble" intro)
Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
Better
Estranged (stopped midway due to sound problems then resumed)
Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
Double Talkin' Jive
Reckless Life
Rocket Queen
I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges cover) (Duff on lead vocals)
Absurd
Hard Skool
Civil War (followed by band introductions )
Slash Guitar Solo (Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign" jam)
Sweet Child o' Mine (with Carrie Underwood)
November Rain
Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover) (Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed" intro)
Nightrain
Encore:
Patience (The Beatles' "Blackbird" intro)
Paradise City (with Carrie Underwood)
--------------------------
SATURDAY
MICHAEL MONROE arrived onstage at 4.30pm for his 30 mins set.
He was on top form , as he played some great uptempo energetic rock n roll.
He jumped in the pit, and stood on the barriers to shake hands with fans.
Full MICHAEL MONROE setlist tonight...
One Man Gang
Last Train to Tokyo
Murder the Summer of Love
'78
Ballad of the Lower East Side
Malibu Beach Nightmare (Hanoi Rocks song)
Up Around the Bend (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)
Dead, Jail or Rock 'n' Roll
-----------
GARY CLARK JNR arrived on stage at 5.30pm for his 45 mins set.
It is staggeringly two hours , yes TWO HOURS wait until G N R arrived on stage.
GUNS N ROSES arrived on stage at 8.15pm and played for two hours 5 mins.
This meant they played 25 mins shorter than the night before.
There were a couple of tracks added, but obviously a few were dropped.
After Estranged, Axl said he was having issues with his singing so would change his approach, therefore resulting in a shorter show. First show without "November Rain" since April 1st, 2016. First show without "Rocket Queen" since April 23rd 2014
Plenty of classics still played though, so another great show.

Updated 3rd July 2022 Permalink

Thursday 30 June 2022..

Thursday 30 June 2022...7pm to 9.45pm...
SERPENTINE GALLERY SUMMER PARTY, Kensington Gardens, London W2.
Over 500 guests here tonight...a bit of rain early on but thankfully it stopped pretty quickly.
Lots of glammed up women here, and as usual a dozen or so well known names including...
THOMAS BRODIE-SANGSTER (plays Malcolm McClaren in PISTOL Disney tv series)
TALULAH RILEY (plays Vivienne Westwood in PISTOL Disney tv series)
I had a nice chat to them about the filming of it, and got a photo with them..see Facebook.
Also photos with of me with Damian Lewis and Sam Smith.
DAMIAN LEWIS (said he was going to see Pearl Jam in Hyde Park next weekend)
SAM SMITH
NICOLA ADAMS
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG
EDWARD ENNINFUL
OZWALD BOATENG
ARLENE PHILLIPS
ANNA WINTOUR
CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN
CIARA
IRIS LAW
RICHARD CARING
DAVID ARMSTRONG-JONES - 2nd Earl of Snowdon
JACKIE ST CLAIR and husband CARL
PHILIP SALLON
A DJ was playing some tunes.
Complimentary Laurent Perrier champers, Rose Wines, Mojito Cocktails, canapes & oysters.
The organisers did say in advance that there would be no big name music act playing this year and that it
would finish a couple of hours earlier than usual due to....."in light of the global context".
--------------------------------------------------------------
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Wednesday 29 June 2022...5.45pm to 9.30pm...
ALL STAR LANES - showcase - Ariel Way, Westfield, White City, London W12.
All Star Lanes is a luxury bowling venue matched with a modern American restaurant and Cocktail bar.
It is a massive venue, and we are in the space at the rear that they use for private events,
that can hold up to 120 people, and has exclusive use of two private bowling lanes.
Drinks, food and bowling packages start from £60.
The entire venue holds 350 and is available to hire as well.
They have four venues across London - White City, Stratford, Holborn, Brick Lane.
We had two rounds of bowling, one early on and one a bit later.
I won the second round with four strikes out of my ten bowls.
Photo booth specialists PHOTOBOT were here, so we had some fun photos taken.
There were a female duo singing with sax and keyboards playing 30 mins of cover versions.
Lots of complimentary drinks and food including Bellini's, different wines and different beers,
including our fave Blue Moon Belgium White along with mini-burgers and lots of different canapes.
A great evening here, and well worth a visit.
www.allstarlanes.co.uk - Visit their website here.
-----------------------

Updated 30th June 2022 Permalink

Tuesday 28 June 2022.

Tuesday 28 June 2022....7.15pm to 10pm...
AFRICA FASHION - exhibition private view / summer party
Victoria & Albert Museum, South Kensington, London SW7.
Over 500 guests in the outdoor space here.
Guests included...
PATRICE EVRA (ex footballer)
EDWARD ENNINFUL ( British Vogue Editor)
OZWALD BOETENG ( Savile Row Fashion Designer)
MIA REGAN (Model)
ALAN EDWARDS ( legendary music pr for over 40 years)
JACKIE ST CLAIR (ex Page 3 girl ) and husband CARL
LADY VICTORIA HERVEY
KIMBERLEIGH GELBER
NAT WELLER (model who is Paul Wellers son)
PHILIP SALLON (dressed in what can only be described as wearing a giant nappy, and at
9.30pm he went for a waddle in the pond)
At 7.45pm we had a couple of speeches.
A DJ was playing some tunes by the pond.
Complimentary sparking wines, two different cocktails and lots of different canapes and desserts.
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Monday 27 June 2022.
JACK WHITE live at Hammersmith Apollo.
Jack White plays the first of two sold shows at this venue.
Jack White, founding member of The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather, a 12-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and 36-time nominee, and Third Man Records founder, is set to release his fourth and fifth solo studio albums in 2022. FEAR OF THE DAWN (Third Man Records), featuring his latest single “Taking Me Back,” will be released on April 8th, 2022 and ENTERING HEAVEN ALIVE (Third Man Records) will follow on July 22, 2022.
I have seen Jack White on stage several times with his various bands over the past 20 odd years.
This will be a strict phone free show when Jack White is on stage.
Mon 27 June support act is CHUBBY & THE GANG.
Tues 28 June support act is YARD ACT.
Jack starts his European Tour at Glastonbury Festival, then two nights at Hammersmith Apollo.
------------------
CHUBBY & THE GANG arrived on stage at 8pm for their 40 mins set.
The band are given a small space in front of Jack Whites velvet curtains covered production.
They played some decent tracks from their two albums.
A bit scuzzy punk rock in places,but the vocals were a bit muffled.
They would be a lot better to see in a small club rather than a big venue like this.
JACK WHITE & his top notch band took the stage at 9.15pm for their 1 hour 45 mins set.
Jack and all the band are playing on their own raised platform, with the band a bit higher than Jack.
After a few songs the big screen kicks in with a mix of live footage and pre-recorded images.
The blue-haired troubadour smashes through White Stripes, Raconteurs, Dead Weather and solo bangers,
as he mixes playing different guitars, piano and bass, and is constantly on the move.
Lots of nifty dirty blues rock n roll tracks played tonight.
He left his anthem "Seven Nation Army" to the final song of the evening.
The entire venue erupts and sing loudly along to that famous riff and chant.
A great show.
Full JACK WHITE setlist played tonight....
Taking Me Back
Fear of the Dawn
Black Math (The White Stripes song)
Sixteen Saltines
Hi-De-Ho
You Don't Understand Me (The Raconteurs song)
If I Die Tomorrow
Love Is Selfish
Clarabella (The Jodimars cover)
That Black Bat Licorice
I Think I Smell a Rat (The White Stripes song)
Apple Blossom (The White Stripes song)
A Tree on Fire from Within
I Cut Like a Buffalo (The Dead Weather song)
Cannon (The White Stripes song)
Fell in Love With a Girl (The White Stripes song)
High Ball Stepper
Steady, as She Goes (The Raconteurs song)
Encore:
Icky Thump (The White Stripes song)
The Same Boy You've Always Known (The White Stripes song)
What's the Trick?
I Asked for Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) (Howlin’ Wolf cover)
Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes song)

Updated 28th June 2022 Permalink

Monday 27 June 2022

Saturday 25 June 2022 and Sunday 26 June 2022.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS play The London Stadium, Stratford, East London.
Saturday special guests Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals and Thundercat.
Sunday special guests ASAP Rocky and Thundercat.
RHCP are on a European Tour of stadiums and outdoor venues.
I have been to this stadium before....
2016 - AC/DC with Axl Rose
2017 - GUNS N ROSES
2018 - The Rolling Stones (two shows)
RHCP new album "Unlimited Love" went straight in at number one in the UK charts in April 2022.
The album has been number one in sixteen countries.
The reappearance of John Frusciante on guitar and producer Rick Rubin seems to have done the trick,
for the band as these shows are their biggest London gigs in over a decade.
All stadium gigs are always seem higher prices compared to normal venues...this show..
Gold circle standing is £150...general pitch standing is £95...seats are £125 , £95, £75 plus fees.
Anderson Paak is a member of excellent Grammy Award winning Silk Sonic soul supergroup.
I have seen RHCP around a dozen times before including the first time in 1999 when they headlined Reading Festival and two of their three massive Hyde Park shows in 2004, and intimate shows at The Roundhouse and The BBC Car Park , White City along with their Earls Court Arena shows in 2006.
-------------------
I went to both the RHCP shows here.
Must admit, i thought two stadium gigs by RHCP would be a bit ambitious , but I'm proved wrong
as both shows are an incredible 80,000 tickets per night sold out.
RHCP have sold more tickets in London than The Rolling Stones this summer.
Saturday 25 June 2022.
THUNDERCAT and his two band members arrived on at stage at 6pm for a 30 mins set.
He was in thrash band Suicidal Tendencies before going solo.
He is an amazing funky bass player who plays his six string bass, like a lead guitar.
All acts had use of the three big screens, but for RHCP the middle screen was fully enlarged.
ANDERSON PAAK & THE RADICALS arrived on stage at 7pm for their 45 mins set.
Anderson Paak is a great funky drummer and mixes playing drums with vocals and being
front of stage dancing like James Brown and vocals, along with a great 1970s funky soul sound.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS arrived on stage at 8.15pm for their 1 hour 45 mins set.
The band start off with a huddled funky jam and then the packed floor standing dance madly for
big hits "Can't Stop" and "Dani California".
John Frusciante gets big cheers when he appears on the big screens.
A few tracks from the new album played, but it was the big older classics that the crowd wanted.
Flea did a nice 30 seconds bass snippet of PIL "Public Image".
Flea is happy to ramble on, and sound a bit eccentric.
It was pretty basic production for a stadium show, as there was no catwalk stage extension.
Their tight funk-rock still sounds fab, and the band are thankful to their British fans.
They were saying how excited they were , when they first came to London.
A great show.
Full RHCP setlist played tonight...
Intro Jam
Can't Stop
Dani California
Charlie
These Are the Ways
Scar Tissue
Aquatic Mouth Dance
Snow ((Hey Oh))
Emit Remmus (Tour debut)
Whatchu Thinkin'
Otherside
The Heavy Wing
Nobody Weird Like Me
Californication
Black Summero
Give It Away
Encore:
Under the Bridge
By the Way
-------------------------------------------------
Sunday 26 June 2022.
As it was a Sunday, all the acts came on stage 30 mins earlier than yesterday.
THUNDERCAT arrived on stage at 5.30pm for their good 30 mins set.
ASAP ROCKY arrived on stage at 6.30pm for his 40 mins set.
American rapper had all his road crew in orange overalls as they blew up a huge orange I nflatable.
He is very popular in his own right, and a lot of the crowd know the words to his tracks.
There was a lot of swearing as he sang along to a backing tape, but not really my cup of tea,
and i much preferred the Anderson Paak funky soul support set from yesterday.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS arrived on stage at 7.45pm for their 1 hour 45 mins set.
Again Flea did his 30 seconds bass snippet of PIL "Public Image" and tonight they also
played a 30 seconds snippet of The Clash "London Calling".
A couple of tracks changed in the setlist , which like their Manchester show had
"Soul to Squeeze" replace their big hit "Under the Bridge", during the encore.
Another great show , but i think the first show here had the edge for me.
Full RHCP setlist played tonight...
Intro Jam
Around the World
Dani California
I Like Dirt
The Zephyr Song
These Are the Ways
Snow ((Hey Oh))
Right on Time
Here Ever After
Don't Forget Me
She's a Lover
Tell Me Baby
Wet Sand (Tour debut)
Californication
Black Summer
Give It Away
Encore:
Soul to Squeeze
By the Way

Updated 27th June 2022 Permalink

Friday 24 June 2022.

Friday 24 June 2022.
THE BEACH BOYS live at The Royal Albert Hall.
Iconic American band are celebrating their 60th anniversary.
The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, who, along with Jeffrey Foskett, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, Keith Hubacher, Christian Love and Scott Totten continue the legacy.
The Beach Boys co-founder MIKE LOVE is now aged 81.
I have seen them around a dozen times before including in 2003 in Arizona, USA when they played the
day after i saw The Sex Pistols play Tempe , Arizona...I saw half a dozen Sex Pistols shows on that tour.
-------------------
The arena floor and stalls are full tonight, but the circle is only 50% sold.
THE BEACH BOYS as usual play a long set of 2 hours 30 mins...two sets of 75 mins.
Sixteen musicians on stage including a five man brass section, to give a lovely big sound.
The younger members of the band made sure the harmonies were top notch.
Half a dozen palm trees are at the rear of the stage.
The two main senior members remain standing for the entire show, which was very impressive.
A big screen showing vintage video clips and photos from their heyday.
A nice touch was The Ramones cover of "Rockaway Beach".
Over 40 songs played including all their many hits.
The second half had all the crowd up and dancing for most of it.
Good vibrations indeed...a great show.
Full Beach Boys setlist played tonight...
FIRST SET
Do It Again
Surfin' Safari
Catch a Wave
Little Honda
It's OK
California Sun (Joe Jones cover)
Rockaway Beach (Ramones cover)
Surfin' U.S.A.
Surfer Girl
Please Let Me Wonder
Kiss Me, Baby (with Ambha Love)
Getcha Back
When I Grow Up (to Be a Man)
Darlin'
Here Today
You Still Believe in Me
Good to My Baby
Caroline, No (Brian Wilson song)
Be True to Your School
Don't Worry Baby
Little Deuce Coupe
409
Shut Down
I Get Around
SECOND SET
California Dreamin' (The Mamas & the Papas cover)
Sloop John B ([traditional] cover)
Wouldn't It Be Nice
California Girls
Disney Girls
Forever (with John Stamos on vocals)
Dance, Dance, Dance
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers cover)
All I Wanna Do
All This Is That
Then I Kissed Her
God Only Knows
Pisces Brothers (Mike Love song)
Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles cover)
Cotton Fields (Lead Belly cover)
Do You Wanna Dance? (Bobby Freeman cover)
Rock and Roll Music (Chuck Berry cover)
Help Me, Rhonda
Kokomo
Good Vibrations
Barbara Ann (The Regents cover)
Fun, Fun, Fun
---------
During the show Mike Love said "thanks for choosing us tonight, as there is a lot going on".
He is not kidding....tonight had a full quota of big acts playing.
Beach Boys - The Royal Albert Hall
Green Day - London Stadium
Ed Sheeran - Wembley Stadium
Diana Ross - 02 Arena
Elton John - Hyde Park
I chatted to a few nice guys from Norway who are in London the weekend for some quality shows.
Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones and Eagles.
Elton John at Hyde Park had some rain , so a reminder to them and others that Hyde Park
has no cover or shade so if it rains or gets really hot...you need to be prepared.
----------------------------------------------------------------
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Thursday 23 June 2022.
ABC with orchestra live at The Royal Albert Hall.
ABC celebrate 40 years since the release of their lauded and timeless debut album " The Lexicon of Love". ABC will perform the iconic album in its entirety , including a return to this venue where their first orchestrated show won the hearts of critics and fans alike....I was at that show.
Martin Fry’s masterpiece "The Lexicon Of Love" went straight to number one upon release. Fusing dance floor finesse with a post-punk attitude, the album spawned timeless tracks such "Poison Arrow", "The Look Of Love", "Tears Are Not Enough", and "All Of My Heart". The album saw ABC enchant the world with their own unique brand of pop and remains one of the best albums of all time.
Worldwide hits and six studio albums later; ABC demonstrate that even now 40 years on from "The Lexicon Of Love", Martin Fry’s song-writing and musicianship is still as contemporary as it was in the beginning.
ABC will be joined by the Southbank Sinfonia and longtime collaborator Anne Dudley who will conduct the evening.
I have seen ABC live a dozen times over the last 40 years, including all three nights at
Hammersmith Odeon in 1982 when "Lexicon of Love" originally stormed the charts.
I have also seen them play with an orchestra three times at this same venue...in 2009, 2017 and 2019.
----------------------------
The venue is a near sell-out, with maybe 95% per cent of tickets sold.
ABC with orchestra are on for 1 hour 50 mins, over two sets of 55 mins each.
With band and orchestra added together, there must be around 50 musicians on stage.
The songs with the orchestra backing them sound fantastic, especially with the stunning string section.
Singer Martin Fry must be the Bryan Ferry of the 1980s as tonight he is wearing a very smart white tux,
bow tie and black patent shoes.
The first set has plenty of gems and the second set has the tracks from that classic album.
Martin brings us back to the 1980s by talking about turning the vinyl over to side two.
Martin brings out his iconic gold lame jacket for the reprise of "The Look of Love".
The hit singles are superb and i sing all the words to my fave song of theirs "All Of My Heart".
A great show.
Full ABC setlist played tonight....
FIRST SET
Intro - The Lexicon of Love medley (Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra only)
When Smokey Sings
Viva Love
The Night You Murdered Love
(How to Be a) Millionaire
The Flames of Desire
The Love Inside the Love
Ten Below Zero
One Better World
Ocean Blue
SECOND SET - The Lexicon of Love album
Show Me
Poison Arrow
Many Happy Returns
Tears Are Not Enough
Valentine's Day
The Look of Love
Date Stamp
4 Ever 2 Gether
All of My Heart
Play Video
Encore:
The Look of Love (Part Four) (Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra only)
The Look of Love (with band and orchestra) (reprise)

Updated 24th June 2022 Permalink

Wednesday 22 June 2022.

Wednesday 22 June 2022...I went to two events today.
2.30pm to 5pm
EUROPEAN PIZZA & PASTA SHOW at Olympia, London.
A massive event with a couple of thousand here visiting.
Lots of pizza and pasta companies from Italy are showcasing their food & equipment.
Lots of tasty complimentary slices of fresh pizza etc from the stands , along with Italian wines and lagers.
Top Italian chef Georgio Locatelli was here signing copies of his latest book.
then
6pm to 8.15pm.
BACK TO EARTH - private view - MAGAZINE ,ex Sackler Restaurant & Gallery, Serpentine Galleries,
Kensington Gardens, London.
"Back to Earth" is Serpentine’s long-term, interdisciplinary programme addressing the ongoing climate emergency. This multi-year project invites over sixty leading artists, architects, poets, filmmakers, scientists, thinkers, and designers to respond to the environmental crisis. With the support of partner organisations and networks, these collaborators are devising artistic campaigns, protocols and initiatives that act as catalysts
Around 200 guests are here.
Music legend BRIAN ENO was here as he is one of the artists involved.
I got a photo with him, which is on my Facebook page.
Brian Eno (now aged 74) is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his contributions to ambient music and work in rock, pop and electronica.A self-described "non-musician", Eno has helped introduce unconventional conceptual and recording approaches to contemporary music.He has been described as one of popular music's most influential and innovative figures.
He has worked with Roxy Music, David Bowie, U2, Coldplay and many more.
At 6.50pm we had a couple of speeches.
Complimentary Laurent Perrier champers and Gin & Tonics for all guests.
It is open to the public from 22 June to 18 September.
----------------------------
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Tuesday 21 June 2022.
SHAGGY live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
I saw Shaggy play a great show with Sting at The Roundhouse a few years ago.
Shaggy played The Isle of Wight Festival a few days before this show.
Shaggy has had four number one hits in the UK...
Oh Carolina - 1993
Bombastic 1995
It Wasn't Me - 2001
Angel - 2001
-------------------
Level 2 and 3 closed tonight as only 700 tickets sold.
No support and early start early finish which was handy when there is a train and tube strike.
SHAGGY & band arrived on at stage at 8.15pm and played for 1 hour 50 mins.
Nice to hear plenty of good times reggae vibes tonight, and the crowd are all dancing from the start.
A very enjoyable show.
SHAGGY setlist played tonight included...
Bombastic
Oh Carolina
Reggae covers medley
Angel
Frank Sinatra covers medley done in a reggae style
Electric Avenue (Eddy Grant cover)
It Wasn't Me

Updated 22nd June 2022 Permalink

Tuesday 21 June 2022.

Tuesday 21 June 2022.
KISS are playing shows in Europe June/July 2022
THE ROLLING STONES are playing shows in Europe June/July 2022.
I have seen KISS over 40 times since 1976.
I have seen THE ROLLING STONES over 20 times since 1976.
Check this amazing month back in 1976 , when i saw AC/DC, David Bowie,
KISS ,Patti Smith and The Rolling Stones all for the first time.
AC/DC,Captain Video Nashville Pub, London 26.04.1976
National Flag Marquee Club, London 30.04.1976
Neil Sedaka,Barbara Dickson Hammersmith Odeon, London 02.05.1976
Strife Marquee Club, London 05.05.1976
David Bowie Wembley Arena, London 06.05.1976
Nils Lofgren,Unicorn New Victoria Theatre, London 09.05.1976
Nils Lofgren,Unicorn New Victoria Theatre, London 10.05.1976
Elton John Earls Court Arena, London 11.05.1976
AC/DC,Back Street Crawler Marquee Club, London 12.05.1976
Elton John Earls Court Arena, London 13.05.1976
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 15.05.1976
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 16.05.1976
Patti Smith,Stranglers Roundhouse, London 17.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 21.05.1976
AC/DC Fulham Greyhound Pub, London 23.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 25.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 26.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 27.05.1976 my 17th birthday
Who,Alex Harvey Band,Little Feat Charlton F.C. , London 31.05.1976
AC/DC Marquee Club, London 04.06.1976

Updated 21st June 2022 Permalink

Monday 20 June 2022.

Sunday 19 June 2022.
HARRY STYLES live at Wembley Stadium.
This is the second of his two massive outdoor stadium shows here.
Ex One Direction member is on a world tour of stadiums and arenas.
His solo success has been stratospheric.
After the UK shows he plays North America arenas, including 15 (yes FIFTEEN ) shows at Madison Square Garden in New York and 15 shows at the newly named Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
In support of new third solo album "Harry’s House", which was number one in the UK in June.
Styles' will be supported by MITSKI, a Japanese-American singer-songwriter who has a large following on social media, and her 2022 album "Laurel Hill" went Top 10 in the UK and other countries.
-----------------
My first gig at Wembley Stadium since the summer of 2019, which was a great year for gigs here.
I went to the following shows here...
BTS - 01 June 2019
SPICE GIRLS + JESS GLYNNE - 14 June 2019
SPICE GIRLS + JESS GLYNNE - 15 June 2019
FLEETWOOD MAC + PRETENDERS - 16 June 2019
FLEETWOOD MAC + PRETENDERS - 18 June 2019
BON JOVI + MANIC STREET PREACHERS - 21 June 2019
BILLY JOEL - 22 June 2019
EAGLES + SHERYL CROW - 23 June 2019
PINK - 29 June 2019
PINK - 30 June 2019
THE WHO + EDDIE VEDDER + KAISER CHIEFS - 06 July 2019
Much more enjoyable watching a live music event in a stadium than a park like
Hyde Park or Finsbury Park as those two have just basic facilities and no rain cover or seats
unless you are in mega bucks hospitality.
MITSKI arrived on stage at 7pm for her 40 mins set.
Mitski had use of two big screens showing live footage , and Harry had use of three big screens.
Mitski Miyawaki and her five-piece band played the synths and snares of her multi-genre oeuvre, from indie-rock to dream-pop, she danced along with heavily stylised choreography that mimicked the lyrics – and the feelings – of her songs. It felt very Kate Bush at times...very theatrical dance movements during her set.
HARRY STYLES arrived on stage at 8.20pm for his 1 hour 40 mins set.
The venue is a rammed 80,000 sold out capacity by the time Harry comes on stage.
There are three pod areas for big spending fans at the front between the walkways.
Behind that is the front pitch area, which is like a second gold circle.
Early entry to front pitch standing was a whopping £170 plus £15 booking...yikes...
There are rainbow colours and feather boas everywhere in the mainly female audience.
The atmosphere is fantastic, as this is a proper communal gathering.
A little bit of rain on those standing on the pitch, but nothing too heavy.
The scorching Friday heat a couple of days before would have seen many fainting.
Harry bounds on to the stage to thousands of screams and cameras going off.
An attentive host as well as a magnetic charismatic frontman, Harry repeatedly checked in on the audience between songs and paced every inch of the stage and extended, U-shaped catwalk so that everyone got a chance to glimpse his mischievous grin and heart-covered Gucci one-piece up close.
Styles is an utterly modern pop star. He’s a vocal, if vague, champion of the LGBTQ community, teasing at the boundaries of mainstream music with his frocks, fluffy jumpers, big beads, and painted nails. Blurred gender lines are nothing new in pop, of course, and Styles’ fondness for flamboyant suits and bouffant hair owes plenty to Brandon Flowers of The Killers, who has sported that sartorial stadium look for at least the last decade.
Harry uses the walkways well, and in the middle of the set performs a few songs there.
He got the crowd to sing along to a Freddie Mercury type call and answer.
Weighted heavily towards the new album, the setlist also included a rendition of the One Direction hit "What Makes You Beautiful" : a neat move that showed Styles is neither embarrassed nor snooty about his boyband roots. But an encore comprised of the three biggest singles of his three albums – "Sign of the Times", "Watermelon Sugar", and "As It Was" , which has recently spent 10 weeks at number one – ended the night on a note of firm solo triumph.
His success has been pretty incredible as Harry said "he first went to London 2012 for his
X Factor boot camp auditions, which ended up him enjoying the mega success of One Direction".
It was a great show.
Full HARRY STYLES setlist played tonight...
Music for a Sushi Restaurant
Golden
Adore You
Daylight
Cinema
Keep Driving
Matilda
Boyfriends
Lights Up
Satellite (Helped a make Italian fan come out during intro)
Happy Birthday to You (Mildred J. Hill & Patty Hill cover) (Sang to Elin)
Canyon Moon
Treat People With Kindness
What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction song)
Late Night Talking
Love of My Life
Encore:
Sign of the Times ( lots of fireworks for this track)
Watermelon Sugar
As It Was
Kiwi

Updated 20th June 2022 Permalink

Sunday 19 June 2022.

Saturday 18 June 2022.
BECK live at The Forum.
I have seen Beck live several times before, with the first two times in 1997, when i went to a recording
of BBC tv show Later with Jools Holland ,and when he headlined Glastonbury Festival.
Beck has released over a dozen albums since 1993.
Beck plays two sold out London shows on his European Tour.
Thurs 16 June Brixton Academy and Sat 18 June The Forum.
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JAWNY arrived on stage at 7.45pm for their 30 mins set.
Jawny and his two band mates performed a decent set of songs.
Jawny is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He first received recognition after the release of his 2019 single "Honeypie", and was signed to Interscope Records in January 2020. He made his major-label debut with the mixtape For Abby in late October 2020.
The venue is totally rammed sold out by the time Beck hits the stage.
BECK and his band arrived on stage at 8.55pm for their 90 mins set.
The band are all on a raised platform at the rear of the stage.
The first half is excellent indie dance pop from Beck, and the second half is much more laid back.
He’s barely graced the stage before ‘Devil’s Haircut’ is unleashed to a rapturous response.
It’s disarming how easily he slips from slacker rock to full-on pop star.
Over 30 songs played but many were shortened versions of two mins or less.
Highlights included "Loser" and "Where's Its At ".
Overall a great show.
Full BECK setlist played tonight....
Hyperlife
Mixed Bizness
Devils Haircut
Dreams
Colors
The New Pollution
The Valley of the Pagans (Gorillaz cover)
Wow
Hollywood Freaks
Qué Onda Guero
Nicotine & Gravy
Debra
Girl
Loser
Hotwax
Dear Life
Cycle
Morning (Abandoned)
Hollow Log
Stratosphere
Chemtrails
Turn Away
Lost Cause
Missing
Earthquake Weather
Night Running (Cage the Elephant cover)
Go It Alone
Black Tambourine
Up All Night
E-Pro
Encore:
Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime (The Korgis cover)
True Love Will Find You in the End (Daniel Johnston cover)
Morning
Where It's At
Encore 2:
One Foot in the Grave

Updated 19th June 2022 Permalink

Saturday 18 June 2022.

Sat 18 June - Happy Birthday to PAUL McCARTNEY who is 80 today.
Mon 20 June - Happy Birthday to BRIAN WILSON who is 80 today.
Two music legends born just two days apart.
I have seen both of them over 20 times live on stage, which includes an amazing lunchtime show
by Paul McCartney at The 100 Club in Dec 2010.
Reminder that train and tube strikes next week will certainly mess up going to gigs,
as any trains running will finish around 6pm, so getting back after gigs will need planning.
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Friday 17 June 2022.
A very nice three act package at Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, North London.
CULTURE CLUB + BANANARAMA + LULU...all three acts have had many big hits over the years.
plus an opening set by celebrity DJ FAT TONY.
Culture Club have sold over 150 million records worldwide - singles and albums combined.
Culture Club have had 12 x Top 40 hits in the UK, including two number ones.
Bananarama have had more Top 40 hits (count 32!) in the UK than the Spice Girls managed, and gained entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest girl group since The Supremes, impressive stuff.
Lulu has had 19 x Top 40 hits in the UK, including a number one.
www.heritagelive.net - Visit their website here to buy tickets
for this show, and others they are promoting across the UK this summer.
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Here we are , on the hottest day of the year so far, in this fantastic outdoor venue.
Must be a few thousand here, with three blocks of seats in front of the stage and standing around them.
June and July sees many similiar venues around the UK host a week or two of top notch shows.
LULU & band arrived on stage at 6.15pm for their 45 mins set.
We have three big screens mixing live footage with the middle screen showing old video clips.
Hard to believe that the ever youthful looking Lulu is now aged 73.
It seemed a bit odd she started with her biggest hit "Shout", but then you realise the setlist
is in decade by decade order of her career...really good.
Full LULU setlist played tonight...
Shout (The Isley Brothers cover)
The Boat That I Row
To Sir With Love
Run to Me / To Love Somebody (Bee Gees cover)
Boom Bang-A-Bang
The Man With the Golden Gun (John Barry cover)
Teardrops (Womack & Womack cover)
I Don't Wanna Fight
We Don't Fall
Relight My Fire (Dan Hartman cover) (Lulu had a hit with Take That for this track)
I'm Still Standing (Elton John cover)
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BANANARAMA and band arrived on stage at 7.30pm and performed for 60 mins.
The two girls always seem to enjoy themselves on stage, with their arm dancing routines.
They played a couple of songs from their upcoming album and lots of hits including...
Nathan Jones
Shy Boy
Cruel Summer
I Heard a Rumour
He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'
'Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)
I Want You Back
Robert De Niro's Waiting
Venus (Shocking Blue cover)
Love in the First Degree
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (Steam cover)
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DJ FAT TONY played 30 mins of eighties anthems during the changeover.
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CULTURE CLUB arrived on stage at 9.05pm and performed for 90 mins.
Ten musicians on stage including three original Culture Club members and three backing vocalists.
An excellent percussionist sounded great alongside the drummer.
Original drummer Jon Moss is not here as George says "he is having a strop" .
Big cheers as National Treasure Boy George takes to the stage after the band.
Lots of his big personality banter before pretty much every song , which went down well with the crowd.
Boy George is now aged 61, but is just as flamboyant as ever.
It is a local gig for Boy George as he has lived in Hampstead since the 1980s.
All their classic hits got folks dancing and singing along.
At 10.30pm we had a nice fireworks display but as the set was running over, it ended up
with George singing the final song with the fireworks going off at the same time.
All three quality acts made for a great evening of live music.
Full CULTURE CLUB setlist played tonight...
Next Thing Will Be Amazing
It's a Miracle
I'll Tumble 4 Ya
Move Away
Hold Back
Everything I Own (Bread cover)
Eyeliner Voodoo
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me
Victims
Planetary Karma
Drop the Needle
Church of the Poison Mind / I'm Your Man
Time (Clock of the Heart)
Miss Me Blind
The War Song
Sympathy for the Devil (The Rolling Stones cover)
Karma Chameleon
The Man I Love (George Gershwin cover)

Updated 18th June 2022 Permalink

Friday 17 June 2022.

Thursday 16 June 2022.
PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED (PIL) live at The Forum.
John Lydons PIL are playing a UK tour.
Widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential bands of all time, PiL’s music and vision earned them five UK Top 20 singles and five UK Top 20 albums. John Lydon, legend, icon and one-time front man and lyricist of the Sex Pistols, changed the face of music and led a cultural revolution, guiding the band from their debut album First Issue in 1978 to major global success.
I have seen John fronting The Sex Pistols 29 times since 1976 and have seen PIL many times,
including their debut show at The Rainbow Theatre, London - 25 Dec 1978.
John Lydon, Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith continue as PiL. They are the longest stable line-up in the band’s history and continue to challenge and thrive.
BRIX SMITH is the support act in London and some of the other shows on the tour.
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It is not sold out , but a decent enough 1700 out of 2000 tickets sold.
BRIX SMITH and band arrived on stage at 7.45pm for their 45 mins set.
I saw Brix a couple of months ago supporting Killing Joke at Hammersmith Apollo.
Blonde rock chick Brix played some good tracks from her upcoming Youth produced album.
PIL arrived on stage at 9pm and played for around 1 hour 40 mins.
John Lydon arrives on stage wearing a very baggy suit.
John says "I haven't got Monkeypox, but I do have the flu".
They are using the same large PIL circular logo and stage curtain as previous tours.
The band are top notch as usual, and Lu on guitar is playing some very nifty sounds.
The band really do create a great dance groove.
The first half of the show was more for the hardcore fans and the second half had the big hits.
There hasn’t been a new studio album for nearly 7 years, their last being ‘What The World Needs Now…’ which saw the light of day on 4th September 2015.
A great "This is Not a Love Song" and a superb "Public Image" finished the main set.
His ever present manager/personal security Rambo is side of stage nodding away,
and even gets a name check at the end during the band introductions.
Final song "Rise" had all the crowd chanting "Anger is an Energy ".
A great show.
Full PIL setlist played tonight....
Religion II
Memories
The Body
Warrior
Corporate
The Room I Am In
The One
Death Disco
U.S.L.S. 1
Bags
Chant
Disappointed
This Is Not a Love Song
Public Image
Encore:
Shoom ( dedicated to working class traitor Danny Boyle)
Open Up (Leftfield cover)
Rise

Updated 17th June 2022 Permalink

Thursday 16 June 2022.

Wednesday 15 June 2022...I went to two events tonight...
5pm to 6.30pm
CONCOURS ON SAVILE ROW, Savile Row, London W1.
This famous tailoring street is closed off to traffic, and there is a full red carpet all along the street.
An event celebrating the best of British tailoring and showcasing over 30 classic cars.
A nice atmosphere in the sunshine as the crowds are looking at all the stunning cars
from all the iconic names, and included incredible prototypes from McLaren and Bentley.
Several of the stores are giving out complimentary drinks, so nice to have Bowmore Whiskey
Old Fashioned drinks at J.P Hackett and Negronis at Cad & The Dandy.
There was a jazz & swing band playing on the main stage.
then
7pm to 10.15pm
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS SUMMER EXHIBITION PREVIEW PARTY 2022, Piccadilly, London W1.
Must be at least 700 or 800 folks here, and sold out even though tickets for most cost £525.
Around 20 photographers taking pictures of any well known faces when they arrive in the courtyard.
Guests included...
GRAYSON PERRY
NENEH CHERRY ( recieved The Icon Award at The NME Awards earlier this year)
EDWARD ENNINFUL (editor of British Vogue magazine)
JACKIE ST CLAIR
NICK GRIMSHAW ( also played a DJ set at the party )
MIQUITA OLIVER
Celebrity DJ FAT TONY
DAVID DOWNTON (fashion illustrator)
RON DENNIS (From 1981 to 2009 he was team principal of McLaren Formula One team)
ANNE-MARIE (singer)
LUKE EVANS (actor)
Lots of females in glamourous outfits, and Grayson Perry looked amazing.
Over 1400 works on display , and we had a naked black male model sitting astride one of them.
At 9.35pm SIGRID performed a four song set, with just piano for backing in the courtyard.
Her set included "A Driver Saved My Night" and her hit "Strangers".
Lots of complimentary drinks and food including Fortnum & Mason champers, three different cocktails,
Food from Fortnum & Mason including lobster rolls, fresh salmon, oysters, different bowl food and
canapes along with a very nice pastry selection.
There was also a Mac & Cheese van in the courtyard from 9pm for when Sigrid was performing.
It is open to the public from the weekend.

Updated 16th June 2022 Permalink

Tuesday 14 June 2022.

On the day postponements and cancellations of gigs can be a right pain in the Arsenal.
Seems to be catching at the moment as this week we had....
Monday 13 June - THE ROLLING STONES live at Amsterdam Stadium.
The gig was pulled as 6pm on the day as Mick Jagger tested positive for Covid.
Many Stones fans will have spent big money on travel and hotels, so you feel a bit sorry for them all.
Monday 13 June - BUSH live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
The gig was pulled at 1pm, with no reason given, even though the band played Download Festival.
Tuesday 14 June - INTERPOL at The Roundhouse.
The gig was pulled at 7pm , as band members had illness.
No doubt many irate fans who would turn up at the venue unaware , due to the late announcement.
If you have tickets for their Wednesday show, it will be a good idea to keep checking if it is still on.
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Monday 13 June 2022...I went to two events today...
3.15pm to 7.30pm
GOFF'S LONDON SALE, Perks Field, Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8.
Around 500 guests here outside in the lovely sunshine.
From 5pm to 6.15pm - around 25 horses are paraded for the auction...some went for over a million...
Several of them are running at Ascot this week.
A few well known faces here including...
JACKIE ST CLAIR (ex Page 3 girl from the 1980s)
Still looking fantastic at age 62, always friendly and chatty...she told me how in the 1980s as a model
she went on 188 overseas modelling assignments, to many glamourous locations.
BARRY FRY (ex football manager, now involved with horse racing)
JOHN GOSDEN ( legendary British racehorse trainer with over 3000 winners worldwide)
A jazz trio , an opera singer and a covers band all played sets of around 30 mins.
Complentary Rose wines, Pimms, Gin & Tonics, lagers, lobster rolls, egg and crisp buns???,
canapés, cream cakes, doughnuts.
then
8.30pm to 11pm.
ESTRELLA DAMM - Top 100 Restaurants in the UK - The Hurlingham Club, Putney Bridge, London SW6.
Around 500 guests here at this huge private members club that backs on to The River Thames.
Multi-tennis courts, bowls, croquet, squash,golf, skittles, ,swimming , wooded areas, lawns and lakes.
The Hurlingham Club is an exclusive private social and athletic club located in the Fulham area of London, England. Founded in 1869, it has a Georgian-style clubhouse set in 42 acres (17 ha) of grounds. It is a member of the Association of London Clubs.
We arrived during the awards ,which are always very lively.
The awards were inside but all the food and drinks were outside.
A jazz trio were playing after the awards.
Lots of complimentary food and drinks as there are half a dozen food trucks including
Burger & Beyond, Koko Doo Korean Fried Chicken , Tacos, Pizza, etc...chocs and desserts.....
along with Rathfinny sparkling wines from Sussex, vodka cocktails, Estrella Damm lagers.
All guests got a goodie bag on departure.
Here's the top 10 restaurants....(several are in London)
Ynyshir
Moor Hall
Brat
The Ritz
BiBi
The Ledbury
A Wong
Core by Clare Smyth
Ikoyi
L’Enclume
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Sad news that well known gig-goer in Bristol BIG JEFF is in hospital after a fire at his home.
A few years ago i did a radio interview with him, about the massive amount of gigs we have both seen.
A man famous for attending record numbers of music performances around Bristol has been "very seriously" injured in a house fire.
Jeff Johns, or 'Big Jeff' as he has affectionately become known, was caught in a fire at his own home in Totterdown.
The 39-year-old was taken to a hospital in Swansea where he is in stable condition at a specialist burns unit.
His family have asked for people to keep Jeff in their thoughts and prayers at "this very difficult time."

Updated 14th June 2022 Permalink