Monday 07 July 2025

Monday 07 July 2025. FUJII KAZE live at Shepherds Bush Empire. Japanese singer and songwriter Fujii Kaze heads out on his ‘Europe Tour 2025’ . This is the second of his two sold out shows at this venue ...his only shows in the UK. As part of seven shows in Europe , with The Olympia in Paris next stop on the tour . He sells out arenas back home in Japan. ----------- The venue is fully rammed sold out. A 90% female crowd , with most of them Japanese . My security chums , said the first fans in the queue arrived at the venue at 2am. The merch is doing great business, but the bar staff are twiddling their fingers , as this crowd don't drink alcohol. FUJII KAZE on at 8.30pm for 85 mins. He is backed by a three piece band. He has dyed his hair blonde and has an effeminate vibe. His music style is a bit pop jazz , and laid back. He has a cool stage presence and the crowd respectably listen. He performs some nice dance moves in the second half. The lyrics are 80% Japanese,, and 20% English A trio of songs in the middle were a highlight . Love Is a Losing Game (Amy Winehouse cover) Love Like This Grace It was better and more interesting than expected. --------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Sunday 06 July 2025....1.30pm to 7pm... JACKIE ST CLAIR's summer garden party, Holland Park, London W14. Former model who dated Prince and her husband Carl , host their annual party at their stunning home. We had a couple of rain showers , but the crowd were fully covered. Around 300 glamorous guests are here on the guest list, including some well known faces as usual..... I had my photo taken with MARLON JACKSON and BETTY BOO. Also here were ED BICKNELL ( was Dire Straits long time manager) , MICHELLE HEATON , PATTIE BOYD and husband RON WESTON , DON BLACK ( legendary songwriter) , ROBERT POWELL and wife BARBARA LORD ( Babs in Pans People TOTP dance troupe) , OZWALD BOATENG, ROCCO BUONVINO, NEIL FOX, ANGELA RIPPON, CHRISTIAN VIT, JONATHAN SHALIT, AMIE TRUE ( Harpist from Windsor who has played some nice venues, including recently at Windsor Castle in front of Royal Family members) , LORRAINE CHASE, PHILIP SALLON, LIZZIE CUNDY , BRUNO TONIOLI, ARLENE PHILLIPS, ELAINE PAIGE , ELIZABETH EMANUEL, BASIA BRIGGS, ALISON JACKSON , FRANCOIS PINEAAR, MICA PARIS, SONIQUE, FRANK ARNESEN and no doubt a few more i missed . Celebrity photographer RICHARD YOUNG was here taking the official photos. At 5.30pm we had a few acts performing live...first we had a Gypsy Kings type duo (NIMA LEON and MICHELE CEA) play a nice few songs that got the crowd dancing ...then SU BLACK sang a Edith Piaf classic....then TONY MOORE performed his 1987 Cutting Crew hit ' I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight' and then a medley of over 20 British number ones from the 1960s. Violinist ANALIZA CHUNG was enjoyable to watch....then PAUL ENDACOTT ( London Music Heritage Tours) performed tracks including ' Sweet Caroline' that had everyone singing and swaying along to. Complimentary champagne , Pimm's, wines, beers , a full barbeque with different meats and sides , and a ice-cream cart. A small army of chefs , bar staff , cleaners and security helping things tick along ...portaloos too... Needless to say , an excellent event. See my Facebook page for some photos . ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Saturday 05 July 2025. BLACK SABBATH live at Villa Park Stadium , Birmingham. The four original members reform for the first time in 20 years. It will surely be their last ever show together. Due to Ozzy's ill-health , he will only sing a few tracks . The all day event is titled ..'Back to the Beginning'.... The all-star event will celebrate the true creators of heavy metal and will see Ozzy Osbourne play his own short set before joining with Black Sabbath for his final bow. Many special guests will be appearing on this all day event. Back to the Beginning will feature sets from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon. The all-day event will also feature a supergroup of musicians. Artists announced so far include Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns ‘n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), and Zakk Wylde. Artists subject to change . I have seen Black Sabbath and Ozzy solo many times. I have seen Black Sabbath over 30 times with various singers and line-ups , since seeing them with Ozzy in 1974 at Hammersmith Odeon. Expensive tickets for this special one-off gig... £395 - gold circle front pitch standing £395 - best seats £250 - pitch general standing £275 + £195 + £175 - general seats Plus five types of hospitality...plus booking fees too. This mega line-up show sold out a couple of months in advance. On Friday 06 June it was announced that the full show will be available on pay per view TV. I will be leaving Euston Friday evening on the CRAZY TRAIN up to Birmingham to attend this special event. --------- This was a pretty incredible day, as we had probably the best ever bill assembled of heavy metal bands . Doors opened at 11am , and the main event was 1pm to 10.30pm , with a revolving stage for quick changeovers . The official figures were 41,000 tix sold out of 42,000. The first few band played three songs each, then later on the bands played four to six tracks .Most played at least one Black Sabbath track. All the bands had use of the big video screens. MASTODON RIVAL SONS ANTHRAX HALESTORM LAMB OF GOD Supergroup A Great to see SAMMY HAGAR on UK soil. He sung two , including the Montrose classic ' Rock Candy'. ALICE IN CHAINS GORIJA Drum off battle Supergroup B Great to see STEVEN TYLER sing three tracks. The first was with Ronnie Wood ,and the second was the Aerosmith classic ' Walk This Way '. PANTERA TOOL SLAYER GUNS N ROSES Never Say Die (Black Sabbath cover) Junior’s Eyes (Black Sabbath cover) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Black Sabbath cover) Welcome to the Jungle Paradise City METALLICA Hole in the Sky (Black Sabbath cover) Creeping Death For Whom the Bell Tolls Johnny Blade (Black Sabbath cover) Battery Master of Puppets OZZY OSBOURNE BAND I Don’t Know Mr. Crowley Suicide Solution Mama, I’m Coming Home Crazy Train BLACK SABBATH War Pigs N.I.B. Iron Man Paranoid Ozzy was sat in his throne chair for all nine songs. I was in the gold circle so got some Ozzy Osbourne confetti with his name on it at the end of his set , and the same with Black Sabbath at the end of their set. I also got a Black Sabbath guitar pic. An excellent 10/10 day.

Posted 4th July 2025