News and Reviews: 4th February 2016
Wednesday 3 February 2016...I went to two events tonight...6.45pm to 7.45pm
Esquire x Zoolander 2 - party at Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London, W1.
Men's fashion fashion mag hosts a party for this film which has its London premiere the following day.
Around 100 folks here with a dj playing some dance tunes.
Complimentary CIROC Vodka Blue Steel cocktails for all guests.
All guests got a goodie bag which included the new issue of Esquire which has a multi page interview
with photos of Ben Stiller who plays model Derek Zoolander in the film.
then
8pm to 9pm
J&M Davidson - store launch party -- J&M Davidson, 104 Mount Street,Mayfair, London, W1.
Lots of well dressed upmarket young women at this event.
Half a dozen photographers outside the venue.
Guests here included Daisy Lowe,Jasmine Hemsley,Bip Ling and Marissa Hermer.
Also Roxie Nafousi, Zara Martin, Doina Ciobanu, Olivia Inge ,Zoe Hardman and Heather Kerzner.
Also Noelle Reno,classical singer Natalie Coyle ,presenter Natalie Pinkham and others.
A smallish store but a nice buzzing atmosphere.
Complimentary Nicolas Feuillatte champers,vodka and grapefruit cocktails and canapés.
All guests got a goodie bag.
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The story of John and Monique Davidson is one of romance, adventure and discovery. They met on a Spanish beach in 1969 and, a week later, John persuaded Monique to drive back to England with him. They have been exploring the world ever since, collecting treasures that have inspired the bags, belts and clothes of their 30-year-old brand.
After a three-week sojourn in London, Monique returned to France. She and John continued to write letters to each other over the course of four years, before John arrived in Paris and asked her to move to the UK with him.
At the time, John was working as a photographer and Monique was a designer. In 1984 J&M Davidson was born after Monique picked up a studded dog collar and remarked that it would look good as a belt. They tracked down the factory and started making belts in bridle leather. Handbags and wallets followed, with ready-to-wear launched in 1994.
The couple have now been married for over 40 years, have stores in Japan and London, two daughters, and still regularly hit the road in search of inspiration.
www.jandmdavidson.com
Visit their website here.
Tuesday 2 February 2016...I went to two events in Knightsbridge tonight...
6.45pm to 8pm.
Conde Nast Traveller Spa Awards at Bulgari Hotel,171 Knightsbridge,London SW7.
Over 200 folks at this luxury five star hotel and spa.
As expected it is 75% females here.
This year the winners came from India,Italy,Portugal,Maldives,Spain,Thailand and Germany.
They all looked and sounded amazing although no doubt with prices to match.
All the winners have a full feature in the new Conde Nast Traveller Magazine out this week...£4.10...
Complimentary Laurent Perrier champers and canapés for all guests.
All guests got a goodie bag.
www.cntraveller.com
Visit the Conde Nast Traveller website here.
then
8.05pm to 9.15pm.
Simon Sebag Montefiore: The Romanovs - book launch party at
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel,66 Knightsbridge, London, SW1.
An upmarket mainly suited crowd of around 300 folks here tonight.
Guests included political tv presenter Andrew Neil and Richard Osman from Pointless tv programme.
I had a nice chat with Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran here.
I asked him "Will there be much rehearsals for their upcoming North American tour?".
He said "Only a couple of days needed really as we just finished the UK tour in Dec so we are ready to go".
He said "Our first show will be in Niagara Falls to iron out any teething problems"
I then told him about visiting Niagara Falls in 1979 when we stayed at a Motel for a few days
that had a vibrating water bed.....We both had a laugh over that...
Complimentary mojitos,wines and canapés for all guests.
The Romanov dynasty reigned for just over 300 years, from 1613 to 1917, and while they expanded their empire at a spectacular rate (an average of 20,000 square miles a year), not one of their 20 monarchs slept easy — with good reason. Few died of natural causes.
Tuesday 02 February 2016.
Check out the amazing videos of this young drummer who is now aged nine but has been
drumming along to classic drum tracks since he was FIVE.
He does a mega 'Tom Sawyer' by Rush when he was aged just seven.
www.averydrummer.com
Monday 01 February 2016.
An Evening With Brian Pern - A Life In Rock at The Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1.
Tonight was a one off special live show for the BBC spoof rock tv show --- Brian Pern.
The main stars are Simon Day as Brian Pern whose character is loosely based on Peter Gabriel.
Rhys Thomas asks the questions.
The show was on for two hours over two sets of 70 mins and 50 mins.
It was Q n A sessions mixed with a live band and footage on the big screen.
Lots of silly answers in the Q n A sections and hilarious lyrics in the songs.
Based on the ups and downs in Brian's 45 year career.
He plays some songs from his prog rock band Thotch and his solo career.
Thotch included cameos by Nigel Havers and Paul Whitehouse.
Some of the material used was taken from the tv episodes and some of it was brand new material.
Mark King from Level 42 played a couple of songs with his funky bass including his own hit 'Running In The Family'.
Brian's Mexican wife sang a neat version of 'Proud Mary'.
It has obvious hints of Spinal Tap and is very funny with many laugh out loud bits.
Folks in the crowd included comedian Josh Widdicombe and leading live music booking agent Neil Warnock.
A very enjoyable evening.
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Brian Pern: A Life in Rock is a British comedy spoof-documentary series about ageing rock star Brian Pern, the former frontman of the 1970s progressive rock group Thotch. Series 1, titled The Life of Rock, with Brian Pern, was originally broadcast in three weekly parts on BBC Four from 10 February 2014. A second series of three episodes was promoted to BBC Two and broadcast from 9 December 2014, retitled Brian Pern: A Life in Rock. A third series of three episodes Brian Pern: 45 Years of Prog and Roll is currently being broadcast on BBC Four.
The series is written by Rhys Thomas and Simon Day, and stars Michael Kitchen, Paul Whitehouse and Nigel Havers in supporting roles alongside Day. The character of Brian Pern is an affectionate parody of Peter Gabriel.
Monday 01 February 2016.
Monday newspapers all have Sir Terry Wogan on the front covers.
I think it's safe to say he was to British tv/radio what David Bowie was to British music.
Terry had been in our lives for 50 years and everybody loved him.
Sunday 31 January 2016.
Very sad news that tv and radio presenting legend Sir Terry Wogan has died of cancer aged 77.
Wogan was a leading media personality in the UK from the late 1960s and was often referred to as a "national treasure".
He was known in the United Kingdom for his BBC One chat show Wogan, presenting Children in Need, Wake Up to Wogan, the game show Blankety Blank and Come Dancing and as the BBC's commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest from 1971 to 2008. Wogan used to present a two-hour Sunday morning show, Weekend Wogan, on BBC Radio 2.
Wogan was granted a knighthood in 2005. He held dual British and Irish citizenship and was thus entitled to use "Sir".
He was one of the original djs from 1967 when BBC Radio 1 and 2 started.
Terry also had two Top 40 hit singles.
His Wogan chat show in the late 1980s had massive audience ratings as he had all the big names of the day.
Most of the shows were recorded at the BBC Theatre which is now The Shepherds Bush Empire.
Before he retired from his BBC Radio 2 weekday breakfast programme Wake Up to Wogan in 2009,
it had eight million regular listeners,making him the most listened-to radio broadcaster in Europe.
He lived up the road from me and every now and then I would see him and his wife at our local Catholic Church.
He was a great supporter of local community events and in Oct 2015 he handed out awards to winners of
art competitions held at our local library.
Sunday 31 January 2016.
Happy Birthday to John Lydon who is 60 today.
Hard to believe that the punk rock icon has reached the grand old age of 60.
Get out your copy of the greatest album of all time 'Never Mind The Bollocks'
and PLAY LOUD.
'Anarchy In The UK','God Save The Queen' ,'Pretty Vacant','Holidays In The Sun',
'Bodies','EMI' and all the rest on the same incredible album.
Go on youtube and check out The Sex Pistols stunning DVD from Brixton Academy in 2007.
'There'll Always Be An England' which features fantastic crowd scenes and those amazing tunes.
I was at all five of the Brixton shows.
Friday 29 January 2016...Another sad death in the music world...
Paul Kantner, co-founder and guitarist for Jefferson Airplane and spin-off band Jefferson Starship,
has died from organ failure at the age of 74.
Kantner had suffered the heart attack earlier this week and had previously had a heart attack in March 2015.
He had been in poor health for a number of years.
I saw him play at their last London show a year ago on 30 Jan 2015 at Brooklyn Bowl.
Thursday 28 January 2016...I went to two events tonight...
6pm to 7pm
Bulgari - 'Goldea' - fragrance press launch at Bulgari,153 New Bond Street,London W1.
Bulgari is an Italian jewellery and luxury goods brand that produces and markets several product lines
including jewellery, watches, fragrances, accessories, and hotels.
They are launching their new female fragrance 'Goldea'.
I must admit it still does smell of pure quality and luxury.
It is in Harrods and Harvey Nichols now and Nationwide from 15 Feb 2016.
Retail prices are as follows but could be cheaper in certain places.
EDP 25ml---£37
EDP 50ml---£74
EDP 90ml--£102
Complimentary J. De Telmont champers served in golden goblets along with canapés.
All guests got a nice goodie bag.
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Goldea is a tribute to the golden goddess of beauty and sun. Gold is the divine interpretation of the splendor of the sun on earth. Unique expression of Bulgari perfumes, Goldea is a sensual and oriental fragrance that pays tribute to the olfactory richness and the infinite nuances of a palette of stylised white musks.
A profusion of luscious sweet sparkles mingled with the intoxicating scent of Ylang-Ylang and Orange Blossom and, finally, a caressing addictive base note, radiating splendor.
Olfactory family: Floriental musk
Top notes: Orange Blossom Absolute, Bergamot Absolute, Sun-filled Raspberry
Heart notes: Precious Ylang-Ylang from Comoros Islands, Golden Jasmin Petals, Luscious Sweet Sparkles
Base notes : Golden Patchouli, Papyrus from Egypt.
www.bulgari.com
Visit the Bulgari website here for more info.
then
7.15pm to 8pm
Moregasm Move Rabbit - press preview at Ann Summers, 104-106 Oxford Street, London, W1.
Very popular UK lingerie and sex toy brand have a press preview of their latest Rampant Rabbit sex toys.
There are three new sex toys in this Moregasm Move Rabbit range.
The PR info sheet says they sell for £75,£60 and £45 but their website has them all for £5 cheaper.
As expected it is a 90% female crowd here.
A couple of topless male waiters serving the complimentary prosecco,cocktails,canapés and cup cakes.
There are a couple of Ann Summers reps giving demos of the new vibrator to the girls at one end of the room.
Ann Summers have also just launched their own free dating app called...Rabbit.
All guests got a goodie bag with one of the Moregasm Move Rabbit sex toys inside.
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The first Ann Summers shop was opened in 1970 in Marble Arch, London, from which it grew to six shops.
Ann Summers was purchased in 1971 by brothers Ralph and David Gold,who turned it from a standard sex shop into an established high street brand and lingerie boutique. In 1981, David Gold installed his daughter Jacqueline Gold (who is the current Chief Executive of Ann Summers) and she introduced the Party Plan concept.
Ann Summers has 138 stores throughout the UK.
The shops offer lingerie, underwear, cosmetics, swimwear and sex toys.
The stores sell 2 million Rampant Rabbits, a kind of vibrator exclusive to Ann Summers, per year.
Jacqueline Gold initiated the Party Plan concept in 1981. Initially, the Ann Summers parties were as much a way of circumventing regulations restricting the display of sex toys as they were a marketing tactic, but their popularity quickly grew and Ann Summers now employs over 5,000 Party Organisers,coordinated from the Head Office in Surrey.
There are around 2,500 Ann Summers Parties every week in the UK.
The Ann Summers parties are exclusively women-only, and include the presentation of sex toys and lingerie in the informal setting of someone’s home; usually the home of one of the attendees. It can also involve the perusal of a catalogue, and often there are party games.
www.rampantrabbit.com
Visit the Ann Summers website here for more info and to find your local store.
Thursday 28 January 2016.
Punk legends celebrating the 40th anniversary of punk rock in style.
Fri 13 May---Iggy Pop plays The Royal Albert Hall.
Fri 20 May---The Damned play The Royal Albert Hall.
Wednesday 27 January 2016...7.15pm to 10pm...
UKAI - restaurant launch party at UKAI, 240 Portobello Road, London, W11.
This venue used to be an old school boozer that no doubt was frequented by the likes of
The Clash and Lemmy back in the day when they lived in the area.
Over 100 folks at this new Japanese restaurant and bar.
A nice contemporary feel with the bar on the left and the eating area on the right.
Half a dozen photographers outside the venue as a few glammed up girls are here
including Lizzie Cundy,Casey Bachelor,Zara Holland,Naomi Isted and Tallia Storm.
Complimentary prosecco,gin cocktails and sushi for all guests.
www.ukai.co.uk
Visit the UKAI website here for more info.
Wednesday 27 January 2016.
Colin Vearncombe, professionally known as the singer Black, has died following a car crash at Cork, Ireland
on January 10, 2016.
Verncombe was near Cork Airport when he was involved in the accident that left him unconscious
and in a coma until his death.
The 53-year old singer was best known for the 1988 hit ‘Wonderful Life’.
I saw him play a couple of times when he supported The Thompson Twins at Hammersmith Odeon in 1983.
Tuesday 26 January 2016...7.15pm to 9.30pm...
Costa Book Of The Year Award 2015 at Quaglino's, 16 Bury Street, St James's,London, SW1.
Around 300 folks here including a few well known names.
This was the event where last year we had a lovely long chat with David Gilmour who told us exclusive
news about his album 'Rattle That Lock' that would come out over six months later.
Sadly David Gilmour was not here tonight.
A nice surprise was Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet was here.
Others here included Jenny Agutter, Simon Mayo, Maureen Lipman, Anneka Rice, Helen Lederer,
Esther Rantzen, Kate Adie,Angela Rippon, Andrew Neil, Mary Nightingale, Ian Hislop,
Sian Williams,Sir Tim Rice and Jenny Eclair.
From 8pm to 8.30pm presenter Penny Smith hosted the five category awards and the main award.
Complimentary Veuve Clicquot champers,wines,beers and canapés for all guests.
All guests got a goodie bag with a couple of the books that won tonight along with a £5 Costa gift card.
Amazingly the last couple of years the Costa gift card has been £10 and now it's down to a measly £5.
Barely enough to get a coffee and cake.
A nice event though.
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Novelist Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree was named the Costa Book of the Year last night, becoming only the second children's book to win the prestigious literary prize. Set in a male-dominated Victorian scientific community, The Lie Tree tells the story of Faith, a 14 year old who wants to study natural science. The judges described the novel as 'a fantastic, page-turning read, but also an important book'.
www.costabookawards.com
Visit their website for more info on all the winners.
Tuesday 26 January 2016.
Happy Birthday to Edward Van Halen who is 61 today.
I first saw Van Halen back in 1978.
First time as a support to Black Sabbath at Hammersmith Odeon then a few months
later they headlined The Rainbow.
Monday 25 January 2016...7pm to 11.30pm...
Debrett's 500 Party at The Rosewood Hotel,High Holborn, London, WC1.
Around 300 smartly dressed folks at this plush hotel for the main event which ran until 10pm.
Guests here included the two main speakers who gave speeches from the stage about how
they came from working class backgrounds and going to comprehensive schools etc
and the folks that mentored them and now they fully believe in mentoring.
They were Roy Hodgson(current England football manager/coach) and Adam Crozier(Head of ITV).
Other guests here included Tracey Emin,Stephen Webster,Robert Peston,Kelly Hoppen,
Jamal Edwards and Shami Chakrabati.
There was a jazz band walking through the crowd playing cover tunes.
Complimentary Perrier Jouet champers including Rose,Plymouth Gin cocktails,bowl food and canapés.
A very nice event.
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Debrett's 500 features the most influential people in the UK from around 20 different categories.
The music category included record co folks,promoters,agents,radio station folks.
Musicians on the list were Adele,Benjamin Clementine,Jess Glynne,Calvin Harris,
Sir Elton John,Naughty Boy,Ed Sherran,Sam Smith and Jamie XX.
The full list was in The Sunday Times.
Debrett's was founded way back in 1769 and is known as a posh folks bible.
Debrett's has published a range of guides on traditional British etiquette, dating from the mid 1900s. Those now out of print include Debrett's Correct Form in the Middle East, Debrett's Guide to Entertaining, Debrett's Guide to the Season, Debrett's Etiquette and Modern Manners, The English Gentleman, Debrett's Guide to Correspondence by Rolf Kurth, and a range of guides to families and counties in England and Scotland, histories of royal engagements and weddings, and cookery books.
www.debretts.com
Visit the Debretts website here.
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10pm to 11.30pm
Afterparty for the above event was at The Scarves bar at this hotel.
Around 60 or 70 folks here.
This luxurious bar has cosy chairs and an open fire is going in the corner.
We have a female jazz singer signing a few songs.
Complimentary whiskey cocktails and gin cocktails for all guests.
Monday 25 January 2016.
The music world has suffered another loss. Jimmy Bain, best known for his work as the bassist for Dio and Rainbow and more recently with Last in Line, has reportedly passed away at the age of 68.
I had seen Jimmy play with all these three bands.
Sunday 24 January 2016.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL --- AMALUNA --- live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
I went back to see it for a second time tonight.
The production is on the floor arena and my tix tonight are Stalls Block K...so best seats in the house.
It's always good to see it for a second time as you see it from a different angle etc.
From 16 Jan to 06 March---Cirque du Soleil returns to The Royal Albert Hall for its annual six week stint.
Cirque du Soleil returns to the Hall with one of its newest touring shows, Amaluna.
Amaluna has never before been seen in the UK and will mark Cirque du Soleil’s 20th year at The RAH.
Written and directed by Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus, Cirque du Soleil’s 33rd production is a celebration of love and a tribute to the work and voice of women, with female performers making up the majority of the cast, and all eight members of the band also women.
www.cirquedusoleil.com
Click here for more info and to buy tickets.
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The show was on for two hours over two sets of 60 mins each.
As usual a visual treat mixing circus,theatre,colourful costumes and loud pulsating music from the live band.
And so there are jugglers and clowns and lots and lots of people dangling high above the stage from hoops and straps. Men who can bounce each other off a teeterboard with fearless ease. Women who can spin light-up versions of an ancient Chinese weapon called a meteor, and then get spun themselves. Mesmerizing contortionist Iuliia Mykhailova does her thing dripping wet after taking a dip in a clear, giant onstage bowl of water; Evgeny Kurkin offers equal-opportunity eye candy climbing up, swinging around and sliding headfirst down a Chinese pole.
These are impressive feats, but nothing that was breathtaking and death-defying like the
heart in your mouth 'Wheel of Death' that was here last year.
Lara Jacobs gingerly and precisely assembled and balanced 15 palm leaf ribs of various sizes -- from two feet long to twice her height -- into a gigantic tree-like structure held together by the vagaries of physics. The routine started in the wash of sound that accompanies all Cirque shows and ended in pin-dropping silence before the audience responded to Jacobs' feat with sustained -- and deserved -- applause.
Always nice to see the legendary Cirque du Soleil perform.
Saturday 23 January 2016.
The Corrs + The Shires live at The 02 Arena,London.
The Corrs are an Irish band that combines rock with traditional Celtic Irish folk themes within their music. The group consists of the Corr siblings, Andrea (lead vocals, tin whistle); Sharon (violin, vocals); Caroline (drums, percussion, piano, bodhrán, vocals) and Jim (guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals). They are from Dundalk, Co. Louth, in Ireland.
The Corrs are playing their first UK tour for around a decade.
I saw them play a couple of times back in 2001.
They have had six Top 10 hits including 'Breathless' that topped the charts.
They sold a few million albums and singles in their heyday.
They released their sixth album 'White Light' in Nov 2015.
I saw their comeback show in Sept 2015 when they supported Rod Stewart in Hyde Park.
That was just a 30 mins hits set but this tour will be their full length headline show.
Support comes from UK Country superstars, The Shires, who in 2015 became the first ever
UK Country act to break into the UK album chart Top 10 with their album 'Brave'.
The Shires are the first British act to sign to a major US country label (Decca Nashville, one-time home to Loretta Lynn).
Not bad going for a group who only formed in late 2013.
The Shires are the UK’s leading country duo, featuring songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Ben Earle and
vocalist Crissie Rhodes.
The Shires sold out Shepherds Bush Empire on their 2015 UK tour.
www.theshiresmusic.com
Visit The Shires website here for more info.
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I have a great Block B seat on the floor by the mixing desk.
The Shires arrive on stage at 7.30pm for an eight song 35 mins set.
The Shires have been very busy the past couple of years with loads of gigs and interviews on tv and radio.
This hard work has paid off with a top 10 debut album in the UK.
The venue is pretty full when they come as most the crowd know who The Shires are and have arrived early.
In fact it's a perfect booking to get them as the support act for The Corrs.
The Shires have been given a small space in front of The Corrs stage production curtain.
Five of them on stage with all the best tracks from their debut album played and a cover version.
They play their take on radio friendly country rock with Crissie on fine clear vocals.
Ben's warm stage personality comes over as he says "thank you to everyone that bought the album ".
Their set is over far too quickly but the band went down great tonight and made some new friends.
They should be 'Brave' and slot in a headline show at Hammersmith Apollo before the year is out.
Full setlist played by The Shires tonight...
All Over Again
Nashville Grey Skies
State Lines
Brave
Friday Night
Jekyll And Hyde
Islands In The Stream (Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers cover)
Tonight
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By the time The Corrs come on the venue is totally full up.
The Corrs arrive on stage at 8.40pm and are on stage for 1 hour 45 mins.
The setlist is all the hits along with a few tracks from their new album.
We have a nice arena stage production with three big screens used.
The three sisters all still look great and i always love seeing a female drummer.
Andrea on vocals skips and twirls at every opportunity and the female harmonies are superb.
They may have away a bit but the show is slick with no sign of ring rust.
A very enjoyable evening with two great live acts.
Full setlist played by The Corrs tonight...
I Do What I Like
Give Me a Reason
Forgiven, Not Forgotten
Bring on the Night
What Can I Do
Radio
Lough Erin Shore / Trout in the Bath / Joy of Life
Runaway
With Me Stay
Ellis Island
Buachaill Ón Éirne
Love to Love You
Only When I Sleep
Queen of Hollywood
Dreams(Fleetwood Mac cover)(this cover was one of The Corrs top ten hits)
Kiss of Life
I Never Loved You Anyway
So Young
Encore:
White Light
Breathless
Toss the Feathers([traditional] cover)
Thursday 21 January 2016...I went to two events tonight...
6.45pm to 8.45pm.
Rock Art by Geronimo AKA Jumping Bull - a tribute to The Rolling Stones - private view - at
Hotel Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W1.
A big crowd of around 300 folks in the first floor bar area that overlooks the dining area at this plush hotel.
Lots of cosy armchairs to sit on in this spacious area.
None of The Rolling Stones are here as they are on the other side of the pond rehearsing for their
upcoming shows in South America.
Geronimo is here and walking around introducing himself to everyone and he was very friendly.
The rock artist Geronimo, a friend of the Rolling Stones, is opening a new exhibition today at the gallery of The Club in Cafe Royal. His works include the tongue logo, made from flattened drinks cans, that became synonymous with the band.
Geronimo, who is self-taught, also goes by the name Jumping Bull. He met Keith Richards by chance when The Rolling Stones were touring and they became good friends.
The band had a big influence on Geronimo's work, inspiring much of his art, including paintings, portraits and sculptures.
Some great tongue logo art made of flattened coke cans and flattened vinyl singles and the tongue logo sofas were great...but very expensive.
Around 30 items are here to see.
www.clubcaferoyal.com
Visit the Club Cafe Royal website here.
www.geronimotheartist.com
Visit the Geronimo website here.
Complimentary presecco,vodka cocktails,wines,beers and canapés for all guests.
There were a few photo catalogs of the exhibition lying around so I had one of those.
then
Nahko and Medicine For The People live at The Electric Ballroom,London.
They are on a UK and European Tour.
Their American tour in 2015 included a sold out show at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
US sensations Nahko and Medicine For The People will be making their breakout album ‘Dark As Night’ available in the UK for the first time on December 11th. The release comes ahead of their January tour and the eagerly anticipated new album, recorded with Grammy Award winning producer Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly), which is due in spring 2016 via Side One Dummy.
The US word-of-mouth sensations first came to prominence with their song ‘Aloha Ke Akua’ which has gained over a whopping 4.7 million views to date. Lead by Nahko, the musical collective are on a musical mission to spread awareness of living in harmony with Mother Nature, evident in the fan-made video for ‘Aloha Ke Akua’ featuring a spectacular collection of footage which was part of Mexico’s Bicentennial celebration, reflecting the natural beauty of that spectacular country to the world.
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Nobody i had spoken to the past fortnight had heard of this band yet here they are playing to a pretty full Electric Ballroom.
The super tight band are on stage for around 1 hour 50 mins.
Their uplifting medley of folk, urban and world music, as well as their hypnotizing videos, have enchanted activist-minded music fans across the world in the relatively short time they have been creating music together.
There is a good vibrations communal vibe here as fans are singing along with their arms in the air.
The frontman Nahko Bear has nimble fingers on the keyboard and guitar which match the strength of his faultless vocals.
A significant portion of the audience look like they’ve been on a yoga retreat to India at least once
in their lifetime and cite The Beach amongst their favourite films.
Budding Trees, with its “body talks and meditations helps” chorus, unites the whole room in the way that listening to Counting Crows does. Warrior People’s reggae sways continue the band’s message of spiritual journeys plus hints of indigenous patriotism (Bear has Native American roots). The talent of the four musicians is never more on show than during the huge mid-set medley that dexterously blends No Diggity into Bills, Bills, Bills through to Get Up, Stand Up.
Clan solidarity permeates the place – everyone here is described as “family” – and the performance is certainly given with a lot of love. But songs do have a tendency to drag on, one seemingly ending about three times before actually concluding.
The near two-hour set length feels like it doesn’t know when to finish either.
A good show.
Thursday 21 January 2016.
It's a funny old world.
A 10-year-old Muslim boy was quizzed by police after mistakenly writing that he lived in a "terrorist house"
rather than a "terraced house".
The youngster made the error during an English lesson at a Lancashire school, and the following day
police arrived at his home to interview him and examine the family laptop.
Wednesday 20 January 2016...I went to two events tonight...
6.45pm to 7.45pm.
L S Hilton: Maestra - book launch party at Sotheby's,New Bond Street,London W1.
Lisa Hilton releases her latest book and she is here tonight.
Around 100 guests here in a smaller set of rooms compared to the usual bigger layout at this venue.
Complimentary presecco and canapés for all guests.
All guests got a complimentary copy of the book.
Lisa Hilton has written an erotic novel to rival Fifty Shades Of Grey and Hollywood studio Columbia Pictures
has already snapped up the rights.
‘History will always be a passion, but I’m thrilled to have the chance to write something so different,’ says Lisa.
It tells the story of Judith Rashleigh, an assistant at a London auction house who is fired after she discovers a forged painting.
She suspects a conspiracy, fears for her life and flees to the French Riviera, where lashings of racy encounters take place.
The film will be produced by Amy Pascal, who left Sony after the leaked emails scandal.
Pascal describes Rashleigh as ‘one of the most memorable females in recent fiction’.
then
7.50pm to 8.30pm.
Russell Young 'Superstar' --- private view at Halcyon Gallery,New Bond Street,London W1.
Around 100 cool looking art folks here tonight.
Complimentary Perrier Jouet champers for all guests.
Two particular faces are to be celebrated in this pop up exhibition, British supermodel Kate Moss and the ever alluring Marilyn Monroe. The Kate Moss pieces are especially evocative. Based around some of the most risqué pictures of the model taken when she was just sixteen years old, the art pieces see Moss in lingerie and high heels, covering her bare chest with a teddy bear.
It is on until 14 Feb 2016.
www.halcyongallery.com
Visit the Halcyon Gallery website here for more info.
Tuesday 19 January 2016.
Cirque du Soleil - Amaluna - vip/press night at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
From 16 Jan to 06 March---Cirque du Soleil returns to The Royal Albert Hall for its annual six week stint.
Cirque du Soleil returns to the Hall with one of its newest touring shows, Amaluna.
Amaluna has never before been seen in the UK and will mark Cirque du Soleil’s 20th year at The RAH.
Written and directed by Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus, Cirque du Soleil’s 33rd production is a celebration of love and a tribute to the work and voice of women, with female performers making up the majority of the cast, and all eight members of the band also women.
www.cirquedusoleil.com
Click here for more info and to buy tickets.
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6.45pm to 7.45pm.
I did the red carpet arrivals along with 30 photographers,30 media folks and 30 autograph hunters.
Rod Stewart and his wife Penny turned up in their gleaming chauffeur driven Rolls Royce.
Concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith was also here.
Also here was Bond girl Naomie Harris ,Katherine Jenkins,Tom Fletcher ,Jo Wood and Brix Smith-Start .
Arlene Phillips, Anita Dobson, David Jason, Deborah Meaden, Lesley Manville, Samantha Bond and Suzi Perry caught up at the drinks reception ahead of the show.Also Kelly Holmes, Kelly Hoppen, Laura Whitmore, Lily Cole, Lucy Mecklenburgh, Maisie Williams, Myleene Klass, Naughty Boy, Noomi Rapace,Tom Daley,Ashley James, Brendan Cole, Dave Berry, Ella Woodward, Joe Swash, Linzi Stoppard, Ola and James Jordan and Stacey Solomon.
then inside for the show from 8pm.
The show was on for two hours over two sets of 60 mins each.
As usual a visual treat mixing circus,theatre,colourful costumes and loud pulsating music from the live band.
And so there are jugglers and clowns and lots and lots of people dangling high above the stage from hoops and straps. Men who can bounce each other off a teeterboard with fearless ease. Women who can spin light-up versions of an ancient Chinese weapon called a meteor, and then get spun themselves. Mesmerizing contortionist Iuliia Mykhailova does her thing dripping wet after taking a dip in a clear, giant onstage bowl of water; Evgeny Kurkin offers equal-opportunity eye candy climbing up, swinging around and sliding headfirst down a Chinese pole.
These are impressive feats, but nothing that was breathtaking and death-defying like the
heart in your mouth 'Wheel of Death' that was here last year.
Lara Jacobs gingerly and precisely assembled and balanced 15 palm leaf ribs of various sizes -- from two feet long to twice her height -- into a gigantic tree-like structure held together by the vagaries of physics. The routine started in the wash of sound that accompanies all Cirque shows and ended in pin-dropping silence before the audience responded to Jacobs' feat with sustained -- and deserved -- applause.
Always nice to see the legendary Cirque du Soleil perform.
I will be back at the weekend to see it again.
Tuesday 19 January 2016.
Enjoying an idyllic location in the ancient village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond, the Luss Smokehouse is the natural inheritor of a centuries old Highlands craft that has long given Scotland pride of place on the global map of epicurean excellence as home to the finest smoked salmon in the world.
The smoked salmon arrives in the post in special packaging that keeps it super fresh and it tastes fantastic.
www.luss-smokehouse.com
Visit their website for more info and to buy.
Tuesday 19 January 2016...another sad death...
Dale Griffin, drummer for rock group Mott The Hoople, has died aged 67.
He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease when he was 58.
The band's keyboard player Verden Allen tells the Hereford Times: "I can't believe it. Dale was like family, we were very close. We went through a lot together.
He was a founder member of the group, best known for classic tracks Roll Away The Stone and All The Young Dudes.
The latter was written and produced by David Bowie, who sang backing vocals on the track.
The band, who made eight albums during their five-and-a-half year existence, reformed to mark their 40th anniversary in 2009 - but Griffin was too ill to take part as the main drummer.
Martin Chambers from The Pretenders filled in for him.
I was at all five of their re-union shows in 2009 where Dale joined in as second drummer for the encore.
Mott The Hoople were the first headline band i saw at Hammersmith Odeon way back in Dec 1973.
The support band that night were Queen.
Monday 18 January 2016...6.30pm to 9.15pm....
Belgravia Awards at The Berkeley Hotel,Belgravia,London SW1.
There is a gentle rivalry...Mayfair v Belgravia.
Which is the poshest place to live and work in London?
Around 300 smartly dressed upmarket folks here at this plush five star hotel.
A nice surprise is CHRISTINE MCVIE from FLEETWOOD MAC is here to present an award.
Christine said she was a local resident.
Fleetwood Mac world tour last year must have put more than a few quid in her bank account.
Just three awards tonight and three shortlisted for each award.
Focusing on stores and people in the local community.
Complimentary Fortnum & Mason champers,wines and canapés for all the guests.
For the last hour it was Laurent Perrier champers when the champers from the sponsors run out.
Monday 18 January 2016.
Last week i said which rock legend would be the next to pass away...
Glenn Frey, Eagles guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, passed away Monday. He was 67. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016. Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia," the Eagles wrote in a statement Monday.
In the 1970s they were one of the biggest bands in the world.
The Eagles are one of the world's best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 150 million records —100 million in the U.S. alone—including 42 million copies of Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and 32 million copies of Hotel California. "Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)" was the best selling album of the 20th century in the U.S.
They are the fifth-highest-selling music act and the highest-selling American band in U.S. history.
In 1994 The Eagles reunited for the first time in 14 years to kick off their Hell Freezes Over Tour at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, California.
Glenn and the others embarked on solo careers during their hiatus.
Glenn Frey was a founding member of the Eagles. Frey played guitar with the Eagles as well as piano and keyboards and sang lead vocals on songs such as "Take It Easy", "Peaceful Easy Feeling", "Tequila Sunrise", "Already Gone", "Lyin' Eyes", "New Kid in Town", and "Heartache Tonight".
I saw The Eagles live in concert around half a dozen times since 2001.
One was a one-off show to launch their new album ‘Long Road Out of Eden’ in Oct 2007.
The band played the Indigo venue – with a capacity of 2,300 – two days after their first album of new material
in 28 years is released on October 29.
Tickets for this invite only show were £1000 each face value...yes £1000.
Tickets were only available to bankers and city folks and the music industry.
Monday 18 January 2016.
Click on The Sex Pistols link on the right for Steve Jones radio show where his guest was Dave Grohl
on the day that David Bowie passed away.
The first hour is them talking about memories of David Bowie and Lemmy and at the end is a great
acoustic version of 'Heroes' by Steve Jones.
Sunday 17 January 2016.
London 4-piece The Hunna continue their rapid ascent, taking over the UK indie-rock scene with a crusading zeal and a fan base growing exponentially by the day.
Having already sold out THREE London headline shows 2,3,4 March at The Boston Arms Music Room off the back of their debut track ‘Bonfire’ they have just announced a headline show on 01 June 2016 at London’s iconic Electric Ballroom in Camden, following the release of their second single on New Year’s Day.
That new single - ‘We Could Be’ - has already notched up over 1.5 million video views in less than a fortnight and is sitting pretty at number 15 on Spotify’s UK Viral Top 50 and number 22 on the iTunes Alternative Chart. The track is also blowing up globally, charting in territories including North America, mainland Europe, Australia and Asia.
Saturday 16 January 2016.
Happy Birthday to my dear mum.
We had a family party in the early afternoon then a nice touch by my eldest son Marc
who hired out a Black Rolls Royce Phantom with a chauffeur for five hours to show my mum the sights of
The West End and have a couple of hours at The Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly for late afternoon tea.
Friday 15 January 2016.
The Smyths live at Sub 89 ,Reading.
The UKs top Smiths tribute act are on another massive UK Tour.
They formed the band back in 2003 because of their passion for The Smiths.
As the band says "we didn't just want to be a tribute band - we wanted to play the music of The Smiths and recreate what is was to see and hear The Smiths live - it just happens that when you do that, the world calls you a tribute. For us that was a world of silly wigs and props - everything we felt a homage to The Smiths shouldn't be. So we spent a year rehearsing every week to make sure that when we launched we sounded genuine - The Smiths and their fans (like us) demand nothing less. We focussed on the sound and spirit of The Smiths live. Fast forward over a decade later and some 500 shows later and we see and hear ourselves now spoken of as being in the top tier of tributes globally. The years in between have seen us play throughout the UK, overseas and at major festivals such as Glastonbury".
They will be highlighting the classic album "The Queen Is Dead" plus playing loads of other Smiths classics.
www.sub89.com
Buy tickets for this gig and other gigs at Sub 89.
www.thesmyths.net
Visit their website for more info on remaining dates on their tour.
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Although i have seen Morrissey over a dozen times i never got to see The Smiths.
This was mainly due to me working gigs at Hammersmith Odeon through the 1980s on front of stage security
and The Smiths never played that venue when when they were active in the 1980s.
The 600 capacity tonight is very full with a buzzy Friday night atmosphere.
A few fans have brought some daffodils along to throw on stage.
To take on the mantle of such an iconic band like The Smiths is not for the faint-hearted but
The Smyths really did do them justice.
The band are on stage for around 1 hour 45 mins over two sets.
Singer Graham Sampson, or “Morrissey”, even looked the part. Remarkably dressed in true Mozzer style,
from the quiff to the hearing aid to the cardigan which was mixed in with typically awkward Moz style stage banter.
His Morrissey mannerisms were so spot on it was unreal.
The guitarist played those classic riffs well and the band sounded solid.
So many classic songs played and the crowd are singing along loudly and dancing too down the front.
A great show so catch them if you can.
They play The Half Moon,Putney,SW London on Friday 04 March 2016.
This was the full setlist played...
FIRST SET
The Queen Is Dead
Panic
Ask
London
What She Said
These Things Take Time
Shoplifters Of The World Unite
I Know It's Over
Frankly Mr. Shankly
Never Had No One
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
SECOND SET
Cemetery Gates
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Bigmouth Strikes Again
Reel Around The Mountain
Pretty Girls Make Graves
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
Shakespeare's Sister
Girlfriend In A Coma
William It Was Really Nothing
What Difference Does It Make?
This Charming Man
Encore
How Soon Is Now?
Friday 15 January 2016.
MÖTLEY CRÜE's one-and-a-half-year "The Final Tour" saw the band perform across five continents (North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia) for a total of more than 164 shows in 72 markets, grossing $100 million.
Friday 15 January 2016.
Andrew Loog Oldham now aged 71 is an English record producer, talent manager, impresario and author.
He was manager and producer of The Rolling Stones from 1963 to 1967.
BBC4 tv tonight had a programme on Music Managers and features a great rare recent interview with
Andrew Loog Oldham from his home in Columbia where he has lived for many years.
The interview with Malcolm McLaren also included the footage of me jumping around front of stage for
The Sex Pistols at Notre Dame Hall from 1976 that was on a London Weekend tv special on Punk Rock
back then and the stills of me from that were used on the posters for The Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant single.
The cover of the New Zealand 7 inch vinyl version of Pretty Vacant has a still picture which includes me.
Friday 15 January 2016
David Bowie has scored an astonishing nineteen top 100 albums in the UK charts, the first charts listing to be released following his death on Sunday, January 10.
Bowie's new album 'Blackstar' - released just two days before his death on January 8 - becomes his tenth number one album, and the fastest selling release of 2016 so far, with 150,000 copies sold in week one. The Official Charts have revealed Bowie was already on course for the number one spot before he passed away from cancer earlier this week.
The re-entry of a host of the Brixton artist's past albums have flooded the charts, though, with re-charting albums including 'Hunky Dory', 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' and 'Nothing Has Changed'. The latter - a best of - is the second highest charter, in at number five.
Bowie's singles have also gone big this week, with 'Heroes' at number 11, 'Life On Mars' at number 16 and eleven other singles to be found inside the UK top 100.
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