News and Reviews: 19th April 2016
Monday 18 April 2016...6.45pm to 9pm...NAOMI CAMPBELL - book launch party - at Thomas's at Burberry Regent Street, 5 Vigo Street, London W1.
Around 200 folks here at the massive Burberry store.
This is the private entrance area at the side of Burberry that has its own bars on both levels.
A glitzy event as a dozen photographers are outside the venue and a few more are inside.
NAOMI CAMPBELL is now aged 45 and still looking great.
Naomi is an English model. Recruited at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognizable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and the 1990s,and was one of six models of her
generation declared "supermodels" by the fashion industry.
Lots of Naomi's celebrity friends are here and she is making sure all the photographers get photos
of her with all her mates as she stays at the event the entire evening.
Boy George is here with his 80s chum Marilyn.
Singer Tinie Tempah is here after headlining Brixton Academy a couple of days before.
Other guests included Eva Herzigova, Erin O'Connor, Christopher Bailey and Manolo Blahnik who joined forces as Naomi Campbell celebrated the launch of her new eponymously named coffee table book. The iconic model, who arrived with her mother Valerie Campbell, was spotted embracing friends including make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, Mary Greenwell, Bernie Ecclestone and legendary photographer Mario Testino - whose shots are featured in the book. Inside the party at Thomas's at Burberry, Charlotte and Alice Dellal, Kara Rose Marshall, Giancarlo Giammetti and German publisher Benedikt Taschen took turns to pose with the book, packaged in a bust of Campbell's likeness by sculptor Allen Jones. High street mogul Sir Philip Green, fashion designer Ozwald Boateng and acclaimed photographers Marcus Piggott and Mert Alas were also in attendance at the star-studded event.
Also here was Anthony Hamilton (father of F1 driver Lewis Hamilton),Heather Kerzner,David Tang and Harold Tillman.
Also here was Michelle Gayle who was a fellow student at the same stage school that Naomi attended.
A dj upstairs is playing great tunes from the 1980s including hip-hop anthems.
Complimentary Nyetimber English sparkling wines,two different cocktails and canapés.
Her pair of books are on display for folks to browse.
One is a large coffee table sized book of glossy photos and the other has text about the photos and is smaller.
Each one also comes with a full size bust of Naomi which is also here.
The whole collection is limited to 1000 numbered and signed copies with a very hefty price tag of £1250.
A great event.
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“The book is a culmination of my life’s work. It includes all that I’ve done in the fashion business for the past 29½ years. The book is a timeline of my career, and has allowed me to remember and give credit to all the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. Because of this, it’s very special to me. It took quite a few years to put this book together, because we didn’t want to rush it. It was important both to Benedikt Taschen and I to find all of my pictures and compile them into two really beautiful books…Working with Benedikt was a great experience – I love and respect him, and I wouldn’t have wanted to create a book like this with anyone else. For me, it was a dream come true.”
— Naomi Campbell speaking in GARAGE Magazine, London
Monday 18 April 2016.
Elton John and JK Rowling top list of most benevolent celebrities.
Sir Elton John and JK Rowling have been revealed as Britain's most benevolent celebrities, with each donating large parts of their fortunes to charities. John gave £26.8m to charity last year, mainly to his AIDS foundation in Britain and the US, while the Harry Potter author came second in the celebrity giving list, donating £10.3 to charities including the Lumos foundation and the Volant charitable trust.
Sunday 17 April 2016.
Some Guys Have All The Luck---The Rod Stewart Story live at The Swan Theatre,High Wycombe.
A brand new theatre production celebrating the life and career of Rod Stewart.
Starring Paul Metcalfe and featuring a four piece live band either side of a big staircase.
The first half of the show takes the audience through Rod's incredible story from his
humble beginnings playing in the r 'n b clubs of the 60's through to The Faces.
The second half of the show featured all the big hits we know and love.
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The show was on for around 2 hours 5 mins over two sets of 60 mins and 65 mins.
Paul Metcalfe as Rod was fantastic as he had the Rod gravel voice and looked and acted like Rod.
Lots of entertaining banter between the songs which included telling the story of Rods life.
Many different pictures of Rod,albums n singles covers and other images on the big screen.
A few outfit changes too and Rod went walkies through the crowd during one song.
Loads of classic tracks from Rods lengthy career were played tonight.
Most of the crowd are up dancing and singing along in the second half.
Straight after the show the singer came out to meet and greet the crowd.
A very enjoyable show.
The setlist tonight included...
Ooh La La
Stay With Me
You Wear It Well
Handbags & Gladrags
This Old Heart Of Mine
Some Guys Have All The Luck
Hot Legs
Tonight's The Night
Downtown Train
You're In My Heart
The First Cut Is The Deepest
Rhythm Of My Heart
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy( included kicking out some footballs just like Rod does)
Baby Jane
Sailing
Encore
I Don't Want To Talk About It(with Rod draped in a tartan flag)
Maggie May
www.someguyshavealltheluck.com
Visit the website for more info and to buy tickets.
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The real Rod Stewart is to play UK Stadiums in the summer and UK Arenas in the winter.
Sunday 17 April 2016.
AC/DC guitarist Angus Young joined GUNS N' ROSES on stage earlier tonight (Saturday, April 16) at the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival to perform the AC/DC classics "Riff Raff" and "Whole Lotta Rosie".
Video fan footage can been seen on YouTube.
Saturday 16 April 2016.
Ex KISS guitar legend ACE FREHLEY released his new solo album on 15 April 2016.
'Originals Vol 1' features cover versions of his fave songs and KISS covers.
No. Title Writer(s) Original artist/arranger Length
1. "White Room" Jack Bruce, Pete Brown Cream 5:04
2. "Street Fighting Man" Mick Jagger, Keith Richards The Rolling Stones 4:01
3. "Spanish Castle Magic" (featuring John 5) Jimi Hendrix The Jimi Hendrix Experience 3:35
4. "Fire and Water" (featuring Paul Stanley) Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers Free 4:11
5. "Emerald" (featuring Slash) Phil Lynott, Brian Robertson, Brian Downey, Scott Gorham Thin Lizzy 4:29
6. "Bring It On Home" Willie Dixon Sonny Boy Williamson II 4:26
7. "Wild Thing" (featuring Lita Ford) Chip Taylor The Troggs 3:45
8. "Parasite" (featuring John 5) Frehley Kiss 4:03
9. "Magic Carpet Ride" Rushton Moreve, John Kay Steppenwolf 3:43
10. "Cold Gin" (featuring Mike McCready) Frehley Kiss 5:18
11. "Till the End of the Day" Ray Davies The Kinks 2:27
12. "Rock and Roll Hell" Gene Simmons, Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance Kiss 6:31
Total length:
51:33
Friday 15 April 2016...6.30pm to 9pm...
ROBA Bar & Restaurant --- preview--- 34 Norfolk Place,Paddington,London W2.
Helping to raise the gastronomic bar in Paddington is this grill restaurant in the Norfolk Towers Hotel. As the name suggests, the menu is built around the robata grill, where well-aged steaks and burgers are cooked alongside prawns, corn-fed chicken and lamb. Head chef Andrea Secchi may be of Italian heritage but he’s spent enough time on the London restaurant scene to fall in love with British cooking and produce: the beef comes from Scotland, the seafood from the British coast. Aside from the grill, Secchi does a pretty good turn with British classics: fish & chips or a traditional pie say, while Asian-influenced dishes come in the form of chicken curry, squid tempura, and wild mushroom bruschetta with poached eggs will suit those after something a bit lighter.
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Paddington has quite a few traditional pubs near the station and certainly needs a decent contemporary bar.
I am in The Sussex Arms up the road quite a lot and I have kept an eye on this hotel which has had a full
refurbishment the past year and is now a very nice looking four star hotel.
You can still smell the newness of the venue with its smart lighting and cosy furniture.
There is an extensive drinks list and the food comes under the casual dining umbrella.
The staff were very attentive and friendly and made a fuss over everyone.
All guests enjoyed complimentary wines and small plate samples of their nice food.
Opening offers will include half price drinks every Friday 5pm to 7pm so that's a good excuse
to give it a try if you are in the area.
Roba is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffees and teas, afternoon tea, drinks and dinner from
Monday to Saturday 7am to 10.30pm and Sunday 7.30am to 10.30pm.
www.robarestaurant.co.uk
Visit the Roba website for more info.
Thursday 14 April 2016...I went to two events tonight...
6.45pm to 8.45pm.
ISSEY MIYAKE - party - Issey Miyake, 10 Brook Street, London, W1.
Around 100 fashion folks here at this cool store.
Always nice to bump into Anthony Fawcett.
Anthony Fawcett is a British writer, art critic, and a former personal assistant to John Lennon and Yoko Ono from 1968 till 1970.He took over the role briefly held by Lennon's boyhood friend Peter Shotton, after Shotton's resignation from Apple Corps, and Fawcett's role was later filled by May Pang.
Complimentary Georges Cartier champers,pear n sake cocktails and canapés for all.
Issey Miyake is a Japanese fashion designer.
He is known for his technology-driven clothing designs, exhibitions and fragrances.
He also developed a friendship with Apple's Steve Jobs and produced the black turtlenecks which would become a part of Jobs' signature attire. Jobs said, "So I asked Issey to make me some of his black turtlenecks that I liked, and he made me like a hundred of them."
All guests got a goodie bag on the way out.
www.isseymiyake.com
Visit the Issey Miyake website here for more info.
then
9pm to 11.30pm.
BVLGARI - flagship re-opening party - Bulgari Store London ,153A New Bond Street, W1.
This was a full monty party that must have cost a fortune to put on.
Bulgari have closed this end of the street to traffic to make way for their red carpet.
A small army of security staff and waiting staff are all over the venue...inside and outside...
All the main London celebrity photographers are here.
Around 300 very smartly dressed folks are here over the two floors of this immaculate store.
Guest of honour is Carla Bruni who is an Italian-French singer-songwriter and former model.
She is married to former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Bringing Italian glamour to London, Bulgari ambassador Carla Bruni turned heads in a 14 carat Columbian
emerald necklace as launched the luxury jeweller's new boutique on New Bond Street.
Other guests included David Furnish(Elton John husband) and actor Luke Evans.
The store looks totally stunning with Italian marble everywhere.
Opera singer Carmen Giannattasio performed a couple of tracks.
A dj is spinning tracks upstairs.
Complimentary Ruinart champers,Negroni cocktails and Italian bowl food,small plates and canapés.
All guests got a goodie bag on the way out.
An excellent event.
www.bulgari.com
Visit the Bulgari website here for more info.
Wednesday 13 April 2016...I went two events tonight...
6.15pm to 7.15pm.
Michael Lindsay-Hogg and Glauco Della Sciucca: State of Minds - private view
at Lacey Contemporary Gallery, 8 Clarendon Cross, London, W11.
Around 100 folks here at this smart gallery in the posh backstreets of Holland Park.
Actor Tom Conti is here and it is a nice buzzy atmosphere.
The actor, who was engaged in a long planning dispute with ex-footballer neighbour Thierry Henry, recently put his Hampstead mansion on the market for £17.5million – 30 years after he bought the five-bedroom property for £165,000.
Both the artists are here.
Michael Lindsay-Hogg did some amazing work with THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES.
Complimentary presecco for all guests.
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This Spring 2016 Lacey Contemporary Gallery is proud to present a joint exhibition from Michael Lindsay-Hogg and Glauco Della Sciucca. In this exciting new collaboration by two renowned figures of the creative arts, STATE OF MINDS will present a selection of original works from Lindsay-Hogg and Della Sciucca in their first ever exhibition together in London. Worldly-wise characters meet “monsters” of the vertical city, the sometimes odd colour combinations of Lindsay-Hogg are shown against the black and white of Della Sciucca in this provocative and original exhibition.
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Michael Lindsay-Hogg could be called the father of Rock’n’Roll videos working from the mid-60s onwards with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones (for 15 years), and The Who. He directed the documentary, ‘Let It Be’ with The Beatles and ‘The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus‘. Lindsay-Hogg has received 5 BAFTA nominations and one win, for ‘Brideshead Revisited’. He directed ‘Whose Life Is It Anyway’ and ‘Agnes of God’ on Broadway and the original production of Larry Kramer’s ‘The Normal Heart‘ at The Public Theatre in New York. ‘The Object of Beauty’, which he wrote and directed, won Best Director and Best Film at the Cairo International Film Festival. His memoir, ‘Luck and Circumstance’ is available at John Sandoe in Chelsea and on Amazon. Lindsay-Hogg has been drawing all his life and painting for 20 years. He invents faces or characters, juxtaposing seemingly mismatched people in unresolved situations. In the past 3 years, he has had three solo shows in Los Angeles, one in Hudson, NY, and in Austin, Texas.
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Glauco Della Sciucca, acclaimed international illustrator and designer, is also a writer and professional journalist, who has published his drawings, sketches and oversize illustrations in Rome, New York, Lugano, Shangai and Milan. He recently designed a new Swatch – “The Black and White Special“, a watch presented in China and available worldwide, and HarvArt”, a Luxury Bag by MyStyleBags presented in Swiss. After his first debut for the The New Yorker magazine in 2004 (with a work about the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center) he designed illustrations and covers for Linus – the historical Monthly Magazine of “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz. He also designed illustrations for The Brooklyn Rail, L’Unità, Il Manifesto, Columbia Journalism Review (published by the Columbia University in New York City), and for The New York Review of Books (the edition published by Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso). He’s the author of the book of tales and illustrations “Central Park West Stories” (published in Milan by Baldini Castoldi Dalai) and conducts workshops for Scuola Holden in Turin.
The exhibition is on until 25 April 2016...Free admission..
www.laceycontemporarygallery.co.uk
Visit the gallery for more info.
then
8pm to 10pm.
WE KOKO - launch party - at Sketch, 9 Conduit Street,London W1.
Online fashion website hosts a launch party.
A young fashion crowd are here with lots of glammed up females.
A dozen photographers are flashing away outside the venue.
Guests here included Damien Hirst which was a bit of a surprise.
Multi-millionaire artist Damien Hirst, 50, was with his gorgeous new girlfriend Katie Keight, 25
who was wearing a stunning gold lame dress.
Other guests included Kimberley Wyatt(ex Pussycat Dolls),Nicola Roberts ( ex Girls Aloud)
and Sid Owen (played Ricky in Eastenders).
A dj is playing in the raised platform area and its a nice clubby atmosphere.
Complimentary CIROC vodka cocktails and Jägermeister drinks for all guests.
www.wekoko.com
Visit the We Koko website for more info.
Wednesday 13 April 2016.
Happy Birthday to Soul Legend Al Green who is 70 today.
Tuesday 12 April 2016.
Muse live at The 02 Arena,London.
Muse play the third of their five nights at The 02 Arena.
'The Drones World Tour’ will see the band perform for the first time “in the round” from the middle.
In Feb 2016 Muse won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album for 'Drones' album.
I have seen Muse around a dozen times since 2000 when they were the support act to Bush
at Shepherds Bush Empire.
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Muse always put on a great show and this tour has been getting rave five star and four star reviews so
i was really looking forward to it.
The venue is totally rammed sold out and there is floor standing to create a great atmosphere.
Muse arrive on stage at 8.45pm and are on stage 1 hour 55 mins.
A very impressive entrance as the band walk through the floor standing like champion boxers do
as a dozen globe drones float around the venue.The drones come out a couple of times later on as well.
It is a stunning stage production which was a bit like the U2 production from last year as it is all
on the floor and in the round and stretched out sideways with two catwalk extensions so everyone has a great view.
The circular stage rotates slowly during most songs.
Judging by previous setlists on this tour the band are changing it around a bit each night.
Muse’s career has been built on extravagance and over statement. For almost two hours the Devon band
roared and soared around the O2.
Live Muse are still hard to match. For three blokes to make this much noise (with a little assistance from programming,guitar and keyboards from a chap carefully partly hidden lower down in the stage) is impressive.
Top notch musicians offering up soaring falsettos and incendiary guitar licks.
They are mixing rock,Prog and funk which creates an awesome sound.
A few songs were a bit too serious and pompous but overall they totally rocked the venue.
The bass players popping of some giant confetti-filled balloons with the neck of his bass
delivered a moment of fun.
At the end of the main set the show goes very Pink Floyd, as a Thunderbird-like spaceship flies around. You’re expecting giant inflatable pigs at any moment. While the visuals impress, the music does too, with 'Time Is Running Out', now scarily 13 years old, sounding superb as it bounces and soars around the O2, while 'Knights of Cydonia' closes the show.
"Hello London” is about all we hear from Bellamy all night, but like Floyd’s shows, seeing Muse in concert
is not about hearing the meaning behind 'Hysteria' or 'Uprising', it’s about taking everything in, if you can!
I have seen around 30 shows this year and this Muse show and The Who are the best so far.
An excellent show.
Full Muse setlist played tonight....
Reapers[Drill Sergeant]
Psycho
Plug In Baby(Extended outro)
Dead Inside
The 2nd Law: Isolated System(Shortened)
The Handler
Supermassive Black Hole(The Jimi Hendrix Experience's 'Voodoo Child' intro)
Prelude
Starlight
Sunburn
Munich Jam
Madness
Map of the Problematique('Who Knows Who' riff outro)
Interlude
Hysteria(Led Zeppelin's 'Heartbreaker' riff outro)
Time Is Running Out
Uprising(Extended outro)
The Globalist
Encore:
Take a Bow
Mercy
Knights of Cydonia(Ennio Morricone's 'Man With a Harmonica' intro)
Tuesday 12 April 2016...Another sad death...
Entertainer, producer and reality television star David Gest has died in a London hotel aged 62.
Gest, who is a former husband of singer Liza Minnelli, died at the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Wharf.
He had suffered health problems over the past couple of years.
His friend and ex-bodyguard Imad Handi confirmed the news in a statement.
American Gest was best known in the UK for his appearances on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and
Celebrity Big Brother.
He had made the UK his home the past few years splitting his time between London and York.
He had worked with Michael Jackson and Cliff Richard amongst others.
I went to a couple of his 'Philly Soul' shows feat Billy Paul and others that he promoted and hosted.
I also went to a memorabilia auction he hosted at The Royal Garden Hotel,Kensington.
Monday 11 April 2016...6.45pm to 9pm...
House & Garden's Hotels By Design Party at The Kensington Hotel, 109-113 Queen's Gate, London, SW7.
Around 200 folks at this plush boutique hotel in the South Kensington area.
Guests included the well known interior designer and socialite Nicky Haslam.
Still looking good for age 76, he was a bit of a party animal in the 1970s and 1980s.
In June 2009, Haslam performed for five nights singing Hart and Cole songs at Bellamy's Restaurant in London. To celebrate the launch of the new Beaufort Bar at the Savoy in London in November 2010, Haslam performed two nights of cabaret, singing Cole Porter songs to a private audience that included Kate Moss, Jerry Hall and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. In March 2014, Haslam performed cabaret at the Spectrum Ball at the Globe Theatre, hosted by Francis Boulle, to benefit the National Autistic Society. In 2013 he released an album celebrating his singing and memories with his friends, Helena Bonham Carter, Tracey Emin, Amanda Eliasch, Bob Geldof, Bryan Ferry and Mick Jagger; called "Midnight Matinee", it was produced by his friend David Ogilvy.
Only the one award tonight for Outstanding Contribution to Interior Design which went to Martin Brudnizki
who has designed in hotels and bars around the world including Sexy Fish ,The Ivy and
Scarves Bar at The Rosewood Hotel.
Complimentary champers,gin & tonics and canapés for all guests.
Sunday 10 April 2016.
THE LUMINEERS release their second album 'Cleopatra' on Friday 08 April 2016.
Their Grammy nominated debut album sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
Like the first album it has hints of Mumford & Sons in the sound.
The first five tracks stand out more for me but the whole album ticks along nicely.
There is still something timeless about this band that links their songs to 18th century pastorals,
19th century work songs,20th century folk narratives and 21st century post-modern cinematic soundscapes.
One of those albums where you can hear every word due to the crystal clear production.
A good album that is certain to be a massive success like their debut album.
No. Title Length
1. "Sleep on the Floor" 3:31
2. "Ophelia" 2:40
3. "Cleopatra". 3:21
4. "Gun Song" 3:36
5. "Angela" 3:21
6. "In the Light" 3:51
7. "Gale Song" 3:13
8. "Long Way from Home" 2:32
9. "Sick in the Head" 2:31
10. "My Eyes" 3:36
11. "Patience" 1:35
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THE LUMINEERS HEADLINE UK 2016 TOUR DATES:
Thur Apr 14 – Bristol, O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
Fri Apr 15 – Glasgow, Barrowlands – SOLD OUT
Tue Apr 19 – Manchester, Albert Hall – SOLD OUT
Sun Apr 24 – London, O2 Brixton Academy – SOLD OUT
Sunday 10 April 2016.
Howard Marks has died aged 70 due to colon cancer.
Howard Marks was a Welsh drug smuggler turned author, who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases. At his peak he was supposedly smuggling consignments of the drug as large as 30 tons, and was connected with groups as diverse as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia. He was eventually convicted by the American Drug Enforcement Administration and handed a 25-year sentence to be served at Terre Haute; he was released in April 1995 after serving seven years. Though he had up to 43 different aliases, he became known as "Mr Nice" after he bought a passport from convicted murderer Donald Nice.After his release from prison, he published a best-selling autobiography, Mr. Nice, and campaigned publicly for changes in drugs legislation.
A feature film was also made of his life.
Before his illness he toured a lot playing venues including Shepherds Bush Empire to talk about his life.
Sunday 10 April 2016.
Brendan Grace live at The Beck Theatre,Hayes,Middlesex.
One of Ireland's top comedians visits the UK after his 3 month Irish tour.
Now in his 60s he has been performing for over 40 years.
He was also in the hit tv series Father Ted where he played the part of a drinking, smoking,
troublemaker extraordinaire Father Fintan Stack.
His 1975 song, "Combine Harvester", hit number one in Ireland, and the song would later become a
U.K. number one hit for The Wurzels in 1976.
Brendan was on stage for 1 hour 50 mins over two sets of 50 mins and 60 mins.
His material owes more to traditional stand-up comics that is for all the family.
A bit like an Irish Les Dawson.
Lots of Irish folks in the crowd who cheer when mentions of Irish towns and cities are mentioned.
A lot of the jokes and tales had Irish themes.
He sung a few songs from his recent album that features old Irish tunes.
Sadly he did not sing "Combine Harvester".
An enjoyable evening.
Straight after the end of the show he was out the front selling and signing DVDs and CDs.
Sunday 10 April 2016.
Coldplay played the legendary Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro ,Brazil.
Coldplay are playing stadiums all over the world the next few months.
Coldplay play four nights at Wembley Stadium in June.
Saturday 09 April 2016.
Save The Last Dance For Me live at The Theatre Royal,Windsor.
Antony Costa, Lola Saunders, Wayne Robinson, Elizabeth Carter, star in rock 'n' roll musical based around the songs of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, including Sweets for my Sweet, Turn Me Loose, Viva Las Vegas, Suspicion , Save the Last Dance For Me , Can't Get Used to Losing You and (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame.
Doc Pomus, was an American blues singer and songwriter.He is best known as the lyricist of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 1992,
the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1992),and the Blues Hall of Fame (2012).
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Pomus wrote several songs with Phil Spector.
There were 25 songs written by Pomus/Shuman for Elvis Presley.
In 1995, Rhino Records released a tribute album to Pomus entitled Till The Night Is Gone. Pomus songs are performed by Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Dion, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Solomon Burke, John Hiatt,
Shawn Colvin, Aaron Neville, Lou Reed, The Band, B.B. King, Los Lobos and Rosanne Cash.
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Antony Costa is taking the leading role of Milton and performs most of the singing.
Costa, famous for being a member of the boyband Blue, returns to the stage after roles in Blood Brothers
(Phoenix Theatre) and Boogie Nights (UK Tour).
The show is on for two hours over two sets of 60 mins.
Save the Last Dance for Me follows two teenage sisters through the summer of 1963 who live near the
American Airmen based at Lowestoft and the usual story of boy meets girl romance.
We have a live band on stage and all the classic Doc Pomus tracks listed above are played.
Also a few others of his and a few that were not written by him from that period.
An enjoyable enough evening.
Save the Last Dance for Me is at The New Wimbledon Theatre next week, after which it will tour to Malvern,Stoke, Glasgow, Sunderland, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Blackpool, Liverpool, Leeds, Cheltenham, Manchester, Tunbridge Wells, Swansea, Oxford and Cardiff.
Saturday 09 April 2016.
Sharks attack... again!...and the drummer is Paul Cook from The Sex Pistols.
British rock band Sharks have reformed with three original members – Chris Spedding (guitar), Steve (Snips) Parsons and Nicky Judd (keyboards). Also on board are Sex Pistol/Professionals drummer Paul Cook (drums) and Toshi Ogawa from Kingmob and Hey! Hello! on bass.
Sharks were originally formed in 1972 by Andy Fraser after the demise of Free, who left the band before their second album, Jab It In Yore Eye, which gained them a cult following amongst the punk cognoscenti, including The Clash, Chrissie Hynde and The Sex Pistols. The latter worked with Spedding on the demos for Never Mind The Bollocks.
Tour dates will be announced over the next couple of months.
Friday 08 April 2016.
Roy "Chubby" Brown live at The New Theatre,Wimbledon,London.
Roy "Chubby" Brown now aged 71 is a Yorkshire stand-up comedian, famous for his sarcastic blue humour. The controversial nature of his act means he rarely appears on major television channels, and Brown has attracted accusations that his comedy style is outdated but it is still very popular with working class folks.
He has brought out a live DVD virtually every year over the past 25 years.
Up first we have a blonde female singer singing cover versions for 30 mins.
Decent enough but this crowd would have preferred another comedian i reckon.
His shows are still billed as...if easily offended please stay away.
Earlier this year another venue had a change of mind after booking him and cancelled his show.
Roy arrives on stage at 8.20pm for his 75 mins set.
Brown's image is characterised by a clown-like stage costume consisting of a flying helmet and goggles, a multicoloured patchwork jacket and trousers, a white shirt, a red bow tie and moccasin slippers.
He is greeted with the usual term of endearment "You Fat Bastard, You Fat Bastard".
Plenty of filthy and crude tales which are mainly sex related and “wife” jokes.
Chubby is also a talented pianist and can sing. His renditions of Rolf Harris’s "Two Little Boys" and The Proclaimers "500 Miles" were hilarious. This time round I felt he was even more non-PC than usual, if that’s at all possible.
His sung his big hit single "Living Next Door to Alice (Who the Fuck is Alice?)", a cover version of "Living Next Door to Alice", recorded with Smokie. The record spent 19 weeks in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 3 in August 1995.
The finale of the show saw Chubby do a striptease which was incredibly funny - but it certainly
put me off getting anything to eat on the way home.
An enjoyable show as usual by Chubs.
Thursday 07 April 2016...6.45pm to 11pm...
KOJAWAN - restaurant launch party --- Kojawan, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 225 Edgware Road, London, W2.
We are on the 23rd floor of this hotel situated at the Paddington end of Edgware Road.
Around 200 guests here and we have stunning views over West London.
Good fun here as there are a lot of people here I know.
A dj is playing some tunes in the background.
Complimentary Laurent Perrier champers,brandy cocktails,sake,wines,Kirin beers and lots of their
very nice canapé versions of their dishes which are listed below.
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About KOJAWAN...
Named after the countries on the far side of Asia (Korea, Japan and Taiwan), Kojawan brings the soul food of each nation’s capital to the 23rd floor of London’s Hilton Metropole, in west London, minutes from Marble Arch. Offering unrivalled views of the metropolis, this seductively cool 21st century izakaya brings together innovative dishes from Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei.
The playful menu has been created by acclaimed chefs Bjorn Van Der Horst (of Greenhouse, La Noisette, Eastside Inn) and Omar Romero (of Rhodes Twenty Four, Rosewood). Expect compositions such as Rice Sandwiches, Glazed Lobster-dog and Sesame Seaweed Ponzu, Popcorn Prawns and Liquorice Fish Sauce, and Crab Turnip “Egg Cake” in a Crispy Shiso Leaf Bun. Innovative sweets include Kojawan’s own version of Eton mess with lychee green tea meringue and sake cream. A dynamic drink program features the first Kirin beer and raw bar in Europe, including the signature K-Slurpy, a cold beer with a frozen top. All are served by a knowledgeable service crew, dispatching creative drinks from bespoke airline trollies orbiting tables.
Inside Kojawan, a comfortable hi-tech future reigns. Modish furnishings, sci-fi materials, manga graphics, bespoke videos, and multiple art installations give the space a zany retro-futuristic vibe – a look that’s quite unique in London.
From clay barrel-aged cocktails to an affordable wine list (with a broad range from sake to champagne), the sky-high bar blends the best of all possible worlds from east to west.
www.kojawan.uk
Visit the KOJAWAN website here for more info.
Thursday 07 April 2016.
An article in today's Standard newspaper...
The Rolling Stones said they were stopped from playing a few songs on the green outside
the Saatchi Gallery on Monday night but that is not entirely true.
John Hicks - director of The Chelsea Residents Association has said we would have enthusiastically
supported them playing but nobody contacted us about it.
Thursday 07 April 2016.
Check out the picture i took of Glen Matlock and Donovan together at
The Rolling Stones exhibition private view on Monday evening just gone.
www.sex-pistols.net
Wednesday 06 April 2016...I went to two events tonight...
5pm to 6pm.
Braun - press launch - mens new styling range - Edition Hotel,Berners Street,London W1.
Braun offers high performance hair removal and hair care products for both male and female.
Today Braun are introducing six new products for the new mens Braun Beard,Hair and Body Styling Range.
Braun Beard Trimmer RRP £39.99
Braun Body Grooming Kit RRP £129.99
Braun Multi Groomer RRP £69.99
Braun Body Groomer RRP £39.99
Braun Hair Clipper RRP £39.99
Braun Precision Trimmer RRP £14.99
The Braun Styling range is available from Spring 2016 at Tesco,Argos,Amazon and major supermarkets.
Fact...55% of men restyle their look depending on the occasion.
Fact...20% of body hair removal products are bought by men.
www.braun.com
Visit the BRAUN website for more info on their products.
Also here were NORTON & SONS from Saville Row.
Remember you have look groomed from head to toe and not just your face & hair.
A great quality suit & shirt is always a lasting investment.
Norton & Sons was established in 1821 by Walter Norton as tailors to the Gentlemen of the City of London. Originally located on the Strand, his business flourished and in 1859 then Guv'nor George James Norton was granted the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of his services to tailoring. In the 1860's Norton & Sons moved to Savile Row to join the ranks of tailors in what was to become the home of bespoke clothing.
www.nortonandsons.co.uk
Visit the NORTON & SONS website here.
Complimentary whiskey cocktails,wines,beers,burgers and canapés for all guests.
All guests got a nice goodie bag.
then
6.30pm to 8.15pm.
ABC - The Lexicon of Love 2 album launch party - The Arts Club, 40 Dover Street, London, W1.
Around 100 folks here at this plush private members club with cosy seats and standing.
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The Lexicon of Love classic album was released in 1982 and is one of my fave albums of the 1980s.
It is not a concept album but features repeated themes in which Martin Fry the singer experiences
heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship.
It was produced by Trevor Horn, engineered by Gary Langan, and featured orchestrations by Anne Dudley.
"Tears Are Not Enough" (in its initial release produced by Steve Brown), "All of My Heart", "Poison Arrow", and "The Look of Love (Part One)" were all Top 20 hits in the UK; the latter two also charted in the US, peaking at No. 25 and No. 14 respectively. The album reached No. 1 on the British charts, and peaked at No. 24 in the US charts.
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Tonight we have a world exclusive playback on The Lexicon of Love 2 album.
It starts with 8 tracks from the album over the pa which all sound great.
The lush strings of Anne Dudley are present again and sound even better than the first album.
Then on stage BBC radio presenter Matt Everitt interviews ABC singer Martin Fry and Anne Dudley
for around five minutes or so.
Martin says the 30th anniversary show of The Lexicon of Love with full orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall
a few years ago was the reason that made him finally do a follow up to The Lexicon of Love.
I was at that fantastic show.
Martin decided it was time to revisit the style,sound and themes from the original album.
Then we have the rest of the album played over the pa.
Afterwards Martin Fry is posing for photos and being friendly and chatty to all the guests.
I had a nice chat with him and I mentioned how I was at Hammersmith Odeon for their three shows there
in Nov 1982 on their debut UK tour on the back of the success of their debut album.
The album The Lexicon of Love 2 is released on VIRGIN on 27 May 2016.
Complimentary drinks for guests as we have four different cocktails that are given ABC song titles.
The Lexicon of Love
Viva Love
Poison Arrow
Confessions of a Fool
Tuesday 05 April 2016.
Christy Moore live at The Royal Festival Hall,London.
Christy plays the first of two shows at this venue.
I first saw this Irish singer-songwriter now aged 70 in 1986 at Hammersmith Odeon.
I have seen him several times including at this same venue two years ago.
Christy arrived on stage at 8.10pm and played for two hours.
He had two other musicians on stage with him.
As usual most of the crowd have a bit of Irish in them.
Most of his lyrics have Irish themes and places so cheers go up when he mentions a place
and that person comes from that area.
His wry Irish humour between songs always goes down well.
He mixes his own songs with a few cover versions.
A respectful crowd who listen to the lyrics and sing along to his big tunes.
Christy is always enjoyable to watch.
Highlights included...
I'm A Bogman
Missing You
On Morecombe Bay
Delirium Tremens
City Of Chicago
A Pair Of Brown Eyes (The Pogues cover)
Ride On
Don't Forget Your Shovel
Lindoonvarna
Yellow Triangle
Monday 04 April 2016...7.15pm to 11.30pm...
The Rolling Stones EXHIBITIONISM - private view - at The Saatchi Gallery,Kings Road, Chelsea,London.
Around 500 guests at this hot ticket invite only event.
I have been to many events at The Saatchi Gallery but even by their standards this is a major event.
Ever since i saw four of their shows at Earls Court in 1976 and at Knebworth the same year The Stones
have always been a big deal whatever they have done.
I arrive at the venue at 6.40pm and a couple of hundred fans are outside the venue lining the barriers.
Doors open at 7pm and an early arrival is legendary New York photographer Bob Gruen.
The security then hold invitees back as The Stones are due to arrive for the photographers.
All of The Rolling Stones turn up by car at 7.10pm and spend five mins signing stuff and posing for photographers.
This was carefully staged as they were at the venue already in the afternoon giving interviews for
the various tv stations to get the 6pm news.
We then all go in and most have a laminate that is checked and scanned at the main entrance then
a visual check is done on laminates at the entrance to the building itself.
The laminate said 'Please bring photo ID with you' but this was not asked for on the door.
I saw Mick and Charlie in the exhibition but not Keith or Ronnie but so many different rooms
it was quite easy to miss people and some I saw just the once through the evening.
Each member of The Stones had their own security guy to stop any unwanted attention.
Guests included Glen Matlock,Donovan(I took a couple of photos of Glen with Donovan as Glen is a big fan).
I had a lovely chat with Donovan about the Reading Town Hall gig I saw him at last year.
I had a nice chat with film & video director Julien Temple (The Rolling Stones,The Sex Pistols and many others),
He said he is currently working on a Keith Richards documentary.
Jeff Beck,Bill Wyman and family,Sir Bob Geldof,Bobby Gillespie,Pam Hogg,Tommy Hilfiger,
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell(Horner) is here with her hubby Christian Horner (Red Bull Formula One Boss),
Kenney Jones,James Bay,Georgia May Jagger,Fearne Cotton with Jesse Wood,Sally Humphries (Wood),
Trinny Woodall,Chris O'Donnell(Thin Lizzy manager in the 1970s),Annie Nightingale,Chris Jagger.
Pattie Hansen,Theodora Richards,Alexandra Richards,Tyrone Wood.
The exhibition itself was fantastic and I will go back to see it a second and third time for sure.
We see the mock up of their very untidy Edith Grove flat with piles of unwashed plates along
with empty milk and beer bottles and the old style gas meter.
There is a mock recording studio where you can mix your fave Stones tracks as you like to hear them.
A stunning collection of their guitars and basses.
A stunning collection of their stage wear over the years.
Different setlists and other interesting paperwork.
There are some fantastic replica models of their stadium tours over the years.
We saw the band performing on the big screen with 3D glasses.
At the end of the tour is the massive Rolling Stones gift shop stocking some expensive rock memorabilia.
An Exile on Main Street tuxedo by Turnbull & Asser is on sale for £1500 while a
Ligne 2 cigarette lighter will set customers back £1250.
All the band and most of the celebs have departed by 10pm but Scottish chums Bobby Gillespie and
fashion designer Pam Hogg (Pam also designed this years BRIT Award trophy) are still here at the end.
A female dj was playing tracks all night in the bar areas.
Lots of complimentary drinks and food for all.
Drinks were Nyetimber English Sparkling Wines while walking around the exhibition then on the top floor
were the bar areas with a full bar including whiskey,vodka,gin,wines,beers etc and my fave which was a
doughnut dipped in a flat white martini.
Food was bowl food,burgers,canapés and desserts.
At the end guests could take a copy of Arts & Music magazine which has the whole edition on the exhibition
with photos,interviews and reproduction of iconic Stones tour posters.
Needless to say it was a great event.
After the event Mick Jagger had a private party for Stones band members and The Stones inner sanctum
back at his Cheyne Walk,Chelsea home.
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Taking over the entire two floors of the Saatchi Gallery with 9 thematic galleries, EXHIBITIONISM combines over 500 original Stones' artefacts, with striking cinematic and interactive technologies offering the most comprehensive and immersive insight into the band's fascinating fifty year history.
It's from now until 04 Sept 2016.
They are saying you should allow 90 mins to see all the exhibition.
www.saatchigallery.com
Visit the Saatchi Gallery website for more info and to buy tickets.
UPDATE---on Friday 01 April Keith Richards told The Sun Newspaper that the band planned to play
four or five songs on the lawn outside The Saatchi Gallery for the opening party but
The Chelsea Residents Association poo-pooed the idea.
Keith said that the re-creation of the flat in Keith Grove ,Chelsea is the thing he looking forward to see most.
Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards moved into this flat in Edith Grove late summer 1962 and shared it throughout 1962 and 1963. Also sharing the flat was James Phelge, who would later become a successful photographer.
Phelge's name is used in some of the bands writing credits and he would also later write a book on the Rolling Stones called Phelge's Stones, describing the very young Stones
Brian and Keith would spend days playing guitar while listening to blues recods and Jones taught Jagger how to play the harmonica in this flat.
The flat was far from the luxury the Stones would experience later in their career, it was famously squalid with rising damp and peeling wallpaper. Keith’s mother Doris would visit weekly to take away mounds of dirty clothes to wash for them.
UPDATE - on Sunday 03 April - Former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor has slammed the
Rolling Stones for not inviting him to the opening of their Exhibitionism exhibition in London this week.
“It appears they are using my name and likeness for another multi-million dollar making exercise. I can’t help wondering why nobody has invited me to the opening at Saatchi Gallery?,” Taylor said in a Facebook post.
Taylor joined the Stones as Brian Jones replacement following the death of Jones at age 27. He played with the band 1969-1974 contributing to what is generally considered their greatest works, including the albums ‘Let It Bleed’, ‘Sticky Fingers’ and ‘Exile On Main Street’ as well as the lesser-well received ‘Goats Head Soap’.
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