News and Reviews: 27th December 2016
Tuesday 27 December 2016.I don't think anyone needs reminding that this year is easily the worst year ever for
big names from music and entertainment who have sadly died.
From musicians to film to tv to sport including David Bowie,Prince,Leonard Cohen,
George Michael,Rick Parfitt,Muhammad Ali,Sir Terry Wogan,Gene Wilder and many more.
I have a hunch that 2017 will be just as bad as folks are simply just getting older.
It seems to be worse when they are younger and it comes out of the blue as a big shock.
Tuesday 27 December 2016.
Sad news that actress Carrie Fisher has passed away aged 60.
She was best know for playing Princess Leia in Star Wars.
She had been the UK just a couple of weeks ago doing promotion.
Carrie had struggled with drug problems in the past.
Fisher dated musician Paul Simon from 1977 until 1983. In 1980, she was briefly engaged to Canadian actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd, who proposed on the set of their film The Blues Brothers. She said: "We had rings, we got blood tests, the whole shot. But then I got back together with Paul Simon." Fisher was married to Simon from August 1983 to July 1984, and they dated again for a time after their divorce. During their marriage, she appeared in Simon's music video for the song "Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War". Simon's song "Hearts and Bones" is about their relationship.
Fisher also had a close relationship with James Blunt. While working on his album Back to Bedlam in 2003, Blunt spent much of his time at Fisher's residence. When Vanity Fair's George Wayne asked Fisher if their relationship was sexual, she replied: "Absolutely not, but I did become his therapist. He was a soldier. This boy has seen awful stuff. Every time James hears fireworks or anything like that, his heart beats faster, and he gets 'fight or flight.' You know, he comes from a long line of soldiers dating back to the 10th century. He would tell me these horrible stories. He was a captain, a reconnaissance soldier. I became James' therapist. So it would have been unethical to sleep with my patient."
Tuesday 27 December 2016.
At 10pm for 60 minutes BBC1 are screening a George Michael concert.
George Michael – Live At The Palais Garnier Opera House In Paris.
This is from his 'Symphonica' tour in 2012.
Monday 26 December 2016.
George Michael headlined Wembley Stadium both with Wham and as a solo artist.
25 Live (also known as the 25th Anniversary Tour) was a concert tour by George Michael.
The tour was the most commercially successful tour of 2006–2007 in Europe.
The tour grossed more than $200 million, with positive reviews from music critics.
The 106 tour shows were performed in 41 countries and seen by 2 million fans across the globe.
Near the end of the tour George would be the first artist to perform at the new Wembley Stadium.
I went to the second of his two shows there on 10 June 2007.
I had already seen the same superb show in 2006 at Earls Court Arena and Wembley Arena.
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That was in the middle of a mad week of quality gigs i attended...
03 June 2007 - Beyonce at Wembley Arena
05 June 2007 - Velvet Revolver at Hammersmith Apollo
07 June 2007 - Paul McCartney at The Electric Ballroom
09 June 2007 - Sex Pistols Experience - River Thames Boat Trip gig
11 June 2007 - Motley Crue - Hammersmith Apollo
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A couple of months later in August i would see 6 Prince shows at The 02 Arena
and 3 Rolling Stones shows at The 02 Arena in the same month.
Sunday 25 December 2016.
Yet another big music name has passed away.
Hard to believe it but singer GEORGE MICHAEL has died on Christmas Day.
George Michael 53, died at his home in Goring, Oxfordshire this afternoon.
Popstar Michael had previously battled drug and alcohol addiction.
Circumstances around artist's death are not known at this point.
Singer's publicist announced he had 'passed away peacefully at home'.
I saw Wham a few times in the 1980s at Hammersmith Odeon and Brixton Academy
and a few times as a solo artist including The Royal Opera House in 2011 and
The Royal Albert Hall in 2012.
He sold over 100 million records.
His debut solo album 'Faith' from 1987 sold over 25 million copies worldwide on its own.
Wham! enjoyed worldwide success from 1982 to 1986, selling more than 25 million records worldwide.
Wham! made their U.S. debut appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand and went on to
become the only British act in the 1980s to secure three No. 1 singles in both the UK and US.
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Amazing how many huge music legends of the 1980s have not reached the age of 60.
George Michael,Prince,Michael Jackson,Whitney Houston,Freddie Mercury all never reached 60.
Sunday 25 December 2016.
10 years ago on Christmas Day 2006 soul legend James Brown sadly died.
Saturday 24 December 2016.
Some sad news to report on Christmas Eve about another rock legend dying.
Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has passed away at the age of 68.
The rock hero died in hospital in Marbella, Spain.
He recently had a major heart attack.
Status Quo were probably the band i have seen more than any other as they played more shows
than most bands.
I saw them around 50 times since 1974 including twice in Australia and when they opened Live Aid in 1985.
They released the first of their many hits in 1968 with 'Pictures of Matchstick Men'.
Rick was awarded an OBE for services to music in 2010 along with bandmate Francis Rossi and
together they appeared on the Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?
Their heyday shows in the 1970s were mega when they were a proper rock band.
Also with their 'Frantic Four' reunion shows a couple of years ago which were great.
Saturday 24 December 2016
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL VISITORS TO THIS WEBSITE.
Friday 23 December 2016.
CHIC featuring NILE RODGERS + dj support live at Hammersmith Apollo,London.
Musician,songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers plays a one off UK show.
A special show on behalf of AUTISM ROCKS who will get all profits from tonight's show.
I saw Chic play this venue twice in 1979 at the height of their disco heyday.
I saw Chic featuring Nile Rodgers at Fulham Palace a few months ago.
Nile Rodgers has announced the first new Chic album in 25 years, fittingly titled ‘It’s About Time’.
It will be released in 2017 when a full tour will be announced to promote it.
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The venue is totally buzzing as it's the Friday before Christmas and we have a full house
and the bars are busy and it's disco party time with floor standing.
My vip/press wristband is valid for free drinks in the downstairs bars so I had a few JD n cokes.
They also have a pop-up bar by the front right of stage where the vip/press area is.
A pair of djs played disco,soul and funk classics from 7.45pm for 60 mins to get the party started.
CHIC featuring NILE RODGERS arrived on stage at 9.10pm and played for 1 hour 50 mins.
The band are all dressed in white and there are two brass players and two female backing vocalists.
As usual the setlist is a fantastic mix of Chic classics and cover versions that Nile Rodgers
has produced or has co-written.
There is a big screen showing old videos and images at the start then live footage in the second half.
Everyone knows the lyrics to most of the songs so it's a massive singalong dance party.
Nile has that big smile of his and long dreads as he celebrates 6 years since he beat cancer.
A great show.
Full setlist played tonight...
Everybody Dance (Chic cover)
Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) (Chic cover)
I Want Your Love (Chic cover)
I'm Coming Out (Diana Ross cover)
Upside Down (Diana Ross cover)
He's the Greatest Dancer (Sister Sledge cover)
We Are Family (Sister Sledge cover)
Soup for One (Chic cover)
Like a Virgin (Madonna cover)
Lost in Music (Sister Sledge cover)
Notorious (Duran Duran cover)
Spacer (Sheila & B. Devotion cover)
Thinking of You (Sister Sledge cover)
I'll be there
Get Lucky (Daft Punk cover)
Chic Cheer (Chic cover)
My Forbidden Lover (Chic cover)
Let's Dance (David Bowie cover)
Le Freak (Chic cover)
Good Times / Rapper's Delight (Chic cover) (50 guests on stage for a dance with the band )
Encore :
Nile Rodgers dancing to backing track on stage for five minutes and shaking fans hands
Thursday 22 December 2016.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET live at The Royal Festival Hall,London.
Now on at The Royal Festival Hall until Mon 02 Jan 2017.
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. This Christmas, see a musical inspired by the recording session that brought together these rock 'n' roll grandees for the first and only time.
On December 4, 1956, these four star musicians gathered at Sun Records in Memphis, the studios of producer Sam Phillips, for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever.
MARTIN KEMP from SPANDAU BALLET joins the cast as legendary record producer Sam Phillips,
the man who brought the four recording stars together to create music history.
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The show was on for 1 hour 50 mins over two sets of 45 mins and 65 mins.
The whole show is set in Sun Records studio.
Martin Kemp with a Southern accent does a great job in the main role as Sam Phillips.
Sam Phillips discovered the four artists before they moved on to bigger record labels.
The four musicians sing their best songs backed by drums and double bass.
It is pretty much a top notch tribute show with a storyline between each track.
My fave of the four was a brilliant Jerry Lee Lewis with pounding rock & roll piano playing.
Sam Phillips was known as 'The Father of Rock & Roll' and was the first non musician to be
inducted into 'The Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame'.
Many folks at the time said said he was a fool for selling Elvis to RCA.
Through savvy investments, Phillips soon amassed a fortune. He was one of the first investors with Roy Scott in Holiday Inn, a new motel chain that was about to go national; he became involved with the chain shortly after selling the rights to Elvis Presley to RCA for $35,000 which he multiplied many times over the years with Holiday Inn. He would also create two different subsidiary recording labels—Phillips International and Holiday Inn Records.
At the end of the show a big picture featuring all four legends from that 1956 session appeared on the big screen.
An enjoyable show.
Tracks played in the show...
Blue Suede Shoes (Music and Lyrics By Carl L. Perkins) – Company
Real Wild Child (Music and Lyrics By John O'Keefe, John Greenan and Dave Owens) – Jerry Lee Lewis
Matchbox (Music and Lyrics By Carl L. Perkins) – Carl Perkins
Who Do You Love? (Music and Lyrics By Ellas McDaniel) – Carl Perkins
Folsom Prison Blues (Music and Lyrics By John R. Cash) – Johnny Cash
Fever (Music and Lyrics By Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell) – Dyanne
Memories Are Made of This (Music and Lyrics By Terry Gilkyson,Richard Dehr and Frank Miller) – Elvis Presley
That's All Right (Music and Lyrics By Arthur Crudup) – Elvis Presley
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Music and Lyrics By Chuck Berry) – Company
Down by the Riverside – Company
Sixteen Tons (Music and Lyrics By Merle Travis) – Johnny Cash
My Babe (Music and Lyrics By Willie Dixon) – Carl Perkins
Long Tall Sally (Music and Lyrics By Robert Blackwell, Enotris Johnson and Richard Penniman) – Elvis Presley
Peace in the Valley (Music and Lyrics By Thomas A. Dorsey) – Company
I Walk the Line (Music and Lyrics By John R. Cash) – Johnny Cash
I Hear You Knocking (Music and Lyrics By Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King) – Dyanne
Party (Music and Lyrics By Jessie Mae Robinson) – Carl Perkins and Company
Great Balls of Fire (Music and Lyrics By Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer) – Jerry Lee Lewis
Down by the Riverside (Reprise) – Company
Hound Dog (Music and Lyrics By Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller) – Elvis Presley
Ghost Riders (Music and Lyrics By Stan Jones) – Johnny Cash
See You Later Alligator (Music and Lyrics By Robert Guidry) – Carl Perkins
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (Music and Lyrics By Curly Williams) – Jerry Lee Lewis
Wednesday 21 December 2016...I went to two events tonight...
6pm to 9pm
QUEENS Ice Skating and Bowl - showcase - 17 Queensway,London W2.
QUEENS Ice Skating re-opens this week after refurbishment.
I went here half a dozen times in the late 1970s/early 1980s.
Built in 1930, Queens remains the only permanent ice rink in central London.
It’s been used as a venue for televised skating on the BBC and has played host to 25 million guests.
It was looking a bit tired so they have improved the food and bar areas.
They now have...
12 tenpin bowling lanes
9,000ft2 of indoor skating rink
Eats from Jimmy’s Diner, served to the lanes and rink
Guest DJs for weekend parties
Craft cocktails served at two bars
Three ping-pong tables
Air hockey, table football and classic arcade games
Pop-up cinema
We had a dj playing tonight in the background.
Complimentary presecco and a choice of four different cocktails for all guests.
The cocktails were much better than expected.....proper bar quality.
www.queensiceandbowl.co.uk
Visit the Queens website here for more info.
then
9.30pm to 10.30pm
JOSHUA KANE - Flagship store launch party - 68 Great Portland Street,London W1.
Around 100 folks here as this bespoke designer opens his second London store.
This store is around the back of Oxford Circus...his first is in Old Spitalfields.
The dj tonight was THE LIBERTINES drummer GARY POWELL.
He also drummed for The Specials on their recent UK tour.
Joshua Kane is here with his great look of long hair and moustache.
Other guests included Luke Pritchard (The Kooks),Oliver Proudlock and Naomi Isted.
Joshua Kane cut his teeth at Kingston University in southwest London where he studied bespoke tailoring, then moved on to design ready-to-wear for some of the biggest fashion houses in England including Burberry, Jaeger, and Paul Smith. It didn’t take long for the custom business that he ran on the side (for a select group of friends and special clients) to gather momentum (thanks in part to promotion from friend, model and fellow tattoo enthusiast Jimmy Q)… Soon Joshua was running his own bespoke shop in London. The next year he added a full ready-to-wear collection for men and women, all inspired by his one-of-a-kind “Neo Dandy”, “Edwardian Punk Rock” personal style.
Real quality costs remember......I looked at a coat that was priced at £1200.
That was for 'The Harry' Navy Herringbone Coat.
Complimentary Charles Heidsieck champers for all guests.
www.joshuakanestore.com
Visit the Joshua Kane website here for more info.
Tuesday 20 December 2016.
Shock news that CLASSIC ROCK monthly music magazine is to close.
Last year NME was reduced to a thin feeble freebie giveaway.
Readers, fans and bands have taken to Twitter to react to the closure of magazines such as Metal Hammer and Classic Rock, after parent company Team Rock went bankrupt.
Team Rock, the company behind Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Prog, the Golden Gods Awards and the Classic Rock Awards, went into liquidation yesterday – with staff reportedly told that they would not be paid for the month of December,
just one week before Christmas.
A total of 27 staff in High Blantyre and 46 in London have been made redundant, with Administrators at FRP Advisory now seeking buyers for the titles and assets.
Orange Goblin frontman Ben Ward has launched a Crowdfunding campaign to help those who have lost their jobs.
“Today, 73 members of the Team Rock staff were told that the company is going into liquidation and that they are being made redundant with immediate effect with ZERO pay,” he said in a statement. “These are good, hard-working, committed people that through Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, Prog Rock, TeamRock Radio and more, have supported the rock and heavy metal scene in this country for decades and now we, the rock community, need to pull together to help give something back.”
The bottom line is the internet has pretty much killed off music journalism.
The Classic Rock Awards will be sadly missed as they always had the best collection of rock legends
in one place.
I was lucky enough to have been at a few of them.
The Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards will also be sadly missed.
I went to a few of them including this year when Saxon played six songs and the last three
were Motörhead songs with members of Motörhead as a tribute to Lemmy.
An ironic fact is that The Classic Rock Magazine website is very popular.
Hopefully someone can buy the magazines and get them back on the shelves in the future.
Monday 19 December 2016.
THE BLOSSOMS have the best selling debut album in the UK of 2016.
The self-titled LP currently sits on 65,123 sales. Zayn’s ‘Mind Of Mine’, released on March 25, is in second place on 64,211, while Jack Garratt’s ‘Phase’, which came out on February 19, has figures of 62,217.
Speaking to Music Week, managing director of Blossoms label Virgin EMI Clive Cawley puts their success down to various factors. “It was EPs, touring, merch bundles, album bundles… Fan engagement, I’d say,” he told Music Week. “They’re one of the few artists to have A-List at [BBC] Radio 1,2 and 6. It’s pretty niche to develop them that way ".
The Blossoms are an English indie pop band from Stockport, Greater Manchester. Formed in 2013,
the band consists of Tom Ogden, Charlie Salt, Josh Dewhurst, Joe Donovan and Myles Kellock.
Monday 19 December 2016.
Critically acclaimed Irish singer IMELDA MAY has dropped a beautiful live video for recent single Call Me via cool US publication W Magazine and it’s very much worth a watch!
A stripped back version which W described as a "sweet lament", it shows off her incredible vocals and sets the tone for worth coming album ‘Life Love Flesh Blood’ due for release in March 2017.
The album is produced by legend T Bone Burnett with contributions from guitar hero Jeff Beck, piano maestro Jools Holland and backing musicians guitarist, Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello), Jay Bellerose (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss) and Bassist Zach Dawes (The Last Shadow Puppets etc) - recorded in LA the songs were written over the court of May’ tumultuous past year which contained lots of big life changes reflected personally in her songs.
Check out the video below.
Sunday 18 December 2916.
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that Robbie Williams and Craig David seem
to be on every other tv programme in the pre-Christmas period?
Sunday 18 December 2016.
Happy Birthday to Keith Richards who is 73 today.
Saturday 17 December 2016.
The ' You're Beautiful ' singer James Blunt whose comical retorts to folks who slag him off
have made him a Twitter star has issued another funny tweet.
'If you thought 2016 was bad - I'm releasing a new album in 2017'.
He is also starring in one of those National Lottery " please, not them " adverts.
Sat 17 Dec---Bon Scott AC/DC singer played his last London show this day 37 years ago - 17 Dec 1979.
It was at The Hammersmith Odeon...he would be found dead a couple of months later.
I was at this show...it was the 19th time I had seen Bon on vocals as they were always brilliant live.
Friday 16 December 2016.
SHAM 69 + UK SUBS live at The Forum,London.
A nice double bill of punk bands from the late 1970s.
Sham 69 line-up for this show is (Pursey, Parsons, Treganna, Guy)...first three names are from 1977 line-up.
Sham 69 had five Top 20 hits during their heyday period in the late 1970s.
In their heyday i would witness more trouble at Sham 69 gigs than Sex Pistols and The Clash combined.
The skinheads and followers of The Right Wing would disrupt their shows.
I saw them 11 times between 1977 to 1979 including when they supported The Clash and when they
headlined The Rainbow in 1978 when Steve Jones & Paul Cook from The Pistols joined them on stage.
I saw them at The 100 Club in 2015 for Jimmy Pursey 60th birthday gig which was great.
Not to be confused with a tribute band also called Sham 69...the real Sham must sort that out in the future.
This dates back to 2007 with hews that the band had split because of a bitter fallout between Pursey and guitarist Parsons.
NME reported that a statement released by Parsons included the message: "Sham 69 have left Jimmy Pursey on the eve of their 30th anniversary." Pursey initially stated that he would be retaining the Sham 69 name, but on 21 Jan 2008, he announced that "to avoid confusion to fans he wanted it known that he did not want to be associated with the band still performing as Sham 69" and had formed a new band.
The singer in the new Sham 69 has claimed this is enough reason for him to keep using the same name.
Support act UK Subs I have also seen around a dozen times including shows in 1979 when they
supported The Damned and Iggy Pop.
Lead singer Charlie Harper is now aged a grand 72 so he must one of the oldest punks going.
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Get inside the venue and see the balcony is 90% unsold and space to move downstairs so maybe
only 800 here in a venue that holds 2000 but that means easy to get down the front left by the stage.
Lots of older punk rock chums here i know.
Both bands whizz through their sets playing fast uptempo short songs with plenty of energy.
UK SUBS arrive on stage at 8.30pm and play for 60 mins.
UK Subs play a good set even though a lot of the songs are played in the same style.
Amazing how many miles Charlie Harper has covered while touring the world the past near 40 years.
Setlist included...
Down On The Farm
Teenage
Warhead
Stranglehold
Encore :
Hey Santa ( this song had some great very funny lyrics)
C.I.D.
I Live In A Car
New York State Police
SHAM 69 arrive on stage at 9.50pm and play for 50 mins.
Really looking forward to seeing Sham as they have some great catchy pop punk tunes.
Hardly any chat means a frantic 17 songs in 50 mins...less than 3 mins per song...
Jimmy Pursey is now aged 61 but looking slim for his age.
Some of you may remember the ill fated Sham Pistols where Steve Jones and Paul Cook
wanted Jimmy Pursey as their new singer when John Lydon left The Pistols.
In October 2015 the Sham Pistols tracks "Some Play Dirty" and "Natural Born Killer" were released on the UMC/Mercury triple CD set "The Complete Professionals". Although Pursey wrote the lyrics to these tracks he wasn't listed on the songwriting credits.
It gets lively down the front as soon as Sham 69 start playing.
Their best known hits are all in the second half of a great set which was Ramones like in speed.
They play a cover of The Clash 'White Riot' and Jimmy Pursey mentioned that famous day he sung with
them in Victoria Park on 30 April 1978 ( I was there for that )....the clip from 1978 is up on YouTube to view...
A great show.
Full Sham 69 setlist played tonight...
What Have We Got?
I Don't Wanna
Ulster Boy
Rip Off
Tell Us the Truth
Bastille Cake
George Davis Is Innocent
Borstal Breakout
That's Life
Angels With Dirty Faces
One Faith
Money
Questions and Answers
White Riot (The Clash cover)
If the Kids Are United
Encore:
Hersham Boys
Hurry Up Harry
Friday 16 December 2016.
A mad week where I went to nine gigs in eight days.
A pretty eclectic mix too i must say...
no sleep 'til...Sham 69
fri 09 Dec - Kylie Minogue - Royal Albert Hall
sat 10 Dec - Kylie Minogue - Royal Albert Hall
sun 11 Dec - The Shires - Shepherds Bush Empire
mon 12 Dec - Rod Stewart - 02 Arena
tue 13 Dec - afternoon - The Selecter + The Beat - BBC Maida Vale
tue 13 Dec - evening - Human League - Royal Festival Hall
wed 14 Dec - Bay City Rollers + Sweet - Hammersmith Apollo
thurs 15 Dec - Placebo - Wembley Arena
fri 16 Dec - Sham 69 + UK Subs - The Forum
I have now seen over 6500 gigs since 1973 which is why the BBC and others
have confirmed me as the UKs number one gig goer.
Friday 16 December 2016.
Classic Rock Magazine have done a nice piece on The Sex Pistols classic album
'Never Mind The Bollocks'.
All the tracks rated track by track from worst to best (every track is a gem)
Also a question & answer article on "how well do you know the album?"
www.classicrockmagazine.com
Visit their website here.
Thursday 15 December 2016.
PLACEBO live at Wembley Arena,London.
Another busy evening in London with lots of good events on including Primal Scream at
Brixton Academy and the vip launch party for the new Philipp Plein store on Bond Street.
I have chosen Placebo at Wembley and what a great decision that was.
Placebo are on a 20th anniversary tour to celebrate the release of their classic debut album
that reached number five in the UK charts at the height of Britpop in 1996.
Tonight is the last date on their two month long UK & European Tour.
I have seen Placebo around a dozen times since 1997.
A few empty blocks unsold at the back but there is still 10,000 folks here tonight.
I was expecting a great show but this was off the radar as Placebo played a stunning set
lasting 2 hours 20 mins...they never usually play more than two hours max.
The production was eye-popping with loads of screens taking up the whole of the stage showing live footage
and pre-recorded images along with a barrage of flashing lights and strobes.
The trio are bulked out to a six piece tonight and sound fantastic.
In pr for the shows Brian Molko said "we will be performing our most rarely played and commercial songs".
This was no doubt to sell a few more tickets.
There are many times tonight where the crowd are cheering so much the band stop for a couple of minutes.
Probably the most profound reference the band make to their roots comes through the lovely and myriad tips of the hat to the LGBT community. Molko is bisexual, and Stefan Olsdal - the only other original member - openly gay. Ahead of the encore, Olsdal holds aloft a bass guitar bedecked in rainbow colours. The reception is rapturous.
It's the little things, that remind you what a one-off Placebo are. Molko's androgyny was his calling card back in the nineties, and his bolshy relationship with gender and sexual politics meant so much to so many.
This was all way before everyone else jumped on the Transgender bandwagon.
Before "For What's Its Worth" Brian Molko says to the crowd "as it's our party,it is now time to dance",
and for the last 45 mins the floor standing area certainly bounced around a lot more.
Placebo played the gig of their lives tonight, easily the best time i have seen them...Superb...
Full Placebo setlist played tonight...
Intro tape Who by Fire (Leonard Cohen song) (with pictures of Leonard Cohen on screen)
Intro video Every You Every Me ("Early cut" video on screen)
Pure Morning
Loud Like Love
Jesus' Son
Soulmates
Special Needs
Lazarus
Too Many Friends
Twenty Years
I Know
Devil in the Details
Space Monkey
Exit Wounds
Protect Me from What I Want
Without You I'm Nothing ( video footage of a young Molko jamming with David Bowie)
36 Degrees (slow version)
Lady of the Flowers
For What It's Worth
Slave to the Wage
Special K
Song to Say Goodbye
The Bitter End
Encore:
Teenage Angst (slow version)
Nancy Boy
Infra-red
Encore 2:
Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) (Kate Bush cover)
Wednesday 14 December 2016.
BAY CITY ROLLERS + THE SWEET live at The Hammersmith Apollo,London.
Bay City Rollers currently feature three original members.... Les, Alan and Woody
Scotland's BCR return to this venue after the success of their 2015 Christmas show here that i attended.
In the 1970s BCR were massive with ten UK top 10 singles and four UK top 10 albums.
They sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Their female Tartan Army were similar to One Direction or Take That fans today.
A rare London show by Sweet who are on a farewell tour.
It is a few years since they have played London but they are still very popular in Germany etc.
I saw Sweet play The Rainbow in 1974 when 'Teenage Rampage' was their new single.
This was the first of over 50 shows i saw at the legendary Rainbow Theatre.
They currently feature just the one original member - guitarist Andy Scott.
My friend Ian was a Sweet tour manager so I went with him to both the funerals of The Sweet members
Brian Connolly and Mick Tucker who have sadly passed away.
Over 55 million records sold worldwide.
"Without The Sweet there would not have been a KISS" - Gene Simmons.
"We wanted to be The Sweet" - Nikki Sixx - Mötley Crüe.
"This is the band I wish I had been in" - Joe Elliot - Def Leppard.
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Back in the early 1970s both these acts were regulars on my first exposure to seeing bands
which was the iconic tv programme Top Of The Pops.
Lots of middle aged women here have dug out their Tartan scarves and clothing to wear.
They have a created a very nice 'let's have a good time' Christmas Party atmosphere.
I end up front of stage left for both bands with a perfect view.
THE SWEET arrive on stage at 7.30pm and play for around 50 mins.
The Sweet play a stunning greatest hits set with every track being a total gem.
Andy Scott is getting quite emotional on stage as he tells the crowd "this is the first time we had been
on this hallowed stage since 1978( I was at that show) ,you have made an old man very happy".
They introduced the photographer down the front as Dick Barnett who took photos of the band
at that 1978 gig.
www.barnatt.com
Visit his website for music,travel and other photos.
Full Sweet setlist played tonight....
Action
New York Groove (Hello cover)
Hell Raiser
The Six Teens
Teenage Rampage
Wig Wam Bam
Little Willy
Love Is Like Oxygen
Fox On The Run
Encore:
Blockbuster
Ballroom Blitz
BAY CITY ROLLERS arrive on stage at 8.50pm and play for around 90 mins.
As soon as they come on the females rush to the front to claim a close-up view.
There is a big screen showing videos and pictures from their 1970s heyday.
When they played multi-nights at this venue in the height of their fame in 1974 the papers
spoke of 'total carnage' with barriers and police being pushed over and girls fainting.
The big screen showed footage and pictures of that gig.
Singer Les took us down memory lane with some amusing adult banter as he asked the females
'do you remember when you looked forward to holding that seven inches of Heaven in your hands?".
Les asked them "who would buy Jackie magazine and kiss our pictures good night?"...cue more screams.
A German competition winner came on stage and started licking Woodys face.
The hits were the highlights of a very enjoyable show.
Full BCR setlist played tonight...
Intro Tape (B.A.Y. - C.I.T.Y. - R.O.L.L.E.R.S.)
Summer Love Sensation
I Only Want to be With You (Dusty Springfield Cover)
Remember (Sha La La La)
Keep On Dancing (The Gentrys Cover)
Be My Baby (The Ronettes Cover)
Give a Litle Love
Love Me Like I Love You
I Only Wanna Dance With You
Please Stay (The Crying Shames Cover)
Saturday Night
The Bump (B-Side "All Of Me")
Rock 'n' Roll it's Christmas Time (New Song)
All Of Me Loves All Of You
Rock 'N' Roll Honeymoon (Alan Vocals)
The Bonnie Banks Of Loch Lomond (Traditional)
Have I The Right (The Honeycombs Cover)
Shang-A-Lang
Encore:
White Christmas (Bing Crosby cover)
Bye Bye Baby (Four Seasons Cover)
Tuesday 13 December 2016...I went to gigs today...
4.30pm to 7pm.
BBC Radio 6 Music show, Steve Lamacq Christmas Ska Party live from the BBC's
legendary Maida Vale Studios on Tuesday 13 December from 4 - 7pm.
Joining Steve to toast the festive period will be a stellar line-up
that includes ska legends The Beat featuring Ranking Roger, 2 Tone
titans The Selecter, Glaswegian sound system Mungo's Hi Fi and the
reggae/ska dj don himself, David Rodigan.
I first saw both The Selecter and The Beat in the early days of ska in 1979.
Both bands are playing a full co-headlining UK tour in 2017
--------------------
Around 200 comp winners and guests of the BBC are standing at this famous building...Studio 2...
The bands are playing on the floor between the dj decks....a bit like Jools Holland tv show style...
First if all we have a 10 mins interview with Pauline Murray(The Selecter) and Ranking Roger(The Beat).
MUNGO HI-FI djs and guest vocalists perform six reggae and ska tunes.
THE BEAT played a six song set over 25 mins.
I think there are still two versions of The Beat..this one features original vocalist Ranking Roger.
A great mix of older gems and new album material and they sound perfect.
Ranking Roger is lively and his co-singer Ranking Junior are both dancing lots.
A good set.
Full setlist played tonight...
Ranking Full Stop
Hands Off...She's Mine
Avoid The Obvious
Side To Side
Walking On The Wrong Side
Mirror in the Bathroom
DAVID RODIGAN the original ska and reggae dj legend spins a few classic ska and reggae tunes.
THE SELECTER played a six song set over 25 mins.
Again a nice mix of older gems and new album tracks that sounded great.
Full setlist played tonight...
Three Minute Hero
Breakdown
Celebrate the Bullet
See Them A Come
On My Radio
Too Much Pressure
Encore:
Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) (with The Beat)
Finale was both bands playing together for a great version of 'Enjoy Yourself' (It's Later Than You Think).
Oddly enough this was the same encore that Rod Stewart played the night before.
On the way out all guests got a 7 inch limited edition vinyl copy of new album tracks by
The Beat 'Side To Side' on one side and The Selecter 'Breakdown' on the other side.
then
THE HUMAN LEAGUE live at The Royal Festival Hall,London.
Very popular in the 1980s electro-pop act are on a UK tour....tonight is sold out...
I have seen them over a dozen times including a show this past summer at Windsor Racecourse.
I first saw them in 1979 both as a support act and a headline show at the original Marquee Club.
Since 1978, the Human League have released nine studio albums, four EPs, 30 singles and several compilation albums. They have had five albums and eight singles in the UK Top 10 and have sold more than 20 million records.
--------------------
The Human League arrived on stage at 8.45pm and played for 95 mins.
When bands play this venue there is usually a pretty basic stage production.
Tonight is much more interesting as the band are playing above three 6 ft cubes showing great images
and there are three more giant cubes showing images above them so it's a nice visual show.
Also they still use white flooring and white equipment that they have used before.
Main vocalist Phil Oakey is flanked by the two girls who change outfits a few times.
It is a brilliant mainly greatest hits set that gets everyone up and dancing from the start.
A great show.
Full setlist played tonight...
Being Boiled
The Sound of the Crowd
Sky
Heart Like a Wheel
Filling Up With Heaven
Open Your Heart
Soundtrack to a Generation
Seconds
The Lebanon
One Man in My Heart
Human
Louise
Stay With Me Tonight
Love Action (I Believe in Love)
Tell Me When
(Keep Feeling) Fascination
Mirror Man
Don't You Want Me
Encore:
The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
Together in Electric Dreams (Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder cover)
Tuesday 13 December 2016.
Alice Cooper returns to the UK in November 2017.
A nice three band package as The Mission and The Tubes are the support acts.
11 – Leeds – First Direct Arena
12 – Glasgow – The SSE Hydro
14 – Birmingham – Barclaycard Arena
15 – Manchester – Manchester Arena
16 – London – The SSE Arena, Wembley
Tuesday 13 December 2016.
Tom Petty to headline a massive outdoor show in Hyde Park next summer.
On Sunday 9 July 2017, guitar-toting legends Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers will be going Into The Great Wide Open of Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park, in their only European Show for 2017.
They’ll be performing some of their biggest hits, and in celebration of their 40th anniversary,
will welcome Stevie Nicks to the stage as their very special guest.
Monday 12 December 2016.
ROD STEWART + THE SISTERHOOD live at The 02 Arena,London.
Sir Roderick back in the UK for another arena tour.
I have seen Rod live around 20 times since 1976.
Rod Stewart three London shows in November were postponed due to illness.
Re-scheduled dates are tonight and two in Feb 2017.
This means tonight is Rods only London show in 2016.
-------------------------------
THE SISTERHOOD arrived on stage at 7.30pm and played for around 30 mins.
The Sisterhood feature Ruby Stewart and band mate Alyssa Bonagura.
Ruby is Rods daughter from his relationship with Kelly Emberg.
They played an acoustic set that ended with a decent version of Rods great track from 1970
'Gasoline Alley'.
ROD STEWART arrived on stage at 8.15pm and played for two hours.
Rod still looking good for 71 as he still has a full head of his trademark blonde hair.
The big screens here were stunning as they took up the whole of the back of the stage.
With a full band and three female backing singers he played a great mix of his classic hits,
a couple of The Faces gems,recent albums material and cover versions.
All the crowd are singing along loudly to his big hits.
Rod has stayed at the top of his game for over 40 years.
His last two solo albums have sold well and have charted high.
A really great live show by Rod as usual.
Full setlist played tonight....
Having a Party (Sam Cooke cover)
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) (The Isley Brothers cover)
Some Guys Have All the Luck (The Persuaders cover)
Love Is
Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
You Wear It Well
Forever Young
Rhythm of My Heart
Baby Jane
Downtown Train (Tom Waits cover)
Handbags and Gladrags (Chris Farlowe cover)
Ooh La La (Faces song) (pictures of The Faces members on the big screen)
The First Cut Is the Deepest (Cat Stevens cover) (some superb harp playing at the start)
You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (Celtic footie images on the big screen)
I Don't Want to Talk About It (Crazy Horse cover)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane cover)
River Deep, Mountain High (Ike & Tina Turner cover) (sung by the female backing singers)
Can't Stop Me Now (great black n white photos of Rod as a teenager on the big screen)
Maggie May
Sailing (Sutherland Brothers cover)
Stay With Me (Faces song) (20 signed footballs kicked into the crowd)
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? (Hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling)
Encore:
Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) (Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians cover)
Sunday 11 December 2016.
5pm to 7.30pm
The Defectors Weld Pub - pre-gig drinks for press - 170 Uxbridge Road,London W12.
A few press folks have been invited here to this pub two mins from the venue.
A nice bunch who knew more than me about Country music.
They enthused about Country acts including The Common Linnets and Little Big Town.
I had to stay loyal to the manor with a W12 Burger ( with cheese & bacon) and chips plus lagers.
then
THE SHIRES + CAANAN SMITH live at Shepherds Bush Empire,London.
UK country sensations The Shires play the last show on their UK tour.
The Shires have done it again. Last year they made chart history by becoming the first ever UK Country
band to enter the Top 10 of the UK Album Chart with their debut, and their brand new album 'My Universe',
stormed the charts, landing at No.3 in October 2016.
Update from 28 Oct 2016…
Big Machine Label Group president Scott Borchetta (the man who discovered Taylor Swift)
has signed the Shires in the USA! First UK country act to sign to a high profile USA based country record label.
-------------------------------
Get to the venue and there are plenty of fans in Country & Western style check shirts.
CANNAN SMITH arrived on stage at 8pm and played for around 35 mins.
Most of the sold out crowd are in early to see Caanan Smith who was born in Virginia,America.
Canaan Smith is an American country music singer-songwriter signed with Mercury Records.
He played tracks from his debut album and finished with his big American hit "Love You Like That".
THE SHIRES are getting more and more popular in the UK due to their hard work ethic.
Regular touring and promotion at all levels has really helped the band to succeed.
The Shires are singer-songwriters Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes.
Earle sings vocals, plays piano and guitar, and Rhodes shares lead vocals.
The Shires arrived on stage at 9pm and played for around 95 mins.
They played the best tracks from their two albums.
They are backed tonight with a good fully rehearsed band and the overall sound was top notch.
They play very catchy radio friendly country pop with huge choruses which everyone can sing along to.
A cover of Robbie Williams 'Angels' was played as they met him and played it for him at a
BBC Radio 2 interview for Chris Evans that they were both guests at.
Indeed Radio 2 is a perfect home for their songs.
Mixing sombre songs like 'Daddy's Little Girl' with uptempo drinking songs like 'Friday Night'.
The duo have a warm friendly on stage banter with the crowd.
A very good show and 2017 seems certain to an even bigger year for them.
Full setlist played tonight...
Nashville Grey Skies
My Universe
Drive
Naked
Angels (Robbie Williams cover)
All Over Again
Not Even Drunk Right Now
Beats to Your Rhythm
Save Me
Daddy's Little Girl
Brave
State Lines
Friday Night
Jekyll and Hyde
I Just Wanna Love You
Tonight
Encore:
Made In England
Other People's Things
A Thousand Hallelujahs
then
10.40pm to 11.30pm
After-show party for the gig in the Level 1 balcony bar.
Around 60 or 70 folks are here for drinks after the show.
The Shires are here and are friendly and chatty to all.
Also here was support act Caanan Smith.
It was still going strong when we departed.
----------------------------
THE SHIRES - 2017 SPRING UK TOUR:
April 18th: Blackpool Opera House
April 19th: Aberdeen Beach Ballroom
April 20th: Edinburgh Usher Hall
April 23rd: Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
April 24th: Guildford G Live
April 25th: Warwick Arts Centre
April 27th: Southend Cliffs Pavilion
April 28th: Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
April 30th: Nottingham Royal Centre
May 1st: Ipswich Regent Theatre
May 2nd: London Palladium
Saturday 10 December 2016.
KYLIE MINOGUE live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
I have seen Kylie over a dozen times since 1998 and she always puts on a great show.
I am back again to see Kylie play the second of her two sold out shows at this venue.
The Christmas disco party atmosphere is exactly how it was last night.
We have the same three guest singers come on stage to duet with Kylie for a track each.
A few minutes after KATHERINE JENKINS sung her stunning duet with Kylie at the start of the second set,
Katherine and her husband sat in the two seats next to me stalls left which been empty all night.
They both really got stuck in and had a proper boogie and left just before the end.
Both Kylie and Katherine wearing short skirts and displaying legs and figures that younger girls would die for.
Check out YOUTUBE to see a couple of good videos of them singing their duet.
I was expecting the show to be exactly the same as last night but one track was taken out.
The East 17 hit 'Stay Another Day' was dropped tonight so the show was five minutes shorter.
Again the strings & orchestra sounded amazing all through 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head'.
No big screens tonight but half a dozen cameras were here filming it for a DVD or tv.
Being at this iconic venue watching a great live act should be on everyone's bucket list.
Kylie's boyfriend Joshua came on at the very end dressed in a snowman outfit to surprise her.
Another great show.
Friday 09 December 2016
KYLIE MINOGUE live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
These are her only UK shows and both sold out pronto.
They are billed as 'A Kylie Christmas' with Kylie as 'The Snow Queen'.
I saw Kylie play here last year at her one off UK Christmas show.
The gay community have come out in force to support one of their Icons.
There is a fantastic Christmas disco party atmosphere tonight.
All the crowd have a free Santa hat on their seats to wear during the show.
Only two shows on this tour but lots of various Kylie merch to choose from on each floor.
The Kylie show programme gives a list of a small army that is needed to put on a lavish show like this one.
Kylie is on stage for 2 hours 10 mins over two sets of 55 mins and 75 mins.
Similar to last year with two sets mixing her many hits,some covers and some Christmas classics.
The stunning stage production is identical to last year.
A full band,a full orchestra,eleven dancers and four female backing vocals means there are
at least 40 folks on stage for most of the show and another 20 are added to that when the choir are used.
Pretty amazing that Kylie has been making music for nearly 30 years.
She still looks incredible for age 48 wearing various Dolce & Gabbana outfits.
Her male and female dancers also had different colourful costume changes and stage props.
It is a stunning visual extravaganza that gets most of the crowd up and dancing from the start.
Not forgetting the huge Christmas tree at the back of the stage and the massive mirror ball.
Kylie with her lovely smile and personality is chatting with the crowd lots between songs.
We have three special guests on a song each including John Grant and Katherine Jenkins.
Great to hear Katherine's operatic voice soar on 'Your Disco Needs You'.
It was Kylie boyfriend Joshua Sasse birthday today and Kylie and the crowd sang Happy Birthday
to him as he was in a Grand Tier box seat.
Kylie ended the show with a 1970s Christmas classic from Wizzard.
As usual a totally excellent show from Kylie.
Full setlist played tonight...
Act One
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams cover)
Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney cover)
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Harry Reser and His Orchestra cover)
Christmas Wrapping (The Waitresses cover)
At Christmas
Act Two
Come into My World
Confide in Me (with John Grant)
The One
Act Three
Better the Devil You Know (with Olly Alexander - Years & Years lead singer)
Celebration (Kool & The Gang cover)
Stay Another Day (East 17 cover)
INTERVAL
Act Four
Your Disco Needs You (with Katherine Jenkins) (Katherine wearing a cute Santa's outfit)
100 Degrees
Spinning Around
Christmas Lights (Coldplay cover)
Act Five
The Loco-Motion (Carole King cover)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Vaughn Monroe cover)
Santa Baby (Eartha Kitt cover)
Can't Get You Out of My Head
Everybody's Free (To Feel Good) (Rozalla cover)
Night Fever (Bee Gees cover)
Love at First Sight
All the Lovers (ticker-tape fell from the ceiling)
Encore:
Silent Night (Joseph Mohr cover) (fake snow fell from the ceiling)
Especially for You (Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue cover)
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day (Wizzard cover) (hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling)
Thursday 08 December 2016.
5.30pm
I had a walk past the display at the Stella McCartney store in Bruton Street,London W1.
Last night they had their launch party for it.
Catherine Tate in her guise as 'Nan' switched the Christmas lights on that cover the front of the store.
I have been a couple of times when Paul McCartney has turned up but he was not there this year.
Attendees this year included Ronnie Wood and Pamela Anderson.
then
5.45pm to 6.30pm
Thomas Sabo - Christmas Party - 65 South Molton Street,London W1.
German fine jewellery and watch brand Thomas Sabo host a party at their British flagship store.
Around 100 folks browsing the display of Thomas Sabo's men and women's collections.
They have a nice collection called Rebel At Heart that features skulls etc.
There was a dj playing in the corner.
Complimentary gin cocktails and canapés for all guests.
Guests got a small goodie bag on departure.
www.thomassabo.com
Visit their website here for more info.
then
6.45pm to 10pm
Christmas Lights Switch On Party - Shepherd Market ,Mayfair,London W1.
Shepherd Market is a small square in the Mayfair area of central London, developed in 1735-46 by Edward Shepherd on the open ground then used for the annual May fair from which Mayfair gets its name. It is located between Piccadilly and Curzon Street and has a village-like atmosphere. It has been associated with prostitutes since the Eighteenth century;in the 1980s, Jeffrey Archer met the prostitute Monica Coghlan in Shepherd Market.In the 1920s it was a popular residential area for writers and artists, such as Anthony Powell, Michael Arlen and Sophie Fedorovitch.
As it is a free event for all there is at least 1000 folks here with a nice Christmassy atmosphere.
Amazing how mild the weather has been the past week in London which is handy as it's mainly outdoors tonight.
Actress and model ELIZABETH HURLEY switched the Christmas lights on at 7.05pm.
We also have a couple of live acts on the small stage singing cover songs.
Also street performers including a magician.
A few of the galleries and stores and eateries are giving out free drinks and nibbles.
Presecco,mulled wine, wines,beers,pizza,cheese, mince pies etc.
MAYFAIR BURGER are handing out kebabs to folks with a press pass which were nice and filling.
GALLERY 54 had a collection of art by Martin Fidler and Robin Holtom.
There was a woman on a 7ft high uni-cycle weaving in and around the crowd.
The same woman would later perform a 10 minute monologue & burlesque show for 10 mins
at Gallery 54 which was quite visually interesting...her name was Paisley X....model and muse.
www.paisleyx.org
Visit her website here for more info and pictures.
Wednesday 07 December 2016...6.30pm to 9pm...
SHAKE SHACK - launch party - 1- 2 Coventry Street,London W1.
Gourmet burger brand launch their fifth site in the UK in a prime location near Cafe De Paris.
They are already at Covent Garden,Stratford,80 New Oxford Street and Cardiff.
If you know the area it is the corner site at Wardour Street/Coventry Street where KFC used to be.
Shake Shack is an American fast casual restaurant chain based in New York City.
Luckily we found a table before it got busy and folks had to stand.
Upstairs there was a live indie band from Liverpool called The Night Cafe who played a good set of original tracks & covers.
Downstairs was a dj and it got quite lively as folks were dancing in the space in front of him.
Loads of enthusiastic staff fussing over us and bringing all the food and drinks to our table.
I had a couple of very tasty and filling burgers with a couple of tubs of fries...
ShackBurger ...sells for £5.50...Cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato, ShackSauce.
SmokeShack...sells for £7.50...Cheeseburger topped with all-natural applewood smoked bacon,
chopped cherry pepper, ShackSauce.
Other burgers included a veggie one.
I also had a Flat - Top Hot Dog...sells for £5.25...has all the trimmings with it...
There were wines and beers here but I also had two yummy shakes - Strawberry and Caramel.
I had a couple of their concrete frozen custard desserts - with Earl grey fudge and Coffee & Donuts.
All guests got a goodie bag which included a full size bottle of red wine and two vouchers.
Each is valid for a meal of choice of burger,fries ,drink and concrete (frozen custard ice cream).
Great food,great service and great location will make this restaurant a sure fire hit.
www.shakeshack.com
Visit the SHAKE SHACK website here for more info.
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