News and Reviews: 18th March 2018
Sunday 18 March 2018.Six gigs reviewed by me in the last ten days...scroll down to see them...
07 March - Morrissey
09 March - At The Drive-In
11 March - Skid Row + Night Ranger + Toseland
13 March - Kylie Minogue
15 March - Michael McDonald
16 March - 40 Years of Disco...including Sister Sledge + Tavares plus others.
Sunday 18 March 2018.
Fact of the day.
Eagle-eyed chart fans may have noticed that, for the past two years, The Killers' Mr Brightside has been a regular feature in the Official Singles Chart Top 100.
Since July 2016, there have been only a handful of occasions when the 2004 indie-pop classic hasn't appeared in the chart, while this week sees the song log in 200th week in the Top 100. So what's going on?
In a report released last year by the trade body for the UK's record labels, British Phonographic Industry (BPI), Mr Brightside was revealed as the most streamed song of any track released before 2010.
In the last year (March 2017 - March 2018), the song has been streamed 45 million times, while so far in 2018 alone it's averaged 878,000 plays a week across all major streaming services, helping it linger around the lower end of the Top 100.
It's not just streaming that's holding the song up though; it's also been downloaded an average of 696 times a week this year so far. Pretty good going for a song that first charted 13 years ago.
The staying power of Mr Brightside is in stark contrast to original chart run, logging just four weeks in the Official Singles Chart Top 100 after peaking at Number 10. It's since gone on to become a staple at pretty much any party or club night, helping it notch up lots of streams and downloads every week.
Saturday 17 March 2018.
Pretty amazing that in the late 1970s disco was in its heyday at the same time as punk rock was.
Check out this mega clip on YouTube via google search...
-------------
Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant. Title. Brixton Academy(2007).avi
-------------
Their intro music with that mega opening song...the crowd and band together, both perfect...
No wonder I went to all five of those amazing Brixton Academy shows.
Looks unlikely The Pistols will ever be playing live again.
Friday 16 March 2018.
'40 Years Of Disco' live at Wembley Arena, London.
Seven of the biggest and legendary disco acts are playing a four date UK tour.
Sister Sledge, Tavares, Rose Royce, Boney M., Odyssey, George McCrae.
Eddy Amoo from pioneer Britsh group The Real Thing sadly passed away recently so the band will not be taking part on the forthcoming ‘40 Years of Disco’ UK tour. Replacing them on the tour will be world-renowned recording artist Eban Brown, the former lead singer of multi-platinum group The Stylistics, who will perform a selection of the band’s biggest hits.
I saw five of the seven acts back in the heyday of disco.
Back in the late 1970s i would go to discos between going to gigs.
Places like Hammersmith Palais, Cheekie Pete's in Richmond and others up The West End.
Even KISS went disco for their hit ' I Was Made For Loving You' in 1979.
----------------------------
Not sold out but maybe 5000 or 6000 here so pretty good at £50 a pop.
A very smooth production as there is a house band for all seven acts so quick changeovers.
Lots of lights and glitter balls but no big screens.
Lots of the crowd are in fancy dress.
It is a Friday night party atmosphere with everyone up and dancing from the start.
Maybe a 75% female crowd with many groups of women having a few shandies.
I won't go into original member breakdown too much as does anybody care when it's a disco act?
All acts play short hits based sets from 15 mins to 30 mins in length which means some 30 hits played.
A very enjoyable fun evening which brought brought back some nice memories of my disco nights.
First set
EBAN BROWN singer of The Stylistics.
Eban Brown has been in The Stylistics for the past 15 years or so but is not an original member.
He does however have that classic falsetto voice that is part of The Stylistics sound.
Just three songs by him including 'You Make Me Feel Brand New' and 'Can't Give You Anything'.
GEORGE McCRAE also sung three songs in a 15 mins set and finished with the mega 'Rock Your Baby'.
Having sold 11 million copies, it is one of the fewer than 40 all-time singles to have sold 10 million
(or more) physical copies worldwide.
ODYSSEY played four Top 10 hit songs in a 20 mins set.
The male singer said he was an original member.
Set was 'Native New Yorker','Use It Up And Wear It Out','Inside Out' and 'Going Back To My Roots'.
BONEY M are on one of those musical mysteries...how the fuck were they so popular???
Original member Maizie Williams is still here and their six song 30 mins set included 'Daddy Cool',
'Rasputin', 'Brown Girl In The Ring' and 'Rivers Of Babylon'.
-------------------------Interval with dj playing well known disco tunes-------------
Second set
ROSE ROYCE arrived on stage at 9.20pm and played five hits in a 25 mins set.
Set was 'Is This Love You're After', 'Wishing On A Star', 'I Wanna Get Next To You', 'Love Don't Live
Here Anymore' and 'Car Wash'.
TAVARES arrived on stage at 9.45pm and played five hits in a 25 mins set.
Set was 'It Only Takes A Minute','Whodunit','Don't Take Away The Music' , 'More Than A Woman'
and 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel'
SISTER SLEDGE arrived on stage at 10.15pm and played eight songs in a 30 mins set.
Nile Rodgers produced their breakthrough album 'We Are Family' that was full of hits.
Everybody Dance (Chic cover)
All American Girls
Frankie
He's The Greatest Dancer
Thinking Of You
Good Times (Chic cover)
Lost In Music
We Are Family
----------------------------
In a smart sales move they said the box office will be open to 10pm tonight as they announced the
seven act bill for next years event here on 22 March 2019.
Village People
The Gibson Brothers
The Three Degrees
Imagination
The Trammps
The Real Thing
Eruption
Thursday 15 March 2018.
MICHAEL McDONALD live at Hammersmith Apollo,London.
One of the world’s most distinctive singing voices, Michael McDonald, five-time Grammy Award winner and formerly of The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan announces his first UK solo shows in eight years.
I have seen him solo several times including shows at this venue in 1987, 1988 and 1990.
McDonald's music career spans more than 45 years. His early career included singing with Steely Dan. He joined the Doobie Brothers in 1976 and remained an integral member until 1982, after which he released the first of nine solo albums. During his career, he has collaborated with a number of other artists.
-------------------------
I spotted football manager Harry Redknapp (Spurs, QPR and others) going in to see the show.
MICHAEL McDONALD and his band arrived on stage at 8.20pm and played for around 1 hour 40 mins.
His band included Amy Holland on backing vocals who has released a few albums of her own.
Amy Holland has been married to Michael McDonald since 1983.
Michael McDonald is now age 66 , with a full head of hair , which he has kept grey.
Michael still has that great white soul voice.
Michael was very gracious in mentioning the many songwriters he had worked with in his career.
British female soul singer Jaki Graham joined him for a couple of songs.
A very enjoyable show.
Full setlist played tonight...
Yah Mo B There (James Ingram & Michael McDonald song)
Here to Love You (The Doobie Brothers song)
I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
Find It in Your Heart
Beautiful Child
Just Strong Enough
Minute by Minute (The Doobie Brothers song)
I Can Let It Go Now
Sweet Freedom
On My Own (Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald song) (with Jaki Graham)
Hail Mary
Half Truth
What a Fool Believes (The Doobie Brothers song)
Encore:
What the World Needs Now Is Love (Burt Bacharach cover)
What's Going On (Marvin Gaye cover)
Takin' It to the Streets (The Doobie Brothers song)
Wednesday 14 March 2018.
Happy Birthday to big screen legend MICHAEL CAINE who is 85 today.
He has a new documentary film out this week titled 'My Generation' which
features many well known names from the 1960s talking about that decade.
1960s icons Sir Paul McCartney, Sandie Shaw and Twiggy turned out as Sir Michael Caine previewed his new documentary, My Generation, and celebrated his 85th birthday. Denise Welch, McCartney's daughter, Mary McCartney, and grandson, Arthur Alistair Donald, were also at BFI Southbank as Alfie star Caine took to the stage to discuss the new film, which charts the cultural revolution in England during the 1960s, before celebrating his milestone birthday with a film themed cake in the BFI's bar, presented to him by his wife, Shakira Caine.
Tuesday 13 March 2018...I went to two events tonight...
5.45pm to 7.30pm
MAISON PIERRE MARCOLINI - new collection launch - The Ned, Bank, London EC2.
A great choice of venue as The Ned has become the hottest venue since it opened this time last year.
Maison Pierre Marcolini was founded in Brussels in 1995 by Pierre Marcolini, renowned for his expert skill
and passion for creating the world's best chocolates.
Pierre Marcolini was here to greet everyone which was a nice touch.
Maison Pierre Marcolini now have over 30 stores in several countries , including the UK, Belguim,
France, Monaco, Japan and China...as well as an online store.
We have lots of their very yummy chocolates to taste from their desserts collection that is available
from 12 April and the summer breezes collection that is available from 04 May.
A female dj is playing tunes in the corner.
Complimentary prosecco, Gin cocktails, canapés and lots of tasty chocs for all guests.
All guests got a goodie bag with a lovely box of their new collection of chocolates inside.
Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to a box of their luxury chocolates this Easter.
www.marcolini.com
Visit the MARCOLINI website here for more info and to buy online.
then
KYLIE MINOGUE live at The Cafe de Paris, London W1.
Australian pop Princess Kylie Minogue is playing five intimate club shows in London, Manchester,
Barcelona, Paris and Berlin to celebrate her new album, 'Golden' out on 6 April.
Around 700 folks are here with maybe 100 of those on the guest list.
The others have paid £100 for stalls standing and balcony seats/standing that all sold out pronto.
Kylie and her band arrived on stage at 9.05pm and played for around 85 mins.
In advance of these gigs Kylie said the shows would focus on the new album that was recorded in Nashville
and rarer oldies and that is pretty much what we got.
Kylie is looking amazing at age 49 as she walked down the Cafe de Paris spiral staircase.
She is dressed in double denim as the album sees Kylie going all ' country pop ' .
Her amazing smile and fun personality and star quality are all still fully intact.
There is a giant K covered with light bulbs as the backdrop.
Her band and two female backing singers are crammed on to the small stage.
The new album tracks were simple , catchy country pop.
A few songs had glitter ticker-tape fall from the ceiling.
The show was all filmed for future use.
Great to see Kylie up close in such a small venue.
Full setlist played tonight...
Golden
One Last Kiss
Raining Glitter
Breathe (First time performed since 1998)
Put Yourself in My Place (First time performed since 2005)
Shelby '68
Radio On
Islands in the Stream (Bee Gees cover)
The One
A Lifetime to Repair
Music's Too Sad Without You (with Jack Savoretti)
Hand on Your Heart (Abbey Road Sessions version)
All the Lovers
Stop Me From Falling (Live debut)
Encore:
Sincerely Yours
Dancing
-------------------
Kylie plays a full UK arena tour later this year including The 02 Arena on Sept 26 and 27.
Monday 12 March 2018... 6.45pm to 9.45pm...
THE WALPOLE BOOK OF BRITISH LUXURY 2018 - launch party - Simpson's in The Strand, 100 Strand, London WC2.
We are at this original British restaurant that has been serving classics perfected since 1828.
It even has historic Thomas Crapper toilets here.
Around 200 guests here in the the first floor Regency Room.
This year’s book includes insightful features from 12 of the UK’s best-known writers and editors,
alongside stories from 50 of Britain’s greatest luxury brands.
We have a speech at around 7.15pm.
There is a stunning display of flowers all around the venue by Maison de Fleurs of Battersea.
Complimentary Laurent Perrier champers and canapés for all guests.
All guests got a complimentary copy of the large book on departure.
www.thewalpole.co.uk
Visit The Walpole website here for more info.
Sunday 11 March 2018.
SKID ROW + NIGHT RANGER + TOSELAND live at Shepherds Bush Empire,London.
Rockers Skid Row have sold over 20 million albums in their career.
I saw them four times when Sebastian Bach was their lead singer which was headlining Hammersmith Odeon
in 1989 and when they supported Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses and Metallica.
Skid Row had a few Top 40 singles in the UK.
Co-headliners Night Ranger i also saw in 1989...they have sold over 17 million albums...
They were massive in Japan and back home in America but not much success in the UK.
When Night Ranger split up for a few years, their singer and bass player Jack Blades was in
rock supergroup Damn Yankees with Ted Nugent so expect a couple of their songs.
-------------------------
First band on are TOSELAND who play for around 30 mins.
Toseland are fronted by James Toseland who was World Superbike Champion in 2004 and 2007.
I have seen them a couple of times as a support act.
Reminds me of when i had motorbikes in the late 1970s and Barry Sheene was my hero.
Motorbikes & rock n roll have always gone in hand in hand over the years.
Toseland have released two albums and James Toseland is married to singer Katie Melua.
Six solid rock songs with great versions of 'Renegade' and 'Heart & Bones'.
Full Toseland setlist played tonight.
Puppet on a Chain
Living in a Moment
Life is Beautiful
Fingers Burned
Renegade
Hearts & Bones
www.toselandmusic.com
Visit the TOSELAND here for more info.
---------------------
NIGHT RANGER arrive on stage at 8.15pm and play for around 70 mins.
They only half the front half of the stage as Skid Rows equipment is all set up.
This means the massive drum kit is front of stage on the right.
They are very slick on stage and use every rock cliche in their set.
Their bass playing singer oddly enough kept me reminding me of Suzi Quatro.
Plenty of simple catchy pop rock songs but they were always a second rate Journey / Foreigner.
The last two songs 'Sister Christian ' and (You Can Still) Rock in America ' were highlights.
They had plenty of their own fans here.
Full Night Ranger setlist played tonight...
Somehow Someway
Touch of Madness
Four in the Morning
Sing Me Away
Rumours in the Air
Coming of Age (Damn Yankees cover)
Sentimental Street
7 Wishes
The Secret of My Success
Night Ranger
Come Again / High Enough (Damn Yankees cover)
Goodbye
When You Close Your Eyes
Don't Tell Me You Love Me
Highway Star (Deep Purple cover)
Sister Christian
(You Can Still) Rock in America
---------------------
SKID ROW arrive on stage at 9.50pm and play for around 70 mins.
They have two large stars & stripes flags in front of their speakers.
The four members at the front each have a foot tall podium to stand on when needed.
They are of course a lot rockier than Night Ranger.
The bass player told a nice story that as they were from New Jersey they would read about The Ramones
playing all these great London venues like The Marquee and they would dream of coming here.
They then played a Ramones cover and dedicated it to their memory.
Great to hear '18 and Life ' and their final song 'Youth Gone Wild ' totally rocked.
A nice evening of three good rock bands.
Full Skid Row setlist played tonight...
Slave to the Grind
Sweet Little Sister
Piece of Me
Livin' on a Chain Gang
Big Guns
18 and Life
Makin' a Mess
Rattlesnake Shake
Psycho Therapy (Ramones cover)
Quicksand Jesus
Monkey Business
Encore:
I Remember You
Youth Gone Wild
Sunday 11 March 2018.
Sad news that Liverpudlian Comedy legend KEN DODD has passed away.
Sir Ken Dodd, creator of the Diddy Men and one of the most popular comedians of his time, has died aged 90.
The Liverpool legend had recently been released from hospital after six weeks of treatment for a chest infection.
On Friday, he had married Anne Jones, his partner of 40 years, at their house, the same one he grew up in, in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash.
"He passed away in the home that he was born in over 90 years ago. He's never lived anywhere else. It's absolutely amazing," said a family friend.
In the 1960s, he made it into the Guinness Book of Records for telling 1,500 jokes in three and a half hours.
He was friends with The Beatles and had big success as a singer back in the 1960s.
His big hit single 'Tears' was the biggest selling single in 1965 and the third biggest single of the 1960s decade.
1 "She Loves You" The Beatles Parlophone 1963
2 "I Want to Hold Your Hand" The Beatles Parlophone 1963
3 "Tears" Ken Dodd Columbia 1965
4 "Can't Buy Me Love" The Beatles Parlophone 1964
5 "I Feel Fine" The Beatles Parlophone 1964
Sunday 11 March 2018.
Since seeing Morrissey a few days ago i cannot get this classic of his out of my head.
Type this into google search for a stunning version of it on YouTube.
Morrissey - Everyday Is Like Sunday (Live from Move Festival, Manchester, 2004)
Saturday 10 March 2018.
A very nice double bill has been confirmed for BluesFest at The 02 Arena on 25 Oct 2018.
JOHN FOGERTY + STEVE MILLER BAND.
Looks like it could be the only UK shows by both bands.
Before you rush to buy tickets, check out the crazy prices.
Best seats in the front half of the floor and front half of Level 1 are £145 and £125...plus booking fees.
Friday 09 March 2018.
Photo session in the late afternoon with Time Out magazine to go with the future article
on me being the UK's number one gig goer.
I met the photographer outside Hammersmith Apollo as I have seen 2000 plus shows there
and it was my first choice for the photo shoot.
The first show i saw there was Mott The Hoople + Queen in Dec 1973.
Just the one photo will be used but he took 50 or 60.
The interview with the photo will be printed in the next month or so.
Time Out has a massive circulation as 300,000 free copies are handed out and a million read it.
then
AT THE DRIVE-IN + DEATH FROM ABOVE live at Brixton Academy,London.
Having released their first album in 17 years in May 2017, At The Drive-In make a welcome return.
Armed with new album in • ter a • li •a, plus a history of post-hardcore anthems.
-------------------------
I sat at the front of the balcony tonight as less than half the seats were sold up there and i did not fancy
standing up for three hours....downstairs stalls was full...
DEATH FROM ABOVE arrived on stage at 8.15pm and played for 45 mins.
Death from Above is a Canadian rock duo consisting of drummer and vocalist Sebastien Grainger and bassist Jesse F. Keeler from Toronto, Ontario.The band broke up in 2006 after releasing only one studio album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine. In 2011 they reformed and later released their first album in almost a decade, The Physical World.
On April 22, 2016, the band released a live album, Live At Third Man Records which was recorded in 2015 at Jack White's Third Man Records headquarters in Nashville.
Lots of scuzzy loud bass played like a guitar that went down well with the crowd.
They finished their set with a cover of The Beatles 'Helter Skelter'.
AT THE DRIVE-IN arrived on stage at 9.35pm and played for 85 mins.
All the band arrive on stage dressed in black as a statement of intent as they launch into 'Arcarsenal'.
Not the longest of sets due to the frantic velocity of their sound.
Loads of lights , although not much stage equipment.
Cedric on vocals is still a live wire on stage and gives out political rants between songs.
Highlights included 'Pattern Against User' ,' Napoleon Solo' , 'Invalid Litter Dept' ,
'Governed By Contagions' and a mega encore of 'One Armed Scissor' with a mental mosh pit.
Really good show.
Full setlist played tonight...
Arcarsenal
No Wolf Like the Present
Pattern Against User
Hostage Stamps
198d
Sleepwalk Capsules
Amid Ethics
Pendulum in a Peasant Dress
Napoleon Solo
Holtzclaw
Invalid Litter Dept.
Enfilade
Quarantined
Governed By Contagions
Encore:
One Armed Scissor
Friday 09 March 2018.
It is a sad day as the last ever free weekly print issue of NME is handed out from today.
The NME is to cease publication in print after 66 years, the weekly music title joining a growing list of
once mighty magazine brands that now only exist online.
The NME.com website will continue, replacing the print edition’s cover star interview with a
new weekly digital franchise, the Big Read.
The NME will continue to keep a sporadic presence in print with special issues such as its paid-for series
NME Gold, to cater for music stars’ appetite for appearing in a printed product.
In 2015, the magazine stopped being a paid title after a decade of sales declines saw its circulation drop to just 15,000. It relaunched as an ad-funded, free title with a circulation of 300,000 in a last throw of the strategic dice for the print edition.
The free NME was poor patch on the printed for paid copies of the past glories of its heyday.
Online news is so quick and print simply cannot keep up with it.
Oddly enough the NME website is a great music news source.
In the late 70s and 80s and 90s I would get two or three music mags including NME every week.
I still have a few of my old copies from the late 1970s including a great one from 1977 which was titled
Sex Pistols gratuitous overkill issue where The Pistols had the cover and nine pages inside.
---------------------------
Oddly enough I got a copy of the final NME on Thursday evening but not one mention in the mag that
it was the last ever issue....R.I.P.
Thursday 08 March 2017...6pm to 8.30pm...
20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale, Phillips Gallery, 30 Berkeley Square, London W1.
This was a full scale auction sale as there must be 300 people here with both seats and standing.
Along both sides are internet and phone bidders from around the world.
At 7pm the auction room area was buzzing as they went through the 50 lots for sale.
The figures reached here were pretty mind boggling as everything was sold for over £100,000 and
many went into multi-millions and each one of those got a big round of applause.
A Pablo Picasso went for a staggering £37m plus £4m in auction fees so £41m total...WOW!...
A bronze casting by Henri Matisse sold for £13m plus auction fees.
Other big names on sale included works from Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst.
Complimentary Moët champers and wines for all guests.
www.phillips.com
Visit the Phillips Gallery website for full info on the prices reached.
Thursday 08 March 2018.
Happy Birthday to GARY NUMAN who is 60 today.
Wednesday 07 March 2018....I went to two gigs tonight...
6pm to 8pm
DUTCH IMPACT PARTY - The Greyhound, 1 Kensington Square, London W8.
This cosy pub is just off Kensington High Street .
Dutch Performong Arts and The Dutch Embassy are sponsoring this event.
Three up and coming bands from Holland are each playing a 30 mins set for 150 invited Music Biz
guests including agents and bookers from some of the summer music festivals.
I saw the first two bands but had to miss the third band to get to the Morrissey gig.
INDIAN ASKIN arrived on stage at 6.40pm for their 30 mins set.
Some 60s/70s psychedelic rock songs with a moustached singer who gave it a full 100%.
CANSHAKER PI arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 30 mins set.
Some enjoyable rock songs with a drummer who was pulling some grimacing faces.
IGUANA DEATH CULT were the band I had to miss to get to the Morrissey gig.
A full complimentary bar and bowl food for all guests so i had some JD n Cokes.
then a few minutes walk to see.
------------------------
MORRISSEY live at The Royal Albert Hall, London.
MORRISSEY is more popular than ever as he is playing FOUR London shows on his UK tour.
Tonight is the second of his four shows at different venues in London.
I have seen Morrissey live around a dozen times as a solo artist but two music legends i did not see live
were The Smiths and Nirvana.
Morrissey says....“Well i don’t perform. I’m occasionally on a stage, but I don’t ever perform.
Morrissey is promoting his 11th solo album 'Low in High School'.
------------------------
From 8.15pm to 8.50pm we have a big screen showing Morrissey fave videos of other acts.
They include The Ramones, New York Dolls, James Brown, Four Tops and Sex Pistols (GSTQ).
When I went to America in 2003 to see half a dozen Sex Pistols shows i chatted to Morrissey
at The Greek Theatre gig after-party in Los Angeles.
Morrissey fans always like to try and get on to stage to give Morrissey a hug so there are a
dozen security guys at the front and side of stage making sure that does not happen.
Just the one fan tried his luck during the encore but that failed.
Lots of security inside and outside so perhaps that's why front seats and box seats were £100 each.
Looks like the punters will be paying more for tickets to pay for increased security staffing costs.
MORRISSEY and his band arrive on stage at 8.50pm and play for around 95 mins.
His loyal crowd rush to the front pronto and put their hands out to reach Morrissey.
Quite a few times he shook hands with the crowd throughout the show.
Morrissey is one of those singers you cannot take your eyes off.
He likes to play with his microphone lead quite a lot as a stage prop.
He even signed a couple of album covers midway through the show.
He said a few political rants as usual between some songs.
We have a big screen showing pre-recorded images and his backing band are top notch.
However the guitar sound will never match the iconic quality of Johnny Marr.
The Smiths tracks always go down well but there are plenty of solo gems including
'International Playboys', 'Suedehead', a mega Everyday is like Sunday' and 'Irish Blood, English Heart'.
As usual he threw his shirt into the crowd at the end which created a mad tussle between fans.
A very enjoyable show.
Full Morrissey setlist played tonight...
The Last of the Famous International Playboys
I Wish You Lonely
Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage
Suedehead
When You Open Your Legs
Munich Air Disaster 1958
Home Is a Question Mark
My Love, I'd Do Anything for You
The Bullfighter Dies
If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look at Me
Back on the Chain Gang (The Pretenders cover)
World Peace Is None of Your Business
Hold On to Your Friends
Everyday Is Like Sunday
Jack the Ripper
Spent the Day in Bed
Speedway
How Soon Is Now? (The Smiths song)
Who Will Protect Us From the Police?
I'm Not Sorry
Encore:
Irish Blood, English Heart
------------------------
Morrissey is also playing...
Fri 09 March---Alexandra Palace
Sat 10 March---Palladium
Tuesday 06 March 2018...6.30pm to 8.30pm...
MARINA RINALDI SPRING/SUMMER 2018 FASHION SHOW -
Marina Rinaldi Townhouse, 5 Albemarle Street, London W1.
Marina Rinaldi is a ready-to-wear, plus-size women's clothing brand of the Italian Max Mara Fashion Group, one of the best known of the company’s 35 different labels.It has more than 300 stores worldwide, including ones located in the high fashion shopping districts of several major cities.
This store is bigger than expected due to upstairs levels being part of the store.
The new capsule collection is a collaboration with plus size model Ashley Graham with the focus on denim.
Just after 7pm we have a 20 minute fashion show with plus size models and each outfit given a
full verbal description.
Four collections to suit all occasions , that also include handbags and shoes.
Complimentary prosecco, canapés and cupcakes for all guests.
All guests got a goodie bag on departure.
www.marinarinaldi.com
Visit the MARINA RINALDI website here for more info.
Monday 05 March 2018.
Another sad death to report.
Russ Solomon, the man who started the Tower Records chain, has died at the age of 92.
Solomon died at home on Sunday night while watching last night’s Academy Awards. His son, Michael Solomon, told the paper “Ironically, he was giving his opinion of what someone was wearing that he thought was ugly, then asked (his wife) Patti to to refill his whisky.” By the time she returned, he had passed away.
Born in Sacramento, CA, he worked at his fathers Tower Cut Rate Drug Store before being thrown out of high school for lack of attendance. At the age of 16, he started selling used jukebox records out of the store before entering the military for World War II.
In 1968, he opened his first Tower Records in San Francisco in a 5,000 square foot space. Two years later, he expanded to Los Angeles and, before the 70’s was over, had opened 26 more locations. His basic business belief was to open the biggest stores possible and pack it with as much product as would fit. At one point, the Tower Records chain was selling $1 billion per year.
Some of you may remember Tower Record stores in the UK including the massive one in the 1990s
in Piccadilly Circus and others in Kensington High Street and in Queensway.
The Piccadilly store was big enough to put on album release shows by bands.
I saw Stiff Little Fingers play there in 1999.
Sunday 04 March 2018.
6pm to 9pm.
Second session of band rehearsals for Gun Control.
Again we are in North Acton , but in a slightly better establishment.
Another enjoyable session playing the drums, but i need to vary my playing a bit.
It's coming together slowly, but plenty of practise still required.
Still on course to play two or three gigs in the summer.
Nice to bump into an old mucker of mine here who was mixing some tracks...Terry Edwards.
Terry has played with many bands over the years including being the keyboard player in
Glen Matlocks band around a decade ago when i went along as roadie/merch seller for
the three week UK tour which was great fun.
www.terryedwards.co.uk
Visit his website here for more info.
then
10.45pm to 5am
THE 90th OSCARS 2018 live screening at Ham Yard Hotel, Soho, London W1.
Remember the massive cock-up at The Oscars last year?...Will PriceWaterhouseCoopers be back?
But as you’ll remember that is exactly what happened on the night’s biggest award back in 2017, as Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty mistakenly announced the wrong winner for Best Picture. Moonlight was indeed the voter’s choice, but as La La Land stormed through other awards – the pair were given the wrong card, and Dunaway went guns-blazin’ and cocked it all up.
After the mix up last year Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway have been again asked to present Best Film.
The Academy took pity on PwC though, and following a thorough investigation, new checks and a slap on the wrist, they’ll be back in the hot seat once again.
There will be half a million Swarovski crystals on the Dolby Theater stage for every year the Oscars have been presented. That's 45 million crystals in honor of Oscar's 90th year.
-------------------------
Around 400 folks here at this invite only screening which is hosted by SWAROVSKI.
I am in the plush cinema with 200 others watching it on the big screen.
Another 200 guests are watching it on smaller screens in the bar and other rooms.
From 11pm we watched the red carpet arrivals.
From 1am Jimmy Kimmel did an excellent job of hosting the awards.
Always great to see so many Brits get nominated for and to win Oscars.
Great to see Eddie Vedder cover Tom Petty's 'Room at the Top' for “In Memoriam”
and great to see Sufjan Stevens perform his nominated track.
Lots of complimentary drinks and food throughout the night including Piper-Heidsieck champers,
Espresso Martinis, Bloody Mary's, coffees, fish n chips, bowl food, mini-burgers,popcorn, bacon rolls etc.
At 4am they brought out a breakfast box to take away along with Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
The awards finished just before 5am.
A great event.
-------------------------
The Shape of Water, about a woman who falls in love with a sea creature, has taken the top honours at the Oscars.
Frances McDormand won best actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and persuaded every female nominee to stand with her in a night full of statements about inclusion.
Britain's Gary Oldman was named best actor for playing Winston Churchill in World War Two epic Darkest Hour.
The Shape of Water won the most Oscars with four, including best film.
Saturday 03 March 2018.
STEREOPHONICS live at Wembley Arena, London.
Stereophonics plays the second of two shows at Wembley Arena.
Stereophonics will be touring the UK in support of their recent album ‘Scream Above The Sounds".
I have seen The Welsh rockers around a dozen times since 1999 when they supported Aerosmith
and Lenny Kravitz at Wembley Stadium.
Stereophonics have had six number one albums in the UK and sold over 10 million albums.
Stereophonics have had eleven Top 10 hits in the UK including a number one (Dakota).
Bob Dylan was asked in a rare interview last year what was his current listening habits were.
Oddly enough The Stereophonics were on the list which surely nobody could have predicted.
This is The Stereophonics band’s 11th Arena tour.....ELEVEN ARENA TOURS!!!!
They have 60 crew members, 4 tour buses, and 8 lorries for this tour.
--------------------------
Pretty amazing how most of the snow has thawed out in London over the past 24 hours.
Tonight I am floor standing to the left of stage.
STEREOPHONICS are on stage for just over two hours.
A very nice stage production with loads of lights and big screens showing live footage as well
as pre-recorded images.
A stage extension that was used for a few songs in the middle of the show.
In fact Kelly started the show from there with striped lights either side of him.
Kelly is now aged 43 but still looks very youthful and still has that raspy Rod Stewart type voice.
He chatty banter between songs has the feel of being with your mate down the pub.
The critics have always been that not keen on Kelly's simple songwriting style but the fans
clearly love singing along loudly to the lyrics and always turn up in big numbers.
Lots of great catchy tunes but there were a few that plodded along a bit.
As usual they finish the show with their number one hit 'Dakota'.
Overall a very enjoyable show.
Full setlist played tonight...
Chances Are
Caught by the Wind
C'est La Vie
More Life in a Tramp's Vest
I Wanna Get Lost With You
Have a Nice Day
All in One Night
Superman
Geronimo
Graffiti on the Train
Indian Summer
Maybe Tomorrow
------------
Stripped Set On B Stage at the end of the stage extension.
I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio
Been Caught Cheating
Handbags and Gladrags (Chris Farlowe cover)
Boy on a Bike (Acoustic)
-----------
Main Set Part 2
Mr Writer
Step On My Old Size Nines
Sunny (Kelly on the piano)
Just Looking
Traffic
A Thousand Trees
Local Boy in the Photograph
The Bartender and the Thief
Encore:
Mr and Mrs Smith
Taken a Tumble
Dakota
-------------------------
At midnight i got a call from a mate who was at Paul Weller at The 02 Arena the same night.
He got off the tube at Warwick Avenue, Maida Vale and saw a tour bus with German number plates.
Amazingly it was Paul Weller and family members being dropped off at Paul's house.
Reports Paul is not drinking these days so it's looks like even though it was a big London show
he must have left the venue pretty much straight after the gig to be back home at midnight.
Saturday 03 March 2018.
MICKEY FOOTE - producer of The Clash classic debut album has sadly passed away.
The band’s soundman who had initially met Joe Strummer in the Clash singer’s former incarnation the 101ers
moved with Joe to the Clash to do live sound.
He was there when Strummer had his moment of epiphany seeing the Sex Pistols in 1976 and was at the heart of the Clash camp for a couple of years. When the band were signed and there was no actual blueprint for what punk rock was meant to sound like Mickey was drafted in as a producer on early demos in an attempt to capture the band’s compulsive, propulsive, thin rattling sound and caught them perfectly as a rock n roll band without the power chords – the stripped down, amphetamine impatient rush template that became their initial sound. That urgent rush of ideas and ‘no overdubs’ as Strummer demanded.
Saturday 03 March 2018.
A rock musician recently said this and it really is a timely reminder about making sure you see your
fave older bands now before it's too late.
This pretty much applies to my two fave genres - punk rock and classic rock.
"I think that could be a reality for a couple reasons. One is the age factor. It's no secret that none of us are young kids anymore. It's a question of a lot of our musical brothers are dying, and a lot of other ones either have health issues or just don't want to put their bodies and their minds through the touring thing anymore. It could grind to a halt at some point in the foreseeable future. If you're a fan of any particular band, you should be well-advised — especially if it's a band from the '80s or the '70s — that if you say to yourself, 'Well, I'll catch them next time,' there may not be a next time. Things change very quickly, and especially when you get to be [in the] golden years, so to speak. If you really want to see a band, make the effort to go see them, because it may be the last time you'll see them. I can't even tell you how many times I've heard people say, 'I wish I had gone to see QUIET RIOT in 2007, because the next thing I knew, Kevin DuBrow died, and I will never get to see QUIET RIOT with Kevin DuBrow."
I saw QUIET RIOT three times in the 1980s when their great album 'Metal Health' got them big success.
Two times supporting Judas Priest in 1983 at Hammersmith Odeon and then their own headline show at
Hammersmith Odeon in 1984.
Friday 02 March 2018.
On this day in KISSTORY -
March 2, 2010 - KISS performed at a special intimate promotional gig for 800 fans at the packed
Islington Academy.
The show was a rare chance for fans to see one of the world's biggest bands in an intimate venue.
I was there to see them up close in full costumes and make up.
They had to cut the set short by a couple of songs due to an arena's worth of dry ice being let off at the end
and it was difficult to breathe for a bit.
------------------------------------------