Ray's Gigs

Daily news and reviews of gigs bars clubs restaurants product launches films theatre fashion shows books art galleries hotels competitions interesting places to visit ...and much more!

Wednesday 17 March 2021.

Wednesday 17 March 2021. Happy Birthday to PATTIE BOYD who is 77 today. Pattie Boyd is an English model and photographer. She was one of the leading international models during the 1960s and, with Jean Shrimpton, epitomised the British female look of the era. Boyd married George Harrison in 1966 and experienced the height of the Beatles' popularity as well as sharing in their embrace of Indian spirituality. She divorced Harrison in 1977 and married Harrison's friend Eric Clapton in 1979; they divorced in 1989. Boyd inspired Harrison's songs "If I Needed Someone", "Something" and "For You Blue", and Clapton's songs "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight". Another trip down memory lane was her autobiography launch in 2007 where I got my book signed. 28 August 2007.Launch party for Pattie Boyd book autobiography "Wonderful Tonight" at Century Club, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1. Very enjoyable couple of hours here for Patties long overdue book on her life. She met George Harrison on the set of "A Hard Days Night" and they were married for around 10 years before she left him for Eric Clapton, and again the marriage lasted around 10 years. Lots of great rock n roll moments in the book. A particular part of Boyd’s book appears most heartbreaking. “When, years later, myself and Eric get married, and George and his new wife, Olivia, come to the wedding party, Paul comes, Ringo comes, but John couldn’t go. He said later that he would have loved to come. That night there was a huge jam session, and had he been there it would have been the last time the Beatles played together.” A great crowd here inc David Gilmour(Pink Floyd),Roger Taylor(Queen),Cilla Black and Ben(Curiousity Killed The Cat)who is with his mum who was a friend of Patties in the old days. Complimentary drinks and canapés for around 150 guests. See my Facebook page to see a photo of the signed book. --------- Happy Birthday to SCOTT GORHAM who is 70 today. I saw Scott with Phil Lynott 23 times since 1975 when they supported Bachman Turner Overdrive at Hammersmith Odeon...also a few Lizzy shows post Phil Lynott and then Black Star Riders. I saw Scott in The Greedies (members inc Sex Pistols/Thin Lizzy) in 1978. They only played two shows in England , and I was at both of them. --------- Happy Birthday to BILLY CORGAN who is 54 today. I have seen Smashing Pumpkins four times. ------------------ Thursday 18 March 2021. SKY ARTS 10pm - Richard Pryor documentary. ------------------ Friday 19 March 2021. Happy Birthday to TERRY HALL (The Specials/Fun Boy Three ) who is 62 today. It was great to see them often when the UK ska revival took place in the late 1970s. Clash,Specials Camden Music Machine, London 24.07.1978 Frst of 4 sold out shows Clash,Specials Camden Music Machine, London 25.07.1978 Damned,UK Subs,Specials Lyceum Theatre, London 08.04.1979 punk and ska 3 band bill Gang Of Four,Mekons,Specials Lyceum Theatre, London 27.05.1979 Specials,Madness,Selecter,Modettes Electric Ballroom, London 21.07.1979 first major 2 tone ska gig in London Specials,Selecter,Dexys Midnight Runners Lyceum Theatre, London 25.11.1979 great sweaty ska dance package Specials,Selecter Lewisham Odeon, London 01.12.1979 Who,Specials,Pretenders Hammersmith Odeon, London 28.12.1979 Charity Concert For Kampuchea Specials,Swinging Cats Hammersmith Palais , London 06.10.1980 missed stray cats who were first on Specials Hope And Anchor Pub, London 31.10.1980 fantastic low key club show Specials Mean Fiddler,Harlesden,London 23.03.1996 reunited again with 4 original members but sadly no Terry Hall but it was still a fantastic 90 mins set. Specials Jazz Cafe , Camden , London 04.12.1996 Specials Mean Fiddler,Harlesden,London 18.04.1997 Specials Mean Fiddler,Harlesden,London 03.06.1997 ---------- BBC4 10pm - Boomtown Rats documentary. -------------------- Saturday 20 March 2021. Final day of The Six Nations Rugby Tournament. Two games are live on BBC1 and one game is live on ITV. ----------- SKY ARTS 9pm - The Go-Gos documentary. SKY ARTS 12.15pm - Joan Jett documentary. -------------------- Sunday 21 March 2021. Happy Birthday to SLIM JIM PHANTOM who is 60 today. I was lucky to see The Stray Cats a few times in 1980 and 1981 when they were a hot new band. Also a few of their reunion shows at Hammersmith Odeon, Town & Country Club, Brixton Academy, Shepherds Bush Empire , Hammersmith Apollo along with seeing Slim Jim when he was part of Dead Men Walking......also a Head Cat show with Slim Jim and Lemmy in 2011. Check out this video on YouTube - Stray Cats live at Montreux 1981. A very nice 79 mins in front of a packed sweaty crowd , and the band were shirtless for the final encore. With producer Dave Edmunds , they entered the studio to record their self-titled debut album, Stray Cats, released in Britain in 1981 on Arista Records. They had three hits that year with "Runaway Boys", "Rock This Town", and "Stray Cat Strut". ----------- Two FA Cup quarter-final games are live on BBC1 today. ----------- BBC1 9pm - the new series of Line Of Duty starts today. One of the good things about staying in so much these days is watching on catch-up iPlayer past tv series including Line Of Duty and Killing Eve.