Friday 09 April 2021.

Friday 09 April 2021. Very sad news of the death of a much loved man who had a remarkable life in British history. The Duke of Edinburgh, who had been treated for a pre-existing heart condition, died on Friday morning, two months before his 100th birthday. A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. "His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle". Prince Philip has been at The Queens side for over 70 years. He made over 22.000 solo engagements and over 600 overseas visits. ------------ Released today - I was at this show where Lynryd Skynyrd supported THE ROLLING STONES. A massive outdoor show where over 100,000 turned up. LYNRYD SKYNRYD release a new DVD, CD, and LP set. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Knebworth ‘76. The concert was recorded at the long-running Knebworth, England, festival on August 21st, 1976, with a classic Skynyrd lineup of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Steve Gaines, bassist Leon Wilkeson, drummer Artimus Pyle, keyboardist Billy Powell, and backing vocalists the Honkettes. Van Zant and Gaines would be among those who died in the band’s tragic plane crash a year later. ------------ One of the first singles i ever bought - Johnny Reggae by The Piglets (1971) Simple,catchy and still sounds great. Check out the track & video on YouTube. ---------------------- Saturday 10 April 2021. Happy Birthday to Stray Cat BRIAN SETZER who is 62 today. ----------- U2 live in Paris 2015 is on YouTube - 7.30pm for support act and U2 at 8pm. For this tour U2 had their sideways stage down the middle of the arena, it was incredible. For this tour , I was at three of their five shows at The 02 Arena, it was really top notch. ---------------------- Sunday 11 April 2021. Happy Birthday to JOSS STONE who is 34 today. ------------ SKY ARTS 1pm - Concert for George Harrison at The Royal Albert Hall 2002. ------------ The BAFTAS are held in London tonight at The Royal Albert Hall. Looks like the hosts and some presenters will be there, but no audience due to covid restrictions. It will be shown live on BBC1....no after parties for it this year due to covid restrictions. HARVEY WEINSTEIN hosted some great BAFTA parties , but for the obvious reasons, not anymore. He held five parties Feb 2013, Feb 2014, Feb 2015, Feb 2016, Feb 2017... I was at all of them. They were all excellent events......Here are a few words on the 2014 event... 11.30pm to 4.30am.BAFTAs: Weinstein Company BAFTAs party at Rosewood London Hotel,Holborn Dining Room, 252 High Holborn, London, WC1. This was a mega no expense spared bash held by Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein for his nominated films 'Blue Jasmine','The Butler' and 'American Hussle'. Around 500 glammed up folks here as most were at The BAFTAs earlier. Some major names here including Harvey Weinstein,Leonardo DiCaprio,Oprah Winfrey, Cate Blanchett,Naomi Campbell,Noel Gallagher,Lily Allen,Jessie J, Stephen Fry, Matthew Williamson,Rita Ora,Michael Fassbender,Damien Hirst,Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gillian Anderson,Sadie Frost. I had a nice long chat with Noel Gallagher who was very nice and chatty. Lots of security keeping a close eye on each of the main actors and actresses. We have a nice surprise live act who is Rolling Stones regular backing singer LISA FISCHER who sings five songs and was joined by Rita Ora on the last song which was a cover of 'Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart'. Her set included a cover of 'Fever'' and the Stones track 'Gimme Shelter' which were gentler reworked versions as she just had a guitarist as backing. Lisa stars in the Weinstein produced film '20 Feet From Heaven'. Loads of complimentary booze including champers and different cocktails and non stop yummy food all evening. Pretty amazing that around 75% of the crowd stayed until the end. Respect is due to Noel Gallagher and Matthew Williamson who were still on the dance floor at 4.30am. On departure, all guests got a goodie bag with a large BVLGARI scented candle and other bits. --------------------- Monday 12 April 2021. After a gloomy three months of lockdown , the pubs are open again and I can get a haircut. Restaurants, bars and pubs can open up their OUTSIDE spaces / beer gardens from today. Many hospitality spaces have limited space outside so are fully booked for the next month. To combat no shows – which have previously angered celebrity chefs such as Tom Kerridge – some restaurant owners are putting in a place a new policy which will ask diners to pay for their meal at the point of booking. Reports say that only 40% of pubs will be opening on Mon 12 April. ----------- Happy Birthday to TONY JAMES who is 68 today. He was a member of Generation X, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Carbon/Silicon and others. Visit YouTube for a great show by Generation Sex ( Tony James, Billy Idol, Steve Jones, Paul Cook). They play a great set of Generation X and Sex Pistols related tunes. This was one of only two shows they have played....both were in America. Would love them to play London, but Steve Jones is not keen on flying these days back to the UK.

Posted 9th April 2021