News and Reviews: 4th January 2003

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL . Well 2002 was another great year for live music with Brian Wilson ( Royal Festival Hall ) Iron Maiden (Brixton Academy ) Sex Pistols (London and California ) The Who (London RAH and Los Angeles) , Foo Fighters (ULU and Wembley ) David Bowie ( Royal Festival Hall and Hammersmith Apollo ) Prince (all 3 Hammersmith Apollo shows) and Bruce Springsteen (Wembley Arena ) my highlights of the year . In 2002 i went to a staggering 172 gigs,concerts etc including a few music events such as BRIT Awards + KERRANG Awards + Q Awards + The MOBO Awards which were all really good . 2003 will see full European tours by The Rolling Stones , Bruce Springsteen , REM and others. Two shows that have certainly got everyone in London buzzing are just around the corner . Audioslave (feature members of Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine )play The Astoria on 17 Jan 2003 and Zwan (feature Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins) play Shepherds Bush Empire on 12 Feb 2003 . Both bands have barely played a dozen shows each in America but still see a big London show as an important career move. Needless to say both sold out very quickly .

Posted 4th January 2003