News and Reviews: 15th July 2003

I have just came back from an amazing week in Paris , France catching The Rolling Stones . I caught 2 of their 3 shows there as well as both their aftershow parties which were mega . More details in the aftershow news page. After a stunning performance on Later With Jools The Darkness continue their amazing rise up the rock n roll tree by announcing a full UK tour in Oct that includes a major London show at the Hammersmith Apollo on 22 Oct 2003 . The Download Rock Festival was a total success A huge crowd 60,000+ on the hottest day of the year. Some great new bands but it was Iron Maidens 2 hour full production show that did it for me. Marilyn Manson did a really good hour set. Sat 31 May 2003 Iron Maiden + Marilyn Manson + Deftones + Ministry + Inme + Murder Dolls . Sun 01 June 2003 Audioslave + Zwan + Less Than Jake + Disturbed + Stone Sour + The Darkness. (Metallica played an 4pm Sunday secret show here) Lets hope it comes back next year . i was also at Paul McCartney show at Sheffield Hallam Arena on Thurs 29 May 2003. Paul McCartney at Sheffield was great but i was lucky enough to be at the Liverpool Docks Show on 01 June 2003 for the last night of his world tour and in his home city as well . His 3 hour set was fantastic and the atmosphere in the city was very special and Macca choked back the emotion as the crowd sand "Hes coming home , hes coming home , Maccas coming home " In the hospitality tent i saw soccer legends Peter Reid and Kenny Dagliesh and comic Frank Skinner. On Tuesday 13 May 2003 at Sothebys , London i attended the auction of The Who bass player John Entwistle collection of guitars and items which ranged from jackets and gold discs to trumpets and painted casts of various fish . This auction was not for the faint hearted with 200 Who fans and collectors in the room and a dozen more on the phone bidding .Three of his guitars went for £ 42,000 , £52,000 and a very rare 1958 Gibson Explorer went for £ 80,000 and the buyer pays 20% auction fees on top of that . Two framed posters of 1963 West London gigs as The Detours went for an staggering £15,000 each. Average price of gold discs was £1,200. There were nearly 400 items which included an amazing collection of nearly 200 guitars. One of bidders today was another great bass player Peter Hook from New Order .

Posted 15th July 2003