“They don’t respect us”(x factor 2014)

One of the funniest lines I have ever heard was from the judging panel on this years X Factor.Former Spice Girl Mel B ,when blanked by one of the  dillusional contestants’ said to former Girls Aloud member Cheryl “they don’t respect us”.Why the heck should they?Lets be honest here ladies,to get respect you have to earn it.What have you actually done to earn the respect you crave.You both were members of 2 of the most popular  girl groups,the important word here is GROUP”,that the UK ever produced where have you earned this respect you think you are due as a solo act.

You are being paid a decent amount to make these decisions you cry and try and look hard while you make them.Is this the way folk treated you when you auditioned.Now are you returning the favour?Tonight’s episode was a joke.Mr Walsh whatever credibility you had in this business has decreased even more.I thought people in your line of work made decisions and stuck by them,you certainly didn’t tonight……a 3 band sing off????

Now Simon,Mr Cowell,Your Highness whatever you tell your staff to call you.I appreciate you might look at this as TV that people will talk about at the office or place of work on monday but do you really want your audience to end up with a bad taste in their mouths’You could end up with that very scenario after tonights shambles.Make the rules before hand stick to them,get some credibility back.Now the argument might be that it never had any,but in the days gone past people used to care about the show,ratings recently seemed to show otherwise

If you are an act that wants to audition for X FACTOR,think seriously about it.I’m not saying don’t do it but if you want the chance to play to audiences you can only dream of.then go ahead.As Leona Lewis proved the skys the limit but be prepared to be made look daft due to selective editing and be prepared to be slagged off by people who have never sang acoustically either in a room or “live” on stage.If you fancy taking them on and proving them wrong,go to it. You’ll be supported all the way

Mel said “they dont respect us”Simon said”sometimes you need to listen to your audience” Cheryl said”i dont want to be here”Sums up the whole show for me.

Strictly has begun

In America,the show is called”Dancing with the Stars” but the show that started it all off started this Friday Night.Strictly Come Dancing has now started in earnest

Some of the celebrities will wonder what hit them,some of their agents will be wondering if they are still in a job!!!

They will be more used to their new environment,they will be used being scrutinised by the judges and enthusiastic audience not forgetting the 8 or 9 watching at home.8 or 9 millions… thats is

By now ,the couples should know their routines,ie how to count to 4,know their left from their right although Sunetra from Casualty hasnt quite worked that last bit out..Luckily in my day,we didn’t have to bother with spray tan,nerves usually made us guys turn a funny colour.

You might picked your favourite couple by now,there have been some surprise entrants.Both Jake Wood(from Eastenders) and wildlife expert Steve Bracknell seemed to know what they were doing  but something to remember.If you start off at a really high level,theres not much room to show any difference in performance.Most couples who have started off great have either stuck at the level or went downhill.My favourite couple so far is Frankie Bridge and Kevin from Grimsby ,however the undoubted star of the show is Jake Wood(Max Branning from Eastenders)His salsa he did in the second week of competition has been unbelievable

If your favourite comes under the “yes he’s ok category! he/she has about 12 weeks or so to show how much they have improved and a lot of previous winners have done just that’. My favourite couple are the aforementioned Jake Wood & Janette Manrara(if they can keep that standard up) also Frankie Bridge and Kevin from Grimsby but it is too early to tell…really

so to all those competing in this series,i send you my best wishes.i know what you’ve been through..enjoy it and well done s far to Tess and Claudia……….Brucie who?

 

These are my own words Joe

Anybody who knows me knows who my favourite singer is .It’s Joe Longthorne.I’ve recently done 3 internet radio shows dedicated to the man and his music.You may ask yourself why.If you have ever seen him live trust me you’d know why.He has a new dvd out called IN MY OWN WORDSbt i thought why shouldn’t i tell why i’ve liked him all these years .Some of what has happened to me might have happened to you,here’s how i got hooked.Back in the early 80s i saw a programme called SEARCH FOR A STAR.I was changing channels one night and i could have sworn i heard Sammy Davies Jnr,it wasnt ..it was Joe

I bought the album called The Singer released in 1986 and played it every chance i could at home,at the local sequence dance club as interval music,anywhere and everywhere.However what clinched it for me was my first ever summer season show starring Joe at the North Pier Blackpool.He starred alongside names like Dana,Maggie Moone,Roy Walker and a Scouse comic who i can only remember as Greg in these early shows.The highlight for me of that first performance was an encore of UNCHAINED MELODY/YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE.It was astounding!!.It came at the end of a great performance but that encore took it to a WOW level From then on in,i knew i was a FAN a very big fan.

One year after a Joe North Pier show ,I got talking to a lady who I later found out came from Burley nr Ringwood in Hants.I was looking for a pen for an autograph from one of the supporting artistes. It turned out because we became friends and not quite so for a long number of years both with an admiration for..guess who

I’ve bought many cds.dvds,video cassettes etc of the man over the years,i’ve interviewed him, but what shocked me is his memory.I stopped going to the Glasgow shows after a bad experience with the afore mentioned friend then one summer,years later,I went back to the stage door to see i recognised any of the old faces that used to frequent backstage back in the day.it was a great place to meet up with old friends.there was a crash barrier set up Joe could go meet his adoring fans.I stood and watched him meet and greet,then he looked up saw me and shouted”hiya,hows the radio station going on”I was agog..he remembered what i did after a few years gap

The name Joe Longthorne has been in my life circa 1985 we are nearly at 2015 nearly 3o years I have been a fan of this man.I sang at a club he once owned,I met what might have been the lady in my life at a Joe Show/I’ve interviewed him a couple of times after a large gap I saw him give the best performance I ever saw him give at Glasgow Pavilion in 2014.Am i still a fan,compared to his lovely fans that I met doing the radio shows.I dont think im that big a fan compared to them but in reality I’ll always be a massive fan of Joe Longthorne.Long may it continue
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Old is the new NEW

Its great to see variety back on tv at peak viewing time  I dont mean Simon Cowell’s version of it.”Sunday Night at the Palladium” proves that time does fly past quickly  when you are enjoying yourself.It was a good mix of acts that took me back to the kind of shows i used to see when i went to the theatre with my family.I first went to a proper theatre in Blackpool.I can just see the theatre poster showing two “houses” or shows showing at 6.10 and 8.40pm.There’d be a compere,usually a comic, there’d be also a cast of dancing girls,male and female singers .The 2nd half would be a headliner acts.The top of the bill would usually do about 25 mins to 30 mins.So different to todays gigs of one support act and a headliner usually doing on average 2 hours

Back in yesteryear,the Americans had a similar format called vaudeville and in the UK  it was better known as Music Hall but in the 60’s which is the era we are talking about the trip to the theatre was the magical experience.In those days there wasn’t the range of tv channels that we have now.So the thought that you were going to see someone you knew from the telly standing right in front of view was exciting enough,but when you were 7 years of age and you get  to walk into a room where tv stars were,it really was an event

For some reason,Scottish theatres never had the same affect on me that English theatres did.My first Blackpool theatre was the Blackpool Grand designed by Frank Matcham,he designed many of the UK theatres,where the top of the bill was Irish Tenor Josef Locke.I also loved the ABC Theatre which later became the Syndicate NightClub,currently now in the process of being demolished unfortunately

In this year of 2014,when the biggest complaint  for acts that there is less and less places to play in the club/cabaret circuit.What id love to see nowadays is,variety shows with well known headliners and supported by acts on the way up who would like to audition for BGT  or build their career.It would give them the experience they are soley lacking going by Britains Got Talent and local shows

It may be an old form of entertainment but done properly a la Sunday night at the Palladium,Varirty might be old but could be the new NEW

 

Support the support acts

One thing that really does annoy me in the world of concerts,theatre and variety.Its the small matter of support acts.They could be comedians acting as a warm up for a star name or bands/solo singers supporting the star they are all there to see.In the variety word of one nighters,its a regular occurrence for members of the audience to stay in the bar and completely miss the support act.Why for heavens sake,just because you haven’t heard of the act doesn’t mean that they won’t be any good.Just imagine if you had been the support act,its your first big break and you have just had the new you are going on tour with a massive name.How would you feel walking out on to a stage where there’s next to no one in the hall..you wouldn’t be happy,would you?You might be missing out on a potential star of the future.

I have seen people actually wait outside the venue for the star to arrive while the support act is on stage.You have just spent “ouch” amount to buy a ticket so why not sit in and watch it.There have been so pime acts that shall we say have fell into the category known as “time to hit the bar”One night i went to see Elton John at the Glasgow Apollo ,Rockabilly was very popular at the time so there was many bands of that ilk in the charts.Unfortunately we had the worst one as Elton’s support act.As it was a Scottish gig,they decided to do a rockabilly version of Loch Lomond,yes it was that BAD,but the other songs in the set weren’t even that memorable.It came to the last song and the guy announced”well Glasgow,this is our last number” to which a solo voice from the downstairs audience shouted”thank **** for that!” he got the best response of the first half

I feel sorry for the support acts who aren’t given a chance by the audience.Since the advent of large venues like the S.E.C.C and O2,its hard for comedians to play these venues in any case due to the acoustics.Some of them are good at it but others have a problem especially when the first few rows are full of fanatical followers of the stars.Certain stars have great followers who give comics a chance.If they are supporting heart throbs like Barry Manilow and Tom Jones,the comics could be reading the phone book for all the fanatics would be concerned.Occasionally headliners have support acts that are given a fair chance and as a result their performances are much better.

I always try and go to see the support acts because you never know who will hit the big time and its nice to be able to say you had saw them first.For me the best support act comic i’ve ever seen is Bradley Walsh.Look at how well he’s done

If you are going to see a concert or gig.please go see the support act,you could be witnessing the start of someone’s massive career

Its always good to go back

One of the main complaints ive heard about band names from the past is that there are none of the original members left.This is very apparent in bands from the headline bands who had hits in the 60s and 70s.The name is still there but there maybe only one of the original members left and not always the lead singer or front man.There are always Golden Oldies tours where some of the musicians weren’t even born when the “name” was on Top of the Pops.

One of my life highlights was when i went to a 60’s/70’s weekend at a well known holiday camp.I got there on the Friday lunchtime,The music started at 1.30 pm then stopped for evening meal at 5 the music then went from 7pm till 3 the following morning.Hardly any of the bands were all original members but there were many famous faces there performing and i was lucky enough to meet many legends  that id only ever seen on a picture sleeve

Now to me ,those acts have passed the torch to the tribute acts whose professionalism has improved from the days  when it was just one guy and a pile of backing tracks.who would give it 100 per cent in a corner of a half empty pub..These days some of these acts play in arenas that are mainly used by rock acts..Abba tribute act BJORN AGAIN have played GLASTONBURY

The artist who has the most tribute acts portraying him is Elvis Presley.There are many that are popular but to me the best complete tribute show is a “Vision of Elvis“.Rob Kingsley portrays The King from his early days recording at Sun Records through to the 2nd half which is devotVision oed to the Vegas Years.Why is this show so good? A terrific band added to quality backing vocals that would not sound out out of place on a Vegas stage.The icing on the cake is Rob Kingsley.He has you believing that Elvis is in the building from the moment he walks out on the stage,Too many highlights to mention but the Vegas set is my favourite.If you are an Elvis fan or just want a great night out.Go see A VISION OF ELVIS

fans and stars

I’ve been lucky in my life to meet some of my favourite stars in the world.a lot have been through my role as a presenter on various community, hospital and currently internet radio stations. There is no better feeling on earth  than meeting someone you admire , the interview coming out well and also being accepted by the “name” you interviewed 

However it doesnt always work out like that.on one occasion, on my quest to interview a west end musical legend, it seemed to take forever for the request to be put through .so I called again for the umpteenth time to be told.sorry still no response, between you and me you have picked someone difficult. I asked difficult to get hold of? I was told no just.*****difficult.

Fans love to meet their idols but their feelings arent always reciprocated.i once saw a 70s icon deliberately go out his way to avoid  a crowd of 20 autograph hunters after a particularly poor musical at a blackpool ‘s opera house . there are other names who still believe they are still succesful as they were in their heyday.you arent guys and girls sorry.its the fans that bought your music etc keep you in the public eye.

Fans really go above and beyond to support their favourites.eg barry manilow fans in the uk have been known to hire a 53 seater bus to go see every gig he does on that tour.their loyalty to their chosen favourite is unbelievable but my advice if you do get a chance to meet them in public.treat them like you’d want to be treated yourself . they are human.same as you.if you were out shopping or on a family meal would you want a stranger running up to you

Lots of stars will pose for a pic or sign an autograph if you pick the right time; ask nicely etc . However if they act like a prat just ask yourself are they worthy of your support

 

 

 

 

rip joan rivers

Joan Rivers has just passed away.I find it hard to take in that in the past month we have lost two giants of world comedy,well not really giants as they were both under 6 ft. bet they hadnt heard that kind of remark before…..not.

I had heard of ms rivers through magazines,reputations and the odd tv clip but the first occasion where she really grabbed my attention was when she appeared as a guest on the late great Bob Monkhouse’s BBC2 series where he interviewed stars and up and coming comics from both sides of the atlantic.She came on looking well dressed ,sat down and then proceeded to leave Mr Monkhouse in a heap of laughter with what can only be described as a non stop attack of razor sharp comedy where anybody was fair game to be ridiculed including our host and compere.

The press loved it then not long after she starred in her own “an audience with” and as they say the rest was history.She hosted her own chat show on the Beeb and in America and finished hosting a popular series called “fashion police”

Was I a fan,you bet i was …you knew that when she grabbed a mic aand hollered “can we talk” your chuckle muscles would be battered into submission and your jaws would be sore with laughter.Checkout youtube or dvds to witness rhe lady in action..R.I.P ms rivers.can you imagine her and robin williams together right now??God and the angels would never stop laughing