50s legends sign for London r'n'r fest
LITTLE RICHARD
LIVE IN LONDON
by

Little Richard Little Richard has become the latest 50s legend to join the London Rock'n'Roll Festival.

News of his gig in November comes days after Jerry Lee Lewis was signed for the same festival.   'The Killer' will play a special show in North London on Tuesday 28th October with the 'Queen of Rockabilly' Wanda Jackson and Linda Gail Lewis.   A second gig on Saturday 8th November features Jack Scott, Frankie Ford and Crazy Cavan.

Little Richard's gig follows on Thursday 20th November with support from Mike Sanchez and Texas piano legend Little Willie Littlefield, best known for the original version of Kansas City.

The three dates at the Forum in Kentish Town make up the London Rock'n'Roll Festival - organised by Jim Driver, who sensationally brought Chuck Berry over for a private gig at the 100 Club at Easter.

Private

Jerry Lee Alongside his public appearance at the Forum, 72-year-old Jerry Lee will also be playing a private gig for Jim and his regulars at £138.50-a-head.   "I know it's steep," admitted Jim.

"But once VAT is deducted and Jerry Lee's fee, plus transport, hotel, permits and equipment costs are taken into account, there's simply no room for manoeuvre and no guest list.   Much as I want to do this gig, I can't afford to subsidise it."

Tickets for the October 28th Forum public gig and the Little Richard night have been priced at £49 in the stalls and £69 seated in the balcony.   Jerry Lee will take to the stage with his full US band, the Memphis Beats featuring Kenny Lovelace.   Wanda Jackson will fly in from Oklahoma to play a full set with Wes McGhee & The London Party-Timers.   And to 'keep it in the family', Jerry Lee's sister Linda Gail Lewis will perform with Darrel Higham & The Enforcers.

The November 8th show sees Jack Scott headlining with his All-American Band.   Frankie "Sea Cruise" Ford is coming from New Orleans especially for this one-off event, to be backed by Britain's Diz & The Doormen, who will also be playing their own set of Mardis Gras-style boogie woogie and rhythm'n'blues.   Opening up the show are Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers.   Tickets for this show are £29 and £39.   A pass for all three gigs costs £109 in the stalls and £149 in the balcony.   "These are events no self-respecting rock'n'roller will want to miss," said Jim Driver.

Banknotes

Jim, who's based in South East London, is a former music journalist.   He says his current job has much in common with professional gambling...   "Ideally, ticket money will exceed costs and so a profit is made.   That’s the theory at least.   In reality you are gambling that enough people will buy enough tickets to pay for everything.   If it’s too hot, people won’t come; if it’s too cold, they won’t come either.   A big sporting event on the television can ruin you.   So too can another, bigger event somewhere else.   There’s a lot of money to be made in music.   Problem is, 5% of the participants get to keep 90% of the loot, while the rest of us scrabble around for what’s left.

"I can’t deny that there have been rare occasions when I’ve made relatively big money.   One such occasion was a Boomtown Rats concert in 1977.   Afterwards, I couldn’t see the bed in my hotel room because it was literally covered in banknotes.   But at the time I was living in a one-room office, sleeping on the floor, and I’d lost hundreds of pounds practically every gig I’d put on that year.   The only secret of promoting that matters is to win more than you lose.   Generally speaking, to make serious money you've got to be in 'the loop', and I’m not.   Being 'in the loop' means being part of the music mainstream...

"The trend these days is to move acts to bigger – and more profitable venues – way too soon, before they’ve had chance to learn their craft and iron out their bumps....   That’s why witnessing an 81-year-old, arthritic, part-deaf Chuck Berry play a gig in London’s 300-capacity 100 Club, as I did recently, was an exciting, uplifting experience that totally beats going to see the latest manufactured stars play in a stadium or in a field in Somerset.   As they used to say: ‘That’s rock'n'roll, man.’"

Dynamic

Jim's success in bringing Chuck Berry over for an exclusive £140-a-head private show at London's 100 Club this Easter was his biggest triumph to date, but reviews were mixed.   "On any weekend you could probably find a hundred pub bands turning out more proficient and dynamic covers of You Never Can Tell and Rock & Roll Music than Berry managed," said Carol Clark of The Independent.

Andrew Perry of the Daily Telegraph was more charitable.   "Berry plainly still had his chops.   When someone requested Reelin' and Rockin', he declared that he would do it, as long as three women joined him on either side on stage.   The stage filled.   He quickly worked his way across to the two most glamorous and delivered some of the hottest guitar riffing you'll ever hear...   In those exhilarating moments, 140 quid felt like a bargain."

Jim's verdict: "Chuck was great.."

More details of the London Rock'n'Roll Festival are at www.londonrocknroll.com

Cats save dogs

Cats and dogs aren't always bosom buddies, but Midlands four-piece The Bobcats are doing their bit for man's best friend.

Bobcats

Lead singer Darren Davies runs an animal rescue centre in Nottinghamshire.   When he's not rocking up a storm in the clubs, kind-hearted Daz is looking after unwanted and mistreated animals.   Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and other small pets are all cared for at the Babworth Animal Rescue Kennels (BARK).

"We rescue all animals and try to find them a new permanent home," said Darren.   "The rescue centre has been running for two years.   Before that it was a boarding kennels, but the animals in need soon took over.   The Bobcats give a lot of time and their money from gigs to help at the centre and look after the animals."

Darren his wife Elaine run the self-funded rescue centre in Retford, juggling gigs and weekenders with the needs of the animals.   He explained: "It takes a lot of organisation as the dogs still need feeding and looking after 24 hours a day, but the best part of the job is the reward when a dog finds a new home.   That's when the hard work is all worthwhile, especially when the animal has been with us for a long period. We have a no kill policy.   Remember, it's not their fault they're on this earth.   It's ours.   We breed them, we sell them, we abuse them, then throw them out and we dare call them animals."

Darren has been on the r'n'r scene as a solo act for about 20 years working for Yesterday Once More, Holiday Rock and appearing at many clubs up and down the country.   In January this year he started The Bobcats with Kurt on double bass, Shaun on guitar and Carl on drums.   "It's gone from strength to strength," he says.   "The love of rock'n'roll shines through when the guys play."

The Bobcats have recorded a CD at a studio run by Zac from the Jive Romeros.   Proceeds will be going to the rescue centre.   More info at www.thebobcats.co.uk or from Darren on 01777 708707 or 07787 568566


If it jumps, jives, bops or strolls we want to know about it.   or call 07833 703189.