The Jets: Tony, Bob and Ray

Jets singer Bob Cotton is to donate one of his kidneys to save the life of his brother and bandmate Ray.

Guitarist Ray Cotton, 47, is suffering from renal failure after falling victim to a disorder inherited from his father, which causes cysts to grow on the kidneys.

"My future looked very bleak, when faced with having dialysis everyday.   I would have had to cease playing in the band and stop travelling," explained Ray.   "The average waiting time for a transplant is two to three years.   It's not a good position to be in."

Now Ray has been thrown a lifeline by his brother Bob, the Jets' singer and slap bass player.   "Fortunately for me Bob does not have the faulty gene and therefore has perfectly healthy kidneys.   In a selfless act of kindness has offered to be a kidney donor, therefore saving my life.   I cannot express how grateful I am for this chance at life.

"Both Bob and I will have to undergo major surgery in early July and will need substantial recovery periods, but we will be gigging again when we are back to full fitness during August."

Transplant

The Cotton brothers have been making music since 1974 when they formed their first band, BRAD, while they were still at school.   The initials stood for Bob, Ray, Andy, Dave - the band members at the time.   They became The Jets in 1978, keeping it in the family with Bob on double bass, Ray on lead guitar and Tony on drums.   The Northampton trio were snapped up by EMI and produced a string of hits including Love Makes The World Go Round, Yes Tonight Josephine and Party Doll.   They made a number of TV appearances and toured with the likes of Robert Plant, Cliff Richard, Shakin' Stevens, Carl Perkins and The Crickets.   They have recorded 11 albums.

	Backstage at Glastonbury with Imelda and Darrel

The 'hardest working band in the land' performed on two consecutive nights at the legendary Somerset 'mudfest'.   They landed the prestigious gig through a promoter who had booked them for another festival in London and who organises the Red Bull stage at Glastonbury.

"It went really well," said Aces front man Ian Clarkson.   "Our stage was just down the road from the main stage.   When Amy Winehouse finished late on Saturday night 100,000 people walked by our stage just as we started playing.   The area was jam packed within minutes and the crowd built up out into the dirt road trying to stand and watch against the flow of punters moving like a herd of buffalo.   We kept the show going for an hour and a half, ending with all of them jumping up and down to Jump Jive And Wail.

"Amazingly jivers were given space at the front of the stage by the public and were applauded too.   The organisers were very happy, although on the last night, Sunday, we had to do our finale set inside because of the crowd we'd pulled the night before.   Health and safety were worried about people getting hurt.   Even then the crowds tried to get in past security.   I guess there would have been a real 'Jive Riot'!"

Double bass player Ken Smith added: "It turned out to be a great experience and a surprisingly good audience.   There was Neil Diamond on one side and Katie Melua on the other.   We were really glad to get the gig so we could take the music to a wider audience and the crowd loved it.   A discerning chap in wellies and a hat said it was 'the best show at Glastonbury'.   One guy pulled up his t-shirt and wrote 'I love The Jive Aces' with a marker pen.   True admiration eh?"

Sharing the Glasto bill were Imelda May and Darrel Higham.


Mayor Boris Johnson is serving up a treat for London jivers.

The mayor's annual Thames Festival on September 13th and 14th features Big Boy Bloater, the Ray Gelato Giants, Carlos & The Bandidos, King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys, Los Pistoleros and Oo-Bop-Sh'Bam all playing free gigs on the South Bank.

Mayor Boris said: “What a great event the Thames Festival is.   The river is the lifeblood of our city and a key factor in London's success from Roman times to now.   The Thames Festival has had an important role in helping reawaken our interest in it, and at the same time creating a lively and magical celebration.”

To keep the party grooving into the small hours, DJ El Nino is organising two late night sessions of his Black Cotton and Lady Luck Clubs.   Details at www.ladyluckclub.co.uk


The Jukebox Eddies have played one of their biggest gigs in years.

The Liverpool r'n'r band landed a slot at the city's Echo Arena on Beatles Day - July 10th - as part of Imagine – The Concert.

Jukebox Eddies band leader Mike Byrne said: "This is the biggest show we have been part of since opening for Jerry Lee and Chuck Berry, and we are thrilled to be performing for this worthwhile event.   Everyone taking part had to perform a Beatles song so I looked for something that could be adapted to our style.   We adapted I’ve Just Seen A Face to a rockabilly/bluegrass style and I augmented the band with two more musicians - fiddle player Amy Chalmers and Mandolin player Paul Reaney - to get the feel right."

Mike also founded the Beatles Story museum at Liverpool’s Albert Dock and has been involved in the growth of the city's musical heritage from the 60s through to the present day.   Also on the bill at Imagine were Liverpool legends Gerry Marsden, the Merseybeats, the Swinging Bluejeans and the Searchers.


Oo-Bop-Sh'Bam are releasing a double live CD.

It was recorded in February at London's 100 Club, and the band return there for a Saturday night CD launch party on August 30th.

The band's Jackson Sloan and Alan Savage said: "We are delighted to be going back to the 100 Club on Saturdays.   It's the true London home of r'n'b, swing and jive and was the spiritual home of our original band Rent Party and where all the top bands that started the movement used to play.   It's the best place to dance in the centre of London and the best atmosphere.   We are hoping to have some special guests along and will be making it a very special night."

A DVD version of the album is due out later in the year.   The recording features special guest Phil Veacock from the Jools Holland band on saxophone, plus guitarists Paul Garner and Malcolm Barclay.


Big Boy Bloater has released TWO new CDs.

That Ain’t My Name is the jump jive supremo's fifth studio album with his regular band, the Southside Stompers.   The Very Best of the City Shakers is a collection of good-time blues from Bloater’s Chicago-style outfit featuring legendary ex-Yardbird Laurie Garman on harmonica.

Bloater says: “It’s been a busy few months and I’m very pleased with the results, although I’m worried I might have lost some weight!”   Both CDs are available through www.bigboybloater.com


Winning Post promoters Peter Phillips and 'Swiss Miss' Evelyne are to organise their first all-day r'n'r event.

The Pistol Boogie all-dayer on Sunday 14th September features Matchox, Darrel Higham, Crazy Jay, Class of 58 and The Borderliners.   Venue is Bisley Pavilion, The National Shooting Centre, Woking, Surrey.   Tickets from £20.   More information at www.ukrockandroll.com or call 07767 358079

Mark Keeley has unveiled plans for his first all inclusive rock'n'roll cruise.

Around 200 tickets have already been sold for the trip aboard the liner, Island Escape.   The cruise leaves from Palma, Majorca on May 12th, 2009 and travels via Sardinia, Rome, La Spezia, Nice and Menorca.   There'll be live entertainment from Mark Keeley's Good Rockin' Tonight, The Firebirds and The Jets.   Prices start at £769.   More info at www.holidayrock.co.uk.


Shoreham R'n'R Club in Sussex has 'risen from the ashes' of a fire which wrecked its venue nine months ago.

The Firetones played the relaunch gig at the Shoreham Centre on July 19th.   £300,000 has been spent on repairs after an electrical fire which caused major damage to the main hall and released a cloud of asbestos dust.   The r'n'r club has been running for 30 years, organised by the same team of Phil, Zoe and Gordon.   More info on 01903 243392 or 01243 377924.

		Newsbytes
		• London-based four-piece Good Rockin' Tonite have split after 19 years. A spokesman said they had "ceased to take any part in the rock'n'roll scene". (Mark Keeley's band of the same name is unaffected.) • Trinda Edmonson from the Back Street Boogie club is offering free jive lessons at The Churchill Playing Fields in Saddleworth on the afternoon of Saturday 9th August, as part of the town's Wartime Weekend. • Blue Sapphires lead singer Alan Moore has formed a new band - the Midnight Cruisers. Their debut gig is on October 3rd at Bridgwater Albion Rugby Club in Somerset. • Heavy rain failed to dampen spirits at the Jive Aces' Summertime Swing afternoon in Sussex. • Kav Kavanagh and Suzy Q have filmed a new jive video for Virgin Media. • Rhythm Junction is a new monthly record hop at St Nicholas Church Hall at Bedhampton near Portsmouth. More info on 07745 639378. • 300 jivers flocked to Dorking Halls for a lesson with Strictly Come Dancing stars Vincent & Flavia at LeRoc Surrey. • Bristol Jive Club has a new Monday night record hop and jive lesson at Bitton Football Club. • Ex-Moonshiners drummer Nina Pink has got together with Alan and Graham from the Rockin' Crusaders to form a new trio, All Shook Up. • There's a new free Sunday night record hop in Bradford.   Venue is the Bowling Hall Hotel, Hall Lane BD4 7DF

Bridgwater in Somerset has its second r'n'r club.

Blue Swingin' Mama's opened on August 1st at the Bridgwater Albion Rugby Club on Bath Road with a gig by Mark Keeley's Good Rockin' Tonight.   Future dates include Glenn Darren & The Krewkatz on September 5th, the Midnight Cruisers on October 3rd, The Koolkatz on November 14th and The Heartbeats on December 19th.   Admission £7.50  

Organiser is DJ Dynamite Dave (pictured left).   He says the new club will focus on the jive crowd, and compliment rather than compete with r'n'r nights and the town's sports and social club.   "The two clubs in Bridgwater will be opposites.   The styles will be different.   Bill [the other promoter] loves his rockin' sounds while I prefer jive sounds."   More info from Dave on 07919 263875.

Birmingham's Hardy Spicer's R'n'R Club has relaunched after ditching the venue from which it takes its name.

Organisers Bob & Janet Bradley said: "We felt people were being let down a bit by the demise of the facilities at the venue.   We always take great pride in what we do and felt it was the right time to move on."   Gigs are being held at Yardley Wood Social Club and the Forget Me Not Club in Erdington.   Bob & Janet added: "The two new venues we are using are great and in the year ahead we can once again become the central hub of the rockin' scene in the Midlands.   We're certainly going to give it our best shot."   The club is once again organising a summer charity weekend.   Jive Street are playing two gigs on July 26th and 27th in memory of Midlands rockers Teresa Ingleby and Tom Statham.

Preston R'n'R Club has quit its home of 11 years after the venue was earmarked for demolition.

Organisers Bob Bower and Gaz thought they could continue with gigs at the Deafway Centre until the end of the year, but were given just a few weeks notice that its closure had been brought forward to the end of May.   The Crown Top Kings gig on the 10th brought the curtain down on more than a decade of rock'n'roll at the Deafway.

After a frantic search for a venue which could accommodate all their outstanding 2008 dates without cancellation or rearrangement, Bob and Gaz have found somewhere which they say has a better stage and a much bigger dance floor.   It's the New Central Club, St Mary's Street North, Preston PR1 5LG.   Manchester trio Strabler played the opening night on June 14th.

Bob & Gaz said: "We would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the last 11 and a half years and hope you all enjoy the new venue because without you great people there wouldn't be a rockin' scene in Preston.".   More info from Bob on 01253 852594.

A swing dance night in Surrey has closed after two and a half years.

The Chicken Shack hosted its last night in Redhill on May 16th.   Organisers Steve & Caron Mason said: "We are sad that it has come to this as Chicken Shack was the first dance that we ran, with the first one taking place in November 2005.   Having relocated from Regent House, Horley in December 2006 we thought that it would regenerate the club.   But there are now so many new dance clubs and only so many dancers to go to them, the choice is endless.   We can no longer run on a monthly basis and so have decided to close the club.   The last night will be May 16th and we plan to give it a good send off.   We may look later at running on a three or four-monthly basis, but for now it is time to put the chickens to bed."   Steve & Caron's other ventures, including Nosey Joe's and the SE London Lindy Hop Club, are continuing.

Rock'n'roll has returned to Enfield.

DJ Chris 'Crazy Legs' Bullock has launched a monthly record hop at Holtwhites Club.   32 people turned up for the first night on May 26th - just a few short of the break even point.   Live band nights were held at the venue from March 2006 to January 2007 following the 2004 closure of the Townhouse Nightclub.   Holtwhites Sports & Social Club is on Holtwhites Hill, Enfield EN2 0RN.   Doors open 8pm.   Admission £2.50   More info on 01403 423432.

The Wildkats Northwest are serving up a treat for lovers of vintage vinyl.

Their new album Rock You Sinners is to be released both on CD and vinyl.   "I love vinyl and lots of people tell me they do too," says the band's Bob Mayson.   He's planning to get 300 numbered LPs pressed but wants to know how much interest there will be from collectors.   (Bob can be contacted on rmayson@blueyonder.co.uk)   The new album features Hot Dog, Honky Tonk Man, Grandma Rockin', Tore Up, She's So Pretty, Rockin' Rollin' Stone, Honey Hush, Ghostriders In The Sky, Say Mamma, Starry Eyes, Dig The Boogie, Ain't Got No Heart, Wildkat, That's All Right Mamma and Pipeline with the added sound of Bob's 1955 Buick.

Bill Fadden & The Silvertone Flyers are getting together for a one-off reunion gig, five years after they split.

The band plays Dingwalls in North London on August 31st as part of a special night showcasing the artists of Western Star Records.   Also on the bill are the Bonneville Barons and Jack Rabbit Slim.   Western Star is to reissue both the Silvertone Flyers' previous albums as a double CD called The Silvertone Anthology.   It will include previously unreleased bonus tracks.   Other upcoming releases include CDs from the Bonneville Barons and Rudy La Crioux & The All-Stars.   A new solo album for Matchbox front man Graham Fenton is also in production.

An 18-year-old is following in his father's footsteps as a rockin' DJ.

Bill Guntrip's son James is getting gigs in his own right, as well as helping his dad on the decks.   Bill said: "He is proving very popular with the new generation of the rockin' crowd.   He 's mainly been playing guest spots with me but has recently played the Hillbilly Hop on his own and has just secured himself a gig in the bar at the Rave.   I think he may be a name to watch for the future."

A major weekender is switching venue.

After two years Rockabilly Boogie is moving from Pontins Prestatyn to Breans Sands, Somerset.   Organiser John O'Malley from Holiday Rock said: "The 2008 venue is still a Pontins, so our customers can expect much the same type of venue, just in a different place.   The decision for this was a tough one as the campsite and actual ballroom at the Prestatyn site are great and we have had some fantastic events there with our line-ups being second to none.

"Our only problem was that we didn't quite hit the numbers we wanted, which was surprising as so many people commented on the high quality of the bands we were booking.   We could only put it down to location, hence the move to Brean.   We don't want to lose the event as we personally have a great time each year with it.   We have had some opposition from other promoters trying to stop us in our tracks but we are never ones to go down without a fight.   We are here to offer a no-nonsense rockabilly weekend packed with good bands, good DJs and heaps of atmosphere (no place for posers!)"

On the bill for August 29th - September 1st 2008 are Colbert Hamilton, Loosenoose, Lloyd Tripp, Rusti Steel, The Keytones, Slingshots, Caravans, Revolutionaires, Cordwood Draggers, Fret Tones, Borderlines and Mojo Kings.   More info at www.holidayrockltd.co.uk

Wild Wolfie Smith is taking over the annual Isle of Wight rock'n'roll all-dayer.

The island's top DJ says he has no plans to change the winning formula which has made the event a regular sell-out.   "Last year all the places sold out without advertising at all and next year's gig looks like it is going the same way," said Wolfie.

"This will be the first time that I pesonally have organised it.   It has been run the last 15 years by Eddie and Julia and they have kindly handed it over to me to organise.   I would like to say that the format will not change.   They have done a fantastic job over the 15 years they have organised it and I am not about to change things."

Just 90 tickets are left for the November 8th gig at the Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park in Bembridge with Lee Gocher & The Sundowners, the Rhythm Aces, Part Xchange, The Heartbeats, Bernie Woods & The Forest Fires and The Kingcats.   Johnny Fox & The Invaders also play a warm-up gig on November 7th.   More info on 01983 563786 or for a booking form.

Planet Jive is at www.planetjive.com   www.planet-jive.com   www.planetjive.co.uk   and   www.planet-jive.co.uk

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