It really was a Throwback Thursday on 27th October 2016. I really had and ‘Eddycation’ chatting with musical genius and social commentating activist, Guyana’s favourite son Eddy Grant. This photo was taken by his daughter Pauline Grant at the end of our very intimate and afternoon soiree at a coffee house establishment in Dalston east London. This will be documented in issue 67 for the festive December 16 – January 17 issue of The Soul Survivors Magazine.
My next royal appointment was to meet the mighty three T’s, Tavares, The Four Tops and The Temptations at the 02 in Greenwich. I was offered tow pairs of seats one in the VIP lounge way up in the balcony top and a pair in block B row N to the right of the stage near the front, whats a boy to do? ‘It Only Takes A Minute’ to have decided upon the option of being nearer. Tavares were for me the premier performing act with Chubby on lead vocals, they were smooth polished and reminiscent of the panache of that classic old school ‘doo woo’ quartet era they come from. Both the The Four Tops and The Temps gave an equally all singing and dancing performance and I was fortunate to have a ringside few at stage level 10 feet away, courtesy of Tavares’s manager David Oriola. Having met Ralph and Chubby Tavares, here we proudly display my interview with Ralph Tavares in the current Royalty issue. Unbeknown to me I then bump into The Temptations’s musical director, the legendary McKinley Jackson of The Politicians, as we left the backstage area. Sometimes..just sometimes ..I really like my job and vocation in life being married to my spiritual wife MUSIC!!
The Hidden Reunion is gonna be less than half a mile away from it’s original home at Lightbox Vauxhall, for We Love Soul 22nd Oct 2016. I’ll be djing in the boogie room representing Soul Survivors. There are concession tickets so click on the image and purchase a ticket before “You’re Too Late” like Fantasy.
Issue 66 the Royalty issue featuring news reviews and interviews with royal subjects (Elder Duke of The Tavares clan) Ralph Tavares, (The Emperors) of The British Collective, (Head monarch of BBE Records) Pete Adarkwah, (The Sophisticated Prince Of Soul ) Will Downing, (Nubian Messenger) Gary Hines of Sounds Of Blackness, (King Of Authors) Lloyd Bradley, (Jedi Knight Of The Sound Table) Number Man aka DJ 279 and (Lord Of The Dance & Thespian Actor) Leon Herbert..Taking things black 2 da future with Black History month in mind..we are the “quintessential info provider for the soul survivor” To subscribe click on image
The Soul Survivors Magazine was cordially invited to attend the Afropunk festival at Ally Pally aka Alexandra Palace in Hornsey North London. Not having attended before I had to do some research and acknowledged that the name suggests like Ron Seal that this gig does what it says on the tin. Although on arrival it was quite a mixed cosmopolitan audience, it was very noticeable that many of the younger generation were a very trendy and enthusiastically dressed one of the Diaspora persuasion. For a moment seeing so many in their varied fashion attire it smacked of the early 1977 Punk era that was predominantly Caucasian here in the UK, who frequented London’s Kings Road, Camden High Street and Oxford Street. I was mightly impressed and felt like I blended in with the wallpaper camouflage of dedicated followers of fashion, with my bikers jacket, black kilt and calf length double buckle militant boots..Phew!! I saw a few old school faces from 35 years back but mainly an audience that dressed to thrill and “Dance To The Music” like Sly & The Family Stone in an indoor Woodstock ambience.
There are no prejudice boundaries so people come as they dare straight or gay, black and white who unite and fight for the freedom of expression. There was no attitude as the media portrays negatively when such a gathering collate in an organised auditorium, just pure Incognito “Smiling Faces” and a mission to “Dance Dance Dance” like Chic. In between the performing acts the Dj’s were playing some current lowdown hip and RNB beats alongside some classic late 1990’s and early 2000 club classics, that took me ‘Back into time’ like Jimmy Castor. The fashion stalls were amazing with some talented individuals advertising and selling they wares. There were three arena’s and the first major main act I saw who filled the room was Laura Mvula.
I’m not pretending to know her music but the audience seem to be getting off on it and she embraced them like a mother would her baby in her arms. The highlight for me was getting close to the front stage in the main outside arena to see the girl from Spanish Town in Jamaica, who could make you “Cry Now, Laugh Later”. 40 years in the business “Ladies And Gentleman Miss Grace Jones” was awesome. She was certainly worth waiting for and with her vast catalogue she opened with the mammoth dub monster produced by Sly & Robbie from the titled album “Night Clubbing”. My gosh it sounded monstrous and Grace showing a bit of “Nipple To The Bottle” with her painted afrocentric artwork body was more commanding the Queen Elizabeth.
Breathtaking show with plenty of costume changes and professional equilibrium was on offer from the starting gate as she went through a blistering set of her incredible repertoire. Being a fan and having played her music over my 30 years of Dj-ing I was not sure what she would do…but was not “Sorry” in the least that she did “My Jamaican Guy”. With Don-E on the keyboard stabs and a very tighter than spray jeans band, Grace showcased her “Portfolio” of fashion, art, dance and music to the delight of her “The Apple Stretching” fans. Grace’s interaction was humorous and personal as well as entertaining. Never one to shy away from shock culture, Grace’s athletically built male pole dancer in ‘Nuthin But A G String Baby’ and a simulated painted body added to an already incredible show. His strength on the pole doing vertical poses and climbing the pole like Spiderman was impressive, and Grace showed no shame in cavorting erotically with him having a good “Feel Up” as she sang the appropriately titled “Pull Up To The BUMper”.
Fantastic show and everyone I’m guessing was happy to be a “Slave To The Rhythm” of Miss Grace Jones’s captivating performance. I must say huge thanks to Don-E for arranging for myself and Soul Survivors IT and photographer consultant extraordinaire Anna B to have five minutes with Grace Jones in her dressing room. She was very gracious and was happy when I gave her the copies of the Prince and Muhammed Ali specials of The Soul Survivors Magazine. It truly was a case of “Ladies And Gentlemen: Miss Grace Jones” has entered the building!! #Afropunk#afropunklondon
The Blackpool International Soul Festival 2 A Winter Gardens Blackpool 16th -18th June 2017 starring The Impressions, Little Anthony and Leroy Hutson plus various rooms and a top dj line up including Fitzroy(Soul Survivors). The Soul Survivors Magazine will be sponsoring a room at the weekender, and after last year’s debut this second one should be the weekender of the summer!!
Neither Angie Dickenson or Michael Caine will be in the vicinity of the ‘dressed to thrill’ for one night only mansion party at Ashton Court Bristol Saturday 29th October 2016. Soultrain are hosting their Haunted Mansion Party between 9pm and 4am with three rooms of Hot Chocolate “Mindless Boogie” on offer. The Soul Survivors Magazine will be hosting one of the rooms to celebrate 10 years as a bi monthly publication and Fitzroy The Original Soul Survivor toasts 30 years as a club, radio and media DJ. Don-E and Rick Clarke will be performing some of their renowned repertoire as a bonus, and all this via tickets at £15. There is accommodation locally with deals via the Hampton or Premier Inn so check details on the flyer and contact Fitzroy on 07956312931 for tickets if you’re in London and the surrounding counties. With just over 1 month and a week to go..Hurray like a Murray Mint to get your ticket before Vincent Price does that famous haunting laugh!!
Check this 4* Hotel, 2 people 2 night stay 28/29 Oct Friday / Saturday @ the 4* star Hampton by Hilton Hotel Bristol to include breakfast. Accommodation only is £42.50 per person per night one or two night stay but double or twin room.
To Book Hotel contact Fitzroy ring or text Paul Alexander on 07968 845166 but be quick as rooms are flying out