Dartford Station platform where Rolling Stones’ friendship was forged gets heritage plaque...

A heritage plaque marking the spot where two teenage rail passengers with a shared passion for music struck up a conversation before going on to form the greatest rock and roll band in the world has been unveiled.
The blue plaque has been installed on platform 2 at Dartford Station to mark the moment on October 17, 1961, when Mick Jagger met Keith Richards for the first time since primary school and forged a friendship that resulted in the formation of the Rolling Stones the following year.
Jagger was on his way to the London School of Economics carrying a pile of his favourite blues records and Richards was heading to Sidcup Art College with his beloved Hofner Cutaway guitar. The two struck up a conversation on platform 2 and the rest is history.
Inviting the Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Avtar Sandhu MBE, and the current Head of Mick Jagger’s old school, John Oakes, to unveil the plaque, Dartford Council leader Jeremy Kite said: “Platform 2 has a small but important role in pop music history.
“I hope that in the years ahead many thousands of rail passengers will enjoy looking at the plaque and realising the part the station played in bringing The Rolling Stones together.”

 .gravesendreporter.co.uk

25 JAN 2015-- Bill pays tribute to Dallas Taylor, drummer for Crosby, Stills & Nash...

Bill has shared a tribute for his friend Dallas Taylor, drummer for Crosby, Stills & Nash, who sadly passed away in Los Angeles on January 18. Dallas was aged 66.

Dallas Taylor was a rock ‘n’ roll drummer who played behind some of the greatest musicians of the era, and was famed for his work with Crosby, Stills & Nash. He also played with the likes of Van Morrison and Paul Butterfield, before he struggled with addiction which he overcame to become a counselor himself.
Bill remembers Dallas fondly – and revealed that he was the drummer on Bill’s first two albums – Monkey Grip in 1974, and Stone Alone in 1976. Dallas also supported Bill, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in 1974.
 Dallas was a great friend who stayed with me in my house in the South of France for some months around that time. A well-known musician, loved by many fellow artists.” says Bill.

 

http://billwyman.com

25 JAN 2015-- Bill appears in The Times in treasure-seeking article ...

Bill Wyman has revealed his thoughts on metal-detecting for an interview in The Times – a passion that even saw Bill create his own Bill Wyman Signature metal detector.

Bill is among a number of famous names who have taken to metal detecting, forming a celebrity army of stars spending their spare time unearthing the treasures from our rich history.
Bill created the Bill Wyman Signature metal detector to make metal detecting as accessible for everyone, and it has lots of fans. Read more about the Bill Wyman Signature metal detector.
Bill appeared in The Times article in December, titled For History And Riches Go Treasure-Seeking. You can read the full article at The Times (subscription required).

 http://billwyman.com

Eric Easton hopes The Rolling Stones will be accepted by the American public...

In these two original signed letters written by Eric Easton to Paul Drew of Esquire Radio and Broadcasting he expresses his hopes that the American public will accept and embrace The Rolling Stones as they embark on their very first American tour in 1964. He describes them as a “great bunch of individuals you will find them so different from The Beatles in every respect.”
Yes, he was right.
Paul Drew, one of Top 40 radio’s major architects included stints as a DJ, programmer, broadcasting executive and consultant.
Drew, a graduate of Wayne State University in his native Detroit, began his professional radio career in 1961 as a DJ with Atlanta station WAKE. He later moved crosstown to WGST and then WQXI, where he was promoted to program director. Leaving WQXI in 1967, Drew moved on to programming gigs at CKLW in Windsor, Ontario-Detroit, WIBG in Philadelphia, KFRC in San Francisco and former Los Angeles powerhouse top 40 KHJ.
In the early ‘70s, he was appointed VP of programming for RKO Radio, a nationwide chain whose roster at one time included KHJ and sister KRTH, KFRC, WOR & WXLO (99X) New York and WHBQ Memphis, among other stations in Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C. Their formats ranged from top 40 and adult contemporary to classical, oldies and talk.

The second letter written three months later discusses the hopes the Stones will reach the top spot in the States. How long it took, nine months to establish them in a much smaller country like England.
He then asks the advice as to whether a return in October/November and did he think this was a good time?
It shows the incredible power and influence of early radio DJ’s and programmers had on the success of bands.
Both letters contain fascinating content and information from the influential early manager of the Stones.
The Rolling Stones‘ 1964 1st American Tour was the band’s first concert tour of America. The tour commenced on June 5 and concluded on June 20, 1964. On this tour, the band supported their first U.S. album The Rolling Stones.
Tour set list

1. “Not Fade Away”
2. “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”
3. “I Wanna Be Your Man”
4. “Hi-Heeled Sneakers”
5. “Route 66″
6. “Walking The Dog”
7. “Tell Me”
8. “Beautiful Delilah”
9. “Can I Get A Witness”
10. “I Just Want To Make Love To You”
11. “I’m Alright”

Tour dates

• 24/04/1964 Ottawa, Canada, Auditorium
• 06/05/1964 San Bernardino, California, Swing Auditorium, Orange Show Fairgrounds
• 06/06/1964 San Antonio, Texas, “Teen Fair of Texas”, Joe Freeman Coliseum, (2 shows)
• 06/07/1964 San Antonio, Texas, “Teen Fair of Texas”, Joe Freeman Coliseum, (2 shows)
• 12/06/1964 Excelsior, Minnesota, Big Reggie’s Ballroom, Excelsior Amusement Park
• 13/06/1964 Omaha, Nebraska, Music Hall Auditorium
• 14/06/1964 Detroit, Olympia Stadium
• 17/06/1964 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, West View Park
• 18/06/1964 Syracuse, New York, War Memorial Arena
• 19/06/1964 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Farm Show Arena
• 20/06/1964 New York City, Carnegie Hall (2 shows) 
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  garyrocks.wordpress.com

Ronnie Wood dotes on his 23-month-old grandson Rex and often plays drums with the little boy...

Ronnie Wood plays drums with his grandson.
The Rolling Stones rocker dotes on 23-month-old Rex - his son Jesse's youngest child with wife Fearne Cotton - and the little boy's mother can already see signs of him following in his grandad's footsteps.
Asked if she thinks Rex will be a rocker, Fearne said: ''He definitely takes an interest - it would be hard for him to avoid being passionate about it.
''He's always trying to play the keyboard. We go over to his grandad's house and he's got a big drumkit in the front room. They all have a good bash on it together, which is really cute.''
Fearne - who is also stepmother to Jesse's kids Arthur, 12, and eight-year-old Lola - is renowned for her sense of style and admits it hasn't changed much since she became a parent, though she does tend to favour darker colours more.
She told Now magazine: ''[My style] hasn't changed, not really. I don't wear much white any more because it'll undoubtedly be covered in hand prints and breakfast from Rex. You just have to check yourself before you leave the house to make sure you don't have porridge all down you.''

 contactmusic.com

Video -- Woody and Slash ---- Flying

Mick Jagger establishes college scholarship in honor of L'Wren Scott...

Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger has established an art-and-design-school scholarship in honor of fashion designer L'Wren Scott, his longtime girlfriend who committed suicide by hanging herself in 2014. Jagger and Scott had been a couple since 2001.
According to an Associated Press report published on Jan. 19, 2015: "The scholarship will allow one master's degree student per year over a period of three years to attend the elite Central Saint Martins, the London-based college announced this weekend. Scott, who committed suicide last March at age 49, had been close to a former course director at Central Saint Martins, the late Louise Wilson."
Central Saint Martins, a leading school for art and design education, is part of the University of the Arts London.
According to the Associated Press: "Fabio Piras, the current course director of MA Fashion, says in a statement that he was 'very grateful to receive this extremely generous scholarship package.' The grant covers tuition and some living expenses."
In her will, Scott left her entire estate to Jagger, according to several reports published after her death. She committed suicide in her New York City apartment on March 17, 2014. She was found hanged from a doorknob. The Rolling Stones' "14 on Fire" tour of 2014 went on hiatus after Scott's death. The tour resumed in Oslo, Norway at Telenor Arena on May 26 of that year.
In November 2014, it was reported that the Rolling Stones settled an insurance lawsuit over the band's postponed "14 on Fire" concerts in Australia and New Zealand. As previously reported, the Rolling Stones were embroiled in a legal dispute with an insurance company because the band rescheduled concerts in Australia and New Zealand after the March 2014 suicide of Mick Jagger's longtime companion L'Wren Scott, a celebrated fashion designer who was Jagger's girlfriend since 2001.
The Associated Press reported on Nov. 9, 2014: "Jagger was 'diagnosed as suffering from acute traumatic stress disorder' after Scott's death and was advised by doctors not to perform for at least 30 days, according to documents filed in the court case in Utah. Before the tour, the group took out a $23.9 million policy to be paid in the event shows were canceled due to the death of family members or others, including Scott. In denying the claim, underwriters said Scott might have been suffering from a pre-existing mental illness and her death might not be covered under the policy."
The Rolling Stones filed a $12.7 million claim for this insurance policy. After underwriters denied the claim, "the Stones sued them in London," according to the Associated Press.
The Rolling Stones launched their "14 on Fire" tour on Feb. 21, 2014, at Du Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The concerts in Australia and New Zealand were originally supposed to take place from March 19 to April 5, 2014. The Rolling Stones rescheduled those concerts in Australia and New Zealand for October and November of that year. The tour ended in Auckland, New Zealand, on Nov. 22, 2014.
According to BBC News, a spokesperson for the Rolling Stones announced in a statement on Nov. 14, 2014, that the insurance lawsuit had already been settled by the time the lawsuit was reported by the media. This is the statement: "We are deeply upset that confidential medical and other private information about members of the band and their immediate family and loved ones has entered the public domain as a result of a US court filing initiated by insurers four weeks ago. "This was done without the knowledge of the band or reference to their legal representatives. This has only been discovered and reported in the press in the last week, by which time we are pleased to say the insurers and the Rolling Stones had, in fact, settled the insurance claim. No further comment will be made about this matter."


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