Podcasts about liverpool empire

Hösten 1978 bytte den unga synthduon VCL XI (som döpt sig efter ett diagram på baksidan av Kraftwerks album "Radio-activity") namn till Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark och gjorde sin första spelning på Eric's Club i Liverpool. Andy McCluskey och Paul Humphreys kom från arbetarhem. De hade inte råd med keyboards så Paul byggde egna elektroniska instrument genom att plocka ut kretskorten ur sina mostrars radioapparater. Till slut köpte de en Korg-500 på avbetalning och skickade en demo med låten "Electricity" till Tony Wilson på skivbolaget Factory i Manchester. Han hatade den, minns Andy och Paul när de hälsar på hemma hos Strage."One week Tony Wilson was saying to his wife: 'Oh, they played the club. They were shit. I hate them. They're two hairy blokes from Liverpool playing electric nonsense.' And his wife says: 'No, this is a hit.' And the next week we met Tony and he said: 'You are the future of pop music!' He totally changed his mind. And we said: "We're not fucking pop. We're experimental.'"I nya "Hemma hos Strage" pratar OMD om sitt 14:e album "Bauhaus staircase", om hur regissören John Hughes fick dem att skriva "If you leave" eftersom han ändrat slutet på sin nya film "Pretty in pink", om Kraftwerks spelning på Liverpool Empire 1975 (dit Paul inte fick gå för sin mamma), om kärleken till Oskar Schlemmer och abstrakt 1900-talskonst, om skivbolaget som sa att de var tvungna att välja om de ville vara Karlheinz Stockhausen eller Abba (varpå de svarade "Why can't we be both?") och om att spela förband till Depeche Mode på den legendariska Rose Bowl-konserten i Pasadena 1988. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 70s, the teenage years of Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, one would have heard new music by word of mouth, from the music papers, and DJs like John Peel, and it is one of these channels that would have led the young Andy McCluskey in September 1975 to see Kraftwerk play at the Liverpool Empire. It's lazy to suggest that Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark were entirely influenced by Kraftwerk – both founder members were keen music lovers and had performed together in a band called The Id – but their debut single Electricity wears that influence  on its sleeve.There were some classic synthpop albums released in in 1980 and 1981 but in terms of maturity and sophistication, none came close to ‘Architecture and Morality', OMD's third album. McCluskey & Humphreys always did things there own way: "We kind of did songwriting in reverse. A lot of songwriters sit at the piano and hash out a melody and the chords first. With us, we start with a soundscape and crazy noises and quite often the song will land on top. We then realised we had a knack for a catchy tune".   OMD arguably took a wrong turn with their fourth album 'Dazzle Ships', released in 1983."We forgot to sugar coat the experiment. The album shipped Gold and returned Platinum, more copies were sent back than sold. It did scare us that it wasn't commercially successful. Even though our songs always start as experiments, we were conscious to keep it more commercial in order to rescue our career".  But even that record became a classic, eventually. Some 33 years on, in 2016, OMD played a triumphant show at London's Royal Albert Hall performing both Architecture and Morality and then Dazzle Ships back-to-back. That experience gave the band a new lease of life. 2017's ‘The Punishment Of Luxury' can arguably be confidently placed in the top three albums OMD had released to date. Almost forty years after they first got together, a band that was still adding to its finest work. The band's forthcoming album, ‘Bauhaus Staircase' bodes well for their late blooming fifth decade and extended longevity. This, despite McCluskey's wisdom suggesting otherwise.  "It's usually dangerous and stupid to make a new album unless you are really going to invest in it. People tell us we're iconic and influential, so we don't want to fuck it up by making a shit album".The band can rest easy. After 45 years working in their own unique way, they and their fans find OMD on a roll. Support the showGet more related content at: https://www.songsommelier.com/

Liverpool born, Manhattan based broadcaster, podcaster, and filmmaker Roger Bennett hosts multiple podcasts and TV shows focussing on soccer/football through his Men in Blazers Media Network. He's also a published author releasing his memoir 'Reborn in the USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to his Chosen Home' in 2021; which debuted at #1 on The New York Times Bestseller List.

The Rocky Horror Show is back at the Liverpool Empire from Monday 16th May, 2022 to Saturday 21st May, 2022. The show stars Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba as Brad and is a guaranteed party and features timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting, show-stopping Time Warp.  Claire Simmo spoke to Ore about the iconic show that has gained a cult following around the world.

Shem is currently starring as Caladar in the world premiere of Vanara.Following its workshop performances and concept album, Vanara is being staged at the Hackney Empire. The musical is written by Tony Cucchiara, Gianluca Cucchiara, Andrew James Whelan and Michael Conley. This production is directed by Adam Lenson and Eleesha Drennan, who also serve as dramaturg and choreographer respectively.Later this year, Shem will star as CC in the first ever UK tour of Dreamgirls which kicks off at the Liverpool Empire on 14th December. Having graduated from Arts Ed during the pandemic, Shem made his professional debut alongside Cedric Neal, Rachel Tucker, Rachel John & Ramin Karimloo in the digital production of Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown. He reprised his performance when the musical was staged at the London Palladium and was due to continue with the show for its run at the Vaudeville Theatre, which was sadly cancelled due to a lockdown.   He also appeared in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at Leicester Curve directed by Nikolai Foster.   Vanara runs at the Hackney Empire until Sunday 31st October 2021 before embarking on a UK tour in 2022.Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @Andrew_Tomlins Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 

Sally Ann Triplett is a British singer and actress and is one of only four singers to have sung for the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, first in 1980 as the lead female vocals of the six-piece band Prima Donna and then two years later as part of a double act Bardo.Her first West End appearance was in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Subsequent West End productions include Margie and Young Phylis in Follies at the Shaftesbury, Chess at the Prince Edward Theatre, Rizzo in Grease at the Dominion Theatre and Ruby Keeler opposite Brian Conley in Jolson at the Victoria Palace Theatre and then Toronto, as Grizabella in Cats at the New London Theatre, Mrs Big in The Villain's Opera at the Royal National Theatre and, more recently, as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Royal National Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, directed by Trevor Nunn, as Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre, as Miss Berta in Acorn Antiques - The Musical at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket and as Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls at the Picadilly Theatre. Sally Ann also appeared in the world premiere of Take Flight at The Menier Chocolate Factory, playing Amelia Earhart. Other stage appearances include Jubilee at Her Majesty's, a Judy Garland tribute concert at the London Palladium, Jill Kemp in Mister Cinders at the King's Head, Lady Evelyn in the workshop premiere of a new Stiles and Drewe musical Tutankhamun at Imagination, Lucy in Snoopy at the Watermill Newbury, Nancy in Oliver! at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester and Rebecca Hershkowitz in Rags at the Bridewell Theatre. Sally Ann starred in Phil Wilmott's production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Liverpool Empire. Shakespeare's classic battle of the sexes had been transported to wartime London, where Sal played the feisty Beatrice (played by Emma Thompson in Kenneth Branagh's movie adaptation), she also appeared in the review Make Me A Song, based on the works of William Finn and as Marge in Absent Friends at the Watford Theatre. More recently Sal has appeared as Donna in Mamma Mia! at the Prince Edward Theatre, as Maria Merelli in Lend Me A Tenor at The Theatre Royal, Plymouth and Mistress Page in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor at Stafford Castle. Sal has played Diana in the Drama Centre Theatre's production of Next To Normal in Singapore and, between 2012 and 2015, Sal has created the roles of Lauren in Viva Forever at the Picadilly Theatre, Judy/Liza in My Judy Garland Life at the Nottingham Playhouse, Peggy White in The Last Ship at The Bank of America Theatre, Chicago (later transferring to The Neil Simon Theatre, New York) and Billie Dore in the 2015 Chichester Festival Theatre production of A Damsel In Distress.On television Sally Ann appeared in the award-winning short film The Fishing Trip and played one of the leading roles in Magic, a six-part drama series set in Hamburg. Her recent TV appearances include Doctors, Down to Earth and EastEnders, all for the BBC. For more information see www.sallyanntriplett-official.com

My guest this week is the Actor/Singer/Producer Antony Stuart-Hicks (AKA Ash/Ant).  Many Colchester locals will know Ash from his award winning performances as the Mercury Theatre Pantomime Dame in recent years, where his comic timing, quick witted gags and triumphant performing in killer heels will be greatly missed this year!   Ash has certainly come a long way since leaving his hometown of Crosby, Liverpool, UK.  He has travelled the world through his vast career in the entertainment industry (see credits so far, listed below) and in this episode shares a unique relationship with his voice, which has not always been easy.    Tune in to hear how Ash has a deep connection with his voice and how it has helped him through the toughest of times.   When not being ‘ theatrical ', Antony dedicates any free time towards supporting individuals with mental health conditions within the entertainment industry and beyond. Antony is currently Executive Producer at APL Theatre based in London's West End and consulting producer for Theatre for Life, Curious Pheasant, Spies Like Us, Teatro Vivo, Tusk, At Swefn's Edge and Skewed Productions. Antony is also a mentor for the Mercury Theatre Colchester's “Mercury Creatives” programme. During the show, Ash referenced the following songs: Shirley Bassey - And I Love You So Ken Dodd - Think of me Frank Sinatra - My Way Dolly Parton - Baby I'm Burning Along with this piece as a catalyst for when you need a good cry! En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor (clip from the movie Brassed Off) Producer credits include: Seaforth Saga–The Musical (Liverpool Empire Theatre), Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (Southport Arts Centre), The Pirates of Penzance (Royal Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool), By Enormous Expense (Pavilion Theatre New Brighton, The Players Theatre London, Leeds City Varieties), Our Town (Millennium Dome), No Man's Land (UK Tour), Misery (UK National Tour), 40 Pantomimes: Cinderella, Aladdin, Dick Whittington, Snow White, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Jack & The Beanstalk, Mother Goose, Sleeping Beauty(venues include: Chatham, Fareham, Liverpool, Southport, Halifax, Peterborough, Harlow, Barnstaple, Helston, Newark, York, Whitley Bay, Ipswich, Maidstone, Worthing, Salford and Eastbourne), My Fair Lady (Liverpool Empire/UK Tour), Oliver! (Liverpool Empire), Cluedo! (UK National Tour), The Shakespeare Review (Litchfield Garrick), Your Nation Loves You (Delirium/Old Vic), Alice in Wonderland (UK Tour), The Lost Dragon (Harlow Playhouse), King Arthur's Kitchen (USA Tour), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Harlow Playhouse/UK Tour), The Snow Queen (UK Tour), The Ugly Duckling (UK Tour), Treasure Island (UK Tour), Barry Manilow's Copacabana (Harlow Playhouse/UK Tour), Peter Pan–A Rock Musical (European Tour), Boris & Ingrid (UK & International Tour in association with Mercury Theatre Colchester), An Ideal Husband (European Tour), Pride & Prejudice (European Tour), The Wizard of Oz (European Tour), Hamlet–The Musical (European Tour), Alice in Wonderland (European Tour), The Hound of the Baskervilles (UK National Tour), The Wizard of Oz (UK Tour), A Midsummer Night's Dream (International Tour), Robin Hood (International Tour), Alice in Wonderland (UK Easter Tour), Romeo & Juliet (International Tour), Rapunzel (UK National Tour), The Canterville Ghost (International Tour), Secret Santa: The Frost Files (World Premiere Production–Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne), Grease–The Musical (International Tour), Peter Pan–A New Musical (International Tour & Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne), Tonight at the London Coliseum (Digital series of concerts), Voice Box – Intimate Theatre, Direct to the Lens (Digital Series) and The Little Mermaid (UK Tour). Directorial credits include: Rapunzel (UK National Tour), Robin Hood (International Tour), The Hound of the Baskervilles (UK National Tour), What Are They Like? (Warwick Arts Centre), Pride & Prejudice (European Tour), Snoopy–The Musical (Jersey), Cinderella (Harlow Playhouse), Avenue Q (Jersey), Peter Pan–A New Musical (International Tour), The Lost Dragon (Harlow Playhouse), Me & My Girl (Jersey), Cinderella (York Barbican), Ernie's Incredible Illucinations (Jersey Arts Centre), Accidents Happen (Tristan Bates, London), Stage by Stage (UK Tour–Original Production), Grimm Tales (Jersey Arts Centre), Divas (UK Tour), My Fair Lady (UK Tour), Aladdin, Snow White, Cinderella, Jack & the Beanstalk (Liverpool Empire Theatre), Judy & Liza (UK Tour), Macbeth (Regional Tour), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Unity Theatre, Liverpool), Our House (Orchard Theatre, Dartford), The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Little Shop of Horrors , Two (UK National Tour). Theatre includes: Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) The Knight of Biscay Don Quixote), George (H is Fragile Mind), Terisius (Antigone), George (Stop Giving Me Grief), Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Demetrius/Quince (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Cardinal Richelieu (The Three Musketeers), Stuart (Gosforth's Fete), Giovanni (Can't Pay? Won't Pay! ), Graham (Fine Wine & Pringles at the Café Belgrade), Macbeth (Macbeth), Hugo (No Horizon), Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Meg Long (Our Country's Good), Ratty  (The Wind in the Willows) and Saturninus (Titus Andronicus). Television & Film includes: The Undateables Christmas Special (Channel 4), Strictly Come Dancing – Christmas Special (BBC), Brookside (Mersey TV), Liverpool One (Lime Productions), And the Beat Goes On (Channel 4), David Copperfield (BBC Films), The Bill (Talkback Thames), In His Life (MBC), Midsomer Murders (Bentley Productions), Fan & Friend (ITV). Musical Theatre Includes: Professor Callaghan (Legally Blonde – Jersey Opera House), Edna Turnblad (Hairspray –Dubai), Roscoe (Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens – Criterion West End), Dr. Frederick Chilton (Silence! The Musical -European Premiere), Friar Lawrence (Romeo & Juliet The Musical - UK Tour), Polonius (Hamlet The Musical - UK & International Tour), Gonzalo (Tempest The Musical - UK & International Tour), Quince/Egeus (A Midsummer Night's Dream - UK & International Tour), Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland), Caspius (The Wizard of Oz ~ Beyond the Rainbow - UK Tour), Kaa the Snake (The Jungle Book), King Midas (Myth & Legend), Reverend Barker (The Retribution) and Fagin (Oliver!). Audio recordings include: Dr Who – 'Cold Vengeance' The Tenth Doctor Series (Big Finish). Writing credits: Various pantomime titles (Cinderella, Aladdin, Snow White, The Snow Queen, Treasure Island, Robin Hood, Rapunzel, Peter Pan, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland), a dramatic adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles, a world premiere production of Secret Santa: The Frost Files. Dramatic adaptations of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo & Juliet, The Canterville Ghost, Pride & Prejudice and An Ideal Husband (International touring–English speaking). Antony has recently adapted JM Barrie's Peter Pan into a new musical adaptation for international tour and winter production at Royal Hippodrome Eastbourne. Pantomime credits: Ugly Sister in Cinderella (Southport Arts Centre, Crosby Civic Hall, Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, Royal Court Liverpool, Victoria Theatre Halifax, Hazlitt Theatre Maidstone, The Cresset Peterborough, Camberley Arts Theatre, Central Theatre Chatham, Queen's Theatre Barnstaple, Harlow Playhouse, Mercury Theatre Colchester – Mercury at Abbey Fields*), Nurse Nellie in Snow White (Royal Court Liverpool, Central Theatre Chatham, Mercury Theatre Colchester*, Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington (Royal Court Liverpool, Mercury Theatre Colchester), Nurse in Sleeping Beauty (Queen's Theatre Barnstaple), Widow Twankey in Aladdin (Neptune Theatre Liverpool, Queen's Theatre Barnstaple, The Palace Theatre, Newark, The Mercury Theatre Colchester), Dotty Trott in Jack & The Beanstalk (Mercury Theatre, Colchester). * Nominated - Best Dame – Great British Pantomime Awards 2017/18 * Winner – Best Ugly Sisters – Great British Pantomime Awards 2019/20  

Dame Edna is to come out of retirement later this year and come back to our TV screens. In this episode you can listen to the time Pete Price met her when she did her show at the Liverpool Empire.

Jess meets up with Duncan James, backstage at the Liverpool Empire before the Rocky Horror Show, to discuss your problems. If an old flame is at a wedding you're going to... Should you tell your new partner? How do you deal with a friend who leans on you emotionally a little too much? And can you "self-label" yourself when it comes to your sexuality? If you have a dilemma that you'd like us to discuss, then get in touch on our socials - @dilemmasjess on Twitter and Instagram - and of course, we'll keep your name confidential if you ask us to! We hope you enjoy Dilemmas... If you do, please subscribe, rate and review it now! If you feel as if you need to talk to someone, then we recommend the mental health charity Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk

The song I have sent you this week is one I wrote for the Welsh album I composed for Paul Damian and tells the legend of Beddgelert. I’m sending this one because we have just spent a few days walking in the heart of Snowdonia and it doesn’t get any better….we also visited a Slate Museum in Llanberis which was incredible…it is built on the site of a Quarry and is mind blowing…and is FREE!!...it is a credit to the Land of Song. The news has been covering the terrible tragedy in Napal….and the journalists have been at there usual mindless interviews with families worried about there relatives caught up in it all…”how did you feel when you heard the news etc……”….how do these fools get employed?....it was good to see the response form rescue and aid workers….the power of nature brings everything into perspective….we moan about such trivial things…let’s hope everything that can be done is done. Michael Flatley is about to retire and has created a “painting”… by splashing paint on a canvas and rubbing his hands all over it while river dancing….it sold for 70 odd grand …maybe I’m missing something here but to me it looked a complete mess…talk about the kings new clothes. It reminded me of an art exhibition I went to in Liverpool by Rolph Harris…before his dilemma…and I couldn’t believe the prices they were asking for thumbnail cartoons which couldn’t have taken more than a minute to draw….when he comes out of jail he should be thrown back in again for ripping us all off…..I can’t imagine they would be worth much now. Bear Grylls has got yet another survival programme on the TV….I fail to see the point of all this….apart from Bear proving how hard he is….it’s an accident waiting to happen…and for WHAT?...so you win the competition and prove you could survive in the jungle…skills you are NEVER likely to use…I find it very uncomfortable viewing......and on the subject of fitness Paula Radcliffe has run her last race….what a great example to the world of sport….I don’t know how anyone can run that far…count me out. I enjoyed the clip you sent me with Penny Page and various co-incidences….You mentioned Marvin Rainwater who had the 50’s chart topper “A whole lotta woman”…Monty Lister interviewed him at the time when he was on the Liverpool Empire and asked him if he would come over to Wirral to meet some of the patients in Clatterbridge Hospital….Marvin not only did that he took the whole show over and entertained them all…and I did a gig in Finland back in 2001 and got chatting to this guy who was a local and asked me to listen to some rock and roll on his car radio….so on goes the CD and on comes Monty Lister interviewing Bill Haley in 1956…the guy couldn’t get over the fact that had I not been there in the Arctic Circle I would,at that precise moment,be on the radio with him….how’s that for a co-incidence?....and back in the 60’s I was on holiday in Palma in an apartment…next door was Jack Charlton who I got quite pally with (great guy) and he asked me if I was related to Ray Wood (who worked in leisure services in Wirral council)…because he was the brother of Roy Wood who played for Man City and who was a good friend of Jacks….I told him I wasn’t but I knew Ray very well and his other brother Charlie was the bass player in my first band…all creepy stuff…

The song I have sent you this week is one I wrote for the Welsh album I composed for Paul Damian and tells the legend of Beddgelert. I’m sending this one because we have just spent a few days walking in the heart of Snowdonia and it doesn’t get any better….we also visited a Slate Museum in Llanberis which was incredible…it is built on the site of a Quarry and is mind blowing…and is FREE!!...it is a credit to the Land of Song. The news has been covering the terrible tragedy in Napal….and the journalists have been at there usual mindless interviews with families worried about there relatives caught up in it all…”how did you feel when you heard the news etc……”….how do these fools get employed?....it was good to see the response form rescue and aid workers….the power of nature brings everything into perspective….we moan about such trivial things…let’s hope everything that can be done is done. Michael Flatley is about to retire and has created a “painting”… by splashing paint on a canvas and rubbing his hands all over it while river dancing….it sold for 70 odd grand …maybe I’m missing something here but to me it looked a complete mess…talk about the kings new clothes. It reminded me of an art exhibition I went to in Liverpool by Rolph Harris…before his dilemma…and I couldn’t believe the prices they were asking for thumbnail cartoons which couldn’t have taken more than a minute to draw….when he comes out of jail he should be thrown back in again for ripping us all off…..I can’t imagine they would be worth much now. Bear Grylls has got yet another survival programme on the TV….I fail to see the point of all this….apart from Bear proving how hard he is….it’s an accident waiting to happen…and for WHAT?...so you win the competition and prove you could survive in the jungle…skills you are NEVER likely to use…I find it very uncomfortable viewing......and on the subject of fitness Paula Radcliffe has run her last race….what a great example to the world of sport….I don’t know how anyone can run that far…count me out. I enjoyed the clip you sent me with Penny Page and various co-incidences….You mentioned Marvin Rainwater who had the 50’s chart topper “A whole lotta woman”…Monty Lister interviewed him at the time when he was on the Liverpool Empire and asked him if he would come over to Wirral to meet some of the patients in Clatterbridge Hospital….Marvin not only did that he took the whole show over and entertained them all…and I did a gig in Finland back in 2001 and got chatting to this guy who was a local and asked me to listen to some rock and roll on his car radio….so on goes the CD and on comes Monty Lister interviewing Bill Haley in 1956…the guy couldn’t get over the fact that had I not been there in the Arctic Circle I would,at that precise moment,be on the radio with him….how’s that for a co-incidence?....and back in the 60’s I was on holiday in Palma in an apartment…next door was Jack Charlton who I got quite pally with (great guy) and he asked me if I was related to Ray Wood (who worked in leisure services in Wirral council)…because he was the brother of Roy Wood who played for Man City and who was a good friend of Jacks….I told him I wasn’t but I knew Ray very well and his other brother Charlie was the bass player in my first band…all creepy stuff…

I went to the Floral Pavilion new Brighton last week to see “Let’s Hang On” which was a tribute to the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons….it was sensational…the quality of the musicians and singers was outstanding.It was a full house and the whole place was on it’s feet at the end…brilliant. I love the Four Seasons stuff and last year went to see “Jersey Nights” on the Liverpool Empire which was also brilliant….the main show “Jersey Boys “ has been on in London for a few years but I’ve heard that will soon be touring…that will be on my agenda. For me the music has to be authentic and this was. We have our song for Eurovision….it sort of came out of nowhere…no judging no pack drill…never heard of the girl singing it but good luck to her. The song is called “Children of The Universe” and is like a million others….the girl singing it also wrote it so let’s hope it gets more than the usual nil pwa….I must say I quite enjoy watching the spectacle but why on earth WE get involved is a mystery to me….I’m still recovering from Englebert two years ago. The Scots are building up to the vote for independence….I must admit I completely failed to see the point until I heard the word “OIL”….what a load of absolute nonsense to have a separate country on an island as small as ours….if it comes off,which I doubt it will,I think they will be making a big mistake…but there you go …that’s politics and greed. A ship which sank off Africa in the 1800s and which was built at Camell Lairds has been commemorated this week on the front at Woodside….the ship was called “The Birkenhead” and went down with the loss of 140 lives (?)…however ALL the women and children were saved because of the “women and children first” situation…this became known as “The Birkenhead Drill”…and still is to this day. There were a couple of female footballers on the local news moaning about sexism in football….oh dear…I quite enjoy watching women’s footy but let’s hope they don’t start whining about the slightest thing…like the blokes do…300 grand a week and sobbing because someone called them names…come on girls…man up !! And lastly…this made me smile…some teacher has been reprimanded for taping kids mouths shut when they were making too much noise….it was obviously a bit of fun but the press are straight on to it…child cruelty the lot!!...and of course one of the fathers has come out of the woodwork alleging his child’s mouth BLED when the tape was removed…yeah sure….possible claim in the offing eh?

I went to the Floral Pavilion new Brighton last week to see “Let’s Hang On” which was a tribute to the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons….it was sensational…the quality of the musicians and singers was outstanding.It was a full house and the whole place was on it’s feet at the end…brilliant. I love the Four Seasons stuff and last year went to see “Jersey Nights” on the Liverpool Empire which was also brilliant….the main show “Jersey Boys “ has been on in London for a few years but I’ve heard that will soon be touring…that will be on my agenda. For me the music has to be authentic and this was. We have our song for Eurovision….it sort of came out of nowhere…no judging no pack drill…never heard of the girl singing it but good luck to her. The song is called “Children of The Universe” and is like a million others….the girl singing it also wrote it so let’s hope it gets more than the usual nil pwa….I must say I quite enjoy watching the spectacle but why on earth WE get involved is a mystery to me….I’m still recovering from Englebert two years ago. The Scots are building up to the vote for independence….I must admit I completely failed to see the point until I heard the word “OIL”….what a load of absolute nonsense to have a separate country on an island as small as ours….if it comes off,which I doubt it will,I think they will be making a big mistake…but there you go …that’s politics and greed. A ship which sank off Africa in the 1800s and which was built at Camell Lairds has been commemorated this week on the front at Woodside….the ship was called “The Birkenhead” and went down with the loss of 140 lives (?)…however ALL the women and children were saved because of the “women and children first” situation…this became known as “The Birkenhead Drill”…and still is to this day. There were a couple of female footballers on the local news moaning about sexism in football….oh dear…I quite enjoy watching women’s footy but let’s hope they don’t start whining about the slightest thing…like the blokes do…300 grand a week and sobbing because someone called them names…come on girls…man up !! And lastly…this made me smile…some teacher has been reprimanded for taping kids mouths shut when they were making too much noise….it was obviously a bit of fun but the press are straight on to it…child cruelty the lot!!...and of course one of the fathers has come out of the woodwork alleging his child’s mouth BLED when the tape was removed…yeah sure….possible claim in the offing eh?