The Kings Foundation
While in Florida Rod and Penny attended an event for The King’s Foundation. Penny posted on her Instagram “Thanks to all those @kingsfdn for a beautiful evening showcasing the amazing work of His Majesty’s foundation, supporting people and their communities in the UK and worldwide.”
The King’s Foundation, formerly The Prince’s Foundation, is a charity set up by King Charles to champion “a sustainable approach to how we live our lives and build our communities.”
Penny also owned up to the problem we all have on social media and posted this great shot
The Shady Side of Journalism
Nicki Swift published a pointless dig at Rod on Monday titled The Shady Side of Rod Stewart
https://www.nickiswift.com/1553000/shady-side-rod-stewart
Probably not even worth a read..Try a top picture by SMILER photographer Jim Pietryga instead
Maybe if the ‘expert’ who wrote it Maxine Page actually researched and got her facts correct she could get a proper job in journalism.
Rod Themed Nights
Any fans needing a Rod fix over the next few weeks can check out some great Rod themed nights
The Sounds of Rod Stewart By Stan Terry is coming to the Swan Theatre stage Worcester. on April 24.
Stan will take you on a journey through five decades of music, from the early days with Jeff Beck, The Faces, The Great American Songbook era to the present day. Tickets for the show can be bought through www.worcestertheatres.co.uk or by calling 01905611427
SMILER‘s very own TARTAN LOCAL at The Nightingale in Sutton – June 1st 2024 £15.00
Dance, Sing or Anything the night away with the best music and the best people.
https://www.rodstewartfanclub.com/product/tartan-local-at-the-nightingale-in-sutton
The Rod Stewart Songbook Featuring Pete McAll is playing The Theatre On The Steps, 6a Castle Terrace, Bridgnorth, WV16 4, United Kingdom on Friday 19th April
And Warner Leisure Hotels Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich on Saturday 27th April.
Simply Rod Stewart by James Frew is playing The Normandy Hotel Glasgow on Saturday 6th July 2024 7:30 PM – 1:00 AM
Step into the shoes of a rock legend with our Rod Stewart Tribute! A night of gravelly vocals, charismatic performances, and timeless hits. From ‘Maggie May’ to ‘Sailing,’ experience a soul-stirring tribute that captures the essence of Rod’s incredible musical journey.
Arrival: 19:30 – 2 Course Dinner: Approx. 20:00 – Entertainment Starts: Approx. 22:00
Normandy Hotel, PA4 9EJ
If you want your Rod themed night posting let us know about it and we will let Rod’s number one fans know all about it.
This week’s Rod Art
Nobody sent any Rod art in this week ..so here is a pastel from me titled Hot Legs
Have we got any artists out there who want to share your Rod art?
Please send them in to us.
Swing Fever
According to figures from the Official Charts Company, Rod and Jools Holland collaborative album finished ahead of Liam Gallagher & John Squire’s LP in terms of overall sales for physical formats in the first quarter of the year, .
Swing Fever (East West/Rhino) amassed 42,773 physical sales in Q1, just ahead of the self-titled album from Liam Gallagher & John Squire (42,239). The Swing Fever LP has total sales to date across both pure sales and streams of 48,814.
The key element for Swing Fever’s Q1 success was the CD edition with 39,442 sales on the format in the first quarter, which is on a par with Pink’s Trustfall LP in Q1 2023 for compact disc sales.
It comes amid signs of a CD revival after years of decline for the format. According to the Q1 market figures from the BPI, CD sales were down 2.3% year-on-year, but that was a much slower rate of decline than the 11% fall in Q1 2023.
After debuting at the summit with sales of 23,950 sales (19,906 CDs, 1,783 vinyl, 123 cassettes, 1,622 digital downloads and 516 sales-equivalent streams), Swing Fever spent three weeks in the Top 10. With a strong second week, it added a further 12,402 sales.
Hallo Deutscland
Great news forour German contingent – Wolfie’s is now available at Whic.de!
https://whic.de/wolfies-blended-whisky.html
Rod is also doing interviews for STERN and FAK magazines in Germany very soon so keep an eye out!.
WOLFIE’S WHISKY TAKES THE STAGE AT HAMBURG DUTY FREE
Here is some big news for any SMILER members who are travelling through Hamburg this month, You will be delighted to see some of Rod’ memorabilia on display in the airport as part of Wolfie’s duty free activation.
Passengers travelling through Hamburg airport this month will be treated to a showcase of rock ‘n’ roll history as Wolfie’s Whisky brand launches its first global travel retail activation since kicking off distribution via Gebr. Heineman last month (March 2024).
The custom-built stand showcases a selection of memorabilia from Wolfie’s co-founder and music legend Sir Rod Stewart. Fans will be delighted to see Rod’s German Gold records including hits like ‘Body Wishes’, ‘Baby Jane’ and the album ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’, along with a number of wardrobe items the rockstar has previously worn on stage.
The Wolfie’s pop up will be on display throughout April and passengers will be able to sample and purchase the blended whisky, as well as admire the musical mementos while passing through the terminal.
The activation has kicked off ahead of Rod’s European summer tour which will see the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Famer wow crowds all over Europe, including at nine German shows, from 11 May 2024.
“I’ve always loved touring in Germany, especially in Hamburg, and this year is better than ever with the Euros arriving here in the summer and nine shows ahead of me. It’s simply wonderful that travellers can pick up a bottle on their way through the airport,” said Rod.
“I’m hoping for a Scotland game in Hamburg and can’t wait to toast our result with a Wolfie’s in hand – we’ve arrived just in time!”
Wolfie’s (40% ABV) is wonderfully balanced with Rod’s favourite flavours: warming cinnamon, fresh vanilla and baked apple. The whisky has a delicate taste of sweet peat and pears in syrup before finishing with candied citrus peels and a gentle oak spice.
Designed to reflect Rod’s rock ‘n’ roll heritage with subtle nods to Americana, Wolfie’s was inspired by the legendary musician’s early hell raising days with the Faces.
Wolfie’s is currently available in Gebr. Heinemann duty free shops in the following airports, as well as on the retailer’s Heinemann & Me app:
- Amsterdam
- Munich
- Frankfurt
- Berlin
- Hamburg
- Istanbul
Follow Wolfie’s Whisky on social media for exclusive updates by searching @WolfiesWhisky on Instagram and @WolfiesOfficial on Facebook.
When Rod offers you a whisky at 10am
Wolfie’s also released a brilliant video this week…
“I THINK YOU’RE BRILLIANT”
ROCKSTAR ROD STEWART MAKES FAN’S DAY WITH NIP OF WHISKY AND A SMACK ON THE LIPS
Sir Rod Stewart wowed one of his fans with an impromptu selfie and a quick shot of his whisky, Wolfie’s, before making her day with a friendly smooch.
The rock ‘n’ roll legend was picking up a bottle of Wolfie’s at his local Tesco when he bumped into a big fan outside the shop, who told him “I think you’re brilliant!”. A funny interaction ensues, with Rod jokingly offering her a drink of whisky and looking on in surprise as she enthusiastically takes a nip straight from the bottle, before giving her a smooch on the lips.
“Beautiful. See that? And it’s only 10 o’clock in the morning!” laughs Rod.
Follow Wolfie’s Whisky on social media for exclusive updates by searching @WolfiesWhisky on Instagram and @WolfiesOfficial on Facebook, or visit www.wolfieswhisky.com to find out more.
Shake That Thing!
Rough Trade are promoting a recent 3 CD compilation release titled Shake That Thing! The Blues in Britain 1963-1978 that features Rod and Long John Baldry
3CD compilation that focuses on all facets of the blues in the UK during the genre’s most popular era. Key British artists run the stylistic gamut of R&B, electric blues, country blues, folk blues, blues rock, jug band music, Gospel, hokum, and ragtime.
The set features such pioneers as Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Cyril Davies, as well as those who would become worldwide superstars with Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and many more contributing.
Blues was in the DNA of the new genres being developed in the UK such as hard rock, psychedelia and folk rock, as can be evidenced by the inclusion in this set of The Animals, Jethro Tull, Pentangle, The Incredible String Band, Humble Pie, Chicken Shack, Savoy Brown, Jellybread, Taste and Ten Years After.
Alongside these more progressive acts we have those that cherished the work of their blues heroes too much to alter it anyway. These purists toiled away to approach the feel and replicate the sound heard on those treasured, well-worn albums that were studied so closely, long into the night. Among this number we count Jo-Ann Kelly, her brother Dave, Ian A. Anderson, Roger Hubbard and Mike Cooper, among others.
DISC ONE
1 Cyril Davies And His Rhythm And Blues All Stars – Country Line Special
2 Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men – Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air
3 Rod Stewart – Good Morning Little School Girl
4 Davy Graham – Goin’ Down Slow
5 Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated – Preachin’ The Blues
6 Alex Harvey – Honey Bee
7 John Renbourn – Louisiana Blues
8 Beverley Martyn – Me & My Gin
9 John Mayall with Eric Clapton – Ramblin’ On My Mind
10 The Animals – See See Rider
11 The Purple Gang – Boot Leg Whisky
12 Ten Years After – Don’t Want You Woma
n13 Ian A. Anderson – Cottonfield Blues
14 Ian A. Anderson & Elliot Jackson – Shake ‘Em On Down
15 Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac – The World Keep On Turning
16 Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac – Hellhound On My Trail
17 Savoy Brown – Vicksburg Blues
18 Simon & Steve – Say No To The Devil
19 The Panama Limited Jug Band – Cocaine Habit
20 Mike Cooper & Ian A. Anderson – The Inverted World
21 The Missouri Compromise – Dark Road Blues
22 Chicken Shack – See See Baby
23 Wizz Jones – Spoonful
24 Dave Kelly – A Few Short Lines
25 Al Jones – Searchin’ The Desert For The Blues
26 Alexis Korner – Steal Away
DISC TWO
1 Jethro Tull Some Day the Sun Won’t Shine for You
2 John Martyn – Goin’ Down To Memphis
3 The Deviants – Blind Joe McTurk’s Last Session
4 Pentangle – Turn Your Money Green
5 John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Laurel Canyon Home
6 Dr. K’s Blues Band – Crippled Clarence
7 Bert Jansch – Blues
8 Shakey Vick – Come On In My Kitchen
9 Jellybread – Driving Wheel
10 Jo-Ann Kelly – Moon Goin’ Down
11 Ralph McTell – (My) Baby Keeps Staying Out All Night Long
12 Killing Floor – Lou’s Blues
13 Clague – Bottle Up & Go
14 Steve Rye – Bread of Heaven
15 Fran McGillivray – It Hurts Me Too
16 Prager, Rye & Hall – Stop Breakin’ Down
17 Mike Cooper – See Me Running
18 Tom Robinson – No Whiskey
19 Little Brother Dave – No More Doggin’
20 Sam Mitchell – Leaf Without A Tree
21 Duffy Power – City Women
22 Gerry Lockran – Evil Hearted Man
23 The Occasional Word – I’m So Glad
24 Tramp – Too Late Now
25 Bronx Cheer (as The Jug Trust) – Prison Wall Blues
DISC THREE
1 Blue Blood – Black Mountain Blues
2 John James – Picture Rag
3 Siren – Bertha Lee
4 Brett Marvin And The Thunderbolts – Haven’t Any Hay
5 Andy Roberts – John The Revelator
6 Medicine Head – Walkin’ Blues
7 Black Cat Bones – Death Valley Blues
8 Red Dirt – I’ve Been Down
9 Trader Horne – Down & Out Blues
10 Incredible String Band – Robot Blues
11 Climax Chicago Blues Band – Country Hat
12 Roger Hubbard – Cigarette Blues
13 Taste – Gambiln’ Blues
14 Humble Pie – Rollin’ Stone
15 Mungo Jerry – San Francisco Bay Blues
16 Jackie McAuley – Poor Howard
17 Strange Fruit – Shake That Thing
18 Kevin Coyne – Evil Island Home
19 Tight Like That – How You Want Your Rolling Done
20 Dave Ellis – Interlude
21 Rory Gallagher – Bankers Blues
22 Dave Peabody – Last Of The Good Time Guys
And Finally ..
Rod has just returned from a vacation in Palm Beach..but we will be busy at work organising the mailing out of this lot this week..
See you next week…