This week’s news and gossip

Main photo Marc Baulisch -Steines

Gothenburg Scandinavium, Sweden

We ended last week in Gothenburg Scandinavium, Sweden on Thursday and here are more stunning photographs from SMILER photographer Marc Baulisch -Steines and Oliver pita_oli

Stockholm Tele2 Arena

On Saturday the tour got to Stockholm Tele2 Arena and Alice Smith was at the show

Once again Marc and Claudine Baulisch -Steines got amazing photos

Copenhagen Royal Arena

On Sunday it was the turn of Copenhagen and The Royal Arena and Alice Smith was back again

And SMILER photographers Marc and Claudine Baulisch -Steines were also at the show to capture more great shots

Amsterdam Ziggo Dome

Shang-a-Lang Tartan Army anthem charity single

Rod, Susan Boyle, Gordon Strachan and Ross King have backed a charity single that sees all proceeds raised donated to Cash for Kids, supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children across Scotland. Jackie Bird, Michelle McManus, Callum Beattie, Kyle Falconer and John Mackay of STV are also supporting a release of a Scottish anthem by the Bay City Rollers.

The idea to re-release Shang-a-lang came about when band members Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood and John McLaughlin joined Greatest Hits Radio presenters, Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey on their breakfast show last year. Ahead of the Scotland national football team heading to Germany for EURO 2024, they felt it was the perfect time to release a new version of the hit.

Rod said: ‘I’m delighted to support the Bay City Rollers with their new version of Shang-a-lang for Cash for Kids, what a great cause and I’ve always had a soft spot for the Bay City Rollers. Woody and Johnny McLaughlin are dear friends of mine, I wish them all the best with it.’

The music video also features other famous Scottish actors, musicians and listeners from all over the nation who submitted their own home videos.

https://baycityrollers.ffm.to/shang-a-lang50

Official Faces Box Set Update

Reacting to the news of a new bootleg, Empress Valley Supreme BBC 6 disc CD box set on sale and retailing for over £159, The official box set producer Rob Caiger said this week..

“The [Official] Faces BBC box is currently in production – the hardback shell (just slightly under 12-inch size) that houses 8-CDs and BluRay is already back. There is a book and all is focused strictly on the BBC years, including every photo and contributor. Every track they recorded for the BBC, session and concerts will be included. Three session tracks are missing – that’s all – and that’s because the tape was wiped. Everything mastered from the best sources, including tapes copied by BBC engineers for the band and a stereo mix of one of the gigs only broadcast originally in mono. And it’ll be a lot cheaper than the Empress Valley Supreme Disc set – and more definitive. There’s an announcement coming from Warners shortly for the release date and full details.”

SMILER Discount For Some Guy’s Have All The Luck

Any members who want to see the acclaimed hit show Some Guys Have All The Luck – The Rod Stewart Story for the first time or maybe see the show again..now is the time, our friends at Chameleon are offering SMILER a £5 discount off each ticket when using the special code ‘SMILER’ on the following shows

Endorsed by Rod’s own family, Some Guys Have All The Luck – The Rod Stewart Story brings to the stage an incredible live concert celebrating Rod Stewart and takes you on a musical journey that spans six decades from humble beginnings in the R ‘n B clubs of the 1960’s to world-famous rock sensation.

Direct from the West End and widely acknowledged as the UK’s best, frontman Paul Metcalfe is breath-taking as Rod and captures all the excitement, energy and charisma of the legendary performer including the phenomenal vocals, infamous moves and swaggering showmanship that have made Rod one of the most successful artists of all time.

King’s Foundation Awards

On Tuesday Rod and Penny attended The King’s Foundation Awards at St James’s Palace, Rod, who presented the Teaching Award to David Cranswick at the bash, even made a cheeky quip about David Beckham, Saying he was enormously honoured to be a Knight…“and David yours is coming soon!”

Rod was greeted with a warm hand shake from the King and said that he and Penny “are so honoured to be ambassadors for the King’s Foundation”.

King Charles spoke of England’s “bad luck” as talk naturally turned to the impending Euro 2024 tournament when Charles was reunited with former footballer, David Beckham, The national squad suffered a 1-0 defeat to Iceland in a friendly last Friday before Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions headed to Germany for the tournament, with David reassuring the King: “Warming up, we’ll be ok.”

Amsterdam Ziggo Dome

On Wednesday another sell out crowd saw a superb show in Holland when the tour reached The Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam and plenty of SMILER‘s were spotted!

Including SMILER photographer Yve Paige and SMILER reporter Colin Baker..So much more to come!!

SMILER photographers Marc and Claudine Baulisch -Steines were there to bring you more fantastic shots

And SMILER reporters Annemarie Rekmans and Martin Heidt were also on hand so we didn’t miss anything

Here are Martin’s thoughts on the show…

Een laatste keer – One Last Time. Rod Stewart probably took to the stage of the completely sold-out Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam for the last time on Wednesday, at least with his great hits in the programme, which run like a thread through six decades of an impressive music career.
17,000 people came to the Zuidoost district of Amsterdam that evening to celebrate one of the greatest singers of the last 60 years, and it was well worth their while. Stewart was in high spirits in the Dutch metropolis and delivered a programme lasting over two hours to his audience, which is particularly party-happy in Amsterdam, starting with the Depeche Mode classic “Just Can’t Get Enough” – incidentally also a stadium song by Rod’s favourite club Celtic FC – and ending with a double encore (“Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” and “Sailing”).

In between, there were 120 minutes in which Sir Rod strung together hit after hit and the audience couldn’t stop celebrating. Some sang along to every song at the top of their voices, others danced to “Young Turks”, “Maggie May” or “Some Guys Have All The Luck” in front of and next to their chairs.

As with his last appearances on the European tour, Stewart looked back musically on his long career, belting out the rocking song “Stay With Me” in the Ziggo Dome like in his best Faces days. With “It Takes Two” and “I’d Rather Go Blind”, he honoured the late Tina Turner and Christine McVie from Fleetwood Mac. One of the highlights of the evening was “Forever Young”, during which Rod’s emotional interpretation of the song touched the audience deeply.
The usual signed footballs also flew through the hall and into the arms of the fans, who in some places in the arena engaged in small skirmishes when it came to catching one of these much sought-after balls.
At the end of the show, however, everyone went home satisfied, with the hope that Een Laatste Keer may not have been the 79-year-old’s last appearance in Amsterdam after all.

And Finally..

SMILER met up with Jools Holland this week and passed on copies of the latest magazine Issue 103 for the band that features all the low down on Swing Fever…if you have not got yours yet check out our Back Issues section https://www.rodstewartfanclub.com/product-category/mag/?swcfpc=1

And anyone attending Leipzig QUARTERBACK Immobilien Arena tonight, Berlin Mercedes-Benz Arena in Germany on Saturday Lodz Atlas Arena in Poland on Tuesday or Hamburg Barclays Arena in Germany on Thursday please send in any photos or thoughts..Good Luck to our teams in the Euros ..And See you next week