This week’s news and gossip

Monte Carlo

While in the Cafe De Paris in Monte Carlo Rod had this great photo taken with Moti Gueta [מוטי גואטה] and Iris Gueta below.

Then on Saturday Rod met Raquel Lima and had the fabulous photograph taken that we have used as the top photo, Raquel said ‘What a privilege to meet Sir Rod‘

Scottish Cup semi-final

On Sunday Rod attended the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park between Celtic and Rangers.

Unfortunately for Rod the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and went into extra time with a Starfelt own-goal in the 115th minute ending Celtic’s treble hopes and sending Rangers to the Scottish Cup final!

Back In The South of France…

Rod was soon getting over the result

On Easter Monday Lea took these brilliant photos of her mum Ada with Rod at Annex Beach and told SMILER “He is such a lovely person! So nice! He is sitting right behind me “

And Penny posted this shot of her and Rod with the famous Carlton Hotel behind them.

Rod also had this great photo taken with Journalist Marinella Cucciardi and Sergio Fracchia, Marinella was happy to share her snap with SMILER members.

And Rod captioned his version of the photo with Penny ‘Gorgeous then and still gorgeous now‘

Forever Young

Steph Freeman from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada got this lovely tribute to her mom Debbie, a tattoo with the words Your’e in my heart you’re in my soul .

Steph said it was the tattoo mom wanted but couldn’t get. My parents will always be in my heart and in my soul! Moms favourite was Rod Stewart, Moms reaction was “I Love That!”

Steph told SMILER this week “My mom loved Rod Stewart and unfortunately a few days after that tattoo was done she passed away, she’ll always be “Forever Young!”

Everyone at SMILER would like to pass on our condolences to to Steph and her family.

Maggie May

7 May 2022 to 21 May 2022 Leeds Playhouse

Former Brookside star Eithne Browne and musical theatre favourite Tony Timberlake have been cast in Maggie May, a new play by award-winning writer Frances Poet that shines a light on the experience of living with dementia.

Directed by Jemima Levick, Maggie May is an extraordinary play about an ordinary Leeds family learning to cope with a life-changing diagnosis. Written with honesty, beautifully balanced with humour and music, it is, ultimately, an uplifting story of love in all its guises.

The play, a co-production between Leeds Playhouse, Curve, and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, was originally commissioned in 2017 as part of Leeds Playhouse’s award-winning Every Third Minute Festival, an innovative seven-week festival of theatre, dementia and hope curated by people living with dementia and their supporters.

It was previously due to tour in the spring of 2020 but was halted by the pandemic. It will now open at Leeds Playhouse from 7-21 May before transferring to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 24-28 May and Curve from 7-11 June.

Director Jemima Levick said: “I’m thrilled that Maggie May is finally making it to Leeds, Hornchurch and Leicester after the pandemic forced us to take an unexpected two-year hiatus. To be given the opportunity to revisit this special show and to share its inspirational messages of love and hope with audiences is really exciting.

“This is something of a homecoming for the show as it was created in Leeds with the help of local people living with dementia and their families. Frances (Poet) has skilfully woven their lived experiences into her play, using their thoughts and ideas as threads in her beautiful life-affirming tapestry about how we learn and re-learn to communicate .

“I’m so excited to be working with such a spectacularly talented cast and creative team on this very special show – I can’t wait for audiences to finally see it.”

The play centres around Maggie, played by Eithne Browne, one of Liverpool’s most well-loved and popular actors – she’s even the voice of the Mersey Ferries. With starring roles in the original Blood Brothers in the West End, Shirley Valentine, and numerous Liverpool Royal Court Theatre productions and TV appearances on Waterloo Road, Cold Feet and as Brookside regular Chrissy Rogers, she has enjoyed a dazzling career spanning more than three decades.

Tony Timberlake, who stars as Maggie’s husband Gordon, has enjoyed a long and illustrious theatre career, including Chicago (Garrick Theatre); Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre); Spamalot (Palace Theatre); Singin’ in the Rain (National Theatre); Les Miserables (Palace Theatre); and Into the Woods (Donmar Warehouse).

The five-strong Maggie May cast also includes York actor Mark Holgate (Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre; Julius Caesar, The Crucible, Sheffield; Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Tina & Bobby) as Maggie and Gordon’s son Michael; Leeds actor Shireen Farkhoy (The Ipcress File, ITV1; Silent Witness, BBC1) as Mark’s girlfriend Claire; and Maxine Finch (LIT, Nottingham Playhouse; Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, DCI Banks) as Maggie’s best friend, Jo.

The creative team includes Set & Costume Designer Francis O’Connor, Theatre and Dementia Advisor Dr Nicky Taylor, Associate Designer Alex Doidge-Green, Movement Director Joseph Mercier, Lighting Designer Chris Davey, Composer & Sound Designer Claire McKenzie, Casting Director Kay Magson and Dialect Coach Eleanor Manners.

All performances of Maggie May at Leeds Playhouse, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Curve will be dementia-friendly, with additional staff, detailed pre-show information and a quiet space. Each venue will also host a free interactive installation – The Picture Booth – designed by Leeds Playhouse Resident Designer Warda Abbasi to amplify the experiences of people living with dementia.

About the play

They say we’re like swans. Ruddy beautiful graceful things on the surface of a lake but underneath we’re paddling like mad.’

Maggie and Gordon first met in 1971 dancing to the sound of Rod Stewart. Now in their sixties, and still very much in love, they’ve been finishing each other’s songs all their marriage. But now Maggie is feeling foggy and some days the songs are all she can remember. Her son and new girlfriend are coming to dinner and her best friend is asking questions.

An extraordinary play about an ordinary Leeds family, balancing the challenges of daily life whilst living with dementia. A heartfelt story of hope by award-winning playwright Frances Poet, Maggie May is an inspiring new play with love, laughter and music.

For more information go to https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/maggie-may-2/

Last Man Standing Jerry Lee Lewis Vinyl

First released in 2006, Last Man Standing is the 39th studio album by legendary rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis. The album is a collection of duets between Lewis and some of the biggest names from rock, country and blues including: Rod, Ronnie Wood, Jimmy Page, BB King, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Neil Young, Robbie Robertson, John Fogerty, Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Merle Haggard, Kid Rock, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Eric Clapton, Little Richard, Delany Bramlet, Buddy Guy, Don Henley, Kris Kristofferson.

Rod features on a fantastic country sounding version of ‘What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)’ and Ronnie Wood features along with Mick Jagger on the Jagger composition ‘Evening Gown’.

Demon Records release the complete album on vinyl for the very first time. Pressed on double 180 gram white vinyl and liner notes by Peter Guralnick.

This week’s Rod art

This week we feature an awesome tattoo done by Tim Collins who told SMILER this week “My client got the tattoo of Rod for his father who he works with, One of his favourite memories with his dad Is listening to Rod while working, he has almost completed work on a sleeve with all his musical hero’s”

To see more of Tim’s stunning lifelike tattoos go to https://www.instagram.com/tim_collins_tattoo_collective/

Kenney Jones Interview

Kenney Jones was guest on The Cold Heart Review This week

Talking about the show David Robinson says: My interview guest is Kenney Jones. He revealed to me that he, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood are reforming the ‘Faces’. There will be a new album and tour in 2023. This is huge news! He told me about how Steve Marriott left ‘The Small Faces’, how he recorded with Mick Jagger and David Bowie on The Rolling Stones single ‘It’s Only Rock n Roll (But I Like It)’. He told me how Pete Townshend recruited him to join ‘The Who’ after the death of Keith Moon and their performance at Live Aid. He is about to go on tour with his amazing solo band ‘The Jones Gang’. My photo by the talented Jess. David Robinson aka The Cold Heart Revue. A Night of the Blues.

To listen to the show go to https://thecoldheartrevue.wixsite.com/my-site?fbclid=IwAR12IFJB0Ggx1iZiS9hiizoX0TcsdL7ZF4qqHwSL-JKmag6zh6KVIugJUk0

Hard Rock Cafe Memorabilia #4

This week we visit Scotland and The Glasgow Hard Rock cafe where Mark Barrett spotted a nice Rod display including one of Rod’s blue suits from the 80’s

Mark says ” I also collect Hard Rock badges and got this gem for my collection in Edinburgh that had a Rod connection, It has Rabbie Burns on the front and lyrics from ‘Auld Lang Syne’ inside when you open it”

Rod recorded a stunning version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ in 2012. Have you ever spotted a Rod item in a Hard Rock Cafe while you were visiting?..If you have send it in to [email protected] and tell us about it and I will post them in future ‘This week’s news and gossip’ posts.

Street Fighting Man

Ronnie Wood’s teenage grandson Leo has been selected for the Team GB Boxing squad. Leo who is 16, now has a chance to realise his dream of making the 2024 Olympics and Ronnie is said to be thrilled.

Leo is the son of Jamie Wood the son of Jo Wood.

And Finally ..

Here is Rod is showing his support for the Rock for Ukraine concert featuring Cregan & Co and Kenney Jones on April 27th and 28th

A night of music to raise funds for the Ukraine Refugee Charity. Grab your tickets here: https://eshertheatre.seatlab.com/…/27-04-2022-19-30…