Blog » Bill's blog - November 1-4, 2008
Saturday 8th November 2008
Finally, after what seems an age, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings were back in action - and also for a great cause. The group had been lined up to play at the 7th Annual Dyslexia Action Awards Gala Dinner on Tuesday, November 4, but Bill had a few other jobs before then.
Rolling back to Saturday, November 1, Bill watched some football and also noted the rise in the volume of fireworks going off. On Monday, November 3, Bill worked on projects throughout the day and listened to music on iTunes. In the afternoon, Bill and Terry worked through a rough set list for Tuesday, then Bill returned to working.
On Tuesday, Bill and Suzanne appeared in Hello magazine along with Jerry and Suzanne in a piece about Kenny Jones and his daughter Casey's joint birthday celebration.
In the afternoon, Bill headed over to the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane, the venue for the 7th Annual Dyslexia Action Awards Gala Dinner, meeting up with Tony Pancio and Ken Follett, who introduced Bill to HRH the Countess of Wessex. Bill also met up with actor Charley Boorman, who starred in Hope & Glory, a semi-autobiographical project by his father John Boorman about a nine-year-old boy called Bill as he grows up in London during the blitz of World War 2. Something, Bill says, that he can really relate to.
Later in the evening, Bill and Suzanne went to their table, joining Ken and Barbara Follett, Kathy Lette, Alan Rickman and Ed Balls. Bill then went on stage to deliver a quick speech introducing Theo Paphitis, and then presented Theo with an award. Bill also caught up with hairdresser Nicky Clarke, who used to cut Bill's hair as an assistant to John Frieda, before he went onto bigger things, says Bill.
The evening also included an auction - including lunch with Bill at Sticky Fingers, which amazed Bill by going for a huge £7,500.
The Rhythm Kings finally went onstage at 11.50pm to do a short set.
The band was Graham Broad (drums), Bill Wyman (bass/vocals), Terry Taylor (guitar/vocals), Albert Lee (guitar/vocals), Nick Payn (sax), Geraint Watkins (piano/vocals), and Beverley Skeet (vocals). Frank Mead (sax) was unable to be with the band as he had a previous engagement, and there was no organ or organist here.
It was an electric atmosphere, with everyone was up dancing while the Rhythm Kings played.
It was a brief set: I'm Ready (Albert), Show Me (Beverley), Honky Tonk Women (Bill), Jump Jive and Wail (Albert), You're Looking Good (Beverley), Chicken Shack Boogie (Geraint), You Never Can Tell (Bill), That's Rock & Roll (Albert), and I Put A Spell On You (Beverley).
Halfway through the set, Bill invited Ken Follett up onstage and he played bass and sang the Wilson Pickett song 'Mustang Sally', which went down well.
In all, the evening raised over £100,000. If you want to find out more about the event, visit http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/Page.aspx?PageId=20
Rolling back to Saturday, November 1, Bill watched some football and also noted the rise in the volume of fireworks going off. On Monday, November 3, Bill worked on projects throughout the day and listened to music on iTunes. In the afternoon, Bill and Terry worked through a rough set list for Tuesday, then Bill returned to working.
On Tuesday, Bill and Suzanne appeared in Hello magazine along with Jerry and Suzanne in a piece about Kenny Jones and his daughter Casey's joint birthday celebration.
In the afternoon, Bill headed over to the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane, the venue for the 7th Annual Dyslexia Action Awards Gala Dinner, meeting up with Tony Pancio and Ken Follett, who introduced Bill to HRH the Countess of Wessex. Bill also met up with actor Charley Boorman, who starred in Hope & Glory, a semi-autobiographical project by his father John Boorman about a nine-year-old boy called Bill as he grows up in London during the blitz of World War 2. Something, Bill says, that he can really relate to.
Later in the evening, Bill and Suzanne went to their table, joining Ken and Barbara Follett, Kathy Lette, Alan Rickman and Ed Balls. Bill then went on stage to deliver a quick speech introducing Theo Paphitis, and then presented Theo with an award. Bill also caught up with hairdresser Nicky Clarke, who used to cut Bill's hair as an assistant to John Frieda, before he went onto bigger things, says Bill.
The evening also included an auction - including lunch with Bill at Sticky Fingers, which amazed Bill by going for a huge £7,500.
The Rhythm Kings finally went onstage at 11.50pm to do a short set.
The band was Graham Broad (drums), Bill Wyman (bass/vocals), Terry Taylor (guitar/vocals), Albert Lee (guitar/vocals), Nick Payn (sax), Geraint Watkins (piano/vocals), and Beverley Skeet (vocals). Frank Mead (sax) was unable to be with the band as he had a previous engagement, and there was no organ or organist here.
It was an electric atmosphere, with everyone was up dancing while the Rhythm Kings played.
It was a brief set: I'm Ready (Albert), Show Me (Beverley), Honky Tonk Women (Bill), Jump Jive and Wail (Albert), You're Looking Good (Beverley), Chicken Shack Boogie (Geraint), You Never Can Tell (Bill), That's Rock & Roll (Albert), and I Put A Spell On You (Beverley).
Halfway through the set, Bill invited Ken Follett up onstage and he played bass and sang the Wilson Pickett song 'Mustang Sally', which went down well.
In all, the evening raised over £100,000. If you want to find out more about the event, visit http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/Page.aspx?PageId=20
