Football in the news again this week so here is another great shot from Iris Alexander of Rod playing football for his LA Exiles team in LA from 1985
Rod’s advice for Celtic manager Martin O’Neill
The week started with Rod posting a message to Martin O’ Neill after Celtic’s 1–4 thrashing in Lisbon in the Europa League
Addressing manager Martin O’Neill directly in the video, Rod said “It’s Rod here, I’ve had a few drinks,”
“I’m at an event in London at the moment, but I just wanted to say a quick word. Martin, we’ve got to put Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in central midfield. We’re lacking that cutting edge there, mate. We’ve got to put Hasseim Hassan on one wing, Callum Osmond on the other, and Duran right up front. I’m only saying this because that’s how I feel. I love this team so much.”
Adding “See you all on Sunday for the game against the Hearts.”
Magnificent Seven
Rod was happy to see Celtic win 7-1 against Hearts on Sunday, and met fans at the end of the match
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill tolds BBC Sportsound: “I thought we played really well, really well in the game.
“Once we got a goal, players got a lot of confidence from that and we carried it on throughout the 90 minutes, so it was a really good performance from us.
“It was nice to win, it was nice to win in the manner in which we did as well – scored some really great goals. We looked really good going forward. Defensively, I thought the back four did exceptionally well.
“When Hearts got back to 4-1, I thought that was a needless thing to do. Then we get the fifth goal, which is great.”
Scorers were: Tierney, Nygren (2), Osmand (2), McCart (o.g) and Duran for the hosts and Mendy for the visitors as Celtic move four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
A Little Bit Of What You Fancy Does You Good
On Thursday Rod phoned The Alan Brazil Show on talkSPORT before the huge European night at Parkhead, with Martin O’Neill’s side needing a result after defeats to Ferencvaros and Benfica in their opening two league phase matches.
Brazil asked Rod about the situation with some fans and Rod made clear he hopes the tension around the club does not impact the team.
He said: “Yeah, it’s so negative. I hope it doesn’t rebound onto the players as they come out the tunnel.”
But Rod did not dismiss the frustration coming from supporters adding
“But I think maybe they’ve got a point, the supporters. Our transfers have been sloppy sometimes.
“But then the other side of it, look how many trophies we’ve won.”
“The players have got to step up to get [the fans’] back. That part of the ground is empty, the Green Brigade not turning up. So the rest of the supporters have got to make a lot of noise.
“Like any league, a couple of wins on the trot, if that happens, can shoot you right up to the top. So we do have to win tonight to stand any chance.”
Rod was also asked if he had considered making Celtic Park the setting for his final performance. He replied: “No, no. My son keeps telling me I should’ve bowed out at Celtic Park. I was offered it, but I wanted to do just a few more gigs. Just one gig and it’s over. So I’m doing a few nights at the Hydro in Glasgow. And the same with the O2 in London. I could’ve done Wembley, but I chose to do a few nights at the O2. Just to make it last a little bit longer, make it sweeter.”
Rod also talked about his new album that he had been finishing off the night before saying it was 70% original material, the title is A Little Bit Of What You Fancy Does You Good and it would be released in March.
Misfits
In an interview, with Rock and Roll Globe Kinks frontman Ray Davies told the story of his mid-1970s single Misfits
By 1978, many of the young upstarts who had soundtracked the 1960s had, inevitably, come to define the upper echelons of rockstardom, and that was something that didn’t sit right with Ray, who penned ‘Misfits’ as a kind of response.
“I wanted to leave the continent, I didn’t fit in with anything. That’s why I wrote ‘Misfits’. I hated my contemporaries, I hated the lifestyle of Paul McCartney; I didn’t want to be like Elton John or Rod Stewart, most of all Rod Stewart, who I grew up with.”
Unfortunately for Ray the single failed to chart.
Richard Marx Grammy Consideration
Richard Marx has a 10 category list for this years Grammy nominations including his duet with Rod on Young At Heart
Billy Peek – The Autobiography”, “A Peek Into My Life”
You can now order this years must read book Billy Peek – The Autobiography”, “A Peek Into My Life”
The Story Behind The Guitar: Before the world knew Billy Peek as the guitar player who shared stages with Chuck Berry and Rod Stewart, there was a kid from St. Louis who heard Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline” coming from a jukebox – and knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life. Now Billy tells the story in his own words.
From Tower Grove To The World: He grew up in St. Louis. He learned from the blues. He played with Chuck Berry. He toured the world with Rod Stewart. And he never stopped playing rock ‘n’ roll. Now Billy Peek opens the pages of his life and tells the story behind more than five decades of music.
Rod Stewart Saw Something: Rod Stewart first saw Billy Peek performing with Chuck Berry on television. His reaction helped change Billy’s life. Stewart brought Billy into his band, where Peek’s guitar became part of the sound heard around the world. From St. Louis to international stages, Billy’s journey is a story of talent, instinct, persistence – and being ready when opportunity arrived.
50+ Years Of Music: More than five decades, thousands of stages, from St. Louis to Madison Square Garden, from London and Europe, to Scandinavia, Australia and Japan. Billy Peek has lived a remarkable chapter of American rock and blues history. Now he’s putting that journey on paper.
You’ve Heard The Guitar. Now Hear The Story: You may know Billy Peek’s guitar. You may know the Chuck Berry connection. You may know the Rod Stewart years. But there’s a lot more to the story. Now Billy Peek takes you behind the music and back to where it all began.
For Rock ‘N’ Roll Fans: If you love the story of rock ‘n’ roll, you’ll want to know the story of Billy Peek. A St. Louis kid, a guitar, the blues, Chuck Berry and Rod Stewart, world tours, recording studios, five decades of music and a lifetime of stories to tell.
The Blank Pages Filled Up Fast: There are stories only Billy Peek can tell. Stories from the clubs of St. Louis, stories from the road, stories with Chuck Berry, stories with Rod Stewart and stories from decades spent living the rock ‘n’ roll life.
To pre order your copy now go to https://billypeek.com/store/ where you will also find an email link international customers can use so Billy’s team can collect some info from you.
You Wear It Well
This great Limited Edition 7 inch single arrived at the SMILER office this week
Big thanks to Robby Bloodshed and well done on his excellent cover of You Wear It Well his brand new single from the upcoming tribute full length..Rob Goes Mod!
To get a copy of this Limited Edition single that also features Robby’s great cover of Faces Just Another Honky go to https://robbybloodshed.bandcamp.com/album/you-wear-it-well-feat-johnny-kelly …You will love it!
A-You Wear It Well (feat. Johnny Kelly)
Robby Bloodshed – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Organ
Johnny Kelly – Drums
Adam Avila – Backing Vocals
B- Just Another Honky
Robby Bloodshed – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Piano
John Steele – Drums
Heim – Backing Vocals
And Finally…
Peacock TV original horror series Camp Crystal written by Bryan Fuller and Brad Caleb Kane and directed by Michael Lennox featured Rod singing All Shook Up in Episode 1 of series 1 from The Jeff Beck Group album Beck-Ola
See you next week…
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