Former Smiler Editor John Gray will join the Smiler web team as Head News Editor & Researcher as from 22 May. Together with his American counterpart Richard Andrews and long term Smiler contributer Mike Walton, he will be responsible for ensuring Smiler offers the best Rod Stewart news selection on the web.
John, who handed over his post as Smiler Editor to Rita Belcher in September 2002 after 72 issues of the magazine said: “I’m delighted to be involved with Rod’s fan club again and have truly missed being a part of it.”
Rita Belcher and the Smiler web team had been trying to persuade John to make a comeback for several months, however, it seems his mind was finally made up after a trip to New York earlier this year to catch Rod in concert at Madison Square Garden, New York.
“Rod was in brilliant form”, said John. “The show I saw was probably the best I have ever seen in his career. I didn’t think the combination of Rod’s classic material and his covers of the standards would mix well, but I was wrong. It was pure class. And at nearly 60 years old, Rod still has as much energy as he ever has when it comes to belting out the rockers. He makes me very proud.”
John is also a huge fan of Rod’s recent standards albums and says: “People who slate the Songbook albums miss the point. Anyone who knows Rod’s history will know he has always wanted to record these songs. They are particularly special to me as I learned how to play the piano with these songs when I was around 6 years old so they are amongst my first musical memories. To hear Rod give them his superb treatment is a real treat.”
Although John is returning to give a boost to the web site he will have no connections with the printed edition of Smiler: “Rita appears to be doing a fine job as far as the magazine goes and I really look forward to receiving it every three months and not knowing what to expect. It’s all hers and long may it reign. Of course I’m also enjoying my retirement too much to take on the hard work it involves!”
By Marilyn Kennedy