This week’s news and gossip

Vacation

Before finishing this leg of the tour and heading off to Portofino, Italy on a short vacation Rod met up with Tears of Hercules writer Marc Jordan who said ‘It was so great to see Rod the other night in Toronto…… sometimes I forget what an amazing singer he is and also that his voice has reached and touched Millions of people.the Toronto audience knew every song . It was incredible!!!’ Marc also told SMILER when we asked if he thought Hercules would make a good single to promote Rod’s tour ‘I loved Rods version of Hercules….that song has been done in a couple of different ways over the years….however it’s not for me to say whether or not he puts it out as a single ….believe me they know what the demographics are for RS and who buys in and who doesn’t …so not to dodge the question but they know what songs will work for him and what songs won’t at radio etc. …and they will do that………of course I’d love Hercules to come out but I’m confident they will make the right call based on what is best for Rod…..be well’ ..And yes Rhythm Of My Heart was in the set list, so Marc got to see his other song live!

Rod also had this the great photo taken with Afra that we have used as our main photo.

Rod couldn’t attend Celtic’s first match of the new season but Penny posted a short clip to her Instagram Stories showing a Celtic flag hung at the top of the yacht they spent the day on which overlooked the gorgeous harbour.

And Penny also kept us up to date with a few holiday snaps

While visiting Hotel Byron , Ristorante La Magnolia Rod had a great photo taken with Chef Marco Bernardo.

This weeks Rod Art

This week we feature this great picture of Rod in his Night On The Town era by New York artist Patrick Carney who is a celebrity artist who works with actors, authors, musicians, speakers and leaders

Patrick told SMILER this week “The Rod Stewart portrait is a pen and ink with a watercolor wash I created in 1976. I was listening to a lot of his music and decided to honor him”.

To see more of Patricks amazing work go to https://www.instagram.com/pcarneyart/?hl=en or https://www.facebook.com/ArtistPatrickCarney

Hard Rock Cafe Memorabilia #8

Long time readers of the SMILER magazine will remember Darren Liston who used to help with interviews and Star Readers before leaving for a new life in Australia in 2014

Darren visited us last week while on a trip to the UK, He told us he has now racked up 180 different Hard Rock venue visits!! Including Sydney Australia where Rod has his white Versace blazer on display.

Have you ever spotted a Rod item in a Hard Rock Cafe while you were visiting?..If you have send a picture in to [email protected] and tell us about it and I will post them in future ‘This week’s news and gossip’ posts…You might even have spotted Darren?

Mo Austin

Tributes were paid this week to Mo Ostin, the US record industry veteran who has died, aged 95. Ostin began his record industry career in the 1950s at Verve Records, before being head-hunted by Frank Sinatra who – having failed in a bid to buy Verve – set up his own label, Reprise Records, in 1960, and hired Ostin to run it.

Reprise then allied with Warner just three years later, and Ostin subsequently played a key role in the growth of the major record company, and its independent distribution network WEA, with the Warner/Reprise roster of the 1960s and 1970s including the likes of Rod, The Kinks, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac, The Grateful Dead and Randy Newman.

Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson – CEO and COO of Warner Records – who said in a joint statement: “Legendary music executive Mo Ostin passed away peacefully in his sleep last night at the age of 95. Mo was one of the greatest record men of all time, and a prime architect of the modern music business. For Mo, it was always first and foremost about helping artists realise their vision”.

“One of the pivotal figures in the evolution of Warner Music Group”, they went on, “in the 1960s Mo ushered Warner/Reprise Records into a golden era of revolutionary, culture-shifting artistry. Over his next three decades at the label, he remained a tireless champion of creative freedom, both for the talent he nurtured and the people who worked for him”.

“Mo lived an extraordinary life doing what he loved”, they added, “and he will be deeply missed throughout the industry he helped create, and by the countless artists and colleagues whom he inspired to be their best selves. On behalf of everyone at Warner, we want to thank Mo for everything he did, and for his inspiring belief in our bright future. Our condolences go out to his family at this difficult time”.

CEO of Warner Record Music, Max Lousada, also paid tribute, stating: “In an era when creative entrepreneurs are revered, we celebrate Mo Ostin as a pioneer who wrote the rulebook for others to follow. Warner Music Group and Warner Records wouldn’t exist without his passion, vision, and intelligence”.

“He not only helped build one of the world’s greatest music companies”, he went on, “but he inspired a culture driven by bravery and ingenuity. Mo saw artists for who they really were and gave them the space and support to fully realise their originality. Mo was a legend, and he will be deeply missed”.

Ostin played a major role in signing Rod for Warner while Rod was still with Mercury, Rod’s ex manager Billy Gaff told Ray Coleman in 1994 “It’s not uncommon for people to come in when you have three albums to go with another company and say ; Lets make a deal for down the road” adding “Three or four years before Rod’s contract expired with Mercury, he knew we were signed to Warner [for the future]. But we didn’t dare tell anybody. Only Rod and I and Mo Austin and Joe Smith knew,” Rod ended up signing a spectacular $25 million, ten album contract.

On Rod’s 2009 Sessions box set he plays tribute to Mo and the rest of the Warner team on the disc 2 track ‘It’s Coming Out Your Royalties’.

Bring over some of your old Rod vinyl records

As vinyl is now back in fashion SMILER was pleased to recently come across these fantastic 7 inch vinyl storage boxes from littlestableworkshop

The Record Box for your 7 inch vinyls is made in a unique vintage style and even labelled ROD STEWART They will hold up to 120 singles in standard card or paper sleeves. The boxes are handmade in a Sussex workshop using locally sourced materials and given a wax finish for that vintage look. The outside box measurements are approximately 30cm x 23cm x 22cm high. The singles box pictured is mine but another very similar will be available .

The storage boxes are available to buy on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255644487757?hash=item3b8599504d:g:d50AAOSwigNi3W-5

or Etsy https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Littlestableworkshop

Don’t miss

Don’t miss The Rod The Mod Stewart Special this Saturday on the Psychedelic World of Magic Mark Radio Extravaganza, broadcasting from Great Britain on voodooradio.online – 9PM UK, 4PM EST, 1PM PST. The best of Rod Stewart, plus some personal stories of Rod and Mark Yandle together.

And finally …

SMILER Issue 101 won’t be long now, it will be ready to post out very soon so it is very important to check your address details are up to date.

See you next week.