DAVID BOWIE’S MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN SCOTLAND

David Bowie album cover 

As fans celebrate the late great David Bowie's birthday, theshowbizlion.com thought it would be fun to remember some of his most memorable moments in Scotland.

The Life On Mars singer and Man Who Fell To Earth star passed away in 2016 after a battle with cancer.

He was born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, London but he spent much of his life travelling and frequently visited here over the years.

One of his earliest headline gigs, still using his real name, was in 1964 in December 3 in Lothian Road, Edinburgh at the ABC cinema. He was in a group called the Manish Boys.

Five years later he played as David Bowie, the name of his second studio album in Kirkcaldy at the Adam Smith Theatre in November 1969. The album was later re-released oin 1972 by RCA as Space Oddity.

1969 also saw Bowie perform at the Edinburgh Fringe, as an actor this time round, in Lindsay Kemp's The Looking Glass Murders which incorporated his music.

One year later he plays at Grampian TV studios - now STV - in Aberdeen for the Cairngorm Ski Night show.

In 1973 the Starman also played the now defunct Apollo, then known as Green's Playhouse in Glasgow with songs from Hunky Dory,The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

One year on he and Scots Shut belter Lulu had a fling, despite him being married to Angela Barnett and Lulu subsequently covered and had a hit with The Man Who Sold The World.

1978 saw Bowie play four-nights at Glasgow's Apollo from June 19 - 22 and in 1983 he brought Let's Dance to Murrayfield Stadium and played to a crowd of 47,000.

Six years on he also played with Tin Machine at The Forum in Livingston before returning to the capital to perform for the Royal Highland Exhibition Centre in 1990 and Glasgow's Barrowland.

2003 was sadly the last time David Bowie performed in Scotland at Glasgow's SECC but in 2014 he asked for Scotland to remain part of the UK, via Kate Moss at the Brit Awards.

His impact and influence on Scots will never be forgotten and many today paid tribute as Bowie’s widow Iman shared a quote from author Margaret Atwood, saying: "I exist in two places, here and where you are."

HOW LAUREL AND HARDY HELPED ALEX FERGUSON AND HIS SCOTTISH TEAM

Scotland boss Alex McLeish reckons Laurel and Hardy have a lot to do with the success of the old Aberdeen team managed by Sir Alex Ferguson. 

Radio Clyde’s Ewen Cameron who was at the premiere with me earlier this week at the Showcase cinema in Baillieston revealed that Alex got a part in the film as an extra after he bumped into director Jon S Baird at an airport.

Now Eck, as he’s affectionately known, has revealed he has a supporting role in the film (in the background reading a paper as seen here) and added: “Ronald Villiers eat your heart out. I was in the Laurel and Hardy fab club for many years when I was younger. In fact going back to Sir Alex Ferguson’s days we’d meet for pre match meals before the team talk and watch a twenty minute Laurel and Hardy film before it. The whole squad was glued to it. Going back maybe it was the secret of our success.”

Alex joined the club with Andy Gray of City Lights and panto game and got a Sons of The Desert monthly magazine every month.”

The film is a real corker and I’d recommend it highly to anyone young or old,  whether you’re an avid fan of the duo or not. 

Stan and Ollies story is a Brokeback Mountain style narrative where the relationship between the two men is told through their adventure. 

Scots will be delighted to see the Hollywood legends on their tour of the U.K. including the old Empire Theatre in Glasgow. The film is in full colour and it’s incredible to see how much of the clever comedy has lasted through the years. 

Special mention must go to Scottish born Ross Owen who advised on the film and helped to make Steve Coogan and John C Reillys characters come to life. It’s really one of those films you need to watch more than once. 

Meantime ... Stan Laurel’s mother’s grave is about to become the centre of attention in 2019 - and his great granddaughter is planning a visit to Scotland to ensure his memory is kept alive.

Ross Owen who advised on the film told me at the Showcase in Baillieston that he’s  been in regular touch with Cassidy Cook - Stan’s great granddaughter.

He told me: “Stans first ever stage performance was in Glasgow at the Panoptican and he used to live here when he was fifteen or sixteen. His mother Madge died when he was in Scotland and she’s buried in Cathcart cemetery and been there for years but they don’t have a headstone and it’s a bit unkempt. I was telling Cassidy this two weeks ago and she’s going to come over and we are going to put a headstone up and she’s going to do this properly. She’s coming to visit the Panopticon this year.”

And...STILL Game’s Jane McCarrie, Sanjeev Kohli and Gavin Mitchell turned out to the Scottish premiere of Stan and Ollie - and ended up crying.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the end of the brilliant movie about the comedy legends.
It’s really a must watch and the physical comedy is timeless.
All three of the actors were huge fans of the talents. Jane who used to be a drama teacher said she has always loved the duo and even used to teach her students about them in secondary. She said: “In first year the first thing I would make the kids do would be to watch Laurel and Hardy. Most of them had never heard of them and would go ‘Oh no black and white films’. By the end of term they were all converted to big Laurel and Hardy Films.”

WILL TAKE THAT BE WEARING KILTS TO TAKE PART IN SCOTTISH CHARITY KILT WALK?

TAKE That might well give true Scotsmen a run for their money after backing Scotland's famous Kiltwalk.
The trio did their own cover version of The Proclaimers I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) alongside ITV Breakfast’s LA correspondent Ross King to encourage punters to sign up for the Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk which takes place next month.
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen join other celebs including actor Gerard Butler and comedian Kevin Bridges in support of the charity.
Mark Owen who used to come up to Scotland regularly during his solo career said: " Is it about walking in a kilt? I'd like to."
Kiltwalkers won’t need to walk 500 miles, but 23 miles for the Mighty Stride, 15 miles for the Big Stroll or six miles for the Wee Wander in four Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalks this year.
For every pound raised by walkers, £1.10 will go to charity. This comes after Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation generously pledged that 110% of all fundraising at each of the four 2017 Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk events will go to charity.
Whether a walker raises £10 or £100 or more The Hunter Foundation will add 10% to their fundraising total with absolutely no limit.
Paul Cooney, Chief Executive of the Kiltwalk said: “It’s brilliant that the Take That lads are encouraging fans to walk. Our ambition is to turn the Kiltwalk into Scotland’s largest mass participation event, so this kind of support is invaluable.
"With the Glasgow Kiltwalk just a month away, we’re asking Scots to choose a charity close to their hearts and sign-up for the Kiltwalk to help raise vital funds. The efforts from walkers will make a real and lasting difference to the lives of so many. And with the Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk open to all charities there has never been a better time to get your kilt on.”
Funds raised at the Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk went to 282 Scottish children’s charities in 2016. This year, even more people will be able to benefit as the Kiltwalk is now open to every Scottish charity.
Kiltwalk has raised more than £3.5 million for Scottish charitable causes since 2011. The dates for the Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk 2017, are: Glasgow (April 30), Aberdeen (June 4), Dundee (August 20) and Edinburgh (September 17).
This year’s fundraising will be further boosted by a pledge from Platinum Sponsors Arnold Clark that one lucky Kiltwalker from each of the four 2017 events will win a brand new Renault Clio.
All you need to do is register to take part in any 2017 Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk and start fundraising to be in with the chance of winning the car.
Those who choose to walk for the Kiltwalk itself will know that everything they raise will be distributed through the STV Children’s Appeal.
Walkers can choose to walk the Mighty Stride (23 miles), the Big Stroll (15 miles) or the Wee Wander (6 miles) so people of all ages and abilities can take part.
To sign up for any of the four Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalks simply visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

WET WET WET CATCH UP WITH MUMS AND FAMILIES AFTER TOUR

WET Wet Wet decided to catch up with their families in Glasgow  as soon as they finished the last date of their UK Big Picture tour in Inverness .
The band checked into a stylish city centre hotel to have a bit of a pamper and some downtime after travelling back from the Leisure Centre.
Keyboard player Neil Mitchell bumped into theshowbizlion.com as he went on walkabout and exclusively told us: "We had a great night on Saturday in Glasgow and now we're back here chilling. I'm going to see my mother now and hope she appreciates it and then I'll be off back down south to see my wife and family."
 He added: "It was brilliant to play to Scots crowds and we were so amazed at the response we got. It was lovely."
The lads play Live At Chelsea at the Royal Hospital in London on June 18.