PRESS RELEASE: IAN STEWARTS ROCKET 88
Saturday, July 21, 2007
EVERSHOT village hall
Doors open 8.00pm
BAR
£10 on door
As a tribute to the enormously talented pianist, the late Ian Stewart (Stu), the legendary Rocket 88 have got back together this year following a request from Stu’s home town of Pittenweem in Fife to appear at a special 25th Anniversary Festival to commemorate Stu’s life.
Stu died at the age of 47 in december 1985. He was a founder member of the Rolling Stones and can be heard with his distinctive boogie woogie style on many early Stones recordings. It was Charlie Watts and Stu’s shared love of big band boogie, blues and jazz which prompted the formation of Rocket 88. This eight piece band, four horns and four rhythm, worked extensively during the 80’s and into the 90’s appearing at many festivals, clubs and on radio and tv, representing Britain at the Montreux Festival.
On the piano the band now has the well known blues artist Ben Waters who was a friend of and greatly inspired by Stu at the start of his career. In addition to Ben the line-up is:-
Willie Garnet & Olaf Vas, Saxophones
John Picard & Mike Hugh, Trombones
Roger Smith, Bass/ vocals
Jimmy Roche, Guitar
Sam Kelly, Drums (replacing Charlie Watts)
Other than Ben and Sam this is the original band.
Eva Harvey