Went to one of the recent Eagles gigs at the O2. The music was fine, but the Joe Walsh songs beat the rest hands down. My complaint (apart from the extortionate ticket price!)was the complete lack of communication with the PAYING audience. They spoke to us 4 times in a 2hr 45min show, including band intros. Every time that Don Henley went from front-of-stage to the drums, all the house-lights went down and there was an embarassing silence. What is wrong with Glen Frey doing a bit of "How ya doin'?" or "Thanks for coming out tonight...etc" while his mate is strapping himself in? The final N in the C was DH telling us they were going for a break 'so that we could all go and buy a t-shirt'. This whole thing got me thinking about some of the great stage-banter that I've heard, over the years. I don't mean the stuff from the people that are famous for it (Springsteen, etc) but stuff like at a Van gig at a sports hall in Swindon, when the old boy was in such a good mood that he playfully asked for requests. The audience were so stunned that someone blurted out 'Brown Eyed Girl'and the most miserable man in the world said 'we don't do that one...' AND HE PLAYED IT! Or a gig by 70's perennial support act, Hackensack, who had a HUGE singer. Mid banter, a woman in front of me shouts out 'Fat Bastard', whereupon said singer stops, comes to the front of the stage and peers out under the lights. He utters the immortal line "If its true that beauty is only skin deep, you must have been born inside out, love!" A gig by local Guildford boys, Peaches, in '74. 'We were going to do a number by the Stones but, fuck it, they don't do any of ours!' Anyway, a message to all singers - talk to us! We've probably paid a wheelbarrow full of cash to come and see you - the least you can do, etc, etc.

Anyone else seen those pics of Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page at a recent awards ceremony? JP looks resplendent with a mane of silver hair, perfectly in keeping with his 63 years. Jeff Beck, on the other hand, has unfeasibly black hair! Still, the young gunslinger has all of 167 days on old Zozo! Rock 'n roll.