Hi all,
Firstly, I want to wish you all a belated Happy New Year. I hope you had some well deserved down time with your loved ones and friends as I did.
2016 was an eventful year for all the wrong reasons. We lost a totally disproportionate number of celebrity performers; musicians and actors who we all grew up watching and listening to, rendering us all in a collective shock.
These deaths have brought us together though. We mourn their passing but we celebrate the cultural impact and importance of these great artists.
Many more people died last year of course, as many people die unnecessarily every year. There were far too many atrocities too, as there always are. One such tragedy that occurred ‘close to home’ for myself and Sabrina unfolded at Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz Christmas market. We almost went to that very market at that very time but changed our minds last minute.
We were in no more danger than any of you were, however. It could have happened to any of us wherever we are in the world. What is important is how we react to these kinds of horrors. Finger pointing and knee jerk reacting is not the way forward. That is exactly what these ignorant barbarians want. We need understanding and empathy right now as we bumble through this dark age. We need to enlighten, educate and protect the young and vulnerable.
And in spite of the political farce that we find ourselves in (Trump, Brexit) and ongoing global wars, we can overcome the hatred.
Love is surely the answer.
Let’s build bridges not walls.
Sermon over.
2016 wasn’t all doom and gloom. I had a marvellous time gallivanting around Italy on my pop up Italian tour. Many thanks to all of you that came along and supported me.
And I shall always remember the ’Station To Station Revisited’ tour with Earl Slick and Bernard Fowler with great fondness. There’s nothing like playing Bowie songs and performing with his ex bandmates to help mourn his passing.
I managed to do that again a few days ago at the Brixton O2 Academy at the ‘Celebrating David Bowie’ event. It was an emotional evening for everyone involved. Performing DB’s songs with what I consider one of the best band lineups he ever put together was an honour for me. I was so thrilled and proud to even be considered let alone set free to cover David Sanborn’s alto sax part on ‘Young Americans’ with Gail Ann Dorsey, Mike Garson, Sterling Campbell, Adrian Belew, Gerry Leonard, Katherine Russel et al.
What a fortunate so n’ so I am.
2017 has been a good year so far and I’m very excited about what it may bring.
May it be a fruitful and positive year for us all.
Much love, Steve xx
