Patti Smith @ Gibus, Paris June 25 2011

Patti with -M- @ Zénith

Lots of kids (between 15 and 19 years old) as usual at the Gibus Club with lots of pretty girls all chain smoking outside the venue. On the main stage each "Baby Rocker" band is playing 3 songs, the best ones will be selected for the final at the Olympia Hall. Bands were on stage from 5 ish to 11:pm

Patti Smith was and stayed most of the time in the VIP Lounge as it was a private party she was nice to anyone but I'm not sure if the normal punters could see her, I have to say that I didn't see her myself received her award as I was watching Baby rockers playing on the main stage and I was sometimes going out for a bit of fresh air "

She did some promo for this book in Paris on Oct 20 @ Virgin Megastore on the Champs Elysées and @ L'Arbre à Lettres on Oct 21 2010 (click on links for Pics & videos) each time she played a few songs.

She played a few shows in Paris this year @ Cité de la Musique: The first one we've been to was called "Picturing Robert" on Jan 18 2011 and mixed poetry readings and songs; The second one was called "Unplugged dreams" on Jan 20 2011 (click on links for review , Pics & Videos), on this one she played rarely played covers including Bob Dylan, The Beatles & The Monkees.

She also played a charity show : The Peace One day Fest @ Zénith on Sept 17 2010 with a jam with French guitar player -M-

Next shows in Paris for the end of June early July 2011

Please check availability before going

June 25:
Kyuss Lives @ bataclan
Black Eyed peas @ SdF
June 26
Ringo Starr and All Starr Band @ Palais des Sports
George Clinton & Keziah Jones @ La Defense (free gig)
June 27
Iron maiden @ Bercy
Toto @ Zénith
June 28:
Arcade Fire @Zénith
Iron Maiden @ Bercy
Brian Setzer + Imelda May @ Grand Rex
June 29:
George Benson @ Olympia
Greg Allman @ Grand Rex
June 30:
BB King @ Grand Rex
Roger Waters @ Bercy
Prince @ SdF
July 1st:
Roger Waters @ Bercy
Jeff Beck @ Grand Rex
Dionne Warwick @ Enghien Les Bains
July 2
Dinosaur Jr @ Gaité Lyrique
The Blues Brothers band @ Enghien (free gig)
July 3:
Cat Power @ salle Pleyel (sold out)
The Doors @ Bataclan
Percy Sledge @ Enghien
July 4:
Chicago @ Olympia
Eels@ Bataclan
July 05:
Lou Reed @ Grand Rex
John Mellencamp @ Olympia
July 6:
The Beach Boys @ Grand Rex
July 07:
Journey + Foreigner @ Palais des Sports
Social Distortion @ Trianon
July 08:
Johnny Winter + Warren Haynes @ Olympia
July 09:
Return to Forever @ Olympia
BIG 4 (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax) @ Metz-Amneville ( 300 km outside Paris)
July 12:
Slash @ Zénith

49th Paris Air show @ Le Bourget, France June 23 2011

49th Paris Air show @ Le Bourget, France June 23 2011

General view /A Breitling "Constellation" / Brietling Jet

Nothing to do with Rock 'n Roll but sometimes it's nice to share different experiences.
We were kindly invited by none other than Breitling to the Paris Air show, we couldn't say no as it's the most exclusive Pass you can get here.
Can't believe this is so HUGE and planes are everywhere from small drone that you could almost put into the boot of your own car to the famous A 380. Both Civilians & Military.
Jean Paul Belmondo & Alain Delon were supposed to be here but they cancelled at the 11th hour, John Travolta was there yesterday with his own plane, we saw French actress Anne Parrillaud (?!?) & French Director Claude Lelouch @ Breitling Chalet and some French Members of the cabinet (or secretaries) who were checking planes.
I've never seen so many cops, security, military at the same place, they are EVERYWHERE.

It's very interesting to see different aircrafts military or civilians, one of the highlight is being able to see The Constellation (pic above) which is to aircrafts what is Marilyn Monroe to movies. We had a quick chat with the pilot.
Within the Paris Air show theres also a Museum with Ist World War and 2nd WW aircrafts, with one of the first German welknown VII ( in fact a V I).

World War II Bomber (center) V I (right)

inside /Cockpit & outside an American C17 Globemaster : a large military transport aircraft

Once again Americans know how to treat you best by letting you visit their military aircrafts, you could even seat behind the "Wheel" of a huge Military Transport plane. We did.

All along the afternoon there are lots of demonstrations of planes flying including F16 & Airbus A380... and the famous "Constellation" which is the plane that ALL major movie stars were using to fly across the Atlantic in the 50's & 60's.
I's amazing what pilots can do with planes or new generations of Helicopters including the innovative rotary-wing aircraft helicopter X3 from Eurocopter.

The Maroccan stand even have a fantastic looking car that's working with hydrogene.(below)

Hydrogene car

The Paris Air show will be open to General public from June 24 to 26.

'Nevermind' 20th-Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition out in September 2011

Arguably the greatest album of a generation, 'Nevermind' by Nirvana was released 20 years ago this year. And in honour of this Universal Music Enterprises and Universal Strategic Marketing are pleased to announce that a 4-CD/1-DVD Super Deluxe Edition of the Butch Vig produced classic will be available globally from week commencing 19^th September 2011. The CDs will include previously unreleased tracks, rarities, b-sides, BBC radio appearances, alternative mixes, rare live recordings and an unreleased concert in its entirety on DVD.

The 20^th anniversary of Nirvana will be marked throughout the year, with various events and releases.

Leslie West lower right leg amputated

Leslie West amputated :-(((

Leslie West @ New Morning club in Paris in Oct 2010

Leslie West (From Mountain fame check the video of "Mississipi Queen" live in Paris ) has had his lower right leg amputated in a life-saving operation related to his diabetes.
He underwent the emergency surgery after being admitted to a hospital in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Saturday when his leg started to swell and his foot went septic.
"The doctors tried for two days to save it to no avail. The decision to amputate was one that was necessary to save his life as the infection was spreading throughout his body," his wife, Jenni West, said in an email.