Bev Bevan Diaries - in the US with Britt Ekland and Benny Hill
My diary extract this week comes from exactly 29 years ago, the first week of August 1979.
That's when, along with my wife Val, I flew to the USA to do some promotional press and radio interviews.
Wednesday August 1st
Flight from Birmingham to London Heathrow, then for the first time ever, flew to New York on Concorde. Incredible design and speed. Just three hours to Kennedy airport!
Met by PR girl Melissa and driven in stretch limo to the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Hot and muggy in New York City. Straight into several interviews, including one with legendary NY disc jockey Alison 'The Nightbird' Steele.
On the evening went to see one of my country music heroes, Waylon Jennings, in concert at the St James Theatre.
Thursday August 2nd
Day of interviews at the hotel. On the evening went to Broadway to see the musical Sweeney Todd. Very good. Dinner at the famous Elaine's restaurant and we spotted in there David Frost, Lauren Hutton and Margot Hemmingway.
Friday August 3rd
More radio station interviews. Lunch at the Roosevelt Centre. Afternoon interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
On the evening it was back on Broadway to see the Neil Simon play Chapter Two. Excellent! Big limo at our disposal all night and felt pretty decadent sitting in the back drinking dry Martinis with the stereo blasting away.
Saturday August 4th
Limo to the airport for the six-hour flight to Los Angeles. In-flight movie was Superman and one of the film's stars, Gene Hackman, sat nearby to us.
Limo waiting to take us to manager Don Arden's beautiful house in Beverly Hills, and we moved into the "cottage" in the grounds. Dinner with Don and wife Pat, and daughter Sharon at La Dome.
Sharon Arden, of course, is now known as Sharon Osbourne!
Sunday August 5th
Radio interview. Played tennis with Don. Swam in the pool. Dinner downtown at Dantannas.
Monday August 6th
More press interviews, then another game of tennis with Don. Britt Ekland came by the house to say hello.
Later, Gary Moore and Glenn Hughes came by too and we played some pool.
(What a rocking trio that would make - Gary on guitar, Glenn on bass and vocals, and me on drums!)
Tuesday August 7th
Yet more interviews at the house. Dinner there too, cooked by the splendid housekeeper Rachel.
Quiet night in watching TV, including, of all things The Benny Hill Show, which is really popular here.
See you on Saturday for more early rock and roll memories.
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Bev Bevan - Musician and radio presenter
I remember you promoting Discovery on the Richard Klein chat show on WNEW-FM (Rachel Sweet was the other guest). I loved your reply to Robert's question why ELO recorded in Germany:"Not many people drop in on you in Munich."