Bev Bevan diaries : April 2009 - my new radio show, Wolves get into the Premiership and dinner with Tony Iommi

By Bev Bevan on May 6, 09 03:12 PM

Friday April 3, 2009

Up early to drive to The Mailbox in Birmingham to be on Phil Upton's BBC WM Breakfast Show, to publicise my new radio show, beginning on Sunday.
Whilst on the show I offered to donate a Gold Disc to raffle in aid of WM's Kidney Kids Appeal for Birmingham Childrens Hospital.

Saturday April 4

Phone interview on Jimmy Frank' BBC WM Saturday afternoon show to plug start of our new show, starting tomorrow.

Sunday April 5th

Another phone interview on WM, this time on Carl Chinn's programme. Carl, like me, a former pupil of Moseley Grammar School.

Drove to The Mailbox, getting there about 1pm for the first of my new weekly radio shows. Unlike all of the shows I did on Saga and Smooth radio, this programme goes out LIVE, which is a whole new kettle of fish.

Near disaster when my co-host Jimmy Franks managed to press a mystery button on the sound desk and completely took the station off air for a couple of minutes! Soon rectified, though, and the show started straight after the 2 o'clock news.

I felt a little nervous to begin, but all nerves disappeared as soon as I got on mic, announcing: "the boy is back in town" and we launched into Thin Lizzy's classic The Boys Are Back In Town.

I have known Jimmy for several years, ever since he used to introduce my band at our residency at the Jamhouse in St Paul's Square in Birmingham.

The show went well but we had to finish half an hour early, at 3.30pm, to make way for the sports team (including my old friend Ron Atkinson) and their coverage of the Manchester United v Aston Villa game.

Wednesday April 8th

Into WM again to get post and e-mails, and recorded some "Sat Nav" voiceovers for Paul Franks' afternoon drivetime show.

Friday April 10th

On the evening over to Tony and Maria Iommi's house for dinner. Tony is off on tour of South America next week with his band Heaven and Hell. That's Tony on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, Ronnie Dio on vocals and Vinnie Appice on drums. They are a terrific band and the new album is excellent.

Sunday April 12th

Easter Sunday and the roads and streets near deserted as I drove into Birmingham to do the second of my new radio shows. Did the full two hours this week and felt more relaxed.

Went well again and I am really enjoying it. Lots of feedback from the listeners via e-mails, texts, phone calls and letters.

Monday April 13th

Easter Monday. Sat outside in the afternoon sun and listened to BBC WM's live football coverage. Great away win for Wolves at Derby County.

Promotion to the Premiership so close now - so near yet so far!

Saturday April 18th

Hallelujah! Wolves beat QPR to clinch promotion to the Premiership! Old Trafford, Anfield, Villa Park here we come!

Wild scenes and pitch invasion at Molineux. Sent a congratulatory text message to manager Mick McCarthy and he even found time to send me one back - a top man. Champagne corks a-popping on the evening.

Wednesday April 22nd

Went to see West Side Story at Birmingham Hippodome. Excellent. Definitely my favourite musical ever.

Just one great song after another - Something's Coming, Tonight, I Feel Pretty, Somewhere etc etc.

Sunday April 26th

Drove into Birmingham once more for the third of my new radio shows at the BBC WM studios at the Mailbox.

Feeling better all the time and getting a nice rapport going with my co-host Jimmy Franks.

What's really brilliant is that I am given the freedom to play whatever I want and the music content is just superb.

To give you an example, here's the running order of today's show:

2pm until 3pm
CAROLINE - STATUS QUO
I WANNA BE YOUR MAN - BEATLES
MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - MARIA MULDAUR
SOMEWHERE - P J PROBY
ARTHUR'S THEME - CHRISTOPHER CROSS
I CAN'T STAND THE RAIN - ANN PEEBLES
BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - GLEN CAMPBELL
RELEASE ME - ESTHER PHILLIPS
THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES - BOBBY VEE
PETER GUNN - DUANE EDDY

3pm until 4pm
UP WHERE WE BELONG - JOE COCKER AND JENNIFER WARNES
COME RAIN OR COME SHINE - DON HENLEY
FEEL LIKE MAKING LOVE - BAD COMPANY
SHE'S LEAVING HOME - NILSSON
MISS YOU NIGHTS - CLIFF RICHARD
GIRL OF MY BEST FRIEND and WAY DOWN - ELVIS PRESLEY
BOTH SIDES NOW - JUDY COLLINS
TELSTAR - THE TORNADOS
ALWAYS ON MY MIND - WILLIE NELSON
ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - ELO

Do please tune in if you can on Sunday afternoons to 95.6 BBC Radio WM (West Midlands).

From May 10 you can also listen to the show again, any time at all, 24 hours a day for the following seven days, by Googling or clicking on to 95.6 BBC WM and clicking on 'Listen again' then the 'Bev Bevan / Jimmy Franks' show.

Also , if you have a request, you can e-mail bev.bevan@bbc.co.uk

The postal address is Bev Bevan, BBC Radio WM, The Mailbox, Birmingham B1 1RF. During the show you can text 07786 202956 or phone 08453 009956

Would be great to hear from you! Have a good May and I'll be in touch again soon.

Cheers

BEV