Visit London Blog » O2 http://blog.visitlondon.com Enjoy the very best of London Fri, 17 May 2013 11:59:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Shakin’ Stevens at the O2 Academy Islington http://blog.visitlondon.com/2009/12/shakin%e2%80%99-stevens-at-the-o2-academy-islington/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2009/12/shakin%e2%80%99-stevens-at-the-o2-academy-islington/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:00:59 +0000 Lettice http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=4754 Shakin' StevensLast night I got wildly over-excited on custard and cider and went to see Shakin’ Stevens rocking the O2 Academy Islington. Sometimes it’s hard to feed yourself sensibly in the evenings between work and going out, especially if you’re finally going to be in the same room as super-sexy Shakey.

Shakin’ Stevens once played Elvis in a West End musical but he hasn’t followed The King down the hamburger-paved lard path. Last night, Shakin’ Stevens looked and sounded as hot as he did in the 80s and he still dances like he’s possessed with the spirit of rock’n'roll.

It was fun dancing to all the big hits like Green Door, This Old House and Oh Julie. He sang some songs from his new massive greatest hits album that he hasn’t performed live before, and ended with a sing-a-long Merry Christmas Everyone.

The only downside was that everyone else in the audience seemed to be 8 foot tall and it was hard to see the stage, despite the venue being much smaller and more intimate than I was expecting. I’m told the O2 Brixton Academy is a better gig venue because the floor slopes down to the stage, so the audience has a better view.

What are your favourite London gig venues? Which is your favourite place to eat before a gig at the O2 Islington Academy? Does my new Shakin’ Stevens t-shirt make me look cool?

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2009/12/shakin%e2%80%99-stevens-at-the-o2-academy-islington/feed/ 5 London will miss the king of pop http://blog.visitlondon.com/2009/06/london-will-miss-the-king-of-pop/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2009/06/london-will-miss-the-king-of-pop/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:30:33 +0000 Jose http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=471 Michael Jackson
Statement issued by hospital: 

‘The legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at 2:26 pm (Los Angeles time). It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until results of the autopsy are known.

His personal physician, who was with him at the time, attempted to resuscitate Jackson, as did paramedics who transported him to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre. Upon arriving at the hospital at approximately 1:14 pm, a team of doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour but were unsuccessful.’

All of us at Visit London are very sad to hear this news and send our deepest sympathy to Michael’s family at this time. 

I have been a life-long Michael Jackson fan (we’re about the same age and I immediately fell in love with the kid with the amazing voice and dance moves in 1969) and was looking forward to his performances at the O2.  I hope that the controversy which has surrounded his life in recent years will not be remembered.  Rather, we remember his genius as a popular entertainer and his appeal to so many people.  I am sat in the office opposite a very bright 16 year old student here on work experience.  Both of us are equally touched by Michael Jackson’s brilliant music.   

I’m now going to put Michael Jackson music on for the rest of the day.  And do some work of course!

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