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from Annanova....'It's all in the family' for HoneybearFor Rory Kent, tonight's performance at the Concert for New York at New York's Madison Square Garden, it's just another family gathering. For her set, Kent will be backed by the Bombastics, the popular blues-rock band whose heart throb lead guitarist, Brion Jones, just happens to be her son. In addition, her sister and band-mate Annie Harrison, will be on hand to play percussion and join in on vocals. Kent says she enjoys working with both her 34 year old son by late Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones and her sister because she gets on so well with both of them. "I love working with my family because it's just so much easier. There's so much you don't have to explain or deal with. It's like being telepathic -- they know what I want and vice versa. There's nothing like it." Of course Kent will not be seen on anywhere near her ex-husband, Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, who will also be on hand. "Mick and I never worked together when we were together. It's a bit ridiculous to assume that we're going to start doing anything now!" However, they will be sharing the same clothing designer. Their daughter, 29 year old model-turned-couturier Jasmine Jagger, is said to have put together ensembles for all three members of her rock star family as well as her auntie. The 57 year old Kent's had loads of visibility lately in wake of the World Trade Center Disaster. Aside from her appearance at the John Lennon tribute concert 2 weeks ago and tonight's performance, Kent is working with bandmate Sandra Ludlow to organise a charity event of their own called "A Woman's Touch", featuring women artists and musicians including their own band, The Honeybears. She was also seen handing out food to rescue and relief workers at "Ground Zero". As a long-time resident of New York City, Kent says "I have to do everything I can to help. I couldn't live with myself otherwise." When asked about why she is putting on a rival charity concert, Kent explains "It's very frustrating that even at the biggest shows, the majority of the names and faces are men. Unless you are an underage pop diva, no one wants to let you help. So of course, we're going to change that." "A Woman's Touch" , to be held at New York's Radio City Music Hall on October 27th, will feature such diverse female artists as the Go-Go's, the Bangles, Bonnie Raitt, Deborah Harry, Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders, Cibo Matto, Anoushka Shankar, Queen Latifah and many others. Unlike tonight's concert where ticket prices were an astonishing $10,000, tickets for the sold-out event ranged from $25 to $100. Along with an international telecast, there will also be cd and video releases. The Honeybears current single, "Helping Hands", is the top selling record in the US and UK this week with all proceeds from sales going to a variety of charities. Story filed: 13:36 Saturday 20 October 2001
Say it loud, say it proud, at next week's show, boys not allowed!For next week's "A Woman's Touch" concert, the message is clear. "No boys allowed". The concert, which will be raising funds for a variety of charities related to the events on September 11th, is being organised by Honeybears Rory Kent and Sandy Ludlow. The theme, however, is also one of gender politics. Kent, the 57-year old lead guitarist, says that she and fellow band mates Ludlow, Jamie Ludlow McCartney, Meg Blessing Ludlow and Annie Kent Harrison were "very frustrated that even at the biggest shows, the majority of the names and faces are men. Unless you are an underage pop diva, no one wants to let you help. So of course, we're going to change that." They decided to set up their own charity concert with the only rule being the performers had to be women or at least bands fronted by women. So far, the all-female line-up is very impressive with the Go-Go's, the Bangles, Bonnie Raitt, Deborah Harry, Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders, Cibo Matto, Anoushka Shankar, Queen Latifah, Salt-n-Pepa, Laurie Anderson, Tori Amos, Missy "Misdemenor" Elliot, No Doubt, Save Ferris, Skunk Anansi, Sinead O'Connor, k.d. lang, Annie Lennox, Courtney Love, Joan Jett, Sarah McLachlan, Bjork and heavy metal band Kittie all scheduled to perform. Kent says the list is still growing. When asked about Madonna's rumoured appearance, all she could say was "You'll have to wait and see." Belinda Carlisle, lead singer of the Go-Go's said the decision to join in was "a no brainer" because "when the Honeybears call, we just come running." Vicki Petersen of the Bangles concurs. "We were on board right away. There was never even a question that we wouldn't do it." Of course, it doesn't hurt that members of both bands have been long time fans and friends of the band. Chrissie Hynde says there was no way she could miss out on the event, especially since she is a close friend of Honeybears guitarist, Jamie McCartney. Both women are vegetarian and anti-animal cruelty activists. In addition, Hynde says that "(Rory) was one of the first people to show an interest in the Pretenders when we were starting out on the punk scene. I owe her a serious debt of gratitude." Kent says that one of her motivations for arranging the event was personal. "A lot of the people who are hurting the most are the wives and kids of policemen, firemen and EMS workers who got killed when the Trade Center collapsed. They need to be able to keep their families going now. I know what it's like to be a widow with a young son. I was just lucky enough to have enough money and support to get by." Kent is referring to the death of Rolling Stones guitarist, Brian Jones, the father of her first child. While she and Jones never married, she says "we might as well have been". Their son, Brion, is the lead singer/guitarist of the popular indie-rock band, the Bombastics. But son or not, even he will be barred from coming out on stage. The girls club rules even apply to the show's production staff which includes video and independent film producer Kate Harrison. Harrison just happens to be Kent's 34-year old niece, and daughter of Honeybears drummer, Annie Harrison, and her husband, former Beatle George Harrison. "Katya", as her aunt affectionately calls her, was given the job because "we knew we could get her for free." At first there was some ire from the male part of the rock industry who thought of the event as "segregationalist" but Kent says the Honeybears refused to even acknowledge the complaints. "We just wanted to do something like Lilith Faire", referring to the highly profitable all-female festival tour of the past few years. "A lot of women performers who wanted to get involved were being shut out of the other shows. If you weren't a half-dressed nymphet, no one wanted to know you." Now she says with a smile, "loads of boys begged to get on the bill and we've had the perverse pleasure of telling them 'no'." It did break my heart to have to turn down (transvestite comedian) Eddie Izzard and (drag queen performer and dj) Boy George though. But I think, in the end, they'll forgive us." "A Woman's Touch", will be held at New York's Radio City Music Hall on October 27th. Unlike tonight's Concert for New York where ticket prices were an astonishing $250 to $10,000, tickets for the sold-out event ranged from $25 to $100. Along with an international telecast, there will also be cd and video releases. The Honeybears current single, "Helping Hands", is the top selling record in the US and UK this week with all proceeds from sales going to a variety of charities. Story filed: 22:30 Saturday 20 October 2001 |
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