Rolling Stones party until 5am at lavish Madrid bash for Ronnie Wood’s 75th birthday
THE ROLLING STONES sure proved they still know how to party as they threw a birthday bash for Ronnie Wood in Madrid.
The guitarist turned 75 the day the rockers were back on stage in the Spanish capital.
They blasted out a set packed with hits to 55,000 raucous fans on Wednesday — but then kept the celebrations going until 5am at a surprise party at their hotel.
Ronnie got a guitar-shaped cake as he celebrated with bandmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, alongside pals and crew.
A billboard bearing the band’s lips logo and his name in huge letters was waiting for Ronnie in the bar of the Rosewood hotel, as drinks and cake were handed around by staff.
Bassist Darryl Jones was among the last men standing as the group partied long into the night — though at 60 the Chicago-born musician is a comparatively spring chicken.
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One onlooker said: “It was a proper party. You’d never think it was a 75th birthday. It went long into the early hours. The band only came off stage at half past midnight and got back to their hotel about 1.30am, so it was a late bash before it even got going.”
Ronnie’s wife later posted snaps of the celebrations online, alongside images of a tea party held earlier in the day with their young children who had travelled with the band.
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Video clips showed him unwrapping presents, including a custom-made blanket decorated with the band’s famous album covers.
Earlier in the evening the band had marked the occasion with confetti cannons, and a rendition of Happy Birthday led by singer Mick and backed by the 55,000-strong crowd.
The group returned to playing live after a Covid-enforced hiatus and it was the first time without drummer Charlie Watts, who died last August aged 80.
The Stones may have changed their ways from the debauchery of the past — but it’s great to see they haven’t lost their edge completely.
PIXIE’S WEDDY TO SAY I DO
PIXIE LOTT will finally become Oliver Cheshire's wife in a matter of weeks – after what feels like the longest engagement in showbiz history.
And the All About Tonight singer is totally embracing wedding fever. Pixie wore a chic white jumpsuit as she celebrated the launch of the High Summer Collection with REISS x CHE at The Pavilion Club in London.
Model Oliver asked Pixie to marry him on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral in 2016 and this summer the couple will tie the knot.
She said: “It’s really creeping up on us now, so we’re happy we’re finally doing it. It’s been a long time coming.”
Given Pixie’s been waiting six years, I can imagine plenty of other brides who would be. milking it too.
BREAK-UP BILLIE WOWS
BILLIE EILISH put on a brave face when she hit the stage in Germany just hours after it was revealed she had split up with her boyfriend.
The Bad Guy singer wowed fans at Telekom Electronic Beats, as her now-ex Matthew Tyler Vorce insisted cheating had not led to their break-up. He took aim at fans and wrote on Instagram: “Nobody cheated on anyone.
“Relationships end. Simple as that. Creating rumours and lying on the internet is dangerous.
“The fact that thousands of people take time out of their day to write the most heinous things on someone they will never know is the most cowardly thing you can do.”
STEPHANIE SANG HIT IN LABOUR
STEPHANIE BEATRIZ was in labour with her daughter when she recorded the killer vocals for Encanto’s Waiting On A Miracle.
On new podcast Journey To The Magic, which comes from the Walt Disney Travel Company, Stephanie said: “I was in early labour but I didn’t tell anyone because the contractions were very far apart.
“But they were happening. I was also getting checked out all the time. My doctor was all over it.”
Stephanie, above, said focusing on getting the song completing helped her. She added: “If anything could have taken me out of the fear of having my first kid, it was focusing on this job that I love to do.
“I know my own limits and if I had said I can’t breathe or I can’t do this or whatever, and if I had been having contraction after contraction, I would sure as heck not do it.
“There were a couple of times when we were in that booth where I was like, ‘I’m just going to look like I’m thinking about this for a while – while I feel my way through what’s happening with my body. All right, let’s go!’.” What a woman.
HARRY’S BEEN AD BY APPLE
HARRY Styles has joined a long line of greats including Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan as part of Apple’s Silhouette ad campaign.
He filmed a new advert for the latest generation of AirPods, featuring Music For A Sushi Restaurant from new album Harry’s House.
The colourful ad has retained some classic moments from the original 2003 campaign.
His song got to No3 in the Official Charts last week, with Harry having the top three singles.
ABBA: YOU AV TO BE LOADED
IT might be a mistake to think the future of live music is avatar technology such as ABBA’s new Voyage residency.
Band member Anni-Frid Lyngstad revealed it has taken so much work to put the London show together that a lot of acts might not bother.
Asked if she could see others following in their footsteps, she said: “They’d have to have the patience – and the money.”
They had been working on the project for more than five years. Anni-Frid, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Faltskog spent five weeks having their performances recorded before the show eventually launched at the purpose-built ABBA Arena last week.
As well as the huge amount of time, £140million has been spent on the show, which they need to recoup in ticket sales and merchandise. I can’t think of many acts popular enough to get near a figure like that.
But Oasis, Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones ought to consider it.
Griff’s got the hang of pal Dua
MOST support acts are lucky to get a fleeting backstage greeting from the artist they are opening for.
But Dua Lipa has made sure she makes time for Griff during their tour of Europe together on the Future Nostalgia gigs.
The Black Hole singer told me: “We had never met but one day I just heard she wanted me to open the tour. It’s crazy. She actually saved her number in my phone. It just says, ‘Dua Lipa’.
“We’ve been hanging out on tour. She is really great. She knows how to really have her time off and deserves it because the show is so physical and huge. On days off she will message and be like, ‘Let’s just go to my favourite restaurant and drink some wine and just relax’.”
Despite being one of the biggest stars on the planet, Dua somehow manages to go under the radar when enjoying time away from the stage.
Griff explained: “She’s pretty good when people do see her, and she’s very graceful. But she also does keep herself quite hidden. She is clever at picking her moments and spots but she still enjoys life, which is really amazing.”
The pair have also been chatting about what direction to take their music. Dua’s second album Future Nostalgia, which was released in 2020, cemented her as a pop superstar, while Griff’s 2021 mixtape One Foot In Front Of The Other was met with critical acclaim.
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She added: “We were both talking about where we are at and are taking a pause for a minute, until we both have our next bodies of work.
“We don’t really know what our next bits of music are going to be yet.”
Winehouse for Glasto
WITH just three weeks to go until Glasto, Amy Winehouse's estate has released her set from the festival 15 years ago on vinyl.
Amy Winehouse Live at Glastonbury 2007 is out today and features live versions of hit songs by the singer.
The festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset will this year include performances from Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo.
