{"id":9701,"date":"2023-11-22T18:18:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T18:18:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.webhostlabs.net\/synergy\/?p=9701"},"modified":"2023-11-22T18:19:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T18:19:13","slug":"the-night-old-rod-rode-into-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.webhostlabs.net\/synergy\/2023\/11\/22\/the-night-old-rod-rode-into-town\/","title":{"rendered":"The night old Rod rode into town"},"content":{"rendered":"

The night old Rod rode into town<\/strong><\/h1>\n

After I wrote the\u00a0“Rod Stewart Article The Gravedigger who overcame his shyness and sold 100 million Albums”,<\/a>Robert Morgan sent me the following story of how he met Rod Stewart personally and played pool with him in Spain.<\/p>\n

It was Sunday 27th<\/sup>\u00a0July 1986. The same day that Queen played in Budapest, Stevie Nicks played in Portland Maine, Miles Davis played in London, The Ramones played in Minneapolis, Lou Reed played in Philadelphia, the Cure played in San Francisco, Richie Havens played in Santa Cruz and Bob Dylan Played in Denver.\u00a0 That was the same day that the USA introduceda bill to ban smoking on all public transport including trains, planes, buses and coaches with large fines up to $500 for those who break the law.<\/p>\n

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“In 1985 I moved to Spain as things were very hard here in Ireland. \u00a0I have two sisters living in Marbella along the Golden Mile of the Costa Del Sol.<\/em><\/p>\n

It was a brilliant experience as everywhere was so bright and with the sun shining, it made days that I could not wait to get up for. \u00a0I rented an apartment opposite the famous Marbella Club and on a daily basis I would see some of the world\u2019s famous people arrive, George Hamilton, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Wagner and lots more.<\/em><\/p>\n

Rod Stewart was doing a concert in the famous Puerto Banus Bull Ring. \u00a0It was around summer of \u201886. Along with my sisters and some friends I got tickets to the concert. \u00a0It was brilliant. He belted out all the songs that made him a rock star, \u201cDo you think I\u2019m sexy\u201d, \u201cMaggie May\u201d, \u201cHot legs\u201d, \u201cTonight\u2019s the night\u201d and that\u2019s what it turned out to be – brilliant.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Opposite the Marbella Club, where we lived, was a complex and at the front of it was a bar that opened its doors at 11pm until the last person left the next morning. \u00a0This could have been 8, 10 or even 11am. \u00a0It all depended on the owner.<\/em><\/p>\n

This was not a flashy bar but just a small typical Spanish bar with a front that had a big glass window and door. \u00a0At around 5 or 6 am the curtains would be drawn to stop the day light from coming in.<\/em><\/p>\n

The main attraction was the famous bocadillos sandwich and the beer that went with it. \u00a0There was also a pool table which passed many an hour.<\/em><\/p>\n

Anyway, after Rod\u2019s concert we were in this bar doing our usual when Rod strolled in.\u00a0 At first we thought it was a lookalike, but this was the real Rod.<\/em><\/p>\n

There would have been about 12 to 16 people in the bar and we all knew each other.\u00a0 Rod was with 2 friends or minders but they sat at their table watching us playing pool. \u00a0After a bit of banter Rod decided to play the winner of the game and just by luck it was me.<\/em><\/p>\n

Over he came joking and singing his praises how he would be the winner. \u00a0All in the bar joining in the banter. \u00a0Now being from Crumlin I know how to play the game. After I won the first game he wanted a replay as he said I was lucky. \u00a0I agreed I was lucky, or so I said to him. The laughter and messing was just great, drinks were flowing. \u00a0In Spain the bars run a tab and when you are leaving you pay your tab.<\/em><\/p>\n

Playing pool is like playing chess, when the balls open you have to know how to pick them off or clear them in 1 or 2 visits. \u00a0Well Rod got this game. \u00a0Now we\u2019re down to the decider. \u00a0The craic was unreal – just brilliant. \u00a0Down to the last 3 balls on the table, one each and the black. This time it was luck that won the game as Rod tried to pot his ball, the white hit off the black and down if fell. \u00a0Game over.<\/em><\/p>\n

Good laughs, good fun and good beer.\u00a0 We all had a night to remember and as Rod and friends left he had picked up the tab for everyone that was there. What a night.”<\/em><\/p>\n

I know Robert won\u2019t mind me explaining to you that at eight years of age he was run over by a car and has never walked since. He played the game of pool on crutches.<\/p>\n

After Robert sent me the story and after I did the\u00a0Rolling Stones Biography<\/a>\u00a0last week, I began to compare the largest concerts in the world.\u00a0 Because the Stones held a concert in Copacabana Beach to One and a Half Million fans, I began to research it further and discovered that Rod held a concert in the same Copacabana Beach to Three and a Half Million People.\u00a0 Yes you read it right Three and a Half Million People.\u00a0 Could you imagine being the last person in the crowd!\u00a0 I calculate that to be about a half a kilometre away or more.\u00a0 You\u2019d have to have a great pair of eyes.\u00a0 It would be like being in a time machine, the sound would reach you about 1.5 seconds later.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not going to tell you the rest of the large concerts here, I\u2019ll save that for another day, but I will tell you that Rod and Jean Michel Jarre in Moscow tie at 3.5 million people.<\/p>\n

Here are a few videos for you to look at. Some are from from the concert.<\/p>\n

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