| 7th February 2007 06:33 AM |
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| Ten Thousand Motels |
CENTRE MAY CELEBRATE IAN'S ROLE IN STONES
fifenow
Feb 7, 2007
A NEW centre celebrating the life of former Rolling Stone and Pittenweem musician Ian Stewart could be opened this year.
A NEW centre celebrating the life of former Rolling Stone and Pittenweem musician Ian Stewart could be opened this year.
Ian is already set to be immortalised in a song penned by famous crime writer Ian Rankin.
Now, the Pittenweem Arts Festival hopes to open the centre during its renowned summer event.
To mark the launch, organisers are in talks to bring the eight-piece band Rocket 88, founded by Ian along with Stones drummer Charlie Watts and Jack Bruce of Cream, to perform during the festival.
Also due to appear are acclaimed boogie woogie pianist Ben Waters, who has played with Jools Holland, and Eva Harvey, mother of alternative female songwriter PJ Harvey.
Festival director Joe Murphy explained: "We get around 25,000 visitors to the festival each year and we want to raise awareness of the fact Ian Stewart hailed from Pittenweem.
"He was well known in the music world but the public weren't so aware of him.
"We are hoping to book Rocket 88 for two days although we're not sure who will be in the line-up."
If it goes ahead, the centre will be situated at the 'old man's hut' on the harbour.
Mr Murphy said: "Ian was a prolific photographer and we are hoping to get a few of his photos to exhibit, along with some audio stuff.
"It will only be open during the festival initially but we would like it to be permanent if we can get the funding."
Ian is widely regarded as the forgotten man of the Rolling Stones.
He was a founding member of the legendary band and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have both spoken about his enduring influence on their work.
But he was unceremoniously dropped when the Stones were on the verge of stardom because the band's manager said he looked 'like a coal miner'.
Ian was just 47 when he died of a heart attack in 1985 and Mick Jagger cut short a holiday in the Caribbean to attend his funeral.
Ian was born at his grandparents' farmhouse Kirklatch Farm when his parents John Stewart, originally from Cellardyke, and Annie Black, from Pittenweem, returned from their home in Surrey for his birth.
In 1963, Ian replied to an advert placed in a jazz magazine by one Brian Jones, and the Rolling Stones were born.
Ian was an accomplished blues pianist and played on many of the band's most famous records but the 'craggy-faced' Fifer was never a fully-fledged member of the band.
After he left the Stones, he continued to work worked as their road manager until his death.
But his cousin Marion Meldrum believes something should have been done earlier to honour Ian's memory.
She said: "I think it's all a bit late. Ian died over 20 years ago and something should have been done sooner.
"I have mixed feelings. No one under the age of 40 will know who he is, so perhaps this will raise awareness."
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| 7th February 2007 07:07 AM |
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| new faces |
quote:
Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
But his cousin Marion Meldrum believes something should have been done earlier to honour Ian\'s memory.
She said: \"I think it\'s all a bit late. Ian died over 20 years ago and something should have been done sooner.
\"I have mixed feelings. No one under the age of 40 will know who he is, so perhaps this will raise awareness.\"
I hope so. Please update us on this. Stu deserves this.
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| 7th February 2007 08:54 AM |
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| VoodooChileInWOnderl |
Cool!
Thanks for posting Señor Moteles!
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| 8th February 2007 09:41 PM |
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| glencar |
This gives us all a reason to visit Pittenweem! |
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