I left London for Somerset, but realised Soho is the real home of 'village' life
When I lived on Manvers Street, I knew half my block, and was especially friendly with the sex worker next door who kept the same antisocial hours I did, so we'd often collide falling home with boys, or go to each other flats begging for Rizla. Or I'd pop in to see Ivan Massow on his house on D'arbly Street as I was walking home from Heaven. Or run into Howard Jacobson – or another Soho characters like the dapper George Skeggs, lifelong Soho-ite Tim Lord, or the tailor Mark Powell. It's so different to country life which can be so cliquey and unspontaneous.
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The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Ex-Oasis' drummer Zak Starkey reveals biggest ‘punch up' he saw between Noel & Liam and if he'll return to The Who
FIGHTS between Noel and Liam Gallagher in Oasis have become music legend. But their former drummer Zak Starkey insists he never saw the brothers scrapping. 8 8 I'm sitting with him in London's Soho Sanctum Hotel as he promotes his supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos' new single, Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous). 'There was a punch-up when I left,' Zak tells me in a whisper. 'They were throwing furniture and everything. 'But when I was there, all we did was laugh and play amazing music. 'I learned so much from how hard working they were. 'If it says 5.30pm, they are there at 5.10pm. Their work ethic is incredible. It was sleeves up for 12 hours a day.' Zak, who drummed for the band for four years until 2008, reveals there was one major turning point for Oasis, though. He recalls: 'When Kasabian came on tour with Oasis, we played Benicassim festival in Spain. 'We'd had three weeks off and were at home watching fng TV. We were on at 2am. 'Kasabian were on at midnight. Noel went, 'I'm not going on at 2am, switch it'. 'Wishing I was there' 'So we went on at 12 and because we'd had three weeks off, it was a bit sloppy. 'Them guys kicked the fing st out of us. They did a 20-minute drum solo. It was like Black Sabbath. EXCL Watch the moment furious Roger Daltrey kicks off at The Who's drummer Zak Starkey live on stage - weeks before officially sacking him 'They destroyed us. But it was the greatest thing that ever happened to Oasis, because we had to pick it up pretty fing quick.' Zak adds with a laugh: 'In the middle, Tom Meighan went, 'This one's for Noel and Liam, you fers'. 'Liam went to me, 'Did he actually say that?'. I love that attitude. Everyone needs a reality check at times. And they gave us one.' So, I ask, what kind of telly left Oasis in such a sloppy hole? 'Liam used to say, 'You have the big three — Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale',' Zak adds, rolling his eyes as he mainlines his umpteenth black coffee. 'It's like heroin. It starts with Richard and Judy and ends at 9pm. We might as well put a fing spike in you.' Zak won't be part of the Oasis reunion, saying he texted them asking why he hadn't made the cut and was 'gutted' to learn they had Joey Warnoker in on the sticks instead. 'I don't know anything about Joey, apart from he's not a mod,' Zak says with a laugh. 'I think they will get through it without falling out. I will be wishing I was up there. 'I couldn't watch The Who because I know they'd be doing it all wrong.' He is the greatest rock 'n' roll drummer in the world. He's better now than he was then Zak Starkey Talking of Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, they parted company with Zak twice last month after accusing him of dropping 'two bars' during a gig at the Royal Albert Hall. Zak says he may be back in the fold again as the band prepare for a major tour in the US. He adds with a wry smile: 'I spoke to Roger last week and he said, 'Don't take the drums out of the warehouse yet, in case we need you'. There's no grudge, it's fing music. In the beginning, they were the maddest band. 'Pete is incredibly intimidating. He called me a ct and gobbed on my drum riser. That was very early on.' Asked what his dad, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, made of his dismissal, Zak adds: 'I spoke to my dad about it and he watched it and stuck up for me. But he's my dad, isn't he? 'He wasn't happy. He saw the show on TV and was a bit like, 'What the f?'. 'He didn't think anything was a sackable offence. Apart from the ticket price.' As the son of a Beatle, I ask what guidance Ringo gave him over the years. 'My dad never opened the doors for me,' Zak says. 'Mad pop single' 'He'd watch me and say the most cutting fing st. He loved Oasis gigs. I spoke to him after one and he told me, 'It's been a long time since I've seen teenagers throwing beer over each other'. 'I know he loves it, but that's what you're going to get from him. "But I'd say to him, 'Why does the Abbey Road remix sound like Supertramp?'. 'He was like, 'The drum sounds good'. I said, 'It's not about the drums, Dad. I learned that when I was 19'. 'But he is the greatest rock 'n' roll drummer in the world. He's better now than he was then.' With Oasis off limits and The Who dates still up in the air, Zak is busying himself with finishing the 14 tracks Mantra have created — with Happy Mondays' Shaun Ryder and Bez and Oasis bass player Andy Bell. For Domino Bones (Get Dangerous), Noel got on board, too. Zak explains: 'It was a track Noel did with Shaun a few years ago, but it didn't really fit with High Flying Birds. 'It's a mad pop single and I'm hoping to have a demographic of four to 60.' Looking back at his career, I ask Zak if he ever takes a moment to pinch himself. 'All of my dreams have come true,' he says. 'Who's on the phone? Oh, it's Oasis. Oh, Johnny Marr, the greatest British guitarist, is on the phone.' With a glint in his eye, Zak adds: 'Look, when I was 12 and I was playing in clubs, I didn't realise I was going to turn out like f*ing David Beckham. 'What can I say?' I think that sums it up perfectly. EX-OASIS DRUMMER ON... THE GALLAGHERS 8 There was a punch-up when I left, they were throwing funiture and everything. But their work ethic is incredible, it's sleeves up 12 hours a day THE WHO 8 There's no grudge, it's f***ing music. In the beginning they were the maddest band. Pete is incredibly intimidating - he gobbed on my drum riser. DAD RINGO 8 He never opened any doors for me - he'd watch me and say the most cutting f *ing s t. But he is the greatest rock 'n roll drummer in the world - better now than he was then. 8 GEORGINA LACES IT GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ knew how to thrill when she wore this black laced-up dress to a party for Netflix in Madrid. The model, who is the partner of Cristiano Ronaldo, looked amazing, despite revealing her reality show I Am Georgina won't be returning for a fourth series. She said: 'It has been a lot of work and requires so much effort. 'I think that it has given me the opportunity to show the real me to the world. However, at the moment, I do not plan to continue with the reality show.' LOST TRACK BEHIND ROB & GARY RIFT TAKE THAT's long-lost single was the root of the rivalry between Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow, its writer and producer Ian Levine says. I told last month that an unreleased track called Falling For You Girl, recorded by all five members, above, had been unearthed and the team behind it were hoping to get it out. Now Ian has said Robbie was given the lead vocals on the song, which caused a row with bandmate Gary. Recalling their sessions in 1992, he said: 'The reason Gary hated me is because Robbie was mucking around in the studio when we were doing I Found Heaven. 'I said, 'Robbie, you've got a really nice voice, you sound like one of the Bee Gees', and he said, 'Don't be silly, I'm a backing singer'. 'I said, 'No, I want to make you a lead singer'. 'But Gary didn't like it and he went crying to manager Nigel Martin-Smith going, 'I'm the lead singer! I don't want to be stuck with one of the others'. 'I insisted, and Falling For You Girl is almost all Robbie.' Now Ian, who also worked on A Million Love Songs and Could It Be Magic, hopes the song will finally see the light of day. He added: 'The only way it'll get released is if the fans encourage the boys to put it out. It's fantastic.' SABRINA CARPENTER will drop a new album called Man's Best Friend on August 29. She announced the record last night and it comes just ten months after her smash Short n' Sweet, which returned to No1 for a fifth time last month. The album will feature her new single Manchild, which is on course to go to No1 this Friday, and comes ahead of two shows at BST Hyde Park in London on July 5 and 6. AFTER celeb haunt Chiltern Firehouse burned down last year, a new restaurant has popped up that's proving very popular with A-listers. Just in time for summer, Town on Drury Lane, in Covent Garden, central London, has become the go-to place. It's thanks to the menu from acclaimed British chef Stevie Parle, along with fancy cocktails. I'm told Gary Lineker is even a fan.
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Famous pub loved by Oasis brothers announces sudden closure after 25 years as ‘disappointed' brewers issue statement
A FAMOUS pub loved by Noel and Liam Gallagher is set to close this week. The Shaston Arms, in London's Soho, will be shutting its doors on June 15 for the final time. 3 3 The iconic boozer is literally a stone's throw from one of London's premier shopping shopping destinations, Carnaby Street. Liam and Noel both drank there - though apparently not at the same time. Other famous patrons included film stars Ewan McGregor and Jude Law, the later of whom was apparently fond of the pub's bangers and mash. The 90s boyband Blue even signed their first ever contract in the establishment. With its gold-on-red lettering outside and its dark wooden panelling and plush red leather banquette seating, you could be forgiven for thinking the Shaston Arms was a Victorian relic. However, the pub actually only opened in 1999, since which it has been managed by landlady Sally Graham. Prior to that the location hosted a pair of shops. The name 'Shaston' was taken from the novelist Thomas Hardy, who invented the name for his imaginary version of Shaftesbury in Dorset. To celebrate the pub's 25th anniversary last year, the public house changed its name to The Lady Shaston in homage to landlady Sally. One wag earlier this year posted on Facebook after visiting: "The Shaston Arms is now The Lady Shaston. My pronouns are still tipsy/drunk." Noel Gallagher looks stony-faced as he makes lonely Tube journey to Oasis rehearsals – but Liam's entrance is chaotic The pub was run by Dorset-based brewers Hall & Woodhouse. In a statement posted to Instagram announcing the closure, they said: "We are disappointed that after 25 wonderful years, we are sadly saying goodbye to The Shaston Arms in Carnaby. "Our wish was to renew the lease on the building, but we understand that the landlord wishes to pursue a restaurant offer on Ganton Street. "Therefore, the Shaston Arms will sadly close on Sunday 15th June 2025. "We know that the Shaton will be missed by the local community and thank our guests and team for their loyalty, support, and laughter over the past two and a half decades." 2025 has been a difficult year for London's historic pubs, with some of the capital's most famous taphouses closing. Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, on Finchley Rd in north west London, was shut down at the start of February, much to the displeasure of loyal customers. As staff poured their last pints behind the bar, one fan told the BBC: "You choose a pub with a different atmosphere - a lot of them are becoming like clones now." 3 "It's one of those institutions you've always seen when you come into London," added another. Another east London hotspot, The Gun, in Homerton, also closed its doors in March after 160 years of pouring pints. However, the brewer behind The Shaston Arms does stillhave a number of other pubs in London, including the Ship and Shovell by Embankment, which is split across two buildings facing each other that are joined by an underground cellar.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Charli XCX is ever the supportive pal as she and fiancé George Daniel attend fellow pop star Addison Rae's surprise intimate show at London's The Box
Charli XCX showed her support for her pal Addison Rae on Tuesday night, as she and her fiancé George Daniel attended her surprise performance at The Box in London. The Brat star, 32, and The 1975 drummer, 34, were seen singing along enthusiastically with the excited crowd at the intimate show in Soho. Taking to her Instagram Stories to share a glimpse a glimpse of the 24-year-old burgeoning pop star dancing up a storm on stage, Charli praised: '@addisonraee yesssssss!!!' Addison could be seen performing a very sultry routine, surrounded by a group of female backing dancers, while belting out tracks from her recently-released debut album, Addison. She flaunted her toned figure onstage in a skimpy yellow silk bra and underwear set, and performed a seven-song set including Fame is a Gun, High Fashion, Aquamarine, New York, Headphones On, Diet Pepsi and Times Like These. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. And among them was Charli, who filmed herself cosying up to fiancé George and sipping on a glass of white wine as she danced and sang along. The two singers are good pals and frequent collaborators, with Charli first appearing on Addison's track 2 Die 4 in August 2023. Explaining how the feature came about, Addison recalled: 'Charli had texted me and was like, "I heard 2 Die 4 leaked. You know I love that song. Let me do a verse".' The TikTok star-turned-hitmaker then returned the favour, by joining A. G. Cook in featuring on the remix of the Grammy winner's hit song Von Dutch and the duo also featured on A. G.'s Lucifer from his 2024 album, Britpop. Last week, Addison opened up on her friendship with Charli to saying that her collaboration with the Apple star on the Von Dutch Remix last year, was her 'first "aha" moment as a songwriter'. She recalled: 'When Charli and I did the session for "Von Dutch," she had sent me the track and was like, "I really want you to be on the remix of this song that I have coming out"... 'She prefaced what the song was about like, "Oh, it's kind of like to the haters and like 'you're just jealous.'" I was like, "Oh my God, I love this."' She went on: 'I was like, "Okay, perfect. I'm just gonna write down some other stuff and I'll send it to you and like let me know what you think," and I mindlessly wrote down a bunch of stuff that was inspiring to me, elaborating on that feeling of judgment from other people. 'It's such an old thing to say "when people are mean, they're just jealous," but I leaned into that…I sent [Charli] all of that and she was like, "Incredible, come to the session tomorrow and let's record the song." 'I was so shocked to have Charli trust me so much with the lyrics that I was writing. It was really the first time that I felt confidence in myself as a songwriter, because obviously Charli is so incredibly talented and has been in this industry for so long. 'I['ve] started to lean on myself as a songwriter since that moment.' While she also detailed doing her first live performance ever with Charli in Los Angeles last year, calling it 'such an eye-opening experience'. Addison gushed: 'Having someone like her to show me how much hard work and dedication and being true to yourself pays off has been incredible. 'I really appreciate everyone that I collaborate with because they are so open and willing to hear me spill out all my wildest dreams, and they are willing to and excited to be a part of making those things happen.' Recalling their first meeting to Vogue in 2023, Charli called them a classic example of opposites attract and praised: 'She was like no one I'd ever met really. Not jaded. Not faking. Not uncomfortable. Not trying to be anything other than herself.' The hitmaker added: 'If I ever get married, I would definitely ask Addison Rae to be my wedding DJ'. Addison first rose to fame on TikTok as one of the app's earliest stars before pivoting into an acting and music career. Her first single, Obsessed, was released in 2021, but was panned by fans and critics, resulting in Addison doubting herself, admitting to Vogue in 2023: 'I just thought, Maybe I'm not good enough to do this' However, last year she released her first major label debut single, Diet Pepsi, to widespread critical acclaim and chart success, following it up with a string of other hit track and her positively reviewed debut album, Addison, last week. She later revealed that the song was originally titled Backseat and it was Charli who had advised her to change the name to Diet Pepsi. She told Vogue: 'I trust Charli, she's always been so real to me and the best big sister in the industry. I was like, Well, I love Diet Pepsi. We're doing it.' Addison recently admitted that she always felt like she was destined for fame, long before TikTok thrust her into the spotlight. She told Vogue France in February: 'In my life, I've always felt like a celebrity, long before I was famous.
