Latest news with #LeoSayer
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Leo Sayer leads the tributes after shock death of legendary New Zealand musician who performed with Dusty Springfield and The Temptations
Legendary New Zealand musician Frank Gibson Jr. died on Wednesday aged 79. The Auckland-based drummer was born in 1946 to popular NZ musician Frank Gibson Sr. and was one of the country's most celebrated performers. His death was confirmed on social media by singer Leo Sayer, a close friend. 'A marvellous man, an incredible player. The years we worked and toured together, gigs played all over the world, come back to me now in wonderful flashbacks,' Leo began. 'We talked jazz endlessly, boring the pants off most of the other guys in the band. My sincerest condolences.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The beloved musician performed with some of the world's most renowned artists, including Sayer, Elton John, Dusty Springfield and The Temptations. He moved to the UK in 1977 to advance his musical career and became a sought-after session and touring musician who shared the stage with world-famous names. Gibson also performed with many esteemed NZ musicians, including John Hanlon, Malcolm McNeill, Alan Broadbent and Dave MacRae. His daughter Becky shared a heartfelt tribute to her father on social media. 'Yesterday I lost my incredible father. A drumming virtuoso, he had an incredible near 70 year career,' she began. 'He is featured on over 250 records, playing alongside Elton John, Brian May, Rick Wakeman of Yes, the Walker Brothers and even David Hasselhoff. 'But more than a list of names and accomplishments, he leaves behind a legacy of art and kindness. 'He overcame so much in his life to be the sweet, sensitive man I will always remember him as.' Other career highlights include performing at the opening ceremony of the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. His musical journey began at the age of eight with a drum duet at the Auckland Town Hall alongside his renowned father. He played in local NZ jazz bands as a teenager, paving the way for a lifelong career in music. Gibson co-founded a jazz-fusion band called Dr Tree in 1971, and later formed Space Case in the early 80s, focusing on jazz funk across three studio albums. The energetic performer also played drums for the soundtrack of the 1982 NZ action movie Battletruck, starring Police Rescue actor Marshall Napier. He is survived by his two children Becky and Frank III.
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Leo Sayer announces 2025 summer tour dates
Leo Sayer to tour the United Kingdom after the sell out success of his 2024 UK tour Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Not content with festival appearances, Leo Sayer has confirmed a series of solo shows throughout Summer 2025. The singer is set for dates in Blackpool, Holmfirth, Chester and more alongside his dates at GuilFest and Solihull Summerfest 2025. Here's where Leo Sayer is set to perform along with how you can get tickets to see the award-winning musician in concert. Leo Sayer has announced that he is set to perform a series of UK tour dates over the summer, alongside his already confirmed festival appearances this year. The When I Need You singer previously toured the United Kingdom in 2024, selling out his shows and deciding to do it all again, in between performances at GuilFest and Wickham Festival over the coming months. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Speaking about the new tour dates, Sayer said: 'The Still Feel Like Dancing tour last year was so much fun, I didn't want it to stop! Thanks to my team we were able to arrange a few more venues, ones that we missed out on last year. Alongside his festival dates this summer, UK pop legend Leo Sayer has announced a series of solo shows to take place across 2025. |I'm so excited to be returning and can't wait for the summer.' One of the most successful British artists of all time, Leo Sayer has racked up millions of album sales as well as transatlantic No.1 singles since releasing his debut single way back in 1972. Here's where you can catch the artist on his newly added UK tour dates, alongside what festivals he is set to grace in 2025. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Where is Leo Sayer performing on his 2025 UK Tour? Currently, Sayer is scheduled to perform at the following locations and festivals on the following dates: When can I get tickets to see Leo Sayer on his 2025 UK Tour? Tickets for all of Leo Sayer's upcoming non-festival appearances are currently available now through Bandsintown, while links provided to his festival appearances will take you to the corresponding event should those of you wish to see him perform at a festival setting. Do you have an event you'd like to share with us? You can now promote your What's On stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Leo Sayer reflects on infamous Celebrity Big Brother meltdown: ‘It was pretty horrible'
Singer-songwriter Leo Sayer has reflected on his infamous Celebrity Big Brother UK appearance, comparing his time on the reality show to being in 'a Maga cult'. The Grammy-winning English-Australian artist, who rose to fame in the Seventies with hits including 'You Make Me Feel Like Dancing' and 'When I Need You', appeared in the celebrity version programme in 2007. In one of Big Brother's most memorable scenes, Sayer ended up escaping from the house after being told he could not have fresh underwear, only washing powder to wash the clothes he already had. Speaking to the i Paper, Sayer said he didn't realise what he was letting himself in for as he had never seen the show before: 'My manager promised me that I would get [a] huge reaction from it, and therefore I could go in the studio and make a record.' After 12 days in the house, he was 'climbing the walls', he said: 'I learned that I was very claustrophobic.' Asked how he looks back on that time, Sayer said he told himself it 'never happened, it's a better way to deal with it'. 'But it was an incredible learning experience, about humanity,' he remarked. 'It was pretty horrible, though. Like being in a Maga cult – 'switch off all intelligence'.' 'I don't wash my own clothes,' Sayer, who starred in the series alongside Jade Goody, Indian actor Shilpa Shetty and Steps singer Ian 'H' Watkins, said in the notorious scene. 'Not in this house, it's not safe and sanitary.' Upon being told he needed to wash his clothes, Sayer announced that he would quit. 'You are spreading diseases, Big Brother, by making people live like this in this house… it's so f***ing simple to give a man some more underwear. So if you won't give me any more underwear I have no recourse then to walk through the fire safety doors and leave the house. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up 'And I shall tell the world on the other side that I left Big Brother because you wouldn't give me any more underwear. It might make me look stupid, but I think it will make you look even more stupid.' Sayer then proceeded to escape through the emergency doors, upon which he was involved in a tussle with security, who attempted to prevent him from leaving. He was ultimately permitted to quit the show. In the same interview, Sayer revealed his dreams to perform in the Legends Slot at Glastonbury Festival: 'I'd love to do it, but you just need someone to come forward and say, 'You're on,'' he said. This year's Legends Slot is being headlined by British rocker Sir Rod Stewart.
