West Ham Online

Last night I watched much of it again and it revealed an interesting fact. (Well, at least to me )
Elton John's set included an introduction to the backing artists. One of the backing singers was a guy by the name of Tony Rivers. He had been the lead singer in Tony Rivers and the Castaways, which was Cliff Richard's backing group in the 70's.

Forty years ago, I was 37, I had just started playing Vets football for Upminster FC. Having played a decent standard as a defender, I agreed to play for the vets, but only if I could play centre forward. We were a good side, which included an ex-Spurs first teamer and on the right wing was Tony Rivers. I knew of Tony's connection to Cliff, but only last night, forty years on, did I find out that Tony was at Live Aid. Seeing him on stage last night got me to check out if he was still around (he is), and reading his website revealed something else I never knew. Tony Rivers is the voice that we all know and love on the club's official version of I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles.

Do you have any interesting West Ham-related trivia? 

Yep I personally knew Tony Rivers but I am talking decades ago.

More mates with his son Anthony.

Both were singers for Shakin stevens

Not live aid but trivia…….. my brother in law bought Dean Ashtons old house in bishop Stortford.

Joe, not surprised mate, the amount of tech you see at live shows is nuts. Far gone are the days of just plugging in a lead and off you go.

 

Pub Bigot" wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025, 21:51 41 years ago I was born if that makes anyone feel better. 

Am I WHOs youngest poster? Surely Young Woody and now Middle Aged Woody?

41 years ago I was born if that makes anyone feel better. 

Am I WHOs youngest poster? Surely Young Woody and now Middle Aged Woody?

Cat. You would probably be surprised how frequently things go wrong in stadium shows. It's usually lighting related but monitors are always giving up the ghost. 

Joys of lights are as long as the follow spots are working the punters will not have a clue. 

The follow spots malfunctioned for Metallica in 2019 (all 18 of them) That was an interesting conversation over the cans. 

My brother sold his drum kit to Mark Price, the long time drummer for Nik Kershaw. Was telling him about playing live aid and who shit scared he was, especially when the monitor for his drums went and couldn't hear the rest of the band so had to blag it 



 

Interesting fact - Tony Rivers used to drive Cliff to and from The Elm Guesthouse.

nychammer wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025, 14:03 I feel OLD

I feel OLD