HE’s been hailed as the missing link between Freddie King, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, so there’s no pressure whatsoever then on the shoulders and magic fingers of Stephen Dale Petit.

All the best bluesmen have a great backstory, and SDP (as he is known to his friends and people who can’t be arsed to write his full name out every time) certainly has an epic saga that would make a fabulous film.

A rising young guitar-slinger in his native California, jamming with BB King and Albert King, as you do, sparked a move to that London, working and gigging with Clapton, Keith Richards, Mick Jones and David Gilmour.

But what should have been a springboard to a glittering career descended into nightmare of personal problems and addiction, leaving the poor man homeless and busking his own songs on the Tube.

“It was the blues that saved me. There was a moment when the choice was pretty clear: ‘Am I just going to be a drug addict and is my passion going to be washed down the toilet,’” he recalled of that grim era.

His 2008 album Guitararama proved to be a turning point, picking up huge airplay on Radio 2 and rave reviews all round.

 

He lectured on the UK university and college circuit and Ronnie Wood’s recording of his decibel-defying gig at London’s High Voltage festival is up there with The ‘Orrible ‘Ooo’s Live at Leeds when it comes to capturing a band in its pomp: Loud, proud and dangerous to know.

Fast forward to tonight, Friday March 11, and you have the chance to see what all the hoo-haa is about as SDP brings himself and his crack band of Sophie Lord on bass and Jack Greenwood on drums to the Blues Night session at Bridport’s Electric Palace.

They’ve just come off a UK tour with Walter Trout so they’re red-hot and pin-sharp, tickets are £12 on the door, and be aware, THEY ARE LOUD! I said.... THEY ARE VERY LOUD, OKAY???

Moving on, the chances of Bon Jovi playing in Weymouth are slim to less than zero to say the least.

But you have possibly the next best thing as Bon Giovi (Gah, I just saw what they did there...) the world’s premier tribute act to the New Jersey rockers, poodle up their hair and scuff up their cowboy boots for a date next Friday March 18 at the Pavilion.

They’ve been tributing for some 14 years now, with gigs all over the planet and a host of corporate bashes, for such clients as Harley Davidson and Jack Daniels.

Tickets are £18.50 and available from the box office on 01305 783225.

Now, if only they could persuade Ken Dodd to sing for them and change their name to By Jovi…

And finally, the scores of you looking forward to seeing From The Jam this Sunday, March 13 at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester will be disappointed to hear that the gig has been postponed.

Sadly, Bruce Foxton has not been in the best of health lately and has been forced to pull out of the show.

Dorchester Arts are hoping to reschedule the gig at a later date.

Ok, that’s it for this week.

Till next time..

TONIGHT (11)

Stephen Dale Petit (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Southern Sinners (Finns, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (George, Dorchester)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Loose Connections (Waterloo, Weymouth)

Charlie (Park, Weymouth)

Ashley Day (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Kathy Boorman (Drift Bar, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (12)

Dale Storr (DA Blues, Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Artemis, Nine Miles From Nowhere, Summer Drive Home (Finns, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Remix (Park, Weymouth)

Chloe and Tom (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Restless (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Steve Nicholas (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Party Animalz (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Splinter (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (Tides Inn, Weymouth)

Peacock Suit (Market House, Weymouth)

Mama Feelgood (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Catch 22 (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

The Skones (Goldies, Dorchester)

Slipstream (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Nick Sellers (RBL Club, Portland)

Foo Foo and The Boy (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Tripod (Crown, Bridport)

Mandown (The Lugger, Chickerell)

SUNDAY (13)

From The Jam (Corn Exchange, Dorchester) GIG NOW POSTPONED

The Rat Pack (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 5pm.

Leanne Jackson (Park, Weymouth) 4pm

George and the Red Rangers (King’s Arms, Portesham) 3-5pm.

Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) From 3pm.

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) Music from 8pm.

Open Mic Surgery (George, Dorchester)

Sheryl Lee’s Sunday Club (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 4pm.

Gut and Steel (Old Ship, Upwey, Weymouth) 2.30pm.

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 3pm

MONDAY (14)

Songwriters night with George Hall (Boho, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (15)

Open Mic (Park, Weymouth)

Singalong with Nigel (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Boot Inn, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (16)

Jam Night (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (17)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, Dorchester) Elijah Wolf is your host.

Open Mic (Drift Bar, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland)

FRIDAY (18)

Bon Giovi (Weymouth Pavilion)

Mad Hatters (Finns, Weymouth)

The Crack (George, Dorchester)

Total Madness (Park, Weymouth)

Think Twice (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Katz (Little Ship, Portland)