Jonathan Ross gets ready to rock (From Bournemouth Echo)

Jonathan Ross gets ready to rock

8:00am Saturday 29th May 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

CONTROVERSIAL broadcaster Jonathan Ross is set to present his first live show on the BBC for more than a year – just weeks before he quits the corporation.

The presenter, a regular visitor with his family to their holiday home in Swanage, will host a debate on BBC2 next month about the greatest rock and roll line-up of all time.

Radio 2 bosses stopped live broadcasts of his Saturday morning show – also featuring Bournemouth producer Andy Davies – from last May, opting to pre-record to prevent any on-air gaffes from the host.

The live ban came soon after complaints that Ross had made a homophobic comment, although he apologised and said he was mortified by the accusation.

His Friday night TV chat show and Film series on BBC1 have long been pre-recorded, and his presentation of the Bafta film awards is on a time delay.

Ross – who was also suspended for three months without pay after he and comic Russell Brand left lewd messages on actor Andrew Sachs’ answer machine – is due to leave the BBC in July.

He will present I’m In a Rock ’n’ Roll Band Live! next Saturday.

The show rounds off a documentary series which has profiled prominent musicians and their roles in leading rock bands.

During the final show, Ross will lead a panel of experts including Radio 2 host, Mark Radcliffe, presenter, Lauren Laverne and former Police drummer, Stewart Copeland.

Viewers will then choose their favourite bands, lead singers, guitarists and drummers in a national phone vote.

We asked local music fans for their supergroup suggestions.

* Our music critic Nick Churchill:

Otis Redding (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Paul Simonon (bass), Al Jackson (drums), Ian McLagan (keyboards), Bez (vibemaster).

* Richard Lee, marketing and promotions officer at Bournemouth International Centre:

Axl Rose (vocals), Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan (guitar), Buddy Miles (drums), Steve Harris (bass), Stevie Wonder (keyboards), Mick Jagger (crazy dancing).

* Echo reviewer Emma Sutherland:

Joe Strummer (vocals), David Gilmour (guitar), Charlie Watts (drums), Chris Wolstenholme (keyboards), Matt Bellamy (piano), Lee Thompson (sax), Bez (dancing).

* Echo head of features Kevin Nash:

Peter Green (guitar), Marvin Gaye and Sandy Denny (vocals), Keith Moon (drums), Stevie Wonder (keyboards/harmonica), Danny Thompson (bass).

* Bournemouth singer/songwriter Julie Staines:

David Bowie (vocals), Neil Finn and Sheryl Crow (backing vocals), Keith Moon (drums), Johnny Marr (rhythm guitar), Jimmy Page (lead guitar), Lidia Cascarino-Close (bass), Ray Charles (keyboards).

* Bournemouth’s Caroline Beashel (press officer for Biffy Clyro, Damien Rice and The Wombats, among others):

Graham Coxon (guitar), Karen O and Julian Casablancas (vocals), Theophilus London (master of ceremonies), Regina Spektor (piano), Chris Taylor (bass), Ben Johnston (drums).

* Chris Ferguson, who backed the likes of Martha and the Vandellas and The Beach Boys in the 1960s with his Bournemouth-based band The Nite People:

Paul Rodgers (vocals), Robbie Robertson (guitar), Norman Watt-Ray (bass), John Bonham (drums), plus James Brown’s horn section.

* Daily Echo editor Neal Butterworth:

Paul Rodgers (vocals), Bruce Springsteen (guitar), Phil Lynott (bass), John Bonham (drums), Roy Bittan (keyboards).

* Youth and charity worker Joe Musker, from Parkstone, Poole, played drums in The Farm and Dead or Alive in the 1980s:

John Bonham and Mitch Mitchell (drums), Bernard Edwards (bass), Billy Preston (keyboards), Charlie Parker (saxophone), Jimi Hendrix (guitar), Janis Joplin (vocals).

* The Echo’s local bands columnist Sarah Cartlidge:

Freddie Mercury (vocals), Johnny Greenwood (guitar), Phil Lynott (bass), Dave Grohl (drums), Trent Reznor (keyboards, synths).

* Freelance A&R consultant Martin Kitcher, from Bournemouth:

John Bonham (drums), Mick Karn (bass), Thomas Dolby (keyboards), Slash and Johnny Marr (guitar), Glen Tillbrook (vocals), Tower of Power brass section, Pussycat Dolls (backing vocals).

* Bert Burnell, from Mr Kyp’s, Parkstone:

Kurt Cobain (vocals), Johnny Marr (rhythm guitar), Matt Bellamy (lead guitar), Dolores O’Riordan and Patti Smith (backing vocals), Flea (bass), Chris Guanlao (drums).

* Louise Kovacs, head of communications at the Academy Music Group, which runs the O2 Academy, Bournemouth:

Debbie Harry (vocals), Dave Grohl (drums), Jack White (guitar), Mani (bass), Jools Holland (keyboards), Shakin’ Stevens (dancing).

* Alan Burridge, Motorhead fan club head and local history author, from Poole:

Paul Rodgers (vocals), Angus Young, (guitar), Lemmy Kilmister (bass), Ginger Baker (drums), John Anthony (sax).