Mike Hurst (and friends) hit the right notes in fundraiser

MUSICIAN Mike Hurst, who successfully organised two sold-out nights at the Kenton Theatre last weekend, said rock ’n’ roll saved his soul.

The events, which featured around 10 artists raised more than £30,000 (gross).

A proportion of the sum will once again be donated to Parkinson’s UK, after it received a cheque of more than £23,000 last year.

The gigs last Saturday and Sunday featured a recurring cast of his famous performer friends, with musical direction from Michael Gosley.

Guests included Shakin’ Stevens, Sir Tim Rice, P P Arnold, Mike d’Abo, Jane Asher and Paul Mayhew-Archer, who performed a mix of hit songs.

New additions included Bruce Woolley, co-writer of Video Killed the Radio Star, Ken Bruce, who hosted a pop masters quiz and Malcolm Allured of the rock ’n’ roll group Showaddywaddy.

Across the two days, Hurst, 81, who lives in Bix Bottom, and his crew received three standing ovations for their performances.

Following a request from Sir Tim to sing songs from the Everly Brothers, an American rock duo who were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986, Hurst and his son, Jonas, performed Bird Dog and When Will I Be Loved.

Five guitarists, including PP Arnold, stepped on to the stage to perform Peggy Sue, originally performed by Buddy Holly in 1957.

PP Arnold delivered performances of The First Cut is the Deepest, by Rod Stewart and River Deep, Mountain High, by Ike and Tina Turner, receiving a standing ovation.

Hurst, by himself, performed Hallelujah, I Love Her So, by Ray Charles and My Baby Left Me, by Elvis Presley.

He said: “That was the first rock ’n’ roll album ever by Elvis Presley, and I lapped up every track on it. It has never left me, so I thought it’s about time I performed that.

“It took me back to the innocent days in the late Fifties, when no one had any idea about making demands in the dressing room. It was simple and rock ’n’ roll saved my soul.”

Hurst said nothing went wrong during either of the shows. He said: “I think these shows went even better than last time. Sunday night was better than Saturday night but during each night there was a wave of warmth coming off the audience, which is wonderful support for a cause like Parkinson’s, which we’re fighting for.”

Hurst lamented the shift in music production, preferring the “heart and soul” of traditional music creation over modern technology like AI, which he feels makes music too accessible without genuine artistic input.

“Sadly, it’s dramatically changed,” he said. “Everybody can do it now. If they can understand the technology, which the young can, then why not? However, anyone who wants to make records can and they can do it quite well.

“To me, it’s sad because songs should come from your heart and soul, you don’t get that when they’re produced with AI or electronically — it doesn’t come from the heart.”

Hurst said he was playfully teased by his sons, Jonas and Adam, for using a walking stick to support him due to the effects of his condition.

He said: “They kept treating me like an invalid because of my walking stick, which I have because of my legs and my chronic condition.

“They came to put the guitar on me and they wound the strap around behind me so I couldn’t see it or get the guitar on and then they moved the microphone somewhere else — they’re very funny boys and the audience loved it.”

Hurst, along with fellow performer Mayhew-Archer, the co-writer of The Vicar of Dibley, who lives with Parkinson’s, considers himself fortunate to remain active.

He said: “You can get more than 40 symptoms now but I am blessed with only one serious one and that’s just my knees and joints, which makes life difficult sometimes. But how can I grumble when Paul has it quite badly, bless his heart.

“I’m lucky to have got this far during the six years, avoiding other symptoms. I’m sure they’ll catch up with me, but there’s no way I’ll stop these performances until I physically can’t do it anymore.

“These funds won’t help me or Paul but hopefully, in 20 to 25 years’ time, I hope no one will ever know about Parkinson’s because they will have figured out how to cure it.”

Hurst credited his family as his “life support system”. He said: “I couldn’t have done any of this without my family. They have been my life support system. My wife organised me and my two sons, and my daughter Bryony did all the administration. They are wonderful.”