Big Boss Man to support soul icon PP Arnold in Newbury this weekend

LOCAL favourites Big Boss Man will support soul icon PP Arnold at Arlington Arts on Sunday.

“This is an event not to be missed,” says our @newburytoday reviewer Brian Harrington.

“Big Boss Man will be familiar to Newbury and to Arlington Arts audiences where they play to packed houses. They tour internationally with their own blend of mod soul and Latin infused funk with 60s rooted filmic themes and are fronted by multi-instrumentalist Nasser Bouzida (aka The Bongolian).

“Big Boss Man always put on a great live show and have five albums and a dozen singles to their credit. Formed in 1998 they have a large and loyal following in their own right.

“PP Arnold is best known perhaps for her version of the Cat Stevens classic The First Cut Is The Deepest, a song which has been covered by the likes of Rod Stewart and Cheryl Crow. Born in Los Angeles, California, PP first achieved prominence as one of Ike and Tina Turner’s backing group The Ikettes in 1965. She went on to tour the UK as she pursued a solo career and supported The Rolling Stones in 1966, where she was recommended by Mick Jagger to Andrew ‘Loog’ Oldham, who instantly signed her to his Immediate record label.

“This led to her meeting and beginning a secret relationship with Steve Marriott of Small Faces fame and it has been rumoured that the song Afterglow was written by him about PP. It is certain that she worked extensively with the Small Faces, recording tracks with them like Tin Soldier and (If You Think You’re) Groovy.

“In 2017 she released a heritage album of songs originally recorded betwen 1968 and 1970 produced by Barry Gibb and Eric Clapton, but not released at the time. She also sang backing vocals with Madeleine Bell on a track for Paul Weller’s A Kind Revolution.

“In 2019 a new solo album The New Adventures of PP Arnold, was produced by Steve Cradock, guitarist with Paul Weller’s band.

“There can be no doubt that her music has stood the test of time.”