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The Mirror goes behind the scenes of Neil Young’s incredible BST Hyde Park show as we speak to tour insiders about the star’s life on the road

At 10.32pm on Friday night – two minutes after the strict curfew in London’s Hyde Park had passed – Neil Young’s guitar finally fell silent. After a blistering encore of Rockin’ in the Free World, with three false endings, festival bosses had no choice but to fade down the volume to zero.

For a man who took on the BBC over its Glastonbury coverage and won, he had met his match when it came to Westminster Council’s licensing laws. Not that the fans seemed to mind.

To them, Neil’s little act of defiance was the perfect ending to what has been billed as one of the all-time-great BST performances. “You could tell he was just goading them into that, it was glorious,” said one.

At 79-years-old, it would appear Neil is still very much a rule-breaker. In fact, the UK leg of his Love Earth world tour has been an exercise in doing things differently. Just ask both Emily and Michael Eavis. They were left poleaxed after Neil pulled out of Glastonbury earlier this year accusing it of being “under corporate control”.

He later reversed his decision but then took on the BBC and only allowed them to live-stream his set at the last minute. It’s not available on iPlayer.

Council red-tape aside, it was more plain sailing when it came to his second UK show in Hyde Park. For all his no-nonsense reputation, insiders say the opposite is true when you actually meet the Heart of Gold musician.

Many backstage at BST were surprised by how “incredibly down to earth and laidback he was ….with barely any entourage and just wife Daryl Hannah and a few family and friends.” One said: “Neil made the effort to go around thanking everybody, particularly all the security staff who remarked how lovely he was afterwards.”

Unlike other big A-list stars, it was very much a low-key affair with no fuss. Staff had laid on a table football table which “went down well”, as well as fridges loaded with Grolsch and Peroni.

Front of house, it was a markedly different atmosphere with a guest list spanning fashion, music, film and sport all clamouring to watch him. “It was almost like a pilgrimage…..Kate Moss, Owen Wilson, Dua Lipa, John McEnroe, Derek Chisora were all there,” says one insider.

Supermodel Moss is a particularly enthusiastic fan of the godfather of grunge. But despite being side of stage for support act Van Morrison, she didn’t have any such luck with Neil and watched from the crowd instead.

For a man who is turning 80 this November, this may have been because of Covid protocols. All staff working around the headline area were asked to take a Covid test before entering.

“It was a precaution but an important one not least as his tour goes on for many months,” said one.

But it would appear Neil still got to enjoy a taste of Britain. For a man who doesn’t do many interviews, many of the glimpses into the Canadian’s life comes from his website where he updates fans in his own inimitable style.

In staccato, short sentences, he said how the morning after Hyde Park he “went for a walk to the river…beautiful morning meadow…not too hot…nice breeze.”

Of the show itself, he admitted: “A lot of our family shared yesterday and the music was there for us…good to see and feel everyone.” He then chronicled his trip to Paris via Eurostar, where he was set to play last night (Sunday)

“Beautiful english countryside rolls by….may not see it til spring or summer next….want to return soon… missed too many old friends,” he says.

He added: “Sitting at the ferry dock watching so many cars coming off the ferry, arriving cars and home trailers…Everyone wants to visit England…so beautiful, open and friendly.”

Being on Eurostar, he said, reminded him of “playin’ trains with Ben..be nice to see him again soon.” Neil has previously told how he built an intricate miniature train set for him and his son Ben, who has severe cerebral palsy, to bond over.

For many fans, the beauty of the tour so far has been in its unpredictability. He is known to chop and change his set-list around at the last minute keeping the audience – and his band the Chrome Hearts – on their toes.

For a man whose back catalogue spans six decades including seminal albums Harvest, After the Gold Rust and Rust Never Sleeps, he is not short of material. And many believe this incarnation of the band has given Neil a new lease of life.

Certainly on stage, it seems like he is having a whale of a time, while both his haunting voice – and guitarmanship – remain as strong as ever. Says an insider: “The BST show was one of the best shows Neil had done…and the new band seems to have galvanised him.”

Of course, the singer is as famous for his activism as he is for his music. Just a few months ago he predicted that his outspoken attacks on Donald Trump could see him banned from entering the US for that leg of the tour.

“When I go to play music in Europe, if I talk about Donald J Trump, I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminium blanket,” he wrote.

Even Neil’s train trip to Paris at the weekend was not without reflection about the state of the world.

After popping out the other end of the Channel Tunnel, he wrote: “On the way I saw the respect for earth’s beauty of France….no advertising billboards……pristine natural lands showing the beauty of Earth without disruption respect for earth beauty…appreciation…not a corporate $ checkbook. …They care in France…..it sure looks like it. ……music tomorrow..”

FIVE STAR REVIEW BY TOM BRYANT, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

It would take some effort to eclipse what was a magical show on Worthy Farm two weeks ago.

But as the sun set on W2, Neil Young did just that with a spell-binding performance for the ages.

All the focus had been on the star’s Glastonbury show in the build-up to his European tour. Not least the controversy over whether he would allow the BBC to screen his performance. But here in Hyde Park it was all about the music – and the 79-year-old rocker delivered with aplomb.

There was no scrimping on a hits-packed set list including Old Man, Harvest Moon and the Needle and the Damage Done. There was even a rare outing for his 1970 tear-jerker After the Gold Rush which made its tour debut.

Sat astride a piano, it was a moment of perfection and you could hear a pin drop in the hushed royal park. Otherwise, the godfather of grunge was at his rocking best, generating an inordinate amount of noise as they jammed into the night with a thrilling encore of Rockin’ in the Free World.

Snoop Dogg appeared in Swansea City’s kit launch and the Championship side have hinted that the rapper could also buy a stake in the club, joining former Real Madrid star Luka Modric

Swansea City have hinted that Snoop Dogg could invest in the club after the rapper helped launch their new home kit. Swansea unveiled their new kit by taking a jab at fellow Welsh club Wrexham, who are owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Wrexham launched their new kit earlier this week and Reynolds shared a snap of himself wearing the shirt while holding on Instagram. “Been waiting a year for this kit to make its debut – and it did not disappoint,” the Deadpool actor wrote.

“Available NOW in the Wrexham online store. Link in stories. Dog not included.” And Swansea poked fun at Reynolds’ post, sharing an image of Snoop Dogg in their new kit with the caption: “Dogg included @SnoopDogg Nuthin’ But A Wales Thang, the Jacks are ready. We’re the Pride of Wales.”

They also posted a video of Snoop Dogg saying: “Hail to Wales and to Swansea City. It’s your boy big Snoop Dogg. Coming to a hood near you. Oh yeah, these are the new jerseys.”

And Swansea have now hinted that the rapper may even invest in the club, with a spokesperson saying: “We appreciate the considerable interest and enthusiasm generated by Snoop Dogg’s appearance in a Swansea City shirt.

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“While we are not in a position to share specifics with you all just yet, we will be able to provide more details soon and we’re excited about what’s to come.” Swansea are currently under the ownership of Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Nigel Morris and Jason Cohen, who took majority control from Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan last November.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is also a co-owner, having acquired a minority stake in the club back in April. “This is an exciting opportunity,” the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner said at the time.

“Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fanbase and the ambition to compete at the highest level. Playing at the highest level, I believe I can provide my experience to the club. My goal is to support the club’s growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future.”

Swansea’s chief executive Tom Gorringe added: “I am excited that Luka has come on board as an investor and co-owner. There is no better role model in the game for our players, from the academy right through to the first team.

“His endorsement of our ambition and willingness to support us on our journey will be instrumental as we aim to continue to improve our results on and off the pitch.

“In our conversations, he has demonstrated his passion for the club, his knowledge of how we are performing, and a genuine passion to help us improve. I am really looking forward to working with him more closely to drive us forward.”

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Australian actress Isla Fisher attended the Wimbledon final with a mystery man following her recent divorce from Sacha Baron Cohen

Fresh off her divorce from Sacha Baron Cohen, Isla Fisher appeared radiant and relaxed as she arrived at Wimbledon on Sunday, with a mystery new companion by her side.

Attending the Champagne Lanson event at the exclusive Agapanthus Suite, the 49-year-old actress was all smiles while posing for photos with an unidentified male guest. The man affectionately wrapped his arm around Fisher’s waist as they stood together against the media wall, both beaming.

The actress looked incredible as she wore a polished cream outfit featuring a pleated midi skirt, a matching blazer over a blouse, and patent white heels. She finished the look with designer sunglasses and a chic wicker bag.

Her mystery guest complemented her style in a cream suit, white shirt, and floral tie, paired with trainers and sunglasses and it was a well coordinated look that didn’t go unnoticed by spectators and social media sleuths.

The pair arrived at the event together, sticking close throughout the day, with the flame-haired actress occasionally leading the way just a step ahead of her mystery man. Isla’s appearance at Wimbledon comes just a number of weeks after her divorce from ex-husband Sacha, 53, was finalised.

Last month, in a joint statement, Sacha and Isla announced their divorce. In a post shared on social media, the former couple announced: “Our divorce has now been finalised. We are proud of all we’ve achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children.”

The statement continued: “We ask for the media to continue to respect our children’s privacy.” Despite their status within the acting industry, they vowed to maintain a level of secrecy as they had split in 2023, but kept it behind closed doors.

At the time, the pair were concerned about maintaining a level of privacy for their three children, which they share together. The couple announced their divorce in April this year but only just revealed their intention of co-parenting in a private and humble way.

When speaking about her separation in a recent interview, Isla said: “I’ve learned so much about myself in the process. I never imagined my family being separated, but we are committed and loving parents .”

She told the Sunday Times: “Kids are the most important thing, and you want them to really feel safe and loved. We are building a new, healthy version of what our family looks like and putting as much care and love into it as possible.”

However, it looks as though Isla has a good network of friends around her to help with the transition of being married to being single.

She went on to explain: “The women in my life have held me … the female relationships that I cultivated in our business, those women have been there for me. I’m actually going to get emotional.”

“I’m sitting here today because of them. I’ve learned so much about the power of female friendship, and I’ve just learned that I do have resilience, who I am outside of a partnership, and what my values are. It’s been this expansive learning curve.”

At the time of them announcing their divorce, the former couple released a joint statement that read: “After a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down. In 2023 we jointly filed to end our marriage. We have always prioritized our privacy, and have been quietly working through this change.”

The post was accompanied by a comedic picture of the pair while wearing tennis outfits.

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Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher performed at Heaton Park with their Oasis bandmates last night and the crowd included Mel B, her husband Rory McPhee and some of her family

Newlyweds Melanie Brown and Rory McPhee were among the fans at Oasis’ latest gig at Heaton Park. It had been rumoured that the couple would ‘snub’ a honeymoon abroad this week for the chance to see the reunited band together.

Former Spice Girls member Mel, 50, and hairstylist Rory, 37, celebrated a week of marriage yesterday after exchanging vows in a wedding ceremony last week. They tied the knot at St Paul’s Cathedral in London last Saturday, with them surrounded by family and friends at their nuptials.

A week on from their wedding, they were at Oasis’ gig in Manchester last night. The band, which includes brothers Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher, took to the stage at Heaton Park for the second of their five gigs there.

Mel and Rory, who are thought to have been together since 2018, were joined at the concert this weekend by her eldest child, Phoenix Brown, 26. The trio attended the gig alongside actor Christian Cooke, 37, who is Mel’s cousin.

Melanie met Rory through Christian, whose acting credits include films like Cemetery Junction (2010) and the newly released Disney+ miniseries Rematch. He’s reportedly been close pals with Rory since they were in school.

The group documented their trip to Heaton Park on Instagram. Mel, Rory, Phoenix, and Christian have each shared posts from the experience, giving their respective followers an insight into their time at the concert together.

It included Mel sharing footage of herself sitting on Rory’s shoulders as Oasis performed Wonderwall during the gig. The couple were seen singing along to the song as Phoenix and Christian, who were standing beside Rory, did the same.

Mel opted to upload the video on her Instagram Story without a caption. Her husband Rory however told his followers when he posted it on his page on the platform earlier today: “Fun night with the fam at @oasis Heaton park.”

Christian shared a series of posts from the crowd last night. It included him telling fans that he had previously watched Oasis perform at the same venue 17 years ago, with him saying in his post that it was “good to be back”.

He also uploaded footage of himself and Phoenix enjoying the band’s performance of Rock ‘n’ Roll Star whilst the family were at the concert. The pair were seen singing and dancing in the crowd at Heaton Park during the song.

More recently, Christian posted a video of the group travelling together in the back of a car. The actor was seen flicking through an Oasis magazine on the way whilst Mel spoke to Phoenix, who had some sweets for the journey.

Phoenix has also posted about the experience. She shared a selfie of herself, her mother Mel and her cousin Christian. Tagging them in the photo yesterday, she wrote: “Oasis with the gang.”

Whilst at the concert, Mel bumped into fellow singer Rick Astley. She shared a photo of them posing together backstage at the venue. Rick also took a photo with actor Orlando Bloom, who was also in the crowd at the gig, too.

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Geordie Shore’s Chloe Ferry has opened up about speculation she was romantically linked to footballer Kieran Trippier following the breakdown of his marriage

Chloe Ferry has addressed speculation that she was dating Kieran Tripper. The Geordie Shore star and Newcastle United star had been romantically linked after partying in Ibiza.

It came following weeks of speculation about Trippier’s marriage to his now ex-wife, Charlotte, which they have now confirmed has come to an end. The former couple had been holidaying separately but Charlotte recently instructed legal advice to help her navigate through a divorce.

Last month, it was claimed that Chloe, 29, and Bury-born Kieran, 34, had grown close while both partying in Ibiza in May. Weeks prior to this, Kieran had been seen out on a night out getting close to a mystery blonde woman. A photo later emerged of Kieran placing his hand on Chloe’s bum at the superclub, Ushuaia, with sources saying they were “having some fun.”

The source went on to add: “She’s a gorgeous girl, so it’s not surprising Kieran was spending time with her.” But now, Chloe has set the record straight. We’re just friends,” she told the Daily Star.

Now, it’s claimed that Kieran is growing close to an OnlyFans star after he and his estranged wife confirmed their decision to separate. After being spotted out in Newcastle with a mystery woman, it emerged that the woman was Sienna Day.

A source told The Sun: “After leaving the Wafi Lounge, Kieran was in another club with Sienna and they appeared close. She is well known on the scene in Newcastle and was with him in the club for just over an hour. They left not long before 3am. Kieran looked very taken with Sienna.”

Last month, Kieran’s estranged wife broke her silence on the breakdown of their marriage, saying she was “fine” but wasn’t in a position to talk in depth about their decision.

In view of her 36,000 followers on Instagram, Charlotte said that she had been flooded with messages from women and “surprisingly guys” offering their support to her. She commented: “I just wanted to let everyone know that I am fine. Obviously, I am not ready to talk about my situation.

“In time I will, when I am comfortable and the time is right, also I have three young children, haven’t I, so I don’t want to be putting things out there for them to see. But yeah, I just wanted to let everyone know it’s not that bad, and you can get through it once you make the decision.

“Like, you can get through it, the sparkle does come back, I feel like I am getting my glow back again, and yeah, like, you’ll get there. So, anyone that needs any motivational speech or just some general chit chat, I’m all about mental health and stuff like that, I’m letting you know you will absolutely get through, any sort of break up or anything similar to what I’m going through.”

Her upload which was liked over 4,600 times was flooded with messages of support for Charlotte. Former The Only Way Is Essex sttar, Billi Mucklow gushed: “Keep sparkling beautiful.” One Newcastle United fan penned: “I live in the North East and I’m a huge Newcastle fan, I love Trippier on the pitch and all he’s done for the team, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t want to believe what I was reading on social media about him. However, I wanted to say I’ve followed you for a while now and what a lovely, genuine person you seem to be. Always so happy and classy. You’re so pretty, he’s lost a good one there!”

Charlotte replied to the fan: “Thanks so much! Tripps defo does great on the pitch and so happy for you Geordies that you are doing so well! Much love to the Geordies.”