» Gorillaz in the mix
Jo gets into the festive spirit with Dita Von Teese, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett
Last week was definitely party week and I kicked off by going along to Burlesque-beauty Dita Von Teese’s festive party in Marylebone where she treated an intimate audience of friends and fashionistas to a pre-Christmas performance of her latest show – inspired by Cointreau, of which she is the new face. The spectacular show featured the pint-sized pin-up frolicking in a giant Champagne glass. And what is the temptress looking forward to in the New Year? “My divorce,” she quipped. “I’m not looking for a new boyfriend just yet but men who put fun and experiences at the forefront come first with me.”
From there I dashed across town in a taxi to Ladbroke Grove for the annual bash held by animated band Gorillaz which was hosted by the band’s creators Damon Albarn and my old mate, Worthing’s own Jamie Hewlett. The party was held in a huge marquee on their studio roof, which overlooks a flyover. Inside was a fully stocked bar and a huge vodka luge in the shape of a half peeled banana – ding dong. We danced the night away to great old school classics before heading home in the wee small hours.
The fun didn’t stop there as the next day I found myself helping out at a new print gallery on the Charing Cross Road. Owned by Steve Lazarides, the gallery stocks the very best in contemporary art prints – mostly signed limited editions, plus books and a bit of sculpture. The booze started flowing at midday and carried on until 5pm. Our party then decamped to Soho House where it seemed that every media type was having an early Christmas party. I bumped into an old client and ex-Blue Peter presenter Diane Louise Jordan who was accompanied by the
rather gorgeous Tim Vincent. After a few glasses they were showing us the very best Christmas-wrapping techniques involving lashings of sticky back plastic!
Back home again to unpack and then re-pack as I took the office on our annual Christmas jaunt – this year the destination was Paris. After kicking off the trip in the world’s longest champagne bar at the fabulous new St Pancras International, we spent a fantastic few days in the beautiful City of Light, marred only by a sighting of the odious Jonathan King.
Before we headed home to ring in the New Year, we had time for one final festive photo call. This picture should warm everyone’s cockles – a lovely group of carol-singers from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Portslade who won Southern FM’s Xmas Factor competition. The group triumphed over many other local schools with their live on-air rendition of The Holly and The Ivy, winning the opportunity to make a professional recording of the carol at Southern’s studios. What a lovely Christmas gift for their Mums and Dads.
Jo Brooks is director of Brighton-based PR company JBPR Ltd
01273 622555, www.jb-pr.com
