Sandi Thom’s favourite guitar stolen

By Alexander Lawrie

SCOTS rocker Sandi Thom has been left devastated after her favourite guitar was stolen.

The Wish I Was a Punk Rocker singer-songwriter has been frantically calling friends and family to see if she has left it anywhere, but after an unsuccessful search is now convinced the 12-string Duesenberg has been nicked.

Sandi’s mum Josephine admitted her daughter is “frantic with worry” about losing the prized guitar, which she has owned for around six years.

The stunning black-and-white instrument is seen on the cover of Sandi’s second album, The Pink and the Lily, and Sandi revealed her distress over the theft in a Twitter entry yesterday. (Wed)

Mumbai massacre survivor relives hotel bloodbath

By Michael MacLeod

THE sole Scots survivor of the Mumbai massacre says he feared “certain death” while trapped in his hotel room for two days.

In a business trip that clashed with an Islamic terror group’s co-ordinated raid of Indian hotels, Roger Hunt, 43, was moments from becoming one of the 170 dead.

Speaking at the weekend in his first interview about the siege, the Royal Bank of Scotland manager told of how he escaped a shower of bullets.

He had just left the Oberoi Hotel’s restaurant when gunmen burst in and “sprayed bullets” at the very table he had eaten dinner at.

Sandi Thom trying to crack Hollywood

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

SCOTS pop singer Sandi Thom has spent the last month in Los Angeles trying to crack Hollywood.

The I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker singer is all set to appear in an, as yet, un-named movie performing the ballad Ungrateful Heart, which is taken from her second album.

The MacDuff-born songwriter was spotted playing the track by the film’s director at a recent US gig and was immediately snapped up to star in the movie.

Thom is due to fly out to LA next month to record the scene.

The singer, who recently lost her pet cat Toots to an alleged shooting by a farmer, has also been playing in front of  top film and television executives in an effort to have her songs included in future projects.

Sandi Thom in hunt for lost pet

By Alexander Lawrie

Caledonia star Sandi Thom has rushed back to her Scots home after her beloved cat went missing.

The distraught singer left her Brighton home last Thursday and is currently scouring the area surrounding her home in Macduff, Aberdeenshire, for lost puss Toots.

In an impassioned plea on her Myspace blog Sandi, 26, has asked fans to “pray that I find her”.

She said: “Guys I’m totally distraught with worry. My cat toots has gone missing now since Thursday. I’m totally sick with worry.

“She’s a street wise cat but she’s only little. I’ve just rushed home to my house in Scotland where she lives from my flat in Brighton to mount a search.

“My mum, brother and neighbours are helping me to look for her. Please everyone pray that I find her, she means the world to me.”

The Homecoming Scotland star has just completed a sell-out British tour, and is currently preparing to jet off to the States to appear at this year’s South by South West festival in Austin, Texas.

She will be joined at the ‘Showcasing Scotland’ event by fellow Scots Glasvegas, Primal Scream and The Proclaimers.

Designed to promote the country’s music scene, the prestigious event will also see performances by lesser-known Scottish acts such Camera Obscura, Found and The Pictish Trail.

Scots Rocker Cancels Capital Homecoming gig

By Alexander Lawrie

SCOTS pop star Sandi Thom has been forced to cancel her upcoming Homecoming Scotland gig in Edinburgh.

The I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker singer is said to desperately disappointed after hearing the gig was to be shelved.

Thom was due to appear in the capital at the Liquid Rooms venue on January 29 as part of her 15 date British tour, but the venue is out of action for up to a year after suffering severe damage due to a huge fire in a nearby Indian restaurant.

Kushi’s Indian Restaurant, in the city’s Victoria Street, went up in flames last month amid chaotic scenes as hundreds of residents were evacuated as a safety precaution.

The Liquid Rooms is situated next door to the popular restaurant and was affected by major water damage as the fire service battled to contain the inferno.

The Macduff-born star is hoping to return to play the venue when it finally re-opens.

She informed fans of the situation on her Myspace blog yesterday.

It reads: “We regret to inform you that Sandi’s gig at the Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh has been cancelled due to severe damage to the venue.

“The gig was scheduled to go ahead on January 29th and unfortunatley, due to short notice, no replacement gig will be arranged in Edinburgh. More details to follow regarding current ticket holders.

“Sandi and the rest of TeamThom would like to apologise for this, and we hope the Liquid Rooms can be restored to its former glory as it is a venue Sandi has enjoyed playing at many times.”

Scores of arranged gigs have had to be cancelled due to the Liquid Room’s sudden closure, with other city venues helping out if they have a free night.

Sandi Thom Backs X Factor Winner

By Alexander Lawrie

SCOTS pop singer Sandi Thom has expressed her delight at Alexandra Burke winning the X Factor crown.

In a message to her fans on Myspace, the Macduff-born singer said Alexandra was “a great British talent” who deserved her victory.

Thom, 27, also revealed to fans she is “really excited” to be asked to play at Edinburgh’s New Year celebrations at Edinburgh Castle.

And she hopes her performance will still go to plan – after her cat bit her finger sending it to swell to twice its normal size.

She said: “So who watched the X Factor? You know I did. Wow! What a nail biter. I’m so chuffed that Alexandra won. She’s such a great British talent and I was so overwhelmed by her performance with Beyonce.

“I had the kleenex out I tell ya. Beyonce’s such an amazing woman and I can only imagine how Alex felt to be standing next to her on stage. I had a lump in my throat for her.

“Yip, she deserved to win that hands down.”

The I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker singer, who was discovered after broadcasting gigs from her bedroom on the internet, is also looking forward to performing at this year’s Edinburgh New Year celebrations.

She said: “So ho, ho, ho. It’s almost Xmas, and I haven’t done any of my shopping. But, all is not lost cos I’ve still got a few more weeks to go.

“So I’m on my way to Glasgow at the mo(ment) to rehearse for the Edinburgh New Year’s celebrations at Edinburgh Castle.

“Really excited cos I get to play with a big pipe band which is gonna be amazing.”

And the T in the Park star has also revealed she is currently recovering from a nasty wound to her hand – after her pet cat nibbled on her finger.

She said: “So my fingers getting better, for those of you that haven’t heard, my scared little kitty bit me the other night and it got infected.

“Swelled up like a balloon but I got penicillin from the doc and its getting better, hooray.

“Anyhow time to get off and do some work. Really excited about the tour…won’t reveal my special guests just yet but I can tell ya they’re very special.”