Clear The Air Please, It's Crowe's Star Turn
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday April 7, 2003
Russell Crowe knows how to party to the Maximus. The Gladiator star has assembled an extraordinary line-up of musical talent to celebrate his marriage to Danielle Spencer, to take place at sunset today.
In an apparent attempt to cater to all tastes, Crowe has engaged the Abba impersonators Bjorn Again to help him say I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do. Also performing at the million-dollar celebration is the Australian Chamber Orchestra and its leader and principal violinist, Richard Tognetti, the singer Wendy Matthews - and the cabaret artist and actor Paul Capsis .
The wedding has attracted interest from media worldwide. Crowe has charted a helicopter to ward off low-flying choppers carrying paparazzi over his property and is releasing official photographs of the event in an effort to satisfy the media's demand for images.
Crowe's publicist Wendy Day said he had offers of ``millions" for exclusive rights to wedding photographs, but turned them down.
Three members of Crowe's rock band, Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts , arrived in Coffs Harbour yesterday. The group's trumpet player, Stewart Kirwin , said the band would not be playing at Crowe's Nana Glen property, but the appearance of several guitars, a trumpet and assorted musical equipment on the luggage carousel suggested they would be ready if the groom decided to serenade his bride.
Asked if Crowe would have less time for rock and roll after his marriage, Kirwin said: ``I think he'll still play."
Spencer, a musician in her own right, partied until 2.30am yesterday at her hen's night at Bentley's on Elizabeth , a fine dining restaurant in central Coffs Harbour. A party of about 55 women, including Crowe's mother, Jocelyn , dined on Tasmanian crayfish and French champagne.
``The girls were dancing; it was a happy, loose, relaxed situation," said the restaurant's licensee, Friedy Meinel. ``Danielle got a lot of presents. The usual sort of thing girls give each other; negligees and that sort of thing."
There was no bad behaviour, apparently. ``I can't give you any hot gossip, because there wasn't any," Mr Meinel said.
Isolated showers are forecast for the mid-North Coast today, but Crowe and Spencer will say their vows inside the domed chapel the actor has built on his property.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald
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