When Shirley Bassey agrees to perform one of your songs you know you’re doing something right! And that’s exactly what happened to rock band Never The Bride after they left an album and note for the Welsh diva at a plush Monte Carlo hotel.
Now the rock band – made up of composer Catherine “Been” Feeney and singer Nikki Lamborn – are looking forward to hearing their song performed on national television.
Dame Shirley is said to have fallen in love with their track The Living Tree after listening to their album. “We heard that Shirley worked out in the gym at the hotel most days,” said Nikki. “We gave our letter to the concierge and he agreed to watch out for her. Two weeks later we turn on the computer and there’s an email from The Bassey Office’.”
Dame Shirley loved the track so much that she performed the song in front of the Queen at this year’s Royal Variety Performance, and early next year she will sing it as part of the ITV special An Audience with Shirley Bassey.
“We are big fans and feel privileged that such an incredible artist is singing one of our songs,” said Catherine. “She’s in love with our song and everyone around her is saying it is destined to become a Bassey classic.”
But this is not the band’s first claim to fame! Never The Bride – who found their name after performing at weddings together – have also supported The Who, ZZ Top and the Pretenders, as well as performing alongside rock gods Alice Cooper and Paul Rodgers on The British Rock Symphony Tour, travelling the UK, Europe and Australia.
Their career continues to blossom – playing their first gig at the Royal Albert Hall is one of the most memorable highlights – and Dame Shirley is not their only famous fan. Rocker Roger Daltrey has compared their sound to that of the late Janis Joplin.
The girls are joined in the band by lead guitarist Murray Gould, who has performed with Faithless, Dido and Elton John; drummer John Tonks, who has played drums with Fish, Belinda Carlisle and Tony Hadley, and has also worked as musical director for the Sugababes and Neneh Cherry; and bass player Greg Harewood, who has toured alongside legendary singers Barry White and James Brown.
Since getting together at a jamming session in a London pub 1 5 years ago, the band have recorded five albums as well as completing tours of the UK and USA. They are currently in the studio working on a new album, due out next year.
It looks like they are well on the way to finally becoming big stars! Visit www.neverthebride.com for more information. An Audience with Shirley Bassey will be on ITV1 in the new year.
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