Free as a Bird
Babybird singer feels like he’s been given a second chance after suffering heart attack.. and the 90s star, who’s pals with Johnny Depp, is making the most of it with a UK tour
YOU’RE Gorgeous singer Stephen Jones is about to go on his first tour since having a heart attack last year.
The 55-year-old is better known as the frontman of Babybird, who had the huge hit in the 90s and have worked with Johnny Depp.
But a lifetime of living in studios nearly caught up with him.
He said: “It wasn’t a grab chest and keel over single event. It was a gradual thing over a few days.
“I was taxi-ing my daughter around for her exams so I grinned and bared it until it got too much. I was unable to walk a few feet even.
“I went to A&E and I had no idea what it was but it was sorted in three days.”
Now Stephen is on blood thinners and other drugs to keep him on an even keel and has been going to the gym, losing a stone-and-a-half.
Fully recovered, he tested the waters in December with two London gigs and has now stepped up his comeback , firstly in Bristol tonight, followed by London, Manchester and Glasgow’s Hug and Pint on May 18, before a final date in Sheffield.
Stephen said: “My partner and two kids came to the gigs in December which were a test to see if I could survive without keeling over.
“They were naturally worried but the gigs really were brilliant. There was no record company pressure and just pure excitement. For me, anyway.”
The singer is not sure why the heart attack happened but admits spending long hours in his studio and being overweight probably didn’t help. As well as getting fitter, he has also cut down on booze.
He said: “The one thing I’ve had to change in my life is the gym. I always hated them but now I love it, shockingly.
“A few months after the attack, the doctor said I had a perfect heart and no damage. So it was a timely warning. But the word perfect is dangerous as you feel untouchable again.”
The Telford-born star has had a remarkable career. He began as a solo act under his own name until he created Babybird in 1995. The next year, You’re Gorgeous reached No3 in the UK charts.
While some musicians find their biggest hits something of an albatross around their neck, Stephen is happy with his.
He added: “Our other songs still make money but Gorgeous definitely meant I could continue to this day to do all the odd and usual things I do on (music website) Bandcamp.”
While they never made the top 10, Babybird scored nine top 40 hits, including If You’ll Be Mine, Candy Girl and The F Word – which was used as the theme tune to Gordon Ramsay’s TV show of the same name.
Stephen explained how his song ended up with the swear-tastic chef.
He said: “We were invited to go sit in the restaurant but couldn’t make it.
“The song was there first and as the actual F Word isn’t mentioned’ it was a no-brainer for the connection to happen.”
Stephen has also worked with Hollywood star and part-time guitar axeman Johnny Depp.
He said: “Johnny asked to meet me as he and Marilyn Manson were listening to Bad Old and Take Me Back ( from the second Babybird album There’s Something Going On). So I was summoned.”
Johnny first played guitar on Unloveable from the 2009 album Ex-Maniac and directed the video for the song which was banned as it featured Stephen being hanged.
The singer said: “Johnny loves the dark, as I do. Unloveable was like a little movie.”
Johnny also played guitar on Jesus Stage Night Club on the 2011 Babybird album The Pleasures of Self Destruction.
Stephen hopes he’ll play on more of his music.
He added: “One day I hope. He’s very easy to work with. Very self-deprecating. Shy and I’m shy. The shy take revenge on the world with big and bold ideas.”
While he’s looking forward to playing alongside the movie star again, Stephen has no interest in featuring with Depp and Alice Cooper in their Hollywood Vampires band.
He said: “I’m happy in my own little world. Showbiz is mental, as Johnny would tell you.”
As well as writing fiction and recording under different alias, Stephen continues to self-release Babybird albums on Bandcamp. It’s allowed him to put out more than 100 albums in five years.
He added: “Making music is the only thing I can do in life quite well. Mowing the law and emptying the rubbish – I’m not so good at.”
Check out Stephen’s music on thestephenjones.bandcamp.com site