Star reveals proudest moment
RADIO TALK STOPPED MAN ON THE WAY TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE
WITH his debut album rocketing to the top of the charts – and set to keep that all-important No 1 spot today – Sam Fender appeared on BBC Breakfast News yesterday to talk about his “surreal” journey to date.
And in an interview with show hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt he shared the extraordinary story about how his song Dead Boys has helped save a man’s life.
The unassuming singer-songwriter, whose Hypersonic Missiles album has been enjoying enormous sales since its release last week, was discussing one of its most talkedabout tracks, Dead Boys, which he wrote following the suicide of a friend.
He said he is proud that the song, about suicide and the shock of loss, is striking a chord. And he then told of a story which he said captures his “proudest moment”.
He told his hosts: “There was a guy who was suicidal and was going to drive his car off the road and coincidentally had the radio on and I was on Five Live.
“We were talking about Dead Boys, about male suicide, about mental health and how it’s hard to open up – and that’s all it took for him to stop the car.”
The 25-year-old said he heard about the incident six months later when he received an anonymous email from the man, whom he went on to meet at one of his shows.
He added: “I don’t have any answers – I’m never going to overestimate the clout of my job.
“I’m a singer-songwriter. I’m not a doctor – they’re the heroes of the world, the people that are actually saving lives. Police, teachers – they’re the ones doing good.
“It was the one moment in my life where something happened, where a song connected, raised a conversation and it gave this person just a split second to change their perspective and he went back home, went to his wife and said, ‘I need some help.’
“That was the catalyst that led him to get help and that is the proudest moment of my career.
“No matter how many records I sell, no matter whether I go to number one or whatever tomorrow, that’s all great, but that’s the best thing that ever happened.”
During the interview, Fender was also asked about his meeting with Sting and having tea with Elton John – and how he is a special guest on Saturday at Liam Gallagher’s homecoming gig at the O2 Ritz Manchester.
He revealed he has bought the former Oasis frontman a cake to celebrate his birthday, which will be that very day.
“I’m so buzzing. I can’t wait to meet him,” he said. “It’s going to be a roar.
“I’ve got him a cake – a Man City cake,” he added, in light of the fact that football-loving Gallagher is known to be a devoted follower of Manchester City.
And as for the potential of securing that number one spot for Hypersonic Missiles, he added: “Fingers crossed it stays there for tomorrow.”
Sam’s BBC Breakfast interview can be watched on the BBC iPlayer service.