Blog: 2018

I’d like to pass the band’s best wishes to Mark E. Smith’s family and friends.

The Fall were hugely influential in the embryonic stages of James’ existence.

Dating back to our ‘Model Team International’ days.

Not only musically inspiring a hunt for originality, ann where melody meets grit and ideas, but also a bloody minded, fuck-you Manc attitude.

The Fall gave us so many support slots. share It’s where we fumbled around trying to find our feet.

In a parallel universe The Fall are quite rightly the biggest band on the planet.

Immeasurable thanks and praise.

We are proud to support and raise awareness for Musicians Against Homelessness with a special rendition of Sit Down—featuring renowned composer/conductor Joe Duddell and a string quartet—filmed at Manchester’s Albert Hall last December exclusively for the cause.

MAH was launched by Alan McGee in 2016 with the twin aims of supporting upcoming talent through sourcing performance opportunities, 4rbshare and to raise the profile of homelessness whilst raising funds.

The campaign supports thousands of people living on the streets and in poverty via Crisis in England, Scotland and Wales and Simon Community in Northern Ireland.

To support their work please text MAH to 70004 to donate £3 to Crisis.*

“Sit Down is a song about empathy so we are really honoured and happy that this beautiful version, arranged by Joe Duddell, is being used to annmix raise money for the homeless.

“We seem to be living in times of increasing inequality where all the safety nets that my generation took for granted have been taken away.

“I don’t know how a person can hold their life together if they don’t have a home, a cave, someplace safe they can call their own. It is too easy for us to look the other way. Thank you to the kind souls who are running this charitable organisation for not doing so.”—Tim

Watch the video—enjoy!—and please consider making a donation to this very worthy cause.

*Texts cost £3.00 plus your network charge. Crisis receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payer’s permission. Helpline 08000 384838. Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094. Text STOP to 70004 to opt out of future contact from Crisis.

Fashionably late to the party, we’ve finally set up shop on Instagram. When the blog cupboard is looking rather bare why not take a peek at what we’re up to over there? You’ll find us at @wearejames.

James, 1983: ‘Not a gang of Jesses’. L to R: Tim Booth, Paul Gilbertson, Jim Glennie, Gavan Whelan photographed by Paul Slattery for Sounds. #wearejames #jamesisnotaperson #jameslasts #jameshistory #paulgilbertson #jimglennie #timbooth #gavanwhelan #paulslattery #sounds #manchester #manchestershipcanal #manchestermusic #alternativemusic #indiemusic

A post shared by JAMES (@wearejames) on Mar 30, 2018 at 11:58am PDT

Hi folks, just a few words of thanks for your support on the recently ended May tour.

We didn’t make it easy for you, playing a bunch of songs from the new album that isn’t out yet.

As usual you did us proud with your commitment and enthusiasm.

It’s always a little daunting taking new material on the road but your concentration and positivity is always so impressive.

Thanks to the old guard for trekking around to lesser known corners of the UK, and if it was your first James gig hopefully it won’t be your last.

I hope you enjoyed support ‘Lanterns On The Lake’. We’ve been trying to get them to play with us for a while and it hasn’t worked out. So glad it did this time.

I’d like to officially welcome on board Deborah Knox-Hewson. Thrown in at the deep end with little rehearsal, she’s stood up well to the wonderful chaos that is the world of James.

Also a big thank you to all our crew and everyone involved with putting on a James gig.

There is so much more to it than just us eight turning up and playing.

Jim