The incredible Lulu still has plenty to shout about and is back with another fantastic tour. The Grammy-nominated singer will be performing hits from her 50 year career, such as The Man Who Sold The World, Relight My Fire and, of course, Shout, at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Monday 18th April and at the Komedia, Brighton on Wednesday 20th April.
As well as performing songs from some of her musical heroes, such as soul legends, Ray Charles and Otis Redding, she will also be taking us on a musical journey recalling personal anecdotes, song writing experiences, and other entertaining stories.
Lulu is one of the country’s most popular singers, recognised the world over for tracks like her Eurovision winner Boom Bang-a-Bang, and the mega hit To Sir with Love. Her first glimpse of the music business was at the age of 12, when she began joining a live band called The Bellrocks every Saturday night as the singer, and managed to impress – her voice was described as “remarkable” even then!
At the age of 15, she signed with Decca Records, and hasn’t looked back since…
So, you’re back on the road again.
Yes, and I love it. It’s really what makes me tick.
After all your years of success, how do you stop yourself from getting bored with it all?
Well, when you see how the music stirs people, how it puts fire in their bellies and brings light to their faces, it transforms how they are feeling and it’s a really powerful tool to be responsible for. And, at the same time, it does the same for you, the performer. It’s that feel good factor for all of us and that’s why, even after all this time, I love the live shows.
It must be great to witness that reaction.
Music moves you to a time and a place but it’s also healing. I believe that music has a healing power as well. The biggest deal when you go to a gig is to have a great night out and that is it, bottom line, finish, period, the end, and if I go out and perform and I haven’t had a great night out then there was something wrong with the gig.
I try to use my music to take people for an emotional ride, for them to have some kind of feeling of nostalgia, and to take them through a number of feelings and memories, maybe sad or happy or just a sort of contentment and, if you are doing your job properly, and been around as long as have, and sung Shout as many times as I have sung it, I know what sort of reaction it is able to elicit and the possibility of what it can do for people.
But is that a two way street?
Of course, yes. Everything it does for the audience it does for me. The music that I make to uplift the audience, uplifts me as well and then we all end up just having a great night out together.
In this world where fame can come and go so quickly, how do you stay in the limelight?
I have no idea. I’ve never really thought about it. Fame is not something that is, or ever has been, important to me. What does the word even mean? Fame is flat, unimportant, lightweight and transparent. In the great scheme of things what I do is a job and I love my job. That is the reward.
If people think, in their minds, that I am “famous”, or different, then that is their perception and their perspective. From my point of view, I’m just like everybody else, but I am very lucky to have a gift where I can make music as my job, and that I can still do it at my age, and after all these years. I’m very grateful for that thing that I have, that I honestly believe was given to me as a gift.
You have performed with some of the greatest music stars along the way.
Yes, quite a few, I’ve worked with The Beatles, The Monkees, The Bee Gees, Take That and with many many others. I’ve been lucky to work with legendary, wonderfully talented, people in the music industry and that’s another reason why I love it so much.
It’s hard work, because only hard work will keep you in the business. You see the music business is for young people, but even for the young it’s difficult, and if you want to keep doing your job, like me, then you have to work even harder but I have never been put off by hard work. I relish it and I actually thrive on it, but, if you’re a successful artist, I think that is always the case.
What has been the reaction on your latest tour?
Well, so far, every night we are just tearing the house down. Every single night the audience are so quiet when I am talking or singing the emotional ballads and then they are absolutely screaming their heads off and jumping up and down and dancing in the aisles with the fast stuff. It’s just the most magical celebration – so why would I ever want to stop?
I have a young, very tight, band full of great musicians and brilliant singers, so there’s harmonies and a lot of vocals and then, there’s me. I am one of those lucky people who have a lot of energy and I kind of ignite as I walk on stage but, at the same time, because of my age and my experiences, I also have those moments when I can become really introverted and emotional during a ballad or when I’m talking about my journey.
When you’re not working, do you ever curl up with a good book?
Oh yes. I’m actually reading War and Peace right now, for the second time, but I don’t think I fully read it the first time round. I love to watch a really good TV series as well. I totally love Julie Walters and everyone who is in Indian Summers which I relish watching on a Sunday night and then I download all the other things when I am on the road.
I have to amuse myself because, you see, I don’t talk for like 10 hours or so every night. When I come off stage after a show, I stop speaking at around 11 or 11.30 and I don’t talk to anyone until about 10.30 the next morning. It’s the only way that I can make sure that my voice is on point every night and I can give my best for every show.
Lulu appears at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Monday 18th April and at The Komedia, Brighton on Wednesday 20th April. Both venues are officially sold out – but please check with the venue box offices for returns.
