Circumstances could have been happier, but it’s not every day that we get rock-and-roll hall-of-famers The Pretenders and brit-pop giants Suede sharing a stage. This is going to happen on November 20 at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, as the two bands will raise money to aid mutual crew member John Brandham who recently suffered a stroke.
Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders explained the event in a press release: “We are delighted to be playing this unexpected end of the year show with Suede in aid of our dear pal John Brandham, most trusted friend and deluxe crew member.
“John suffered a medical setback recently and will, therefore, be sadly missed during our 2020 tours – but to see him through in the mean-time, we’re doing the mother of all benefits. Should be a great night!”
Suede’s Brett Anderson has mentioned Brandham in his memoir, Afternoon With The Blinds Drawn, which came out recently. He described Brandham as “the perfect person with whom to spend long journeys; he is kind and respectful and very funny, possessing a bone-dry, self-deprecating Tottenham fan’s wit and the flattened, drawling vowels of a broad Estuary accent.”
We wish Brandham a quick recovery, and many more tours and long journeys to come!
