23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Band started falling apart,' admits The Zutons star after Amy Winehouse cover
EXCLUSIVE: The Zutons had already been long established before Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson covered their hit Valerie, but lead singer Dave McCabe admits this was the start of their downfall
The Zutons frontman, Dave McCabe has revealed the band started "falling apart" after Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson's cover of their hit, Valerie. The Liverpool-based band formed in 2002 and went on to achieve chart success following their debut album, Who Killed... The Zutons in 2004.
But their second record, Tired of Hanging Around, spawned hits including Why Won't You Give Me Your Love? and the classic track, Valerie, which saw them land two spots inside the official UK Top Ten. But just one year after the release of Valerie, the course of The Zutons changed forever.
Legendary DJ, producer and songwriter Mark Ronson teamed up with his pal Amy Winehouse, who was a fan of the track, to re-record a cover version of the song. However, the record almost never took off as Mark was initially hesitant as to whether it would work for Amy. "I loved it," he said. The cover went on to chart at Number Two and spent 19 weeks in the Top 20.
Now, in an exclusive interview with the Mirror, Dave has opened up about his reaction to the cover. "It was really good, but I didn't realise at the time, you don't sit there and think 'This is going to be huge', at the time, we'd already had a huge hit with it, we'd sold over 200,000 singles which is a lot.
"But when that [cover] started getting traction and going big, the band kind of started falling apart – and it wasn't because of that. You'd look at that and be like 'God, you've got to write another one of these,' you can't force anything like that. I think it all happened at a cushy moment because we were falling out as a group, and then that went big and it kind of buried us.
"I think being on a major label, the pressure does get to you, you don't realise it." Reflecting on the cover, he said it was "good" but had no idea it would take off so quickly. "I didn't realise, no one did, that she was going to die. When she did, it was kind of immortalised even more.
"I don't even see it, is it our song anymore? It's this other thing now." Amy tragically died just four years after the release of Valerie, aged 27. It was confirmed that the singer who was found unresponsive at her home in Camden, north London, died from alcohol poisoning.
Dave recalled walking past pubs and hearing women singing the track on karaoke. "It makes me feel warm and smile, because I wrote that," he proudly explained. He added: "It's just taken a life of it's own and I'm forever grateful. It's an honour that someone discovered it and did a really good job on it. Our version is pretty f***ing good but the fact she took it even further speaks volumes about her talent."
Last year, the band released their first studio album, The Big Decider, in 16 years. "We had to do a lot more work," he said of the record, having released it independently away from a major label. He also revealed that the release was very different to previous records as artists now tour the record before its release.
"It felt rushed out," he said but adding: "When I look at everyone else in a band doing that, you gig to promote your album, sell it on the spot when the tour finishes and maybe later on in the year, you go on tour. The tours and gigs later on in the year were a bit more rewarding in terms of new music."
Despite this, he admits releasing the record and hitting the road was "fun". "It's not just plugging in, playing songs, you have to become this persona or sell yourself, and I find that difficult," he commented. But he admits the release was "stressful" at some points, as those around the band had to work harder.
"It's nice to have the power to do what you want," he said of releasing music independently. However, while it was "nice" to have a major label plugging cash into previous albums and marketing campaigns, which he missed, working independently showed a more "realistic ballpark" for the band.
The record was produced by none other than Nile Rodgers, Liam Broudie and former drummer Sean Payne and landed at Number Seven on the Official UK Charts, and topped the UK Independent Albums Chart. "There were lots of ups to all of it," Dave said, adding: "I'm glad it happened and I'm glad we're back out there.
"I find it's a lot faster now. If you put a song out that isn't the next Valerie, I think it's ok. People listen to your songs as they are. The pressure is off in that sense. The people who come to your gigs are loyal fans because we didn't put anything out for 15 years. I feel lucky and grateful that we get to do these types of things, and we're still functioning as a band."
This weekend, the band will perform alongside Richard Ashcroft, who has also released his first single since 2018, Lover, at SMR 25 at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage. "I'm excited to be playing with Richard Ashcroft," Dave gushed. He added: "You just forget how many tunes he's got. The first band I ever went to see was the Smashing Pumpkins in 1993, I went with my mates, I was 11. The first band I saw were The Verve supporting them.
"It's taken me 32 years to finally get on the same stage but here I am and it's exciting. They came out in glittery tops with long hair – A Storm in Heaven, that's the album they were playing. I've got fond memories. When he played all his songs at his show, you don't realise, they're all solid. There's a massive nostalgia thing going on."
The band haven't performed together for some time and Dave admits he hopes there's nerves amongst them. "It's very rare that there isn't nerves, excitement is good," he said, adding: "Even anxiety can be good before you go on. It's a release when you go on because you're finally doing it.
"I think when you're going on and you're yawning, it's never a good sign. Naturally, that's what can happen but it hasn't happened to me for quite a long time. We always come off stage and think, 'Why were we yawning before that?' Nerves are essentially, I think, you've got to use them to your advantage."
Dave revealed that nerves provide a different energy for a show. But he admits that artists can find themselves being "selfish" due to crowds watching them rather than heading to the bar. Joining the line-up are the likes of Sigala, Bob Vylan and The Futureheads.
SMR 25 kicks off today at The Lamex Stadium, Stevenage at 3pm and continues through til Sunday. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and See Tickets.
