| The Osmond Brothers |
For over five decades The Osmond Brothers have entertained sell out concerts throughout the world. They returned to the UK in 2014 as part of Tony Denton’s Once In A Lifetime – The Final Tour along with other 1970s favourites David Essex, Showaddywaddy and Les McKeowen’s Legendary Bay City Rollers. Andy Howells spoke with Jimmy Osmond in October 2013 about the tour.
“ This years line up is great were all friends,” says Jimmy Osmond as he takes time out to chat to me on a day off in Basingstoke, “Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers, David Essex, Showaddywaddy and The Osmonds it’s a good bill. Every person knows the music and that’s what makes it so much fun, we get along, I’m kind of sad it’s the last big one!”
Jimmy along with his brothers Merrill and Jay will perform many of their unforgettable hits from classics such as One Bad Apple, Down By The Lazy River, Let Me In, The Proud One, Goin’ Home and Love Me For A Reason to Crazy Horses and Long Haired Lover From Liverpool – the 1972 UK number one from Jimmy, a song the writer particularly associates with custard and Christmas pudding while I watched Jimmy perform it on the Christmas edition of Top of the Pops over 40 years ago. “You’re not the first guy that says that,” Jimmy laughs, “there used to be a time when I’d go “Oh no, not that again” but when you perform it in a big arena or wherever people still know it.”
I do point out that some music can recall good and positive memories and Jimmy agrees, “One thing me and my brothers have learned is we couldn’t have done it if we’d felt otherwise. It’s not about us. Its helping people remember their lives and we were lucky enough to be on the radio. You have fun on stage and people feel more relaxed with you. When you’re up there they know your having fun as well.”
Jimmy and his brothers spend a lot of the time in the UK revisiting their English and Welsh roots. Despite performing for nearly 47 years Jimmy doesn’t take his fame for granted, “It’s really lucky. We had amazing people that were legends that were our mentors. The 70s were amazing years. Unless you actually lived through them people don’t get it, I think that’s why these shows we’re doing are going to be cool because it’s a celebration – the ultimate party.”
A version of this interview by Andy Howells was originally published in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide during October, 2013.