I Never Thought It Would Happen

I Never Thought It Would Happen

Singer-songwriter Chris Difford (Squeeze) is joined by musical guests to talk about the highs and lows of their career in this new podcast from Help Musicians. Series 4 returns on Tuesday March 19th with James Blunt. Listen to our previous episodes now and find out more at www.HelpMusicians.org.uk

Episodes

August 18, 2025 27 mins
"It's a universal language, it really is. Even if you're not speaking the language... you know, you can sing these songs and it'd just be like a wave of emotion and they can relate to it, even if they can't understand the words you're saying" - Kelsie Watts

With Chris for this episode is Kelsie Watts who's currently performing in the huge award winning Broadway hit "Six The Musical" based on the wives of Henry VIII, ...
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"A professor of mine said a very true thing to me. He said, you know the great thing about music Craig is that you’ll never really know anything about it" - Craig Armstrong

This episode features a fascinating conversation with the multi-genre spanning musician and composer Craig Armstrong. Craig has collaborated with huge artists like U2, Madonna and Massive Attack, toured with Ultravox in their mid-Eighties pomp and ...
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June 9, 2025 36 mins
"We all take music for granted, really. But it's kind of with us through every memorable part of our lives. And to just have it as such a meaningful occupation, but to not properly support the people that make it seems absolutely crazy" - Amy MacDonald

Joining Chris for this episode is singer-songwriter Amy MacDonald, who's fate was sealed when she saw fellow Scots Travis live for the first time - she quickly realised...
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June 2, 2025 37 mins
"The thing that he said that struck me most was, you don't get people's attention more by being louder... you make them want to lean in when you pull back. The moments that resonate the most are when I pull back" - Victoria Canal

In this episode of Chris' podcast, he's joined by singer-songwriter Victoria Canal. A globe-trotting childhood, with all of its upheavals and changes, led Victoria to finding in music solace ...
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May 26, 2025 36 mins
"I have a very vivid memory of seeing 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' when I was nine and that was a very profound experience for me, because I loved the movie. I was very aware of what that music was doing to my experience..." - Theodore Shapiro

In this episode Chris explores a whole new world of music making in the company of composer Theodore Shapiro. Theodore has written music for a whole host of film and TV productions...
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May 19, 2025 38 mins
“Because we write in so many genres, it’s always exciting to song write. Because today it’s like, we can write a D+B song and tomorrow we can write an Emo song. So it doesn’t get boring, because there’s always a new genre that you haven’t written in” - ALT BLK ERA

In this episode Chris is joined by not one, but two guests - sisters Nyrobi and Chaya who front ALT BLK ERA, one of the most eclectic and electric acts you'...
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May 12, 2025 44 mins
"Back when I was a kid, I didn't want to know what Bryan Ferry's kitchen looked like, you know? I couldn't even imagine him having one... People don't want that now. Why don't they want mystique?" - Gary Kemp

In conversation with Chris for this episode is Gary Kemp, now a solo artist and a member of Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets. It was Gary's sharp songwriting that brought him to prominence and fame in the Eighti...
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"I've had a pretty tumultuous upbringing... I was pretty scared about being too honest about it all." - Jade Bird

Chatting with Chris in this episode is British singer-songwriter Jade Bird. Experiencing a difficult home life, Jade began writing songs early, aged just 12. She was in her teens when Glassnote Records signed her, with her self-titled debut album appearing in 2019. Her second album, 'Different Kinds Of Lig...
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April 28, 2025 41 mins
"It was alien, extremely alien. And it looked alien... with the buttons. What is this machine? What is this thing?" - Abel Selaocoe, on his brother's bassoon.

For this episode, Chris welcomes a South African cellist, singer and composer, who's now resident in Manchester. Inspired by all sorts of different music he heard through the radio, Abel discovered the cello as a pre-teen and at 13 won a scholarship to study mus...
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"I don't know who the man is that lives inside my body... but I'm so glad he turns up." - Thom Rylance.

Chatting with Chris in this episode is Thom Rylance of The Lottery Winners. The indie-pop 4 piece from Greater Manchester took their cues from bands like The Smiths and Orange Juice as well as the Britpop scene and have quickly risen to the top. Such is their wide-ranging appeal they've collaborated and toured with ...
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"I mean, you're either a creative or you're a burglar" - Bryan Adams.

Joining Chris for the first episode of his 5th series is rock superstar, and man of many talents Bryan Adams. As well as having huge global hit singles, multi-million selling albums, a number of remarkable duets and a worldwide fanbase, Bryan is also an acclaimed photographer.

In this conversation you'll hear about Bryan's songwriting start...
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Chris Difford returns with Series 5 of his hit podcast 'I Never Thought It Would Happen' - coming soon! Made in collaboration with Help Musicians, Chris is celebrating his 50th anniversary in the business, so in addition to talking to some brilliant artists he will also be answering your questions about songwriting, performing, a life on the road and much more...so send your questions to Chris@helpmusicians.org.uk and find ou...
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For a bonus episode of his podcast, Chris welcomes Travis frontman Fran Healy. Emerging from Glasgow in the mid 90s, and now in their fourth decade together, Travis were inspirational to a number of like-minded British guitar bands like Coldplay, Snow Patrol and Keane.

Travis 2nd album, 1999's 'The Man Who', was a became a huge hit globally, fuelled by the unstoppable single 'Why Does It Always Rain On Me?'. And when ...
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Joining Chris is Mark Knopfler, the revered singer-songwriter and a masterful guitar player, with a totally distinctive sound and style. Always fascinated with music, Mark worked as a junior reporter and studied English before finally realising his long held dream of finding the right band. That band was Dire Straits, whose ascent was remarkable with their 5th studio album 'Brothers In Arms' becoming a global juggernaut eventu...
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Joining Chris for this episode is legendary PR man Alan Edwards. During his 45 years working in the music industry he's worked with the likes of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, The Spice Girls, Michael Jackson, The Stranglers, Blondie, Paul McCartney and Amy Winehouse.

Alan began his career under the tutelage of another music PR legend, Keith Altham, whose clients included Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Beach Boys and Ma...
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Joining Chris today is songwriter Guy Chambers, best known for his work co-writing hits like 'Millennium', 'Angels', 'Let Me Entertain You' and 'Rock DJ' with Robbie Williams. 

Having graduated from The Guildhall School Of Music, Guy went straight to work with Julian Cope, then joined The Waterboys before moving onto World Party. And alongside his hugely successful run of hits with Robbie, Guy has also written for and...
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Chris is joined by Scottish vocalist Eddi Reader for this episode, to chat about her fascinating career in music. From busking around Europe, to singing backing vocals for artists as diverse as Gang of Four, Eurythmics and Alison Moyet to finding fame - and having a number one single - with Fairground Attraction. But the band's success was fleeting and they splintered after just one album.

But Fairground Attraction ha...
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Chris' guest in this episode is Leeds born singer songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae. Though Corinne appeared to have success straight away with her first single, 'Like A Star', she'd already been through the painful process of having her first band fall apart - the punky 3 piece Helen she'd formed with friends. 

But a change in musical direction - partly inspired by work at a jazz club - yielded immediate success from 200...
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In this episode, Chris welcomes rapidly rising rock star Wolfgang Van Halen. Now fronting his own band, Mammoth, Wolfie made his stage debut at 16 playing bass alongside his dad Eddie and uncle Alec in the legendary rock band Van Halen. 

Like his dad, Wolfie started his musical journey playing drums, before also picking up the guitar and bass. For his two albums with Mammoth, Wolfie is not only the songwriter, but als...
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Chris Difford is joined in this episode by Sharleen Spiteri, the lead singer of the Glasgow band Texas, who've blended pop, rock and soul with huge success since their breakout single 'I Don't Want A Lover' back in 1989.

The band have since enjoyed an incredible run of hit singles and number one albums, but have also overcome an 8 year hiatus and the shocking brain aneurysm of guitarist Ally McErlaine. But with a triu...
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