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Tom Does “Friday Night With Jonathan Ross” on BBC 1-TV April 21
Friday, April 21st, 2006From a BBC Press Release/Date: 21.04.2006
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross: “I’m scared of retirement”, says Tom Jones
Sir Tom Jones talks frankly about his fear of losing his voice when he guests on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross today on BBC ONE.
Tom confides to Jonathan Ross: “I dread the day when I can’t sing as well, which will happen. I’m not looking forward to retiring… when singing is taken away from that’ll be a sad day for me.”
He also talks about protecting his privacy and why he’s never written his life story: “If I was going to do an autobiography I’d want to do the whole thing, it’s not a thing I’d like to do, I’m not a tell-all person.”
He also regrets ageism in the music industry today. “I was always doing new things but didn’t get the chance to record them — it’s an on-going struggle.
“They’re [record companies] always looking for youth. When you’ve been around for a while sometimes it’s difficult to do something new.”
The photo above is from the BBC press release. Andre has sent us lots of screen shots from the show like the (very cool fade-out) one on the left. They’ll be posted in our flickr sets. When that is done, we’ll add a link so you can see them.
For a great, detailed description of the show, be sure to check out mharding’s comment below. And we sincerely thank him.
April 21st, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Hi
Just saw the show. Tom and JR have worked together a lot over the years and obviously get on very well, so it’s always an amusing chat that they have (it was on JR’s show in 1987 that The Art of Noise first saw Tom sing Kiss and contacted him to record it). Tom was introduced as “A Knight of the Garter, and the suspenders and sometimes the basque as well.”
The opening monologue was about Queen Elizabeth’s 80th birthday and then Jonathan said, “Speaking of old queens who need to retire…” and introduced the house band, Four Poofs and a Piano. They, in turn, brought Tom on to the tune of The Ballad of Tom Jones.
Jonathan introduced Chicane as being either the band or Tom’s carers — people who take care of old people — (as I said Tom and JR have a great rapport and have known each other for nearly 20 years. Although these gags probably look brutal in print they were appreciated as a bit of leg-pulling. R is a long-time Jones fan and avid follower of Tom’s career.).
Michael Jackson’s uninvited visit to Tom’s house came up. Tom described how the bell rang and he saw Michael’s face in close-up on the security screen. “He must’ve frightened the f***ing life out of you didn’t he?” said Ross earnestly. Tom’s impression of MJ speaking was very funny, “It’s Michael!”, “Michael who?!” Tom barked back at him.
About his Knighthood Tom said he was nervous about getting it all right on the day as it’s different from anything else he’s had to do. When asked if a Knighthood comes with any privileges Tom said that a Knight’s children (and maybe grandchildren, can’t remember) can get married in Westminster Abbey (as with the OBE) and that there’s some special entitlement regarding First Class air travel but he didn’t seem to sure (I imagine someone else deals with that for him).
Had he ever damaged anyone with his powerful voice? No but when recording The Lead and How to Swing it Jeff Lynne (one of the producers) told him he’d broken a couple of the mics by singing too loudly.
On his sparring match with Ali (for a photo shoot) he said he actually managed to knock Ali down and that The Greatest received concerned letters from his fans who were worried he was losing his touch if he was being knocked down by Tom Jones. Ross said he would have considered it an honour himself but that being knocked down by Engelbert Humperdinck would have been a different matter.
JR showed a clip of a 70s BBC special that Tom did (I think it’s Tom Jones on Happiness Island). Ross showed the clip because he was alarmed at the sight of Tom in a sailor’s cap and white trunks singing We Sailed on the Sloop John B. Tom claimed that it was the hat that pulled the outfit all together.
The performance of Stoned in Love was interesting. Chicane played live with Tom (drummer, keyboards, two guitars, percussionist) and Tom sang in his usual voice throughout. No effects on his voice and he didn’t sound noticeably softer in his delivery as has been discussed in the interviews.
Tom said he’s not looking forward to retirement and isn’t planning it soon. He also said he doesn’t have any hobbies (he’s forgetting aviation of course as anyone who’s seen the Tim Burton film will remember).
April 21st, 2006 at 8:22 pm
Hi mharding. Thanks for the terrific review of the program. I seem to remember reading or I should say listening to Tom being interviewed by Jonathan Ross and it was fun to listen to. He does have a great respect and admiration for Tom. I\t seems to me he laughed and chuckled a lot in that interview too. Well, thanks again.
April 23rd, 2006 at 11:06 am
Well, mharding, in discussing hobbies, Tom also apparently forgot about his cabinet-making, a gift he possesses that is probably known to only a relatively few fans who used to be on the JTV list.
April 23rd, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Yes, I understand he’ll knock up anything.