I Never Thought It Would Happen – Details, episodes & analysis

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I Never Thought It Would Happen

Chris Difford

Music

Arts

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/21d. Total Eps: 71

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 http://www.HelpMusicians.org.uk

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Apple Podcasts

🇺🇸 USA - musicInterviews
31/07/2025
#91
🇺🇸 USA - musicInterviews
30/07/2025
#99
🇺🇸 USA - musicInterviews
29/07/2025
#97
🇬🇧 Great Britain - musicInterviews
23/07/2025
#86
🇬🇧 Great Britain - musicInterviews
22/07/2025
#66
🇬🇧 Great Britain - musicInterviews
21/07/2025
#30
🇬🇧 Great Britain - musicInterviews
19/07/2025
#89
🇬🇧 Great Britain - musicInterviews
18/07/2025
#62
🇬🇧 Great Britain - musicInterviews
17/07/2025
#30
🇬🇧 Great Britain - musicInterviews
15/07/2025
#80

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https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/
51 shares
http://www.gimmesugar.co.uk/
20 shares
https://www.bryanadams.com/
7 shares

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 62%

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S4 Ep13: I Never Thought It Would Happen - Fran Healy

Season 4 · Episode 13

lundi 24 juin 2024 • Duration 40:30

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 the heavens opened as the band launched into that track at Glastonbury in 1999 the band found themselves plastered across newspapers and news reports, which then pushed the album to the top of the charts. But the band have also had their setbacks, not least when drummer Neil Primrose broke his neck in a freak accident... and yet, he was back behind his drum kit within 5 months.

It's a great story, and a great listen.

S4 Ep12: I Never Thought It Would Happen - Mark Knopfler

Season 4 · Episode 12

mercredi 5 juin 2024 • Duration 42:37

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 eventually selling over 30 million copies. But after several gruelling world tours and the almost impossible task of topping their best loved album the band splintered.

But since 1995, Mark's kept busy with a steady stream of solo albums, soundtrack work and collaborations with like-minded artists like Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris and Chet Atkins.

S4 Ep3: I Never Thought It Would Happen - Ron Sexsmith

Season 4 · Episode 3

lundi 1 avril 2024 • Duration 51:25

On this episode of his podcast, Chris welcomes the Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith to talk about the fine art of music making.

Starting his music career in a band that couldn't really play, then screaming his head off in a hard rock band, Ron finally found his voice making music more influenced by his Canadian forebears like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot. His songs have been covered by Feist, kd Lang, Katie Melua, Rod Stewart, Emmylou Harris, Rod Stewart and Nick Lowe. He's collaborated with Chris Martin and Leonard Cohen, whilst Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney are both fans of his work. And he and Chris share a great story about meeting Macca.

S4 Ep2: I Never Thought It Would Happen - Norah Jones

Season 4 · Episode 2

mardi 26 mars 2024 • Duration 36:53

Joining Chris for a chat about the fine art of music making is the amazing Norah Jones, who's released a string of albums that have constantly surprised and delighted, and which have covered a lot of ground musically; from jazz, blues and country to folk, pop and even punk.

Norah burst onto the scene in 2002 with the hit single, 'Don't Know Why', from the album 'Come Away With Me', which has now sold 27 million copies worldwide. Since then she's won 9 Grammys and worked with a dazzling array of musicians, including Ray Charles, Billie Joe Armstrong, Danger Mouse, Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Herbie Hancock... to name just a few.

S4 Ep1: I Never Thought It Would Happen - James Blunt

Season 4 · Episode 1

mardi 19 mars 2024 • Duration 39:05

Chris Difford is back with his charming and insightful podcast series, 'I Never Thought It Would Happen'. In this first episode in the new series, Chris chats to the ever-excellent James Blunt.

James is a hugely talented and highly respected artist who has sold over 20 million records. His self-aware, self-effacing character is just part of his charm.
His current album 'Who We Used To Be' is another deeply personal album and his book 'Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story' is typical of James. It's funny, moving and refreshingly honest. It's a pleasure to welcome James Blunt to the podcast - brought to you by our friends at the charity 'Help Musicians'.

S4: Series 4 of 'I Never Thought It Would Happen' with Chris Difford - is coming soon!

Season 4

jeudi 14 mars 2024 • Duration 01:25

Series 4 of the hit podcast 'I Never Thought It Would Happen' with Chris Difford is back on March 19th. We return with a joyous and eclectic guest list from James Blunt to Wolfgang Van Halen. From Norah Jones to Ron Sexsmith and all in aid of the wonderful charity Help Musicians. Find out more at www.HelpMusicians.org.uk

S3 Ep13: I Never Thought It Would Happen - Chris Robertson

Season 3 · Episode 13

lundi 3 juillet 2023 • Duration 36:54

Alongside Chris for a candid conversation about the fine art of music-making is Chris Robertson, lead singer and guitarist for Kentucky hard rockers Black Stone Cherry. The band formed in 2001 in their teens, and this bunch of musical brothers quickly went from being hometown heroes to getting signed and then on to touring the world with key influences like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Whitesnake and Bad Company.

In between recording vocal takes for their new album, "Screamin' At The Sky" (out September) Chris talks to Chris about his mental health battles, the influence his late dad had on his career, the night he met Jeff Beck and the joy of getting to headline the Royal Albert Hall, where so many of his heroes had played over the decades.

S3 Ep12: I Never Thought It Would Happen - Lauren Mayberry

Season 3 · Episode 12

lundi 26 juin 2023 • Duration 42:57

Chris' guest on this episode is Lauren Mayberry, the vocalist of the critically acclaimed Scottish synth-pop act Chvrches. Ten years into their career, the band have already enjoyed an amazing ride so far, from hit singles to playing the Royal Albert Hall and recording at Berlin's legendary Hansa studios.

In a fascinating chat, Lauren discusses her musical journey so far, including her move from Glasgow to Los Angeles, how lockdown changed her writing style for the better and the pleasure of touring with Coldplay.

S3 Ep11: I Never Thought It Would Happen - Olivia Dean

Season 3 · Episode 11

lundi 19 juin 2023 • Duration 42:40

On this episode of his podcast Chris welcomes the exciting young singer Olivia Dean, an artist who is hugely influenced by Carol King, Paul Simon and Amy Winehouse.

Olivia was raised in a house where her parents played a lot of different music, and which was proved to be hugely influential on her future career. And then when she attended the famous BRIT school she not only found her song-writing chops but also her band. During this insightful chat with Chris, Olivia discusses her approach to lyric writing, the wonder that is the Glastonbury festival and how she'd already achieved her 3 career goals by the time her debut album "Messy" was finished.

S3 Ep10: I Never Thought It Would Happen - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Season 3 · Episode 10

lundi 12 juin 2023 • Duration 44:21

For this episode of "I Never Thought It Would Happen" Chris is joined by musical theatre pioneer Andrew Lloyd Webber, a man The New York times called "the most commercially successful composer in history". Andrew inarguably changed musical theatre forever with a an incredible run of musicals including Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Starlight Express and The Phantom of The Opera, to name but a few.

In this conversation we learn how Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat was first performed at a school, that Jesus Christ Superstar was an album before it became a play and Andrew also gives away the secret to writing a hit musical.