Following the heartbreaking news of Bonnie Tyler’s passing at 75, we wanted to revisit a classic, laugh-filled backstage moment with Colm & Lucy that perfectly captured her infectious spirit.
The music world is in deep mourning following the sudden passing of the Welsh rock icon. Globally revered for her timeless power ballads, Bonnie passed away unexpectedly in a hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she had been receiving treatment following emergency surgery.
Tributes have poured in from all corners of the globe, including heartfelt messages from her close friend and contemporary Rod Stewart, who called her a "true soul stirrer," and actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, who remembered her as "one of the funniest people I ever met."
To honour her incredible legacy, we are looking back at our fondest memory with the rock icon: a lively interview conducted by our very own Colm Hayes and Lucy Kennedy backstage in a tent at Electric Picnic in 2019. Just moments away from taking the stage, Bonnie was in true, effervescent form, cracking jokes, sharing rock 'n' roll secrets, and showcasing the beautiful warmth that made her a legend.
Colm kicked off the interview by asking the question on everyone's mind: did she always have that signature, instantly recognisable gravelly tone?
"I gargled razor blades! No, no, don't do that at all," Bonnie joked.
In reality, Bonnie explained that the husky voice that defined a generation was actually the result of a medical mishap. She underwent surgery to have nodules removed from her vocal cords and was strictly ordered by doctors not to speak for six weeks. However, Bonnie admitted she "couldn't bloody stop talking." When she finally walked back into the recording studio, her voice had completely transformed. The result? Her iconic track It's a Heartache became a massive global hit and her very first breakout record in America.
Colm couldn't resist teasing her about the sudden change, recalling how listeners back then joked, "Jeez, Rod Stewart's had a sex change!" Bonnie took it entirely in stride, revealing a wonderful twist: she had actually just recorded a brand-new duet with Rod Stewart that very year (March 2019). Though they recorded in separate studios, Rod in LA and Bonnie in London, she described him as an absolute pleasure to work with.
The 2019 festival appearance came amidst a major career resurgence for Bonnie, hot on the heels of her album Between the Earth and the Stars. She proudly told Colm and Lucy about the incredible lineup of legends who joined her on the record, including Sir Cliff Richard, Francis Rossi of Status Quo, and a special track penned for her by the legendary Barry Gibb from The Bee Gees.
When asked if she would be playing her classic material on the Electric Picnic throwback stage, Bonnie gave an enthusiastic yes! She promised fans full-throttle performances of It's a Heartache, Total Eclipse of the Heart, and Holding Out for a Hero. Asked if fans still held up lighters during her power ballads. Bonnie laughed, noting that modern crowds use their phone torches instead even though she lamented that her 7pm slot meant it wouldn't quite be dark enough to see them illuminate the crowd.
In light of her recent passing, one of the most poignant moments of the chat is hearing Bonnie talk about her upcoming travel plans. When Lucy asked if she had managed to get a summer holiday, Bonnie revealed she was jetting off to Faro, Portugal, the very next morning.
She had just played a massive show to 40,000 people in Albufeira ten days prior and was looking forward to retreating to her home in Portugal with her husband, Robert Sullivan, her sister, and close friends. Portugal was a place of peace and sanctuary for Bonnie throughout her later years, making it deeply symbolic that she spent her final months surrounded by the scenery she loved so much.
Before heading out to the Electric Picnic crowd, Bonnie let our listeners in on how she maintained her legendary vocals. She revealed her vocal coach was waiting just outside the tent for a mandatory 10-minute warm up session, joking that the bizarre exercises would leave everyone around the dressing rooms wondering "what the hell I am doing!"
When pressed on what a rock diva keeps on her backstage rider, Bonnie proved she was wonderfully low-maintenance, with a definitive rock 'n' roll twist.
For her 2019 Electric Picnic backstage rider, Bonnie Tyler bypassed all luxury items like M&Ms or candles, requesting only two bottles of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey: one for the band and one for herself to mix with hot water and lemon for a single pre-show shot! This was alongside a couple of bottles of red wine to unwind after the performance. Colm joked that her love for a stiff whiskey proved she had true Irish blood in her veins.
Closing out the interview, Colm and Lucy expressed their immense gratitude, calling it an "amazing thrill" to sit down beside the icon. In typical Bonnie fashion, the chat ended with shared laughs, a bit of playful banter about Colm getting "touchy on the knee," and a massive smile.
From her groundbreaking hits to her legendary humour, Bonnie Tyler was a force of nature. She will be profoundly missed by her fans in Ireland and across the globe.
