Subways survive split

How rock couple overcame their break-up

10 May 2008 - The Subways are preparing for their comeback - despite rock couple Billy Lunn and Charlotte Cooper splitting up during the recording of their new album.

It has been three years since the garage rock trio's debut Young For Eternity and the band from Welwyn Garden City have since had to deal with some major setbacks.

As well as the split, Lunn needed an operation for nodules on his vocal chords. There was a risk he might lose his voice, but fortunately the operation was a success - although he had to spend some weeks not even talking while he recuperated.

The band have been out on tour this year already, following last summer's recording sessions.

"Charlotte and I broke up around that time which was really difficult, but I don't think we would have survived (as a band) had it not been in that period when we were making the album," said Lunn. "I think realising that music is the most important thing to us - it brought us closer together, made us realise what we have."

"Music is the most important thing to us."
Billy Lunn

Lunn explained that everything that happened to the band filtered through to his lyrics and vocal delivery.

He said: "It really feels like a journey, it really feels like everything I sang about was honest and potent. I'm really proud of the album and I just can't wait to get out there and play it basically."

Nirvana producer

The new single Alright is out on 16 June followed by the album All Or Nothing on 30 June. The Subways recorded it in Los Angeles with Nirvana producer Butch Vig.

"A lot of couples when they break up, they split up and they don't see each other for a long time or they avoid each other," said Lunn. "Charlotte and I couldn't do that. We were stuck in a control room or a live room in the studio making the album. We just had to overcome it and we had to be honest - when we wrote new songs we were singing about it."

Lunn added that the album is better for their emotional honesty. He said: "When we were in the vocal booth, we were letting out all this emotion and passion and thoughts that we were going through.

"We played so much harder because of it and so much more passionately. If anything it just makes the record more interesting for us and everyone else."

The Subways are back on tour at Wrexham Central Station on 18 May.

Andre Paine