<\/p>\n
Now the revivalists are having a revival of their own. Having sold out the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, 2026 will see the Brand New Heavies playing venues including the 5,000-capacity Hammersmith Apollo. \u201cIt has just completely blown up,\u201d says Levy, of the group\u2019s renewed popularity. \u201cI think people hanker for things that hark to pre-that horrible moment in history \u2013 C-O-V-I-D \u2013 where everything was happy and funky, and everyone was dancing and raving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronson and Jagger aside, the band have had several other celebrity admirers. When still called Brother International in 1987, they supported their idol James Brown at Wembley Arena. \u201cWe started sound-checking, and he, in his green suit, stood at the side of the stage, listening,\u201d says Levy. It\u2019s perhaps the ultimate compliment that the Godfather of Soul then tried to steal the band\u2019s horn section. \u201cThey were really good, and obviously he thought that if you have a local brass section [for future UK shows], you save money on flights,\u201d the bassist explains. Brown\u2019s attempt failed.<\/p>\n
Then there was Prince, who saw the Brand New Heavies perform three times. \u201cI was scared to talk to him because we were still in our 20s, and to have an icon like that\u2026\u201d says Levy. \u201cI remember shaking his hand just before I walked on stage, and I thought, \u2018Jesus Christ, I can\u2019t play now. He\u2019s going to be looking at my fingers and judging me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n