From one Shirley Bassey appreciator to another, Arctic Monkeys' lead man Alex Turner has been revealing the reasons behind his band's unexpected cover of 'Diamonds Are Forever' at Glastonbury back in June.
Turner has admitted that it was a joke initiated by Simian Mobile Disco type James Ford, who has been working with the band of late (and every other flippin indie band, it seems). Turner: "It was James Ford's joke that I took too far, I think. I sang it so much better when we were practising. I was so nervous."
Despite the self-criticism Shirley herself, as previously reported methinks, approved of the cover. She said at the time: "I have to say Arctic Monkeys: that is how it is done. I'd like to thank them for singing 'Diamonds Are Forever'". Which was a more enthusiastic response than Kanye got when he sampled the hit for 'Diamonds Are From Sierra Leone'. On that occasion, if I remember rightly, Ms Bassey was not amused.