Bombay Bicycle Club frontman Jack Steadman drove his first car in Turkey while he was writing the band’s latest album.
The group’s LP ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’ has been nominated for the prestigious Barclaycard Mercury Prize and Jack has revealed while he was writing the songs for the record in Turkey he was made to have an impromptu driving lesson by his friend who was shocked he couldn’t drive a car.
Speaking at the nominations announcement at The Hospital Club in London on Wednesday night (10.09.14), he told BANG Showbiz: "I had so many first experiences making the record, it was the first time I ever drove a car.
"The guy that I was staying with in Turkey – I was writing it [the album] in his house – he was so angry that I didn’t know how to drive that he screeched the car to a halt, got out, insisted that I switch places with him, and demanded that I drove him home, and I’d never driven a car in my life."
Although the strange circumstances related to Jack’s first driving experience were not typical of most people’s driving lessons, he joked that it was a fun, if not slightly scary, experience.
He added: "It was exhilarating. It was manual so it was fine, but it was a steep hill with lots of bends! I think there was a lot of adrenaline in my body, and I was terrified of him, he wasn’t taking no for an answer so I had to drive him home."
Despite the experience, Jack admitted that it hasn’t inspired him to learn to drive legally back home in England.
When asked if he has driven since, he confessed: "No, it’s still the only time I’ve ever driven a car!"
Other nominees for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize – which recognises the best album from the UK or Ireland of the last 12 months – include Royal Blood’s self-titled debut, Damon Albarn’s ‘Everyday Robots’ and East India Youth for ‘Total Strife Forever’.
Bombay Bicycle Club’s Jack got driving thrill in Turkey
