The Overtones’ music saved a girl from taking her life.
Mark Franks, 48, Mike Crawshaw, 45, Darren Everest, 44, and Jay James, 42, were “heartbroken” after they read a note from the fan, in which she shared her mental health struggles.
But the foursome is touched that their feel-good music helps people get through times of hardship, and it gives the multi-platinum-selling vocal harmony group purpose after entertaining audiences for 15 years.
Mike exclusively told BANG Showbiz: “We got a message from a girl, and she told us that she genuinely believes she wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for our music helping her through some unbelievably difficult times with her emotional and mental health.
“We get messages like that more frequently than you would think, and it’s heartbreaking for us to hear people are going through such unbelievably tough times emotionally and with their mental health, to the point where they are considering doing something very extreme.
“But then on the flip side of that, to hear them saying that our music got them through that time is very touching for us, and to say it’s touching for us is almost an unbelievable understatement because I cannot tell you how much that means to us.
“We feel that it is a responsibility, but a wonderful responsibility to have. We get a vast amount of comments like that. They’re wonderful and very emotional to read.”
Uplifting people and brightening up their lives motivates The Overtones to keep making music.
Mike added: “If we can help even one person who’s going through a tough time in our own small way, then our job is done.
“Our music is feel-good music. We talk about bringing the feel-good, and we feel it on stage, as people who do it as a job. It’s helped us through tough times.
“It’s certainly one of the many reasons why we feel it important to keep recording better music, keep honing the live shows, and strive to be better.”
Formed in 2010, The Overtones originally consisted of Mark, Mike, Darren, Lachlan “Lockie” Chapman, 44, and the late Timmy Matley – who died in 2018 after falling from a 13th-floor balcony in East London while under the influence of crystal meth, aged 36.
They shot to fame with their debut album, Good Ol’ Fashioned – which earned them a top five spot on the UK Albums Chart – after a Warner Bros. Records talent scout discovered the fivesome singing The Longest Time, whilst they painted a shop near Oxford Street, London.
Since then, The Overtones – of which Jay replaced Lockie in 2019 – have achieved six Top 10 albums, completed 13 sold-out UK tours, their cover of Celebration became the soundtrack to Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and headlined The Royal Albert Hall.
Since November 5, Mike – who “didn’t expect [The Overtones] to be going for 15 years” – and the boys have been touring their electrifying Ultimate Christmas Party across the UK to mark the milestone anniversary.
And the band says the show – which blends Christmas classics, Soul, Motown, Doo-wop, Disco, and Pop, with fresh material – is their best yet.
Mike said: “We are getting some wonderful comments from the audiences that this is the best show yet, which is brilliant to hear.
“I think that this show has all the elements that we know any audience loves, like timeless music, great dance moves that make them dance in the aisles and sing without a care in the world.
“We also have the heart of our story. The story of our last 15 years. We have laughs with the audience, and we also share in a tear.
“This show means something deeper to us, and I think it means more to the fans, too.”
The Overtones Christmas Party 15th Anniversary Tour dates:
November 5 – The Atkinson, Southport
November 6 – The Plaza, Stockport
November 8 – Town Hall, Birmingham
November 10 – Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford
November 11 – Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth
November 13 – Kings Theatre, Portsmouth
November 14 – Princess Theatre, Torquay
November 17 – Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
November 19 – William Aston Hall, Wrexham
November 22 – Grove Theatre, Dunstable
November 23 – Baths Hall, Scunthorpe
November 24 – Orchard West, Dartford
November 27 – Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne
December 1 – Festival Theatre, Malvern
December 5 – Memorial Theatre, Frome
December 6 – Granville Theatre, Ramsgate
December 10 – Mayflower Studios, Southampton