STEPPING on to the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 2023 was a big moment for Texas, who had last played at the festival 24 years earlier.
But whatever expectations frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri and her band had for the gig were blown out of the water, because it sent them stratospheric once again and gained them thousands of new fans.
Now they are capitalising on their expanded fanbase by heading out on an 11-date arena tour of the UK and Ireland next October, and releasing a 30th anniversary version of their No1 album White On Blonde, featuring hits including Say What You Want, Black Eyed Boy and Halo.
And as good news comes in threes, today Texas have also released a new single, Another Way To Cry.
In an exclusive chat, Sharleen told me of their success: “I think it tastes sweeter than it ever has.
“The honest truth is that when we did that Glastonbury a couple of years ago, you never know how it’s going to go, but that Glastonbury changed everything. Suddenly there was a whole new audience that wanted to see Texas and we announced that tour off the back of that.
“It just was a moment of, ‘Wow, people really do still want to see us.’ When you look out into that audience, the ages vary all over the shop. It’s quite extraordinary.
“There’s been lots of people going, ‘When are you going on tour?’ so it’s good that there is still that desire to see us, and for us, that just makes the desire to go and play even stronger than it’s ever been.”
If you have not seen Texas yet, I urge you to snap up tickets when they go on general sale at 10am next Friday, October 30.
There, you will be able to hear the Scottish rockers’ new single, which is a rollicking, brassy singalong with Sharleen’s bluesy voice shining strong.
The accompanying video — an ode to the film Paris Texas, which was the inspiration for the band’s name — sees her exploring the Scottish highlands and bumping into fellow Scot, Trainspotting star Robert Carlyle.
On shooting the visuals, she said: “We had every season in the space of an hour, which was extraordinary, but that’s Scotland. We had scorching sun, pouring rain then sleet and hail stones and wind.
“It was fun, alongside our mates the Highland cattle, which was fantastic.”
And she insisted the Highland cows in the video were genuine. She continued: “It’s not AI, they were actually there. There was one point where me and Robert were walking down the road and they were coming right up, and they’re gigantic and they’ve got horns.
“If it just moved its head in the wrong direction and you’re anywhere near that horn you’re getting whacked by it.”
Thankfully they emerged unscathed and Sharleen has since been back in the studio.
Asked if there is an album of new music on the way too, she said: “Yeah, we’re working on a new record.”
As for White On Blonde, which will be out on February 5, Texas are chuffed it is being released on vinyl for the first time after they were recently fleeced trying to buy another of their records on the format.
She explained: “There was only ever vinyl made for the Press. We actually had to buy one of the old albums back because we’d given them away.
“We ended up buying our own record back for £1,200, about a year ago, because we needed it for a video. It was hysterical. I was literally like, ‘What? £1,200!’”
And they have got someone special on board to write the liner notes — Peter Kay.
Speaking about the comedian, who directed and starred in the 2006 video for their song Sleep, she said: “Peter is such a big music and Texas fan, and he’s a big friend of ours. He’s so geeky in his knowledge of music and stuff like that.
“It just felt exactly right because of his connection to the band and the fact he made the video for us and he bought White On Blonde and he’d always talked about it.
“It felt like the absolute right thing to do.”
I DON’T HAVE RIGHT TRAITS
SHARLEEN turned down the chance to go on The Celebrity Traitors in her native Scotland – insisting she’s a “s*** liar.”
She was approached by the series producers, but doesn’t think she’s competitive enough to be a success on Claudia Winkleman’s hit show.
She explained: “I’m very flattered to have been asked and I said, ‘Thank you, but no.’ I couldn’t do it.
“I absolutely love The Traitors. It’s such a great, unbelievable programme and I’m watching it currently and I just couldn’t do it. I’d be all over the shop.
“I’d gladly play the game. But I’m a s*** liar. That is the truth. I wouldn’t remember who I told a lie to or what I did and I’m not that big of a player.
“I’d probably go, ‘Nah, you’re alright.’ The thing is, the only place I’m really competitive is on a stage.
“In games I’m really not competitive at all. So I’d probably be really rubbish.”
She added: “I want to be a fan, but not a fan in it. I want to be a fan watching it. I’m very happy with that situation.”
JADE-D BY PRINCESS FAILURE
JADE has revealed she was “devastated” not to land the role of Princess Jasmine in 2019’s live-action remake of Aladdin, after the role went to Naomi Scott.
The Little Mix star, who auditioned for director Guy Ritchie, said: “I was pretty devastated. I think I got down to the last few. I sent a letter once I knew they’d reached out, saying that Jasmine was my sort of idol growing up.
“She was the only character I could really look up to as someone of Arab heritage, so Princess Jasmine was who I dreamed of being.”
On Channel 4’s The Assembly, she added: “I did three rounds of auditions. I sang A Whole New World in Guy Ritchie’s living room.
“I didn’t get the part and that’s fine. But I was quite sad for some time, definitely. I was gutted, I can’t lie.”
JUDI DENCH says panned 2019 Cats movie was a “waste” of Andrew Llloyd Webber’s “goodwill and talent.”
She starred as Old Deuteronomy in the much-mocked movie and in her new memoir, she writes: “Oh God, I can’t bear it – and he had waited so long for it to be made.
“What a waste of all that goodwill and talent.”
JAY-Z’S UP FOR THE BIG GAME
JAY-Z has chosen himself to be the headline act for next year’s Super Bowl half-time show, according to a report in the US.
Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus were said to be in talks to perform at the show in Los Angeles on February 14.
Instead the rapper, who’s firm Roc Nation has had a deal with the NFL since 2019, will be taking centre stage.
He has yet to comment on the story, although he’s set to perform two shows at the SoFi Stadium in LA this Friday – where the big game will be held –so he may well announce it there.
His wife Beyonce previously headlined in 2013 and then joined Coldplay during their set there three years later.
And I imagine he’d want her as a guest if he takes to the pitch, too.
Jenna’s looking pawsome
JENNA ORTEGA has been to London, Rome and New York in the past week and she’s had a special someone by her side the whole time – her pet pooch.
The Wednesday actress, who wore this beaded dress for the US premiere of her new film Klara And The Sun in the Big Apple on Monday, said her whippet Twigs helps her stay grounded.
Jenna, who posed for pics in New York with co-star Amy Adams and director Taika Waititi, said: “My dog follows me everywhere.
“It’s hard doing the job that I do, travelling to all of these different hotels and foreign countries, so to have something that is consistent and true, and looks after me, and I look after her, it’s nice.”
That dog must have racked up more air miles this week than I have all year.
BLUNT’S A TRAITOR FUME RESIDENTS
RESIDENTS of the London borough of Acton have dubbed James Blunt a traitor.
He filmed his new Circles music video there, but then pretended it was somewhere else.
I revealed snaps of the Celebrity Traitors star riding around on a mini tractor while shooting the video in a park last week.
But locals soon spotted James had renamed Acton’s mainline station “Battersham”, leaving them fuming.
“We thought James was going to put Acton on the map with his video,” a friend, who sent me snaps of James recording his video, told me after seeing the clip.
“It’s not Battersham, this is Acton. And we’re proud of it.”
NO DIRTY A.I TRICKS IN DANCING SEQUEL
THE producer behind the Dirty Dancing sequel insists they won’t bring back Patrick Swayze using AI.
Jennifer Grey will reprise the role of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman and film bosses are working out how to celebrate late actor Patrick, who died in 2009.
Producer Nina Jacobson said: “That’s one of the things that you really have to focus on: how to let people mourn him in a movie. And don’t worry – we won’t be bringing him back with AI.”
She said they are “trying to chase the feeling of that original movie”.
Nina added: “Being able to tell a young love story that could take some of those risks but also inspire those feelings felt like an incredible chance for us.”
PHIL JOINS PIRATES CREW
PIRATES Of The Caribbean is being brought to life by Secret Cinema – and they’ve got a household name on board to help out.
I can reveal Phil Daniels, who starred in EastEnders, and whose voice featured in Blur’s 1994 hit Parklife, has joined the cast as Captain Barbossa.
Johnny Depp’s character Jack Sparrow will be played by Olivier Award winner George Maguire.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Immersive Adventure, opens in February and has already had its run extended by six weeks due to demand.
It will also be the first production by Secret Cinema – which allows punters to watch films on the big screen while the action also unfolds around them – at its purpose-built flagship venue in London’s Greenwich.
Time to ready my sea legs.
LIAM GALLAGHER is winding up Oasis fans by claiming they’ve already finished a new album – but I’m not so sure.
Responding to someone on X who wrote: “Oasis have SEVEN great albums and those songs will LIVE FOREVER”, rocker Liam said: “8 including the new 1.”
I’ll believe it when I hear it.