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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
As told to Rich Pelley

James Martin’s honest playlist: ‘I learned to play guitar so I could perform Don’t Stop Believin’ every night’

James Martin.
James Martin. Photograph: Neale Haynes

The first song I remember hearing
I grew up in a farmhouse in Welburn, a little village in North Yorkshire. My mother had an old record player, and I remember her playing Johnny Mathis and Barry Manilow.

The song I do at karaoke
Last tour, the guys at the promoters Live Nation said: “We need a strong ending to the show.” I remember Lee Evans playing the piano at Wembley Arena. So I learned to play the guitar so we could play Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey. Thousands of people stand up with their mobile phone torches on, which is very rock’n’roll. Now it’s our signature. We do it every night.

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