"We will be in tears", says James frontman Tim Booth as he talks of his band's homecoming shows in Manchester this week. The band will perform an extraordinary selection of their back catalogue reworked and backed with a full live orchestra over two sold out nights at Manchester's 02 Apollo.
And for the Manchester-formed band, being back on home turf and playing the emotional new takes on the classic songs will indeed be a heart-wrenching one. Not least as this new endeavour marks the 40th anniversary of James releasing their first single, famously with Manchester's Factory Records, back in 1983.
The band's talismanic frontman Tim says fighting back the tears really is a challenge with these new interpretations of their classic hits, as well as rarely played B-sides and fan favourites.
