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Never2Late back reworking older tunes, adding to their relevance today

By Kath Galasso on December 11, 2023

Yorkshire, UK guitarist and songwriter SteveB is so natural and free-flowing in his distinctive classic rock-meets-blues style that it would surprise most that his music and band, Never2Late, hasn’t been his full-time career from the start. He’s actually a semi-retired orthopaedic surgeon.

When you think about it, it does sort of make sense: both surgery and guitar playing require exacting precision with one’s hands, and blues guitar likely would be excellent cross-training for a surgeon. That said, it’s clear that the inspiration and creativity of blues rock flows through SteveB organically, as his work rivals the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Mark Knopffler and Thin Lizzy, both in terms of skill and composition.

With a number of changes in membership, Never2Late now consists of SteveB and a revolving cast of top tier musicians. Their next single as a re-work of the single “Love Is Wise” off their first album, 2015’s It’s Hell In Happy Town.

The next single release is a reworking of “Love Is Wise” (I was never happy with the original bridge) as it is sadly just as relevant today as it was when I wrote it. Inspired by a quote from the philosopher Bertrand Russell “Love is wise, hatred is foolish…”

–SteveB

While his influences are largely American, the plain-speaking, politically-charged lyrics in “Love Is Wise” and many of Never2Late’s other tracks are quintessentially English and it’s clear SteveB has a lot to say. This juxtaposition of cool, bulesy music and heated, punk-political lyrics make Never2Late interesting beyond their skill. It’s blues rock with a message, and for October 25th’s upcoming “Love Is Wise,” the message is as poignant as ever. It’s Never2Late to give a boost of positivity, or to discover a new passion.

“Bitter old men are sending young men out to die,
While their children, wives and mothers weep and wave goodbye”

Freeman

“The price of freedom is always to be aware,
A blind eye lets the rot set in,
Corruption may be the cancer of the world,
But apathy’s its evil twin.”

The loss of a parent (I Still Talk to You Every Day) or the loss of an old friend (Requiem for a Friend).

The band I originally formed – Never2Late – has seen numerous changes of personnel, something that is inevitable in a slightly more senior age group. Various infirmities, demands of family life, relocating to other parts of the country, and sadly and tragically terminal cancer and the death of our original keyboard player in a road traffic accident have all taken their toll.”

Musician Names/Instruments: SteveB Vocals/Guitars I’m currently playing a Knaggs Eric Steckel Kenai T/S, an Emerald Guitars Virtuo and a Lowden acoustic.

Websites:
Official Website: never2lateuk.co.uk
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063522638979
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2kULkvqgsRARh9oE6eMYmz?si=Kjoj3KmPQpqMHc4w-T5Vfw
https://spotify.link/dIKNulYhpDb
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/never2lateuk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TygEk553u9g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QNbjP1XSVc

Artist Biography:

Having had a very successful career as an orthopaedic surgeon treating knee injuries in professional sportsmen and women, I went into semi-retirement some 12 years ago.

As a treat my wife and I went to Glastonbury. It was an unforgettable experience and made me determined to start playing my guitar again.

I’d played in a band in my youth but priorities change and it went onto the back burner for many years. I retrieved my guitar from the loft and placed the following ad on “JoinMyBand” –

Slowly we evolved. Initially we were a covers band but then a certain gig required four original songs and I thought I’d give it a go. “It’s Great Getting Older Blues”, “Love Is Wise”, “Filthy Lucre” and “Hell Is Other People” were the first four songs and so I discovered a love of creating music of our own.

The first album followed in a rush of naieve enthusiasm, recorded in a total of 11 hours, mostly as live takes.

As the years have followed, I’ve continued to write songs that I think have some relevance to my “babyboomer” generation rather than the standard boy meets girl, falls in love with girl, girl dumps boy, boy is broken hearted type cliché, although admittedly there is the odd tune dedicated to my long suffering wife!

I get inspiration from many sources. There are songs with nods to Dickens (Motel 22), Jean Paul Sartre (Hell Is Other People), Phillip Larkin (Growing Up), and Bertrand Russell (Love Is Wise) as well as songs deriving from a considerable life experience.

The most streamed song is “Sometimes I’m Ashamed to be a Man” which I wrote after treating a poor woman who had been beaten half to death by her “partner” –
“Another bruised and blackened eye,
Another swollen and split lip.
Another weeping woman, another scared and cowering kid.
Another life made misery, another spirit kept in chains,
You can’t make up for your own failings
By bullying, abuse and pain.”

There are songs relating to mental health (With You) written for a friend who had PTSD after serving in Afganistan, the fragile nature of freedom (Freedom) –
“The price of freedom is always to be aware,
A blind eye lets the rot set in,
Corruption may be the cancer of the world
But apathy’s its evil twin.”
The loss of a parent (I Still Talk to You Every Day) or the loss of an old friend (Requiem for a Friend).

The band I originally formed – Never2Late – has seen numerous changes of personnel, something that is inevitable in a slightly more senior age group. Various infirmities, demands of family life, relocating to other parts of the country, and sadly and tragically terminal cancer and the death of our original keyboard player in a road traffic accident have all taken their toll.

I was very fortunate to grow up in a time of great songwriters who have influenced my love of decent, meaningful lyrics – Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Al Stewart, Roy Harper, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Jackson Brown and John Martyn to name but a few. My musical tastes remain eclectic:- John McLaughlin, Thin Lizzy, Tom Waits, JJ Cale, XTC, Cage The Elephant, The National, Eric Steckel.