Album released in memory of cancer patient treated at Royal Surrey | News

A new album has been released in memory of musician Matt Long who was treated at the Royal Surrey Cancer Centre but died last year, aged just 29.

Matt was the lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter for multi award winning UK blues rock band Catfish and was twice named Instrumentalist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards. 

Shortly after he died, a musician friend approached the family to suggest approaching one of Matt’s musical heroes, Joe Bonamassa, to play a guitar solo on one of Matt’s original tracks. 

He agreed and Matt’s mum approached some of Matt's other friends in the industry to see if they would like to contribute a track towards an album in his memory. 

There was phenomenal support for it and the album quickly grew into a double vinyl, with 16 incredible tracks including guitar solos from two of Matt’s musical heroes Joe Bonamassa and Walter Trout on two tracks, which both retain Matt’s vocal.

There are also tracks from artists in the top echelon of UK blues, blues rock and Americana including Elles Bailey, The Cinelli Brothers, Blue Nation, Sean Webster, When Rivers Meet, Brave Rival, Will Wilde, Zac Schulze, Alice Armstrong, Dom Martin, Chantel McGregor, Katie Bradley and Matt's best friend from music college Adrienne Cowan, who is now a vocalist with metal band Avantasia.  

There are also guitar solos from two of Matt’s guitar tutors from the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, Nic Meier and Nat Martin.  Each artist has put their own spin on Matt’s songs, which makes each track unique and very special.

All but one of the tracks are Matt’s original songs. The title track is the encore from the last benefit gig for Matt last summer, which was his final live appearance.  ‘With a little Help from my Friends’ seemed a very apt title for this incredible project which has come together through the love and respect felt for Matt by the music community he influenced so much.

The album went on presale on Friday 7 November, which would have been Matt’s 31st birthday. The profits from the sales of the album will go towards funding equipment for the Royal Surrey Cancer Centre.

Matt’s mother Fiona said: “Matt would have been overwhelmed with the amount of love that has gone into this project from his friends in the music community. 

“We are so immensely grateful to every single person who has contributed their time and talent to producing this album, and hope it will be a fitting tribute to Matt. 

“Being able to use the money raised from the sale of this album to help other cancer patients in some small way makes his loss a little easier to bear. 

“The staff in the cancer unit at Royal Surrey were always very kind, patient and helpful. Although they couldn’t save Matt we hope that, by supplying the ward with more equipment, we will be able to make other patients’ cancer journey a little easier.”  

To download the album, click here.