Episode 141: After the music stops, life after the boyband with Lee Murray

#141: After the music stops, life after the boyband with Lee Murray

"For me opening the door was the same door that had shut in my face previously. But going back there and thinking, well, what am I able to do? …I tried many things, but I realised it's music. So I sat down with a blank piece of paper and thought, I've got to make my way again."

Imagine being at the height of music stardom in the 90s, performing on Top of the Pops, being helicoptered between gigs, and having fans waiting outside your house. Then suddenly, there is silence.

In this episode Lee Murray shares what happens when the music stops. Lee was the drummer in the band Let Loose, which enjoyed headline and chart success in the 90s. And then, due to various moving doors, and sliding doors moments the record contracted ended. Lee shares the moment he got the letter, sitting on his stairs thinking now what do I do? 

It wasn’t an easy few years, navigating what to do next, trying things that didn't work out. But eventually returning to his roots and the love that was there all the time, drumming. Lee set up his own drum school Lee Murray Drum Hub, and now specialises in using lessons to help people with their mental health and to help neurodivergent children in particular. 

The things that helped Lee navigate change.

Music: "Are Friends Electric" by Gary Numan

Boos: ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne 


“You’ll have real highs and you will have the lows. It’s about trying to equip yourself with the tools to ride through that. So you can experience the highs and enjoy them knowing that it may not last forever, and you will get times where it's going to dip. Equip yourself with the resilience to think it will pass…Keep telling yourself that you're worth it.” Lee Murray


More about Lee:

Lee Murray, drummer of 90s boy band Let Loose, found salvation in music amid mental health struggles. The band, known for playing their instruments and writing songs, had a hit with "Crazy For You" in 1994. Lee joined at 17 in 1987, but faced challenges after their 1996 split. Drumming helped him recover, leading to work with artists like Westlife, Ronan Keating and Lisa Stansfield.

Recently, Lee founded the Lee Murray Drum Hub, using music to support mental health and neurodivergent children. Let Loose reformed in late 2023 with Matthew James Pateman as lead singer, performing at shows and festivals. They're set to release a new single, "Glorious," while Lee's solo single "Never Give Up On Us" launches on January 31st.

Find out more here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0g45wn6

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lee_murrayinsta


Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

 

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