David Essex brings 'Thanks for the Memories' to Derry
Immediately warm and engaging, a modest David Essex attributed his five-decade career to “doing different things”.
“Obviously my priority has been writing and recording music, but I think going off and doing the odd film and a little bit of telly which means people don’t get sick of me doing the same thing, is probably part of it,” he chuckled.
“My career has been a mixture of mediums, acting and musicals and writing. I think that, maybe, contributed to my longevity.
“I’ve never really appreciated my successes too much. I’ve always wanted to move on to the next thing. This tour, Thanks for the Memories has been extraordinary, and it is ending in Ireland which is fantastic.
“At the beginning, when I was on stage performing, I was looking behind me thinking, ‘What are they all shouting at and clapping about?’ because I never really take that sort of audience reaction for granted. I am quite bemused by it all and still being able to do the tours is wonderful.
“I do appreciate the following I’ve had throughout the years, especially since it’s like 53 years since my first hit Rock On (1973), which is daunting to think about. I made some records in the 60s that were other people’s songs but Rock On was my first international hit. It was Number One in America, and it was kind of nice because it was the first song I had written and recorded,” recalled David.
I was there a couple of years ago and walked around the Walls, which I really enjoyed. It was lovely. I’m very much looking forward to coming back
Rock On sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in March 1974 and was nominated for a Grammy.
Recalling the Beatlemania-esque reception he once received while performing in Derry’s Rialto, David said he really liked the city.
“I was there a couple of years ago and walked around the Walls, which I really enjoyed. It was lovely. I’m very much looking forward to coming back [on November 20].”
Having played Che in the original run of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical Evita, David said he was drawn to musicals because “there’s more of a texture and more of a canvas”.
He added: “I’ve been lucky. I’ve done Evita, Godspell, and a couple of my own shows, Mutiny! and All the Fun of the Fair, in the West End.
“My favourite film is probably That’ll Be The Day, which I did with Ringo [Starr]. I also loved Godspell. I mean playing Jesus was incredible,” said David.
David is also a patron of the Gypsy Council, a civil rights organisation in Britain which advocates for Irish Travellers and Romany Gypsies.
“My grandfather was an Irish Traveller from Cork. His name was Tom Kemp. So I have an affiliation. I did a film called Traveller with my son Billy [Cook], and I think freedom for Travellers is important, as it is for everybody.”
As part of his Thanks for the Memories tour David will be performing in Derry’s Millennium Forum, on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 8.00pm.
Tickets can by bought here: https://etickets.millenniumforum.co.uk/WEBPAGES/EntaWebHtmlSeatPlan/HtmlSeatPlan.aspx.