Catfish & With A Little Help From My Friends
Massive love and thanks to the utterly brilliant Fiona Long & Paul Long ❤️🤘
They took the time to sit down with us and talk openly about their son Matt Long, his legacy, and the heart, graft, and emotion poured into Catfish and With A Little Help From My Friends.
It was honest, moving, and full of the kind of warmth that reminds you why music—and the people behind it—matter so bloody much. Absolute legends. Proper tidy stuff, mun 🖤🎶🔥
On Catfish & Matt Long
- For readers who discovered Catfish through the tribute album, how would you describe the band’s sound and spirit — what made Catfish Catfish?
I think Catfish took inspiration from the blues and then ramped it up a bit! Matt’s songs in particular were unapologetically blues rock, although with their feet in the blues, and all his original songs were written about his own personal experiences – he felt that way that he could connect more with the song and the lyrics. Also he loved to chat to the fans both on and off stage so I think that made Catfish the band more accessible to the fans.
- Matt wasn’t just a frontman; he was a songwriter, guitarist, and force of nature. What do you feel was his defining quality as a musician?
Matt was a superb and creative guitarist and he played with passion. He loved playing from an early age and became almost obsessive, taking influences from the blues music he heard around the house but also from a wide variety of other genres, particularly when he went on to music college at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford where he discovered symphonic metal and Alter Bridge amongst others. His songwriting was very honest and raw and, like many musicians, he had his own demons in terms of mental health – he constantly doubted his ability even after he had been named Instrumentalist of the Year two years running by the UK Blues Forum.
- How early did Matt know that music wasn’t just a hobby but his life’s path?
I can quite clearly remember the exact moment when that happened – one of his greatest influences musically was Joe Bonamassa and we took him to the first Albert Hall gig Joe did. It was an incredible night and Matt (who was maybe 14 or 15 at the time) stood up after the gig and said ‘That’s what I want to do for a living’. He started at ACM as soon as he had finished his GCSEs at school at 16 and never looked back – he really found his ‘tribe’ there and made some lifelong friends including Adam Pyke who was the bassist with Catfish, and Adrienne Cowan who is now a vocalist with Avantasia who features on a track on the tribute album.
- Were there moments on stage where you looked at Matt and thought, “Yeah… this is exactly where he belongs”?
Yes there are some key memories for sure, but the first really special moment was the second time they played at the British Blues festival in Skegness which must have been about 2016. Catfish had a big epic slow blues called Make it Rain which was a crowd favourite and they ended the set with it. The music ended and the packed room was completely silent – and then erupted in the biggest noise I think I have ever heard from a crowd. Half the audience were in tears, as was Matt. So many people still come up to us to say that was the first time they were aware of Catfish and that it was one of the most emotional, spellbinding gigs they had ever seen.
- Catfish built a loyal following on the blues-rock circuit. What do you think fans connected with most — the songs, the performances, or Matt himself?
Possibly a combination of the three – Matt always delivered the songs with his trademark passion on the guitar and the vocal, and a lot of people contacted us to say that they connected with the lyrics, particularly on the songs where he bared his soul on the mental health side, such as Exile. However, Matt was such a gentle giant and such a kind soul that everyone who met him connected with him on a personal level. He would always give time to the fans, even when it got him in trouble with the band for not packing up quickly after the gig!
On Loss, Legacy & Carrying the Flame
- Losing Matt was unimaginable. How did music help — or sometimes not help — in the months that followed?
At first it was too hard to listen to his music for both of us. The cavernous sense of loss was too overwhelming. However, after a while I found that watching videos of him performing live brought him back briefly and was a comfort. I still struggle to watch videos of him being ‘Matt’ larking about backstage etc as that was ‘our’ Matt. We were lucky enough to have lots of videos sent to us after Matt’s funeral which we have saved and will get to when we are ready.
- Was there a particular Catfish song that suddenly took on a deeper meaning after Matt’s passing?
There are a couple of songs on the final Catfish album Time to Fly which I still cant listen to without tears – this album had been partly recorded before Matt passed away but some of the partially written songs were found as voice notes on his phone or on his computer as almost complete demos. Some of these had clearly been written during his cancer journey and are a hard listen but nonetheless beautiful songs. Matt’s dad Paul was a BBC sound engineer and live music producer so was able over the first few months after Matt’s death to reconstruct or complete some of these songs using Matt’s audio files and take them to the band, who did an incredible job of making them into something really special – the Time to Fly album.
- When you listen back to Matt’s recordings now, does it feel comforting, painful, or a strange mix of both?
A little of both – there are still some songs that I cant listen to without tears but strangely I find it quite reassuring to hear his voice and see his face now.
- How important was it for you that Matt’s music didn’t quietly fade away after his passing?
His music was such an integral part of who he was that we are incredibly lucky to have something of him remaining with us through his music and videos – not every bereaved parent has that. I think being able to complete and release the Time to Fly album, being Matt’s final pieces of work, was very important for both Paul and I and felt like some sort of closure.
On the Tribute Album – With A Little Help From My Friends
- Can you take us back to the moment this tribute album went from an idea to “Right… we’re actually doing this”?
The initial idea for this came from a musician friend of ours Dudley Ross who works closely with Joe Bonamassa’s second guitarist Josh Smith when he and his band comes to the UK. He came to us and asked if we would be OK with him asking Josh if Joe Bonamassa might do a guitar solo on one of Matt’s original songs.
We had been lucky enough to meet Joe several times as he had been on the BBC Monday blues show with Paul Jones several times while my husband Paul was the producer of the programme and they had become friends. We were very touched when Joe agreed. Once that was in place, it occurred to me that we had so many incredibly talented friends in the blues and blues rock world in the UK who had stepped up during the summer of 2024 to play benefit gigs to raise money for Matt to get access to treatments not available on the NHS.
I decided we had nothing to lose so I asked them if they might be up for taking on one of Matt’s original songs and making it their own. Every one of them said yes, including Matt’s other big musical influence on the blues rock side, and with whom Matt had guested on stage several times, Walter Trout. What started as a single track became a double album featuring a stellar cast from UK and US blues and blues rock.
- The response from the music community has been overwhelming. Did that level of love and support surprise you?
Yes and no. We have been part of the blues and blues rock community in the UK long enough to know that they are an incredibly supportive bunch and that there are very few egos. We saw that with the benefit gigs – people just wanted to help Matt in any way they could, and went out of their way to be part of the shows. But having said that, we are incredibly grateful to each and every one of them for the extraordinary tracks they have produced.
- Joe Bonamassa’s involvement is huge. What did it mean to you, personally, knowing Matt’s hero wanted to be part of this project?
It made the project very special to have Joe involved – Matt would have been incredible humbled and overwhelmed to have his hero on a track which also features Matt’s own vocal. Although they never got to play together while Matt was alive, this is the next best thing.
- How did you decide which of Matt’s songs would be reinterpreted for the album?
There were a couple that I immediately thought would suit certain bands or artists (Have My Say for Zac Schulze, Break me Down for Will Wilde), but for others I sent them a list of tracks – some from Catfish and others from Matt’s much heavier project ‘Matt Long and the Revenant Ones’ – and let them choose.
Elles Bailey immediately went for Better Days as she loved the whole vibe of the song, and has turned it into a completely different version with the Cinellis and a horn section! Dom Martin surprised me by choosing one of the heavier metal tracks from MLRO and turning it into a stripped back voice and acoustic guitar track which gives you goosebumps and makes you listen to the lyrics.
- Were you hands-on in shaping how the tracks would sound, or did you give the artists creative freedom?
No – we gave the artists carte blanche, and I am so glad we did because each track carries their own hallmarks.
- Was there a moment during the album’s creation that completely floored you emotionally?
I think it has been some of the videos that the artists have created for the singles, where they have included footage of Matt. Brave Rival did this on their version of Up in Smoke (they all knew Matt really well and were his wedding band), and also Alice Armstrong on her version of Archangel.
Alice was a close friend of Matt’s for several years and they wrote some of her early material together – Alice also designed the incredible album cover. Alice included some footage I hadnt seen of the Czech tour she and Matt did together and some of the journey out to play on the Joe Bonamassa Blues Cruise in summer 2023 which was very emotional for me – but lovely at the same time – happy tears.
On Community & the Music Family
- This album feels like more than a tribute — it feels like a gathering. What does it say about the blues and rock community?
The blues and blues rock community have always been nothing but supportive of each other – we are very lucky to be part of such a friendly and inclusive genre. The support we have had from musicians and fans/friends has been absolutely key to getting us through the last year or so and we couldn’t be more grateful to them.
- Many of the artists involved had personal connections to Matt. How important was that human connection versus just musical respect?
Some of the artists knew Matt really well and had become close personal friends. Their input was incredibly important to the project and made it feel very personal – rather like the videos which included footage of them with Matt. But equally it has been lovely that people who we had just crossed paths with occasionally at festivals have also felt they wanted to honour Matt for his music.
On Healing, Purpose & Looking Forward
- What do you hope listeners feel when they press play on With A Little Help From My Friends?
I hope they see what we do – the whole blues community coming together in tribute to our boy. Every single track is incredible, every track played from the heart and reinterpreted in his honour. We couldn’t be prouder of how it has turned out.
- Beyond honouring Matt, is there a wider purpose behind the album that you want people to understand?
I think the importance of this album, besides honouring Matt’s memory and keeping his songs alive, is that the profits are all going to the Royal Surrey County Hospital where Matt was treated. In some small way, this lessens his loss, to know that some good will hopefully come of his death in that people going through their own cancer treatment now at RSCH will have their cancer journey made a little less awful with additional equipment for the ward.
- Do you feel this project has helped transform grief into something lasting and positive?
Nothing will ever completely get rid of the grief – this is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives, and nothing will ever quite be ‘right’ again. We know that. But yes, I think having this tribute album will keep Matt in people’s minds and reintroduce them to his songs.
- How would Matt have reacted to this album — the artists involved, the love pouring in, the noise being made in his name?
He would have been overwhelmed and very humbled by the amount of affection he was clearly held in by his friends in the music world.
- What do you think Matt would say to the fans who’ve supported Catfish and this tribute from day one?
Matt and the band have never taken their fanbase for granted – they appreciate every person who has ever taken the time to come to a Catfish gig or bought an album. It has been wonderful to get so many lovely messages since Matt has passed about how much the music meant to people, which were their favourite songs, which gigs stuck in their minds, when they first saw the band etc. It really does mean a lot to know he meant so much to so many people.
Final Words
- If Matt’s music could leave one message behind for future listeners, what do you hope it would be?
Matt was very honest in his lyrics in his songs. I think if there is any message in his music, his strongest work has often been written about his anxiety and depression, which is way more prevalent in the music industry than people realise. Perhaps the message would be not to be afraid to vocalise what you are feeling – talk to friends and family about it and dont try and deal with it alone.
It is nothing to be ashamed of and you will be surprised once you open up just how many of your friends also have the same issues. Other than that, just to continue to find your own joy in his music – everyone has their own favourite track so keep playing it loud…and remember him.
- Is there anything you’d like to say directly to the fans, friends, and musicians who helped make this album possible?
Just a massive thank you from the bottom of our hearts to every one of you who have contributed tracks or bought the album. It means such a lot to have Matt remembered in such a wonderful and meaningful way.
❤️ A Proper Thank You, Mun
Fiona & Paul Long pay tribute to the people behind Catfish & With A Little Help From My Friends
This one comes straight from the heart, butt. 💔❤️
Fiona Long and Paul Long would like to thank every single person who helped make Catfish and With A Little Help From My Friends happen as part of the Matt Long Tribute Album.
From the musicians who poured their souls into the recordings, to the engineers, organisers, supporters, and the wider rock ’n’ roll family who rallied around the cause — this album exists because of you. No egos. No nonsense. Just good people doing something meaningful together.
This isn’t just a record.
It’s a tribute built on friendship, love, late nights, shared memories, and the kind of community spirit that keeps the music scene alive when life gets heavy. 🖤🎸
📀 Release Details
The Matt Long Tribute Album will be released on 20th March, and pre-orders are available now.
👉 Pre-order here:
https://linktr.ee/MattLongTributeAlbum
Every pre-order helps honour Matt’s legacy and celebrates the people who stood shoulder to shoulder to make this happen. Proper grassroots. Proper emotional. Proper tidy work, mun.
Huge love and respect to everyone involved. This one means everything. 🤘🖤
