Sam Fender’s Easington Colliery Band Connection
Sam Fender roots his music in Tyneside, bringing the Easington Colliery Band's brass to "Remember My Name," a tribute to his mining family, and his cover of The Rolling Stones.
Tracklist
- You Can't Always Get What You Want (Remastered 2019) — The Rolling Stones
- You Can't Always Get What You Want — Sam Fender
- Remember My Name — Sam Fender
Transcript
You Can't Always Get What You Want (Remastered 2019) — The Rolling Stones
Sam Fender covered the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” for the 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert. Mick Jagger said he was pleased Fender was covering “one of my songs.” Before hearing Fender’s version, spend time with the Stones’ recording, here in its 2019 remaster from Let It Bleed. What will you carry from this song into the cover? Hear You Can't Always Get What You Want (Remastered 2019) by The Rolling Stones.
You Can't Always Get What You Want — Sam Fender
For the John Lewis Christmas advert, Sam Fender recorded his cover of the Stones’ song in Tyneside. Fender said he re-recorded the children’s choir with pupils from his former school, John Spence Community High School, and arranged brass with the Easington Colliery Band. Mick Jagger said Fender had done a great job with the cover. As Fender takes his turn with the song, listen for the school choir and Easington’s brass. Hear You Can't Always Get What You Want by Sam Fender.
Remember My Name — Sam Fender
Before the Christmas advert, Sam Fender had worked with the Easington Colliery Band on “Remember My Name.” Fender said he wrote the song from his grandfather’s point of view. His grandfather visited his grandmother every day while she had dementia, telling her stories to help her remember. Fender wanted a miners’ brass band because his mother’s family had worked in the pits. He told The Sun he considered several bands before choosing Easington. Band secretary Peter Lawson told BBC News that Fender got emotional after hearing rehearsals and asked to sing the song live with them. On this recording, Fender’s voice meets Easington’s brass. Hear Remember My Name by Sam Fender.
The band that joined Fender for the Christmas-ad cover had already joined him for a song about his grandparents.