Matt Goss is excited to bring the spirit of Las Vegas to Liverpool. The singer, who shot to stardom as part of Bros in the 1980s, has announced a new tour of the UK on the back of his 11-year residency at Caesar’s Palace in Sin City.
The Hits and More is arriving at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on April 4 and Matt can’t wait to return to Merseyside as he told the ECHO in an exclusive interview: “I love the Liverpool accent so much. It just makes you feel happy.
“Whenever I meet anyone in Liverpool they’re always up for a laugh and up for the craic. There’s something really cheeky [about Scousers] and it’s always an honour for a musician to play Liverpool because the people have a deep understanding of good music.”
Matt spent over a decade in Vegas and he likened the glitz of Liverpool to what it’s like in the entertainment capital of the world as he urged people to get glammed up for the gig in April. He said: “[In Liverpool] Everyone looks super decked out. It doesn’t matter what the weather is, they just think we’re going to go for it. There’s a certain swagger that I love about Liverpudlians and it’s everything I’m about. I had such a good laugh in Liverpool the last time I was there.”
Matt, who hails from South London, last performed in Liverpool at the Empire Theatre in 2023 when he was taken aback by the refreshing honesty of Scousers in the meet and greet after the show. He said: “The love I got outside the venue was palpable.
“It was so humble, so kind and super loving. It really affected me. I remember I came out of the venue and I stayed there for about 40 minutes doing pictures.
“I got a different energy in Liverpool the last time I was there. Maybe it was just that night, but people were being super humble and very honest with me about the way they were feeling. Whenever I’m in Liverpool, I just feel very welcome. Everyone is just super honest and they tell you about their life.
“After being in the states for 25 years, I want that in my life. I want a sense that I’m part of the family, part of the furniture. I’ve been doing this a long time and I just want to connect with the cities in this country that I love.”
Matt values honesty and said this is why he has been able to retain a fanbase for so many years after Brosmania swept across the globe with the release of When Will I Be Famous in 1987. He said: “People understand me and I understand them.
“You’ve got to have something to say and something to contribute socially if you can. A little bit of straight talking is the reason why fans maybe still feel connected to me. I’ll always operate from a place of respect and kindness, but I think we’ve become so detached. With me, what you see is what you get. I don’t want to be shocking for the sake of it, but I think you have to speak your mind.”
The 2022 Strictly Come Dancing contestant said this is tougher as the years go by as he admitted to becoming increasingly disillusioned with the evolution of the music industry and celebrity culture. He added: “I don’t like the lack of environment for musicians to be musicians.
“The social media side is not my favourite thing to do and I guess I try and maintain my privacy. I don’t really believe in that dumbing down of the celebrity space. I’ve fallen prey to it and you end up doing certain things that have nothing to do with your artistry.
“That’s why I ask people to come and join me on tour. I don’t want to fall into that b*****t celebrity culture to survive. It doesn’t sit well with me as a man. They’re turning celebrities into these weird clowns. We should still be able to be artists and that’s why touring is the last stand and I hope that I’m able to keep the live part of my life in my life.”
Matt is passionate about the craftmanship behind his live shows and said this was the key to being a success in Vegas as he initially only expected to perform in Nevada for a year. He said: “You can’t b*****t in Vegas. If you’re not doing a show that’s hitting, it will simply fail. The reality is you’ve got to bring your A game every single night.
“Vegas teaches you a lot about discipline and keeping your show at a certain level and that’s what I want to do here [with the UK tour]. It’s just really about me wanting to have the live part of my life to be more prominent than it is now.
“Everything I’ve learnt in my life and my career, I want to bring it to the stage much more regularly [in the UK] and always be considered for live music events.” Matt has had a storied life and bounced back from many personal setbacks to ensure his professional career continues to flourish.
Matt’s fallout with his twin brother and Bros bandmate, Luke Goss, is well documented and was explored in the hit film, When The Screaming Stops. He has had to contend with family tragedy when his sister was killed by a drunk driver at the height of the band’s fame in 1988 and he was also deeply impacted by the sudden loss of his mum in 2014.
The I Owe You Nothing hitmaker explained the spirit he inherited from his family has always helped him push through during these darker times in his life. He said: “A mantra I have is never waste good agony.
“In the morning, you have a choice to spiral upwards or spiral downwards. When I felt my lowest, the pride I inherited from my family always instilled in me to put my best foot forward.
“I believe we can weather most storms but you can’t weather it if you stand still. You’ve got to keep yourself motivated. There have been times in my life that I didn’t think I could face another day. Like when I lost my mother or when my sister was killed.
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“I honestly felt like how the f**k am I going to get through another day. The thing that got me by was the only way to honour myself is to honour the people I love and make them proud.
“I feel if I can make the people who are still observing me proud, then I can make myself proud. Then, by default, you can genuinely look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘At least I’m trying to put my best foot forward.'”
Matt has continued to do that over the past four decades since he shot to stardom aged 19 and he is keen to keep putting his best foot forward into the next chapter of his career. The singer has packed a thousand lifetimes into the one as he is able to regale stories about being the youngest man to ever headline Wembley, becoming an honorary captain of the American army and his unlikely friendship with notorious criminal, Reggie Kray, who he named his French bulldog after, during his interview with the ECHO.
Although the singer is grateful to have led the life he has, he is now firmly focused on the future as he is excited to get back on the road in his home country. He said: “Going to spend the day with Muhamad Ali in his house, lunch with Princess Diana, hanging out with the Rolling Stones for a day. These things are the cornerstone memories in your life.
“I’m aware of how grandiose they sound but they happen to be truthful. The list goes on. Things that I could never have imagined have happened, so may the dear lord above let it continue.” He added: “The good part of touring is you get to hang out, meet people and get up to a little bit of mischief. I’m a troublemaker so it’s good to get out on the road and feel like you’re still in a rock and roll band.”