Opera singer Graeme Danby asked to sing at last two NUFC home games

Apr 29 2009 by David Whetstone, The Journal

WILL it be opera or football? The man who’s attempting to sing Newcastle United to Premiership safety hopes it can be both as he wrestles with a conflict of interests.

On Monday night, bass Graeme Danby stirred up the home crowd of almost 50,000 in St James’ Park with a powerful, operatic rendition of The Blaydon Races.

The Friday before he was in Italy, rehearsing for a coveted debut role at La Scala in Milan, one of the most famous opera houses in the world. He returned to Newcastle at the request of a United management relying on supporters being the noisy ‘12th man’ in the closing, crucial matches of the season.

Graeme’s singing didn’t help United’s players beat Portsmouth on Monday, but neither did they lose.

Now all parties hope he can sing at the team’s last two home matches - against Middlesbrough on May 11 and Fulham on May 16 - and help lift the club out of the relegation zone.

Avid fan Graeme, who was born in Consett but grew up in Ponteland, wore a black and white striped waistcoat at his wedding, courtesy of the wardrobe department at English National Opera.