Damian Lewis’s Awkward Radio Moment: “What is This Dirge?”
Renowned actor Damian Lewis, known for his captivating roles in Band of Brothers, Homeland, Billions, and Wolf Hall, recently found himself at the centre of an unexpectedly humorous and slightly embarrassing situation on BBC Radio 2. While promoting his burgeoning music career, a traffic presenter inadvertently delivered a rather blunt critique of his latest track, leaving the studio in stitches.
Lewis, who has been actively pursuing his long-held musical ambitions in recent years, released his debut album Mission Creep in 2023 with jazz artist Giacomo Smith. He is now gearing up for the release of his second album, Sweet Chaos. It was during an interview on Romesh Ranganathan’s Saturday morning show that the unexpected gaffe occurred.
A “Dirge” in the Studio
As Lewis’s new rock-infused album was playing, traffic presenter Sally Boazman, better known as Sally Traffic, made an audible interjection. “What is this dirge?” she exclaimed, unaware that her microphone was live and her comment was being broadcast. Lewis, with quick wit, responded, “This is my record.”
The studio immediately erupted in laughter, with Ranganathan seizing the opportunity to playfully address the presenter’s candid remark. “Speaking about Sweet Chaos, let’s talk about what just happened,” Ranganathan said, struggling to contain his amusement. Despite Sally’s attempts to steer clear of the topic, Ranganathan recounted the moment: “So you just walked into the room, said hello to Damian, and then what happened Sally?”
Forced to confess her blunder to the listeners, Sally explained, “You were playing something and I was listening and I said, ‘what is this dirge’.” The ensuing laughter from both Ranganathan and Lewis was palpable. Lewis, playing along, light-heartedly commented, “I put a lot of time and hard work into this, Sally. Into this dirge, into my rock ballads.”
For those unfamiliar with the term, a “dirge” is a slow, mournful song or poem, often associated with funerals or memorials. Sally’s comment, therefore, was a rather unflattering description of Lewis’s musical efforts.
Backtracking and Praise
Attempting to salvage the situation, Sally quickly tried to backtrack, offering a more positive assessment of the song. “I listened to it more closely and I think it was very, very good,” she stated. “You’ve got so much talent; you can do so many things. You are a real polymath.”
Lewis shared that he only began taking his music “a bit more seriously” in recent years, describing his approach to creative pursuits as responding “in the moment to what’s in front of you and if it excites you, you go and do it.”
Sweet Chaos and Musical Evolution
The upcoming album, Sweet Chaos, is set for release on June 5th. Lewis described it as a departure from his first album, stating, “The first album was quiet and tender. This new album is a bit angrier in places… you don’t know these things until you listen back: the extent to which your state of mind pervades the thing.” The album also features a collaboration with his partner, Alison Mosshart, the lead singer of The Kills.
While a full tour is yet to be announced, Lewis will be previewing Sweet Chaos through a series of intimate in-store performances across the UK in June, with dates scheduled in Leeds, Liverpool, Marlborough, London, and Kingston.
A Long-Held Passion
Reflecting on his musical journey, Lewis recalled that when his first album was released three years ago, many were surprised by his shift to music. “Er, yes… is the short answer,” he admitted. He revealed a long-standing passion for music, mentioning his history of busking in London and performing in market squares across Europe. However, his acting career had taken precedence for many years, making his musical endeavours a significant “leap in people’s imaginations.”
Lewis also confessed to attempting to write songs in his youth, describing them as “frankly appalling” and never seeing the light of day, attributing this to either a lack of confidence or the songs simply being “rubbish.”
Family Support and Evolution
When asked about his children’s reaction to his musical pursuits, Lewis, who has a daughter Manon, 19, and son Gulliver, 17, with his late wife Helen McCrory, explained that they initially “much prefer you just being dad.” He noted there was “quite a lot of teasing” when he first announced his plans to write songs and form a band. However, as they’ve witnessed his serious commitment, their initial skepticism and “outright mockery” have transformed into “something a little more sweetly supportive.”
