Big charity reunion for Leeds rockers

TWO LEEDS bandmates who haven't performed together since the 1990s have reformed after having their lives touched by cancer.
Graham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.netGraham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.net
Graham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.net

Graham Wilman and James Metcalfe’s band Wild Spice split up in 1993.

Now the band has reformed – and are asking for people of Leeds to support the first World Cancer Day on February 4.

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Wild Space had a large following in their heyday. They were offered a £750,000 record deal, but their manager turned it down, and the band split.

Graham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.netGraham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.net
Graham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.net

Since then, Graham, from Cookridge, and James, from Adel, have built up careers in business, but Graham, 42, was diagnosed with skin cancer three years ago.

Both he and James had also watched their mothers battle breast cancer, and realised life was too short not to return to their musical dreams.

The two men are committed to fighting cancer by wearing special Unity Bands on World Cancer Day.

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Graham said: “The one thing I always had was music, so just over a year ago I decided it was time to do it again and got back in touch with James. It was like we had never stopped.

Graham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.netGraham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.net
Graham Wilman and James Metcalfe from Wild Spice. PIC: Richard Walker/www.imagenorth.net

“Like many people we know, James and I have both lost someone very close to us to cancer. Thanks to research and advances in treatment, I’m still here today and so are both our mums.”

Purchase a World Cancer Day Unity Band to support four cancer charities at www.worldcancerday.co.uk.

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