A moving new double album, With A Little Help From My Friends, celebrates the life and legacy of UK blues rock guitarist and songwriter Matt Long, who passed away in 2024 after an 18‑month battle with cancer. The release brings together an extraordinary lineup of artists including Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout, Elles Bailey, The Cinelli Brothers, Brave Rival, Dom Martin, When Rivers Meet, Chantel McGregor and many more.
The idea began when musician Dudley Ross asked Joe Bonamassa to contribute a solo to one of Matt’s songs. Joe agreed immediately, inspiring a project that grew into a full‑scale tribute coordinated by Matt’s mother Fiona Long.
Matt and his family had met Joe several times over the years through Fiona’s husband, Paul, who produced the Paul Jones Blues Show on BBC Radio 2. “On one occasion, when Joe heard that Matt was about to go to music college, he gave him a little practice amp from his dressing room,” Fiona recalled. “Matt was beside himself, and we still have the amp. It would have meant the world to him to be singing on the same track as Joe Bonamassa, albeit posthumously.”
Produced at Joplin House Studios in Kent by Dan Lucas, who donated his time and facilities, the album includes Matt’s original vocals alongside newly recorded parts by guest musicians.
The title With A Little Help From My Friends was inspired by the finale of the 2024 benefit concert at The Stables in Wavendon, where many of the same artists gathered to perform in Matt’s memory. That live moment closes the album. Artwork was created by Matt’s friend and collaborator Alice Armstrong.
All proceeds from the album will benefit the cancer ward at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, where Matt received treatment. Pre‑orders open on 7 November 2025, which would have been Matt’s 31st birthday, and the first single Up In Smoke by Brave Rival will be released the same day. The full album will follow in Spring 2026 in vinyl, CD and digital formats.
Matt’s parents Fiona and Paul Long say the response from the blues community has been overwhelming. “The generosity of musicians and fans has been beyond words. We hope this record will make other patients’ journeys a little easier and help Matt’s music continue to inspire.”
Through his music, Matt often spoke openly about his struggles with depression and anxiety, hoping to connect with listeners who might feel the same. Fiona hopes that honesty will continue to resonate.
“He always played with passion and wrote from personal experience so that he could connect with a song on a very direct level,” she says. “I also hope the fact that he bared his soul and spoke openly about his struggle with depression will inspire others not to be afraid to talk about it if they’re suffering themselves.”
For Fiona and Paul, the release is both heartbreaking and uplifting, a reminder that their son’s music continues to touch people even after he’s gone. “We were overwhelmed, although not entirely surprised,” said Fiona, “as the blues community have always been incredibly supportive of each other and of Matt.
“We saw that last year with the benefit gigs all over the country for Matt where all the artists gave their time for free, and the massive support for the crowdfunder, which raised over £100k to give Matt access to additional drugs not currently available on the NHS. We will never forget that.”
All proceeds from the album will go to the cancer ward at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. For more information about the hospital and their work visit https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk.
Pre-Order/Pre-Save the new album (The link will not be active until Friday 7th November 2025) https://mattlongtributealbum.bigcartel.com.
With a Little Help from My Friends Album Vinyl Tracklist:
Side 1
Broken Man – Matt Long ft. Joe Bonamassa
Have My Say – Zac Schulze Gang
Archangel – Alice Armstrong
Better Days – Elles Bailey
Side 2
Up In Smoke – Brave Rival
So – Dom Martin
Root of All Evil – Adrienne Cowan (Vocalist of Avantasia)
All I Ask Of You – Matt Long feat. Walter Trout
Side 3
Exile – Sean Webster
Take It All – Blue Nation
Soulbreaker – When Rivers Meet
Change My Ways – Katie Bradley & Dudley Ross
Side 4
Break Me Down – Will Wilde
Hit The Ground Running – The Cinelli Brothers
Forevermore and Again – Chantel McGregor
With A Little Help from My Friends
