EXCLUSIVE: Bonnie Tyler sadly died in July 2026. Three years before her death, Samantha Masters interviewed the Welsh music legend and recalls a particularly awkward exchange
Bonnie Tyler was a pleasure to chat to in 2023
Today marks a celebration of life service and procession for Bonnie Tyler, who died “unexpectedly” aged 75 on July 8 following an illness she had been receiving treatment for. Held at Swansea Minster, the service will be attended by family, friends and invited guests, while members of the public are able to watch it on a large screen in St David’s Square.
Afterwards, her coffin is expected to travel through her birthplace of Skewen before a private family committal and farewell service.
Since the Total Eclipse of the Heart star’s death, fans have mourned her loss, with thousands currently to gathering in Swansea to pay tribute to the Welsh music icon.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Bonnie back in 2023 and, while there are always nerves that come with speaking to a household name, she instantly proved there was no need. Bonnie may have spent decades travelling the world, but there was one place she appeared to need a little help navigating – Essex, or more specifically, my Essex accent.
In stark contrast to Gavin & Stacey, where the Essex and Welsh characters understand each other perfectly well, there were plenty of frowns and “ayes” during our chat, prompting me to slow down my speech and repeat myself on a few occasions.
While it was a little awkward at times, it did nothing to take away from the joy of having her down-to-earth company via a Zoom call.
Bonnie spoke enthusiastically about a campaign she was fronting at the time on behalf of McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes, which aimed to educate Brits on all things astronomy, from lunar eclipses to star constellations.
The singer, who had recently been awarded an MBE for her services to music, also didn’t shy away from some unexpected topics she perhaps wasn’t expecting me to ask about.
One of those was the famous light-hearted dispute she had with the late singer Meat Loaf over her biggest hit, Total Eclipse of the Heart.
The Welsh singer claimed the rock legend – real name Michael Lee Aday – and songwriter Jim Steinman had fallen out after Steinman offered the iconic track to her rather than him, following Meat Loaf’s loss of his voice in the 1980s.
She said: “Meat Loaf was a bit p****d off about it. He was fine. He used to say, ‘Bonnie that song should’ve been for me!'” Recalling her response, she said: “‘Well he didn’t give it to you, he gave it to me, so… tough’.”
Reflecting on their exchanges, she added: “It was always friendly banter.” Bonnie also told me about a time she had to “clear her name” following a case of mistaken identity.
The singer became embroiled in a court battle with John Cale after he mistook her for a party girl before writing about the incident in his 1999 book.
In the book, co-written with Victor Bockris, the musician claimed he found a group of women in his apartment, one of whom he wrongly believed was Bonnie.
He reportedly wrote: “Tempers flared and I threw them all out, except one who simply would not go but returned to kick in the door.” John alleged the woman was from a band called Bunny, whom he believed was the singer.
Little is known about the years-old court case, but Bonnie insisted all was well between the pair after he reached out to apologise.
“Whoever it was must’ve looked like me or whatever, but anyway I had to clear my name,” she told me.
“So, that went to court and I won it of course, because I had never met him, and then I gave the money to charity.”
Bonnie said she never found out who the “party girl” in question was, but insisted the matter was settled following the court outcome and his apology.
