Jump4John: “Well yeah, we booked again for September”

Madness — or the lengths some people will go to raise money for charity. Every year, The Insatiable Ones raise money for John Brandham, a dear friend of Suede and part of their crew for many years, who suffered a stroke. This week - before Suede start the August leg of their summer tour - we look back on some of the previous actions.

Mike Jackson and Richard Hart took 'Jump For Joy' a little too literally this year. Armed with what can only be described as 2Unlimited levels of enthusiasm, Richard headed to Switzerland to join Mike for Jump4John: a week of bungee jumps and terrifying heights, all to raise money for former Suede crew member and friend of the band, John Brandham. We caught up with them to look back on the fear, the friendship and the amount of pants behind it all.

Mike and Richard, how did you come up with the idea?

Richard: The idea for me to come to Switzerland someday and help Mike face his fear of heights came about last summer after he saw one of my bungee jump videos.

The plan suddenly accelerated when we saw the European tour was to conclude in Switzerland. 

Mike: It started after Richard and Carrie did a bungee jump last year and I commented on a Facebook post that I’d like to do one but I’m terrified of heights. That’s when Richard said he’d love to do the 007 jump in Switzerland.

Richard: Which I booked the same day the tour went on sale.

Mike: So that’s when Richard’s wish became a reality and I agreed to do it with him, as long as it was to raise money for John.

But then it escalated as Richard looked at all of the other crazy things that can be done in Switzerland. Which got us to the various activities in four different locations. That’s where Jump4John came from.

What was your favourite jump?

Mike: The jumps we did from the suspension bridge in a place called Niouc. By that point I’d not overcome my fear by a long way, but I was less terrified and it ended up being a great day out.

Richard: The bungee jump(s), hands down.

Memory you cherish the most?

Richard: Standing on the edge as they counted me down for my first jump from the Verzasca Dam.

Mike: I’ll get sentimental now, but it was really getting to know Richard properly and spending the week together. We knew each other and saw each other at gigs and other nights out but I think we really bonded in a proper friendship way. We didn’t only do the jumps. We went to thermal baths, visited an ancient castle and a WWII mountain fortress, and had a couple of traditional Swiss meals. Plus he really helped me deal with my fears.

Richard: Mike wanted to raise money for John from the outset, and I’m proud of the part I played. He was very brave, but had I not been there as his enabler he may have ended up having to return all your donations.

Would you do this again?

Mike: Well yeah, we booked again for September. I’m still scared but now I know what is coming and I enjoyed that day so much, I wanted to see if I can properly enjoy it.

Richard: 100%, I had the time of my life!

And then the million dollar question: how many times did you have to put on dry pants?

Mike: Luckily, I never had to, but I did honestly wear two pairs of boxer shorts each day.

Richard: I had to put on each pair of dry pants exactly once.