The Twilight Sad's James Graham: UKNY Q&A

The sixth album from Scotland's The Twilight Sad, It's the Long Goodbye, released this past spring, directly reflects the most difficult time in singer and lyricist James Graham's life: his mother's seven-year struggle with early-onset dementia and his subsequent mental health crisis. It's an apt album to discuss on "The Longest Day" today, June 21, not only the summer solstice, but the longtime global campaign by the Alzheimer's Association, to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, the challenges encountered by individuals navigating that diagnosis, and the harsh reality that families and caregivers face. ("The Longest Day" campaign title is transitioning to "Do What You Love to End ALZ" for year-round awareness.) 

In a frank, emotional, and wide-ranging conversation on tonight's "UKNY" at 7 p.m., Graham discusses what he, his mother, and his family endured, as well as the unwavering support of his bandmate Andy McFarlane and The Twilight Sad's forever friend, The Cure's Robert Smith. Smith, who appears on three songs on It's The Long Goodbye and was an inspiration and sounding board for Graham and McFarlane on this record, frequently brings the Scottish band on tour with the Cure.

[Recorded: 5/26/26. Engineered and produced by Kara Manning]