Blossoms release song inspired by Manchester bus

Stockport indie band Blossoms has released a new song inspired by Greater Manchester's No. 192 bus.

Additional Driver, featuring fellow indie artist Declan McKenna, was born from a minor car collision involving frontman Tom Ogden outside Manchester's O2 Apollo.

The song tells the story of a journey from Manchester to Stockport that goes wrong, with the repeated refrain: "Should've got the 192".

The accompanying music video was filmed aboard a Bee Network bus, bringing one of Greater Manchester's best-known bus routes into the spotlight.

"Last year we went writing in Wales and invited Declan," Ogden explains.

"I brought up a small bump I had in the car outside the Apollo, the previous week before the session.

"A vocal take in the hot tub later we had finished writing what would become 'Additional Driver'.

"We knew we wanted to try it out for the album so we invited Declan to Tilehouse when we were recording the album."

Blossoms are following in the footsteps of other successful indie and rock bands who have found inspiration on Britain's buses.

The Clash referenced London's No. 19 bus in Rudie Can't Fail, while Birmingham band Superfood featured the No. 9 route in Unstoppable.

Additional Driver tells the story of a journey home that begins when approaching the junction at the O2 Apollo, in Manchester city centre.

The song concludes with the closing lines, "Should've got the 192".

Ben Gamble, the Stagecoach driver who was behind the wheel of the bus featured in the music video said he "really enjoyed meeting Blossoms".

"They are a really good bunch of lads, very polite and chatty," he said. "It was a pleasure to drive them around while they filmed their music video."

Transport for Greater Manchester's chief network officer Danny Vaughan, said: "For many people across Greater Manchester, the 192 is more than a bus route.

"It's part of daily life and part of the story of growing up, working, studying and socialising in our city-region.

"It's brilliant to see a hometown band like Blossoms put the route centre stage and introduce it to audiences beyond Greater Manchester."

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