Zutons grateful for Winehouse publicity

The Zutons star Abi Harding has thanked Amy Winehouse for keeping the band in the spotlight while they worked on their new album.

Abi, who is the group's sax player and backing vocalist, admitted that they may have faded from the public consciousness if Winehouse and producer Mark Ronson had not recorded their smash-hit version of the song 'Valerie', which was originally released by The Zutons in 2006.

"I loved Amy and Mark's version of 'Valerie'. I thought it was brilliant and I was flattered," Abi told the Daily Record. "We have been out of the game for a couple of years recording the album and it has kept us going. People might have forgotten about us if they hadn't heard it more, so the timing was perfect.

"I think Amy is great. It is such a good song and all they used from our version was the melody, chords and lyrics. Nothing else is the same. They didn't even use the main guitar riff the song was written around. It proves to me it is a really good song.

"The first time I heard Amy and Mark's version, I wasn't sure. I thought it was mad. But the more I heard it, the more I loved it."

The Zutons' new album, titled You Can Do Anything, will be released on June 2.