The Band, Signed to S2 in 1993, Had Top 10 Albums and Top 40 Singles, and Played Glastonbury

Reef's Jack Bessant and Gary Stringer recall the making of their 1997 hit Place Your Hands, from a chance encounter with a vintage Fender bass at Abbey Road to the song's hidden meaning about grief and the need for a hug. The track, which became the band's signature, was recorded with producer George Drakoulias, who replaced their low-budget instruments with a 1960s Fender Jazz bass. Bessant, inspired by Motown's James Jamerson, found the bassline, while guitarist Kenwyn House added the opening riff, transforming the song from mellow to action-packed.

Stringer revealed the lyrics were about the death of his grandfather, Kenneth, and that "put your hands on" was a metaphor for wanting comfort. The band, signed to S2 in 1993, had Top 10 albums and Top 40 singles, and played Glastonbury. The video, which cost about £250,000, featured the band flipping on wires. Bessant noted the song still resonates and accounts for much of his income.