Oil rig worker is online music star

Daniel Markbride, 42, from Thornton, was caught on camera strumming his guitar to Oasis’ 1995 track ‘Talk Tonight’ while working on an oil rig in the middle of the North Sea.

His passionate performance of the classic acoustic tune has attracted more than 15,000 internet hits in just four days.

Father-of-five Daniel has worked gruelling 12-hour shifts at the Brent Delta oil rig near Norway for five years.

He gets the chance to speak with his family in the evenings – if his phone signal is good enough. His musical performance alongside fellow oil rig workers Richard Stanway andMark Heseltine, was intended as a tribute to his wife, Claire Markbride, 32, and children Louis, 12, Charlie, 10, Kara, seven, Ben, three, and two-year-old Talia.

Daniel, from Hurstleigh Heights, said: “It was a morale boost really, to let all our wives and kids know back home we are always thinking of them.

“Everyone’s wives and kids loved it, we’re just overwhelmed with the response, we’ve shared it through all our personal Facebook pages.”

Hardworking Daniel has missed merit awards, sports days, and even Ben’s first day at pre-school because of his trips to the oil rig, which can last up to three weeks at a time.

Claire said that the video came as a wonderful surprise to her younger children, who struggle to understand their dad’s frequent, sudden disappearances.

“They were so excited. They must have watched it hundreds of times. It was never off. It was lovely to see the video, shows that they are all thinking of us while they are away.”

Now the Brent Delta crew are using their new-found musical stardom to reach to new heights.

Claire said: “The boys are saying that they are going for the Christmas number one.

“They’re going to try to beat the X-Factor number one.”

But Daniel has bigger plans – his upcoming honeymoon with Claire. The couple tied the knot in July, but Daniel’s oil rig duties meant that they had to postpone the celebrations.

Now they are jetting off to sunny Spain for some much-needed family time.

Claire said: “We’re taking all the kids with us.

“We’re really looking forward to it.”