3<\/p>\n Carlos passed away four years ago 3<\/p>\n Simon could not have been nicer<\/p>\n But tragedy struck four years ago when Spanish pin-up Carlos Marin died from Covid, aged 53.<\/p>\n Now tenors David Miller, S\u00e9bastien Izambard and Urs B\u00fchler will return to Castle Rock in the Scottish capital next month \u2014 11 years after their sell-out gig at the venue.<\/p>\n They will be joined by Steven LaBrie, 37, who became Carlos\u2019s permanent replacement in 2023.<\/p>\n Californian David, 52, says: \u201cWe think of Carlos every time we play a venue where we have all performed before. I mean literally every time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can vividly remember all the cities like Edinburgh<\/a> where we went for the first time as a group.<\/p>\n \u201cThe funny thing is, when we started, we weren\u2019t a bunch of friends who formed a band, we were put together by the record label. It was a business arrangement at first.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we didn\u2019t know each other and, to be honest, we couldn\u2019t have given two s***s. They could have fired one guy and hired another, because coming from the opera<\/a> world, that happens all the time.<\/p>\n \u201cBut over those 18 years with just the same four guys, we became bonded so strongly in a way we didn\u2019t even realise until Covid happened.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the first time we had to spend so much time apart and then Carlos got ill.\u201d<\/p>\n The baritone contracted Covid while on tour and was hospitalised in Manchester<\/a> in December 2021.<\/p>\n Il Divo star Carlos Mar\u00edn dies from Covid aged 53 in Manchester hospital after being put into an induced coma<\/p>\n Initially the group brought in Steven as a temporary replacement, but Carlos\u2019 health rapidly deteriorated. He was placed in an induced coma and died on December 19.<\/p>\n Baritone Steven, from Texas<\/a>, recalls: \u201cOriginally I came in to replace Carlos while he was ill as we were told he was going to recover. It all happened so fast.<\/p>\n \u201cI was thrown into the first show that we did, and hadn\u2019t even had a chance to sing on stage with the full sound system.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it was a huge shock for everyone when he died.<\/p>\n \u201cI was this outsider, a newcomer and I was surrounded by my colleagues and crew and the manager who were all distraught.<\/p>\n \u201cAll I could do was show a lot of empathy and listen to their stories about Carlos, where everyone would be laughing about something funny he did. And then everyone would get sad. That\u2019s when we would all sing a song to lighten the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Amazingly Il Divo were not the product of one of Cowell\u2019s many talent shows.<\/p>\n The music mogul instead decided to create his first classical group after watching the legendary Three Tenors \u2014 Luciano Pavarotti, Pl\u00e1cido Domingo and Jos\u00e9 Carreras \u2014 in concert.<\/p>\n After a two-year worldwide search \u2014 Urs, 53, is from Willisau, in Switzerland<\/a>, and S\u00e9bastien, 52, from Paris \u2014 Simon unveiled Il Divo, who became an instant hit.<\/p>\n Their first self-titled album shot to No1 in the UK and made the top five in the States.<\/p>\n They earned their debut US chart-topper in 2005 with second album Encora, and performed at Barack Obama\u2019s presidential inauguration ball, in Washington DC<\/a> in 2009.<\/p>\n Three years later, they gave a memorable rendition of Caruso during Queen Elizabeth\u2019s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and played at an Olympic torch handover party for the London Olympics. So it came as a shock when they were dropped by Cowell\u2019s company Syco Records in 2015, even though they were still selling out shows across the globe.<\/p>\n They insist TV\u2019s Mr Nasty was the perfect \u201cgentleman\u201d when it came to parting ways.<\/p>\n David explains: \u201cAt the time Simon had become so busy with all of his TV<\/a> shows and all that success he just didn\u2019t have the time to devote to us.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we sat down with him in his house in LA<\/a> and Simon said, \u2018Guys, I\u2019m fresh out of ideas. You\u2019ve recorded all of my favorite music. We don\u2019t really know what to do with you\u2019. I was like \u2018Well, do you mind if we go elsewhere?\u2019 And as a perfect gentleman he said, \u2018Absolutely, I want you guys to carry on\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cHe then said, \u2018Obviously, all legacy material belongs to me, but anything you create going forward, you know, you guys own that. You can even keep the name and we won\u2019t take a cut of anything\u2019. The group continue to play at the most iconic venues around the world, but David believes Edinburgh<\/a> Castle fires the group up unlike anywhere else.<\/p>\n David says: \u201cYou walk on to stage and it just hits you that you\u2019re actually playing in a castle. There\u2019s just so much history and gravitas in that locale \u2014 the sheer majesty of it all.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have played in some incredible venues, but a place like Edinburgh Castle, that has been fought for over the centuries? Steven believes experiencing these majestic venues for the first time has helped Il Divo to process the loss of their dear colleague.<\/p>\n![\"HOLLYWOOD,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1083284440jpg-JS701383762.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"PASADENA,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GETTY_Americas-Got-Talent-Season-19-Quarterfinals-3-Red-Carpet_ENT_GYI2168934158jpg-JS928013858.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\u201cThat was really nice and also how we\u2019ve been able to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt certainly gives you extra fire under your bum.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Il](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/DSC00842jpg-JS1000004273.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n