Chris Difford SQUEEZE co-founder Chris Difford still misses the days when he penned some of the quirkiest pop songs ever made with writing partner Glenn Tilbrook. But there are no plans for a reunion or a band revival - and the old chums rarely work together now. Says Difford: "I miss writing with Glenn. Nothing can compare with that magic. "We are good friends although we never see each other. We have no plans to work together again. "Our time has come and it was the best it could have been. "It's like an old book that's been read - you can read it again but you will always know what the ending is going to to be." Difford - he wrote the lyrics, Tilbrook the tunes - has embarked on a varied career since the final Squeeze gig in winter 1999. He's now a seasoned solo performer regularly touring the UK and US. He also writes with some of the biggest names in the business including Elton John and Bryan Ferry and he's been working on films and musicals. His latest production is a DVD live from the Albany Empire, Deptford. It has 10 acoustic tracks of old Squeeze hits and is due out in July. Says Difford: "Deptford was once the home of Squeeze. The album looks and feels great to me." He likens his new solo career to starting all over again - a lifetime away from Squeeze's 13 albums, repeat top 20 hits, dozens of US and UK tours and relentless trips around the world. "It's like snakes and ladders. I'm on the first rung again, although this time no snakes, just ladders. "Small is cosy, small is lovely. You can see people and their reactions and the truth is I can't fill a theatre yet - maybe one day I will. "But for now, telephone boxes are the new Madison Square Garden!" Among Difford's myriad projects is the Brighton Songwriters' Festival at the end of May. "The festival is something I have dreamt about doing for a very long time. Sixteen shows in a week - it's going to be fun and next year we hope to tour." The next job on the list is his first house concert - a growing phenomenon where top name performers play in people's homes. "This weekend is my first venture into the front room," he said. "I'm not sure what to make of it but will give it a go - you never know what I might find. "It will be nice to play acoustic on someone's sofa." The 2006 schedule includes a solo US tour, a musical, another album and more shows in the UK. "I like to dream...and cook beans on toast - it makes me realise who I am," he says. "You can chill out when you die - then there is all the time in the world. But not yet." But there are definitely no plans for Squeeze to come out of retirement. "The band are asleep. We have all been there and done that. We can't follow a shadow that has no sunlight on it." ends Copyright: Bernie Saunders |
