AN A UDIENCE WITH...
SQUEEZE
Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook talk Deptford haunts, Cale and Cliff, and why some shows go better with a box of Maltesers
Interview by SAM RICHARDS
“When I met Chris, we combined what we could do and then these songs started pouring out of us”
GLENN TILBROOK
FOR half acentury now, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford’s songwriting partnership has flourished via unspoken accord. Difford typically does the words, Tilbrook the music, but they always find themselves on the same page.
Even their suits look co-ordinated, though they use different tailors. “We always get suits made before atour,” explains Difford. “There’s something to be said for getting changed before you go on, it helps you become the person that you are on stage.”
The suits will be getting alot of wear this year, as Squeeze have extended their upcoming 50th anniversary tour due to overwhelming demand. “Yeah, it’s amazing,” says Tilbrook. “We’ve been on agreat trajectory since 2020. Owen Biddle came in on bass and he’s had a great effect on all of us. The band was great before, and now it’s even better. It just feels like we’re at the absolute top of our game.”
“I had to pinch myself when Isaw the ticket sales the other day and discovered the Albert Hall had sold out [in a week],” adds Difford. “It’s an extraordinary thing, arejuvenation. And it spurs on the imagination, too. Alot of songwriting comes from the subconscious, so waiting for that to arrive sometimes takes time –but this week, it hasn’t. So I’m looking forward to us working together and having the band in the studio. We’ve e got two records to make. It’s going be a very good, busy year.”