Chris' new look website!

Whilst taking Frank, my faithful newshound, out for a walk around squeezereader towers, something extraordinary happened.

There we were strolling around the opulent surroundings of our orchard when Frank's nose started twitching.
"Hmmm", I thought, "Frank can smell something Squeezy in the air"

We carried on walking, when suddenly Frank jumped up and caught an object in his mouth.
On further inspection I was delighted to see that he had indeed caught something interesting.

On unfurling the exciting find, I was delighted to see the brand spanking new design of Chris Difford's website- very nice :0)

Go there now!

Listen to Chris' new tracks on Stiff Radio

"I'm on the old brown rice and the herbal tea..."

It's the end of the weekend here at Squeeze Towers and we've eaten the last crumbs from the biscuit barrel and the drinks machine is adding cold water to all our cups of coffee...

... BAH!

It's Sunday evening and what we need are some new tunes to put a smile on our collective faces.
And so, you wish is my command as Frank the newshound bounds up to me with his tail wagging and a fresh link hanging out of his smiling mouth.

Time to grab your mouse and drop into the Stiff Records website and click on the Stiff Radio tab on the bottom right hand side of your screen to hear four, YES FOUR!, new tracks from Chris Difford:

• Battersea Boys
• Come On Down
• Fat As A Fiddle
• Never Coming Back

And I must say that the songs are quite simply amazing (I've now listened to them at least five times) and I can't wait to hear his new album, the brilliantly named 'The Last Temptation Of Chris'... but don't take my word for it- GO AND LISTEN :0)

Whilst trawling the web, I came across this artwork for the promo cd-

I really hope that this is the final cover for the released cd as it's a stroke of genius!

American thoughts....

Chris Difford spoke with the Associated Press about the upcoming American tour. Read his thoughts on the failed VH1 reality show, giving away solo CDs, and the "boxing ring of silence."

I wonder if the Essential CDs and DVDs will be available for purchase at the shows? I think it would make a lot of sense, but since when did everything in Squeeze history have to make a lot of sense?

Also, I forgot to list their first American show! Not that it matters, because it's sold out (and according to an anonymous commenter (hi!) it sold out in two hours). They start their tour in the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH. That is going to be one busy two weeks. Wow.

Chris Difford's Five Favourite Song Crafters

Count Five: Chris Difford's Favorite Song Crafters

It's great having a surf through the old internet, and ending up on a beach soaked full of Squeeze news!

Spinner has a great article with our very own Chris Difford.

Read on!

As the lyric-writing half of the creative duo in pop group supreme Squeeze, Chris Difford has established his credentials as an authority on songwriting. That's why many don't consider it sacrilege to mention his and collaborator Glenn Tilbrook's names among the great English songwriting pairs such as Lennon and McCartney. Little wonder that fans of superior song craftsmanship are making Squeeze's upcoming tour one of the most anticipated reunion treks of the year. Difford gave Spinner some insight into what he might be listening to on the road via his examples of what makes good music.

1. The Beatles: Some of the first music I ever heard was the Beatles, growing up. And when I listen to 'With The Beatles' it just reminds me of getting ready for school in the morning and putting that record on the record player while I was getting ready and just feeling totally at home.

2. XTC: When I first heard them, I thought they were very deliberately complicated. But now when I listen to it I realize I don't think they're being complicated; they were just being themselves, which is a very honest way of making music.

3. Jellyfish: I was in Los Angeles making the Squeeze album 'Play' and that's when I got introduced to their music. What I really enjoyed about it was it looks into English music in a way I've never seen an American band do. They'd obviously been inspired by English pop music like 10cc and Queen.

4. The Feeling: They do a really amazing job of taking musical history and modernizing it, really. They're sort of lovingly reconstructing great songs.

5. Feist: Any track from the Feist album would be a good introduction for people to appreciate really well-constructed pop music. If somebody arrived on a spaceship and they said to me they wanted to hear something that was recent that conjured up what was good about writing songs, I think I would play them the Feist album.

... And I must say that they certainly are great choices :0)


Text- Steve Baltin, and the original article can be found right here.


Now dive into these wonderful waters of the world wide web:

Chris Difford- Website
Chris Difford- MySpace

Chris talks about Squeeze & Guilfest

"it's going to be great!"

From Ents24:

Original Squeeze members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook took everyone by surprise earlier this year, when they announced that they were getting back together and heading off on tour. But first, they'll be headlining the BBC Radio 2 Stage at this year's GuilFest on Saturday 14th July. Meg Rowell spoke to Chris ahead of their appearance.

It's not been all that long since Squeeze decided to get back together, how's it all going?

Well, since we decided to get back together, Glenn's been in Australia and we haven't really seen each other! He's back this week, but I'm in Italy and back next week, so - I think it's going to be fine! I think it's going to be wonderful in fact.

I guess you haven't had much of a chance to rehearse together then?

No, nothing at all! We're just talking about who's going to be in the band, setting up rehearsals and warm-up shows, you know getting the technicians together for the tour...but it's all very exciting news for us.

Was getting back together a tough decision to make, or a natural progression for you both?

It was a natural progression really, brought on by the release of our greatest hits album (The Essential Squeeze) by Universal, who decided that they'd spend this year re-releasing our back catalogue and we thought, well, we've got a break in our calendars as solo artists, so we thought we'd come out and support our history, which is essentially what we're doing.

You're headlining GuilFest this year, are you looking forward to it?

Yeah, I've never been to GuilFest, I've been to most other festivals but it's one I've not been to, though it's very close to me so yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.

It will be the first time you've performed together, as Squeeze, since 1998, it must be quite exciting?

Yeah, it is, it's going to be great - I'm saving up for an electric guitar as we speak!

You say that you and Glenn haven't had a chance to spend much time together, but do you think the chemistry will be the same between you both?

I have every reason to believe that it will be, you know, we grew up together, we've been friends for 26, 27 years or whatever it is. I think it's like getting back on a horse - you remember how to put your feet in the stirrups once you're up there.

Glenn played a solo slot at last year's GuilFest. Has he given you any tips?

As I say, I really haven't had a chance to talk to him, but a friend of mine went to see him last year and said the audience were amazing, so I'm really looking forward to it. I hear it's a real family kind of show - which suits me down to the ground.

There are some great bands on the line up this year - is there anyone you're particularly looking forward to?

I'd like to know who are playing! I know Madness are playing and Supergrass, who I'd love to see, but I haven't been told about anyone else yet!

Well, there's The Magic Numbers, The Ordinary Boys, Richard Thompson, Saw Doctors...

Oh wow! Excellent! I'll be up all night!

So, can we expect all the old classics from Squeeze, or have you got some new material up your sleeves?

It'll be wall-to-wall classics, I promise.

As you said, you're about to release The Essential Squeeze album; it must be satisfying to be able to collect together, and look back at everything you've achieved over the years.

It is. It's very warming to understand the kind of history that we've had together, it's quite something when you reach a certain age and you can look back and reflect on your life and feel very proud of it, so yeah, I'm very fond of what we have.

And then you're off on the Quintessential Tour this November...

Yeah, we're doing some dates at the end of the year, again to support the Essential Squeeze package, we've also got an American tour that we're doing, so it's going to be a busy year one way or another. I'm working on my solo album, Glenn's working on his, so we're very busy boys.

GuilFest has a reputation for nurturing young talent, and always has a lot of up-and-coming bands on its bill - do you have any advice to offer them?

Keep in tune and stay off the acid! No, I think a young band just has to enjoy the moment really. I don't think many people are that paranoid about doing shows anymore. When I was young, it used to terrify me, but I think younger people are more cool about what they do now, so my advice is just to enjoy it.

Squeeze will be headlining the BBC Radio 2 Stage at this year's GuilFest on Saturday 14th July. For more details, see the GuilFest page here on Ents24.

Original article: Squeeze's Chris Difford Talks To Ents24
Dated: June 6, 2007

Difford & Tilbrook live in Kent!

And here they are!...

Photo: Martin Rordam

No, yours truly hasn't been at the wine, but thanks to an eagle-eyed member of the Glenn_list, I am thrilled to report that Messrs. Difford and Tilbrook played live at the 'Return To The Summer Of Love Festival' last Saturday!

The dashing duo were unbilled, but gave everyone a thrill as they took to the stage and played Take Me I'm Yours, Pulling Mussels (From The Shell), Is That Love?, Tempted, Labelled With Love, Cool For Cats and Up The Junction.

I hope you can feel the excitement as I type! (As there is indeed more!)

Check out this rather lovely post on 'That Truncheon Thing', and there might be another surprise there waiting for you :0)



Thanks to Helen (from the groovy Glenn_list) for discovering this gem of news, for Martin R for the brilliant photographs and Frank from That Truncheon Thing blog.

Squeeze in Uncut & Mojo Magazine

READ ALL ABOUT IT!


It's all go on the Squeeze front, isn't it?!!!

Messrs Difford and Tilbrook feature in TWO magazines this month.

Firstly, Uncut Magazine examines the making of 'Up The Junction' in a lovely three-page spread.

And if that wasn't enough, Mojo Magazine devotes a rather glorious SIX pages to our favourite group.



Both Uncut and Mojo are UK magazines but subscriptions for overseas readers are available:

Uncut Magazine - Subscription
Mojo Magazine - Subscription

Chris talks about Squeeze getting back together

Talking Shop: Squeeze

From the BBC:

Squeeze are reforming for the first time in eight years for a UK tour, and are releasing an album of their greatest hits.

The London band, which formed in 1974, chalked up a string of hit singles in the late '70s and early '80s, including Up the Junction, Cool For Cats and Black Coffee In Bed.

In 1982 Squeeze split up, but returned with a variety of line-ups before stalwarts Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook played the band's final gig in 1999 and launched solo projects.

Difford, who is reuniting with Tilbrook for the revival, discusses returning to the band and his quest for old footage of Squeeze.

Are you getting back together for the love of it?

Universal approached us and said we'd be foolish to miss this window, as they were pushing the boat out to promote the album. Glenn and I didn't plan it this year as we had solo plans.

But we've downed tools, we are getting the band together and we are going to do it. Squeeze has been our lives, so it's important that we show people we care.

Are you prepared for working together as a band again?

I'm looking forward to it - I've been saving up for an electric guitar as I haven't had one for years. I think it's going to be good as it's 24 shows, so you can plot how it's going to work.

Is there a possibility of a full-scale reunion on the back of your tour?

To make another Squeeze record we'd have to take six months out of our solo careers and neither of us can afford to stop at the moment. It's like we're "courting" again, showing each other our feathers. I'd love to write lyrics for Glenn again - he's one of the most inspirational people I've ever written for.

Do you prefer being a solo artist or a member of a band?

Being on my own is like being a skipper of a small yacht - Squeeze is like an ocean liner.

Have you been putting in any extra training for the tour?

I'll have to go to the gym as I don't want to be seen as an old man. I probably won't be jumping around on stage, but I'm hoping to embarrass my children as much as I can.

Are you in tune with the rapidly-changing music business, including downloading and the new chart?

My homepage is the BBC News entertainment site, so I get a lot of information from there. I can keep up with the charts from the comfort of my living room too. I don't look to see where my records have charted, but I'm always on the hunt for Squeeze videos I've never seen.

What are your long-term plans after the Squeeze tour?

My solo album is out next year and I'm working on the new Squeeze musical - we had one back in 1984 which was called Labelled With Love.

Essential Squeeze is released in the UK on 30 April. The band will embark on their reunion tour in November.

Squeeze's Chris Difford was talking to BBC News entertainment reporter Michael Osborn.

A squeeze reader amendment to the BBC article-

"I'm working on the new Squeeze musical - we had one back in 1984 which was called Labelled With Love."

Chris has posted to Diffworld to say that he:

"would like to work on one but not working on one at the moment, it should read

Cd"

Thanks for clearing that up!

BBC article
The Official Squeeze website
The Official Squeeze MySpace
Chris Difford's Website
Chris Difford's MySpace
Diffworld

Difford on duff lyrics- I’d like to teach the world to cringe

So what do you think are the world's worst pop lyrics?...


Well Life by Des'ree must feature in pip's personal top ten..

" When there's no one else around
Oh I get the shivers
I don't wanna see a ghost
It's the sight that I fear most
I'd rather have a piece of toast"

Erm... yeah!



Anyway Mr Difford features in an online article that talks about those lyrics that you'd quite happily throw in the nearest river (weighted down and padlocked in a safe for good measure!)

I'd Like To Teach The World To Cringe (The Times)

A snippet:
"Squeeze’s Chris Difford knows a thing or two about separating good lyrics from bad. Revered by Lily Allen and Jamie T for Up the Junction and Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) , Difford has also hosted a string of songwriting get-togethers that have attracted the likes of Cathy Dennis and Suggs. “There’s a difference between choosing a bad lyric and a bad melody,” Difford argues. “I think most of us would agree what constitutes a poor tune and, as a result, they tend not to stick in the mind too long. But a lot of good tunes with bad lyrics end up becoming successful.”

Difford couldn’t possibly be pushed to name examples. Oh, all right then, just a couple. He endeavours to keep a straight face when a couple of Sting clunkers are thrown his way, in particular the Police’s Don’t Stand so Close to Me : “He starts to shake and cough/ Just like the old man in/ That book by Nabokov.”

“Well, it’s very Sting, isn’t it?” smiles Difford. “He’s not always the greatest lyricist — although, in fairness, you can’t knock a song like Message in a Bottle ."

Mr D, you are a gent!


The Official Chris Difford Website

Watch Chris on your computer!

As we at the Squeeze Reader search the web high and low for nuggets of Squeeze joy... we came across a great little video of Chris Difford talking about 'South East Side Story', the key to the success of Squeeze and how he'd like to flex his creative muscle in Nashville.

You can watch the video here, and enjoy three-and-a-half* minutes in the company of Mr Difford.

*Well it's 3 mins 43 seconds really- we like to give our loyal readers a bonus ;0)

Diff in America

A Web site called liveDaily reports on Chris' upcoming U.S. shows and reports that an album is scheduled for the summer. Hm....

One of Difford and one of Tilbrook

pip3k reports that Chris Difford talks Beatles in Uncut magazine and Holden Richards reports on Glenn's show from the Pour House.