Squeeze

Squeeze – Chris Difford

By: Lori Smerilson Carson

Many Florida music fans privy to the original MTV video days will remember Squeeze singles “Black Coffee In Bed” and “Tempted”. Before those days, this outstanding London based band made their mark in the music industry starting in the late 1970s, leading up to their self-titled debut LP released in 1978, and then punching a hole in the scene with their second album COOL for CATS released in 1979. Now, fifty years later, their success continues and they are still going strong creating new music, along with an album of older fan favorites called Trixie’s, both slated for release in 2025. They currently are on tour in the US, and Florida fans will have the opportunity to see this sure to be amazing show (with Boy George) on September 20^th at BayCare Sound in Clearwater, on September 21^st at Pompano Beach Amphitheater in Pompano Beach, and on September 22^nd at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.

Catching up with co-founder Guitarist/Vocalist Chris Difford just prior to the tour, he divulged some details about the show that he and bandmates, co-founder Lead Vocalist/Guitarist Glenn Tilbrook, Bassist Owen Biddle, Pedal Steel Guitarist/Guitarist Melvin Duffy, Keyboardist Stephen Large, Drummer Simon Hanson and Percussionist Steve Smith will be performing, a bit about the band, their new music, and what fans can look forward to.

SFL Music Magazine: How did the tour come together with Boy George?

Chris Difford: Well, that’s a good question. I have no idea what the answer is. It turned up in an email one day and I thought yeah, that sounds like a really good tour. He’s from South London like us and I think we’ve shared the joy of songwriting. So, I think it’s going to be a really good tour.

SFL Music Magazine: What can fans looks forward to with the new Squeeze show?

Difford: Well, there’s obviously going to be the hits because that’s what we do from time to time, but we also have three or four new songs that we’re gonna put in the set. So far, people have risen to them and enjoyed them. So, that makes me feel good that we can still write songs and people still think that we sound like Squeeze which is remarkable.

SFL Music Magazine: Are the new songs from the Trixie’s album? I read there’s a new song “One Beautiful Summer”.

Difford: Yeah, “One Beautiful Summer” is a new song, but then there’s two or three Trixie’s songs which we did and they work very well in the sequence. So, I think people are not going to be walking away. They’re going to be sitting there riveted to their seats, I hope.

SFL Music Magazine: The Trixie’s album is comprised of songs from fifty years ago that were re-recorded. What inspired you all to do that?

Difford: It had always been in the back of my mind anyway that those songs were valuable. We’d never got the chance to record them, and I think Glenn and I discussed it a couple of years ago. Then last year, we listened to them on the cassette which is the only recording we had of them. We both agreed that they sounded great and that we would set about recording them, and with our producer Owen Biddle, they do sound pretty much like they were recorded in 1974. So, we’ve gotten as close to that design as possible.

SFL Music Magazine: What would you say inspires Squeeze’s music in general?

Difford: Well, it comes obviously, from Glenn and myself. I don’t know what inspires Glenn. Probably, he’s got a wide palette to paint from, and I suppose I do as well. So, the inspiration for our songs comes from far and wide. It’s ever a learning curve. There’s always new music to listen to as almost old music to listen to, particularly these days with streaming. I make huge play lists and I never listen to them, but I just sort of collect records in the way I used to, I suppose.

SFL Music Magazine: Do you have a favorite genre?

Difford: No. I mean, yesterday I had Sarah Vaughan singing a song called “Detour (Ahead)” and I had never heard of that song. So, I downloaded it and listened to it a few times, and it’s a tremendous lyric. It really is.

SFL Music Magazine: What would you say inspired your new song “One Beautiful Summer”? You have a new album that you’re currently working on as well, correct?

Difford: Yes, it’s in the background now. Glenn sent me an article that was in the newspaper over here about people living in a care home and they fancied each other. They got married in the care home, and then the guy in the song passes away, and she’s left with the memories and the happiness of their relationship.

SFL Music Magazine: You both are involved with community efforts. I read you are involved in working with people going through alcohol rehabilitation both in prisons and in rehab centers?

Difford: Yeah.

SFL Music Magazine: How did you get involved in that?

Difford: Many, many years ago, I got asked to do a workshop in a rehab playing songs, and I really enjoyed it. My first thing I say is, when I walk in the room, if you want to fall asleep, you’re welcome to. Please don’t feel like you have to stay awake because I know how hard it is when people are in rehab, they’re not really on the planet. Then I just play twelve songs and talk about my recovery, and then that’s part of the afternoon, I suppose. It’s grand really. It’s grown into many different angles of that thing.

SFL Music Magazine: Squeeze has had many accolades and musical hits. What would you say attributes to the longevity and success?

Difford: I think that we’re very different people. I think sometimes to be different, keeps you together because I think if you were too similar, maybe you’d end up boring each other to death. I think to have somebody who’s almost the polar opposite of what you are brings a lot of challenges, but also brings a lot of sunlight to the show. So, I think that is really good for a relationship. I know that Bernie Taupin and Elton John for a long while, hardly ever saw each other. The fact that they’re very different people, I think pronounces their songs in such a special way.

SFL Music Magazine: What would you advise a new band?

Difford: It depends what kind of make up the band were.  The music industry is so different from the one that I began in, so it’s a lot harder for people to get noticed these days, even with social media and streaming. People are very good these days at self-promoting themselves on Instagram and TikTok, but really, it’s not the same as selling a hundred thousand records every week. It’s just not the same.

SFL Music Magazine: Is there anything else new coming out for fans to look forward to?

Difford: The Trixie’s record comes out next May, and then a new album will follow some six months later probably. So, that’s what we’ve got in the pipeline.

SFL Music Magazine: Was there anything in particular you guys are looking forward to about going to Florida?

Difford:  We never used to go to Florida very much, and now we go all the time which is kind of interesting. You know, we don’t really get to see an awful lot of it. We’re on the bus most of the time or in a dressing room. So, it’s not like you’re a tourist where you get to sort of enjoy the beaches or whatever. It’s very much a work-related visit.

SFL Music Magazine: If you had the opportunity, would you do the tourist thing?

Difford: No (he smiled).

SFL Music Magazine: Would you say growing up in London had an influence on you to become a musician?

Difford: Yeah, absolutely!  I think in that time, it was a great way of expressing yourself living in a city like London, and the music scene was incredible in those days. So, yeah it was terrific!

SFL Music Magazine: Was there anything else you want to add about the show for people to look forward to?

Difford: Just come sit in the front and enjoy it.