Preview: Squeeze return with their new UK tour

Following their incredibly popular 2010 ‘Spot The Difference Tour’ British legends Squeeze return with an extensive tour of the UK this November and December.

Former Housemartin and Beautiful South front man Paul Heaton will be joining Squeeze as the special guest on all dates. Heaton and his band will be performing a selection of old and new songs from his extensive back catalogue.

Nearly 40 years since Squeeze burst onto the music scene, the band are still as vital as they’ve ever been. As befits one of the UK’s much-loved acts, there is no end of Squeeze fans currently wearing their influences firmly on their sleeve, whether it be Mark Ronson, Kasabian, Lily Allen or The Feeling. With their fingerprints keenly felt throughout the fabric of popular music, it is only right that these songs, with their evergreen and popular sound, continue to be played and enjoyed live. And so since 2007, the newly reformed Squeeze have been slowly finding time to play a series of gigs and festival dates, and this coming winter they are about to embark on a 20+ show tour across the UK.

Since founders Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook reformed the band with Squeeze veteran John Bentley and Tilbrook’s Fluffers cohorts Stephen Large and Simon Hanson the band has become an instant favourite on the festival circuit with appearances at V, Oxegen, T in the Park and Latitude and to great acclaim at the seminal US Festival Coachella.

Squeeze’s contribution to music was noted in 2010 with the site of their first gig being awarded a prestigious PRS For Music Heritage Plaque, which has also commemorated the debuts of Blur and Dire Straits. It joined an ever-increasing list of Squeeze accolades alongside their recent Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music and their Nordoff-Robbins Icon Award, as well as the Mojo Magazine Icon Award. Chris Difford’s lyrics and Glenn Tilbrook’s music have survived everything over the years, from the ever-changing musical landscape to their own internal reshuffles and even an acrimonious breakup – but Squeeze are here to stay, still going strong and still loving every moment.

On October 12th BBC4 screened a brand new documentary ‘Squeeze: Take Me I’m Yours’ which reappraised the song-writing genius of Difford and Tilbrook, and shows why Squeeze hold a special place in British Popular music.

This new tour will remind fans just why they have left such an indelible impression on the UK’s music scene and why they continue to be relevant today.

POP UP SHOP

Squeeze recently revealed their Pop Up Shop, “a combination of new songs and technology, of musicianship and experience.”

With fans who still cry out for music in the old fashioned sense – that they can touch, and feel – whilst existing in an industry where the outlets for the physical product are diminishing, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford will be taking their Pop Up Shop on tour this November and December. Thirty five years after their first record release they are embracing technology to ensure that they remain as relevant and accessible as ever.

At the end of each of the 22 nights of the tour Glenn and Chris will move from the stage to the Pop Up Shop, performing as they go. Fans will then be able to buy a recording of that night’s show which will include new Squeeze songs.

Speaking from the HMV Forum in London, Glenn says: ‘When Squeeze signed to a major label in 1978 the phrase they used to describe our first album was ‘A Giant Step Sideways’. That world no longer exists and I definitely don’t mourn its passing. I love the opportunities and surprises thrown up by the digital age and the fading away of the major labels. Being able to innovate and take control of our own destiny is something I could only have dreamt of back then. So this Pop Up Shop tour is where we’re at now… a combination of new songs and technology, of musicianship and experience that make this tour for Squeeze ‘A Giant Step Forward’.”

To develop the shop Chris and Glenn are working closely with Sandbag, a merchandise company who only source ethical products which is an important factor for the band. “With the traditional record label no longer relevant for us, our relationship with the merchandisers is increasingly important in order to help us deliver quality products for our fans” explains Glenn.

Fans will be delighted to hear that Glenn and Chris have been writing new material, the first in 14 years, and that these songs will be available at the shows.

Chris says:”It’s taken a long time to get ourselves back to the writing table, mainly because we’ve been touring our greatest hits packages in the UK and in the States. Time for new material, and things have moved on. Glenn now co writes the lyrics and as before produces the music in his South London studio. Simon Hanson, John Bentley, Lord Large are the backbone of the lineup. The tour and album will prove I hope that we can move with the times and use our imaginations to sell our songs. I’m looking forward to next year and holding the old fashioned version of the new album in my hands, but for the meantime we are tooled up like travelling sales men and going on the road with new songs and our live show. See you at the Pop Up Shop.”