A BIT OF A SQUEEZE WITH
Chris Difford
We welcome Chris Difford, founder of British new-wave band Squeeze, famous for 70s classics
such as ‘Cool for Cats’ and ‘Up the Junction’. Together with his writing partner Glenn Tilbrook, the
two created a style which has been referred to as very ‘Kitchen Sink Drama’ and a sound track for
many people’s lives since their first release in 1977.
Today Chris is able to ‘Squeeze’ in a bit
of time to join us in the Lewes Football
Club beach huts. As the only football
club in the UK to host such a unique
hospitality experience, today’s location
seems almost too perfect with Squeeze
previously sponsoring the Lewes FC
shirts and playing a live show to club fans.
Over the course of a 13 album career
with Squeeze, Chris and Glenn’s
lyricism has influenced fans from both
sides of the Atlantic, with journalists
referring to them as ‘The New Lennon
and McCartney’. Artists such as Lily
Allen and Mark Ronson have noted the
impact Squeeze had on them when
creating their own music. This ongoing
collaboration of two musical minds
has seen the pair embark on a long
8
journey of future album releases as a
duo, and the creation of musicals such
as ‘Labelled with Love’, which was
performed live in Deptford in 1983.
After the band broke up in 1983, Difford
continued to write songs for the likes of
Jools Holland, Elvis Costello, Elton John
and Marti Pellow. Developing his passion
for music, he has also managed Bryan
Ferry and The Strypes, and continues
to be very much involved in the music
industry today. With three solo albums
to his name, 2003’s ‘I Didn’t Get Where I
am’ and ‘The Last Temptation Of Chris’
in 2008, ‘Cashmere If You Can’ released
in 2010, Difford was also presented
with an Ivor Novello Award in 2008 for
Outstanding Contribution to British
Music. ‘Songs in the key of London’ was
also an event curated by Difford in 2011,
with artists such as Jools Holland, Suggs
and UB40 performing to celebrate the
city and honor their roots.