Photo by Danny Clifford
Glenn Tilbrook (third from right) and Squeeze, which plays BayCare Sound in Clearwater, Florida on Sept. 20, 2024.
Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford are the brilliant songwriting duo that supplied the band with so many great, memorable songs. Between sardonic, wry, clever wordplay and a penchant for infectious melodies and memorable choruses, Difford and Tilbrook were often rightfully compared to that other brilliant songwriting duo, Lennon and McCartney, in their heyday. Following the band’s incredible run of magnificent albums, and a string of hit singles like “Tempted,” “Black Coffee in Bed,” and “Cool for Cats,” the band went through some lineup shifts and a few hiatuses.
But since 2015, when Difford and Tilbrook got the band back together and released the sparkling Cradle to the Grave, the group has been steadily working, writing, recording, and touring. The band’s current tour finds it paired with another ‘80s heavyweight, Boy George for a co-headlining tour. Expect to hear lots of MTV-era hits and album cuts from each of these artists’ respective catalogs.
While on tour, Squeeze’s lead guitarist and primary lead vocalist Glenn Tilbrook took some time to respond to a brief Q&A for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay ahead of the group’s stop in Clearwater’s outdoor amphitheater.
Tickets to see Squeeze play the BayCare Sound on Friday, Sept. 20. are still available and start at $35.
How have the audiences changed in all the years that Squeeze has toured?
You know, we are seeing younger fans attend our shows now, which is really wonderful. Whether they’re there with their parents or have discovered us by streaming, they’re there and loving it.
What goes through your head when you see people in the audiences singing along, and knowing every lyric, for a song you wrote so many years ago?
I really love singing and playing and I am so lucky to experience this!
You’ve released so many albums that are so iconic to so many people. What’s the most poignant thing any of your fans have expressed to you about the impact your music has had on them?
There have been so many wonderful stories from people over the years about what our music means to them. It is such a privilege to have played a part in their lives.
Squeeze has released so many catchy, infectious, iconic pop songs. What, in your opinion, are some of the most perfect pop songs ever written and recorded?
"Come Fly With Me" by Frank Sinatra, "I Don’t Know Where I Stand" by Joni Mitchell, "Get Back" by The Beatles, I Must Be In A Good Place Now" by Bobby Charles. "You and I" by Stevie Wonder, "Under the Cherry Moon" by Prince, "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind" by Lauryn Hill, "Harper Valley P.T.A." by Jeannie C.Riley, "Spoon" by Can, "Right Down the Line" by Gerry Rafferty, "I Am The Walrus" by Brad Mehldau, "Common People" by Pulp.
Squeeze got a lot of exposure thanks to MTV in its heyday. Did that exposure help or hurt Squeeze’s popularity in America?
It helped massively hence us still being able to tour America almost all these years later!
The title track of 2015’s Cradle to the Grave album is one of the most joyous Squeeze songs of its catalog. What was the inspiration for that song?
There was a BBC television series which we were asked to write some songs for. The show was written by Jeff Pope and Danny Baker, and was about Danny’s life growing up in London, which of course, Chris and I did too. We played them the song "Cradle to the Grave" which they liked so much that’s what they called the series.
Which songs do you get the most requests for these days?
This can vary. We’ve been having people along to soundcheck and taking requests. There have been some curveballs, let me tell you! "Piccadilly," "If It’s Love." And then there’s the more obvious: "Black Coffee," "Pulling Mussels," "Tempted."
With such a large catalog of so many great songs, what goes into the decision process for creating setlists for your concerts?
With this tour we have the luxury, or added dilemma, of new songs that we have been recording this year. I’m really enjoying the mix that this is allowing but it is hard to find a balance of what the fans might want to hear and what new songs work next to these.
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
