Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook & Chris Difford: David Niven, Firearms And Cheese
The Squeeze men in their own words and by each other’s hands.
I'd describe myself as…
Glenn Tilbrook: A food loving cyclist with an obsession for music who loves his family and is mystified by his own lack of sartorial elegance.
Chris Difford: Short thoughtful and hungry… it's difficult to describe oneself without being too overly self-praising, I've never been like that as I have no reason to over egg this rather large pudding. However I'm very happy being me.
Music changed me… GT: Completely and utterly. Music has shaped my life in oh so many ways and has given me the traditional ladder out of the lower orders, even though I choose to stay there. CD: I joined a band and played guitar, I met Glenn Tilbrook and my life was changed for ever, it was a very special journey which changed my life and still does to this day, I'm hugely grateful.
When I'm not making music… GT: See answer number one, add a couple of beers and stand well back. CD: I wait until music comes along, or I walk up the Downs in East Sussex.
My biggest vice is… GT: The hearty consumption of too much cheese. CD: Not sure I have a vice but if I did it would be an expensive one. In the past it was cars, today it's fresh air …and then there were things I'd rather not talk about.
The last time I was embarrassed was… GT: When explaining myself in front of a camera for the promotion of my beautiful album Happy Ending. I could ever so slowly see myself disappearing up my own - and may I bring back this word - Jacksy. CD: Can’t remember when that would be, let's say Christmas. I very rarely get embarrassed and I'm not sure why, it's an emotion that never normally bothers me. I do go red though.
"Not sure I have a vice but if I did it would be an expensive one." Chris Difford
My formal qualifications are… GT: Master of the cheese rolls. CD: None but I have some informal ones, I did study very badly at school mainly because I wanted to be in a band and exams were not something I wanted to take part in, I was slow as they used to say. Very slow.
The last time I cried was… GT: When Britain was tricked out of a victory yet again by sneaky voting cartels in the Eurovision Song Contest. CD: At the Ivor’s when Nile Rodgers talked on stage. He touched a nerve.
Vinyl, CD or MP3? GT: Undoubtedly Vinyl. CD: All of the above. MP3 possibly just because I'm lazy and can’t walk from the record collection to the turntable. It does sounds better, but wait, try Pono!
My most treasured possessions are… GT: The gun that I have by the front door to stop my family escaping. CD: My watch… it's all about time.
The best book I’ve read is… GT: Margarine, An Economic, Social, And Scientific History, 1869-1969. CD: The Language Of Letting Go (by Melody Beattie).
Is the glass half-full or half-empty? GT: Answer number one, please. CD: Empty… and then full, but mostly empty but I'm working on it each day with some heavy prayers.
My biggest regret is… GT: Not joining The Beatles. CD: Not shagging my art teacher.
What happens when we die? GT: David Niven greets us. CD: We leave in all but memory, and the rest to Oxfam. I hope there is a place with lovely ice cream fountains and walls made of cake, clouds that rain elderflower and bacon bed sheets, in this other world I will find the reason why I came to being in the first place. Or it just all stops. Tell you later.
I'd like to be remembered… GT: As Chris Difford, who I am mostly mistaken for. CD: As a good cook… but it won’t happen. Who knows, it's not up to me how I'm remembered. I remember my Dad with love, that would do nicely.