Chris brings his ‘Up the Junction’ tour providing mores stories from
the kitchen sink. A stand up and sit-down night of tales and songs from his past
in Squeeze.
Chris Difford is a rare breed. As a member of one of London’s
best-loved bands, the Squeeze co-founder has made a lasting contribution to
music with hits such as ‘Cool For Cats’, ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Labelled With
Love’, ‘Hourglass’ and ‘Tempted’. Despite the fact that Chris has helped
soundtrack so many fans’ lives since his first release in 1977, the passion for
innovation and love of playing still drives him to carry on writing rather than
sit back and admire his handiwork. For over 40 years he has been writing with
Glenn Tilbrook, very much the Odd Couple.
Over the course of a 13 album career with Squeeze, it was clear from
the very beginning that Chris Difford has few peers when it comes to smart,
pithy lyricism. His ‘kitchen sink-drama’ style has drawn plaudits from fans on
both sides of the Atlantic, while his influence is keenly felt today. The likes
of Lily Allen and Mark Ronson, Kasabian, Razorlight and The Feeling have all
recognised the debt they owe to Squeeze’s music and to Difford’s way with words,
while journalists were moved by his winning combination with Glenn Tilbrook to
dub the pair ‘The New Lennon and McCartney’.
Chris first learned to stand on his own when he wrote the lyrics for
the fictional band Strange Fruit in the 1998 British comedy film ‘Still Crazy’,
for which he won his first Ivor Novello award. Since then he has written and
contributed lyrics for the likes of Elton John, Wet Wet Wet, Jools Holland, Paul
Carrack, Lisa Stansfield and Bryan Ferry.
Chris has curated ‘Songs In The Key Of London’ event at the Barbican,
bringing together musicians old and new such as Glenn Tilbrook, Suggs, Jools
Holland, Blaine Harrison (Mystery Jets) and James Hunter, as well as students
from the local community. A second event took place in Greenwich Park in 2011
with Gary Kemp, Chris Wood, UB40 and others. In 2014 ‘Songs In The Key Of
London’ took place in Regents park with Gregory Porter, The Strypes, Guy Barker
Ed Harcourt and Sophie Ellis Baxter.
Chris hosts songwriter workshops and has done so for over 25 years.
In 2014 he formed a partnership with ‘The Buddy Holly Foundation’ to run a week
of writing at Pennard House Glastonbury. Other writing events include Guardian
Master Classes held in London and smaller events at The Rathfinney Wine Estate
in East Sussex.
