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They’ve had their fair share of breakups over the years, as well as a number of critically acclaimed albums and singles – and they have just completed a UK tour including a night in Norwich at the UEA. Now, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford of rock band SQUEEZE are back together again to claim what is rightfully their own. Speaking to Town 102’s Paul Morris, Glenn and Chris talk music, the Minimoog… and milk!

It’s almost hard to believe that Squeeze have been going over 35 years – how have you both been getting away with it for so long!?

Glenn Tilbrook: I think that, for one, we’re very determined… two, we have regular breaks… and three, we sound really good when we all play together! We’ve gone through lots of different Squeeze line-ups, but this one we have now is really on fire – it’s really gelling, pushing out, breaking down all the barriers, as you might say in a rock ‘n roll way!

Since starting out in the late 70s, you’ve had a few gaps in-between but now you’ve got this great line up, do you plan to just keep on going?

Chris Difford: That’s what do – we play music and we enjoy it!

Let’s talk about the new album ‘Spot The Difference’ – it’s out now, and I think it’s a really great idea for a new record – explain what you’ve done…

CD: We’ve re-recorded 14 of our hits, mainly to gain ownership of them. We signed a record deal when we were younger, to Universal, and they own the rights to all the original recordings. Now, we’ve decided to re-record them so we could have our fair share of what truly is ours!

There have been a few instances over the years where your songs have been used in TV ads – without much of a say-so from you?

CD: Absolutely, on television commercials in America in particular. We’ve never had the opportunity to question, bargain or have a say – so this gives us the chance to have a say. It’s purely recorded for that reason. [It’s given] us a bit of breathing space before we go and record a new album next year. How do you feel about being the band that got kids to drink milk?

CD: well, there you go! I thought they had milk taken away from them? I thought they drank Coca Cola now!

There have been a couple of gaps in Squeeze’s history – you officially broke up in 1999 but you both continued to record as soloists – was it quite liberating going off to do your own thing?

GT: yes, it was, but I think the great thing about being back together now is that we’ve both learnt a lot in the intervening years. The time before Squeeze split up [in the 80s], Chris and I stayed together so, effectively, we were together from the beginning until 1998. The few years apart we had really enabled us to see for each other what we could do separately and tend to our own gardens, as it were… we both putting in a lot of work in different ways, but I think we’ve brought a lot back to the table to share. That gives us more strength – both of us will continue with our solo stuff, we’re happy with those things, and we’re both happy to be back in Squeeze!

There are plenty of famous names who’ve got Squeeze on their ‘influenced’ list – Lily Allen, Mark Ronson, The Feeling – is it nice to be recognised in that way?

GT: a lot of our stuff has come around again for people, and they’re discovering it and they’re saying it’s fresh for them. We did a tour in the summer in America and there were a lot of kids coming to the shows, and we’ve not had that for a while – that says to me they’re going out to discover stuff for themselves, and coming to see the band. The reaction we got when were playing in the summer was amazing, and we’ve not had that since we started. It was incredible!

Squeeze ‘Spot The Difference’ is out now to buy, with a new album to follow later in 2011. The full interview is avalible online as well as some music from the SQUEESE