The band, of which Chris was a founder member and made him famous, Squeeze, came to prominence in the New Wave period of the late 1970s.

Thirty years on he is still as enthusiastic about his passion as ever.

The group, known for their hit songs Cool for Cats, Up the Junction and Tempted, split in 1999, reuniting for a UK and US tour last year.

And while Chris enjoys performing with Squeeze his solo work is now taking a front seat.

"I enjoy playing live when I'm in control of it." says the 53-year-old.

"When you're young you get chucked into a Transit van and wake up somewhere else.

"Those times have changed and I'm really glad they have."

His latest album, The Last Temptation Of Chris is a collaboration with Boo Hewerdine and a follow-up to his debut of 2002 I Didn't Get Where I Am.

It expands on that record's intimate writing style and in some ways says Chris, is "a little too honest".

The first single on the album is Fat As A Fiddle described by Chris as "just a fun song about putting weight on as you get older, and gravity taking over your body."

This is typical of Chris' style, as he captures snapshots of his life that have a believable, everyman appeal just like that of Tony Hancock on whom the album cover is modelled.

"I think the songs are pretty honest," he adds.

"I don't think you really want to hide anything because there are a lot of people out there who can see some kind of relevance in the lyrics and a reflection of their own lives.

"The best thing about making a record is that you can wear your heart in your sleeve and talk about your life.

"It's like writing a biography, you're telling people what's going on in your life at any point in time.

"If you go back through the Squeeze albums you'll see the same kind of thing, it was a reflection of who we were."

In recent years Chris has also written lyrics for music by Jools Holland, Elton John, Wet Wet Wet, Marti Pellow and others.

In 2004 Lisa Stansfield released the Trevor Horn produced single, If I Hadn't Got You, co-written by Chris with Chris Braide, which became a hit in Europe.

Chris added: "I honestly don't know what I would have done had I not got into music.

"It is my life. I'd have had to do something that incorporated writing.

"I enjoy my life. I've never had any stress in my life and that's the way I like it. I'm so relaxed I'm asleep most of the time."

Despite clocking up 30 years in the business, Chris has no intention to hang up his musical instruments just yet, he said: "I get upset thinking of the day when I have to stop doing what I love, so its certainly not coming any time soon."

  • Chris Difford will play Burnley Mechanics on Saturday April 19. Tickets from 01282 664400.