PULSE - music and more, with Simon Donohue

LIGHTNING Seeds singer Ian Broudie will be coming home to see his soccer heroes tomorrow.

The unlikely hero of this summer's Euro '96 football tournament has recently decamped from his beloved Liverpool to spend more time with his five-year-old son Ryan by living closer to the capital in Twickenham.

But he has kept hold of his Anfield season ticket and will be back to watch the team play against Everton tomorrow.

"I'm Liverpool through and through," said Ian, who has also recently acquired a recording studio based in a barge on the Thames.

"I haven't been able to get back home for some time but my season ticket won't go to waste.

"I'll be there for the derby but I don't think I will be doing any more football songs. One is enough."

The guitarist and singer is still basking in the huge success of Three Lions On A Shirt, the collaboration with comics Dave Baddiel and Frank Skinner which became a temporary national anthem as Terry Venables's side took on the might of Europe.

Ian said: "It was fantastic. It was like a schoolboy's dream come true to be at Wembley with everyone singing your song.

"It was really fun to work with Frank and Dave - definitely more showbiz than music. "And I also got to appear on the last-ever episode of Fantasy Football League, which was great because I was a big fan of the show."

Ian says he is finally coming to terms with England getting beaten by Germany.

But he says he is not sure about the team under new manager Glenn Hoddle.

"He's had two wins out of two but some of his coaching staff look a bit dodgy to me," he said.

Speaking of dodgy, Ian made his name producing a range of big name acts and recently took a break from the Lightning Seeds to produce two singles by Dodgy. Before making a real name for himself as a musician he concentrated on songwriting, performing with his guitar and producing bands like Echo and The Bunnymen, The Icicle Works and The Fall among others.

It was because he was so successful with them that he says he did not fully commit himself to pop music until some time after the Lightning Seeds' debut single Pure became a smash hit.

He said: "For a while I didn't really know which direction I wanted to go in. "Things did go a bit quiet after Pure, even though there were a couple of single releases. I suppose I didn't concentrate on playing live and touring in the way I should."

Things were very different with the huge-selling album Jollification, which really launched the band as a household name.

However, Ian says he is still grateful for the opportunity to work with people who he admires.

Other recent collaborations include the Manics' Nicky Wire and former Special Terry Hall, who both contribute to the Seeds' forthcoming album Dizzy Heights which is out in November.

The first single from the album, What If, is out on Monday. It's all about the things that could go wrong when everything seems to be going right.

Ian said: "I think the songs I write are always a bit personal.

"But as far as I am concerned it is definitely better when things are going right than when they are going wrong.

"And for the time being I am simply happy to be the singer and guitarist in the Lightning Seeds."

What If is released by Epic on Monday. The LP Dizzy Heights is out on November 11 and will be followed by an extensive tour.

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