The Official Chris Difford Website

 

Being on tour is something I really enjoy these days, seeing people and being with people is part of my experience as a performer. I will be playing songs from the Squeeze catalogue which I love and co-wrote with Glenn Tilbrook, and from the solo albums I have recorded over the last 23 years.

My story is told though stand up and some sit down, a trip back to my council estate in South London, from my very first lyrical expression to the dressing rooms of this show. With a few new songs written over the last four years or more with Boo Hewerdine, they tell a story of celebration and reflection. I can’t wait to climb back on stage and perform for you, although I have been shy and not very confident in the past I now find myself feasting the many dressing rooms and audiences around the UK.

On some of the shows I will be joined on stage by Melvin Duffy on guitar and together we will deliver an evening of warm and I hope funny stories. Melvin’s playing is outstanding and I feel so lucky to have him as my sideman, he cries over the songs and makes them sound always amazing.

‘Not Only…But Also’ is not just a look back on 50 lyrical years, it’s a journey that asks, What Happened? What happened to all those years and mates I grew up with before I formed a band? I hope you enjoy this new show for 2024.

Dates and Tickets
Chris Difford Patreon Podcast

 

 

I’m excited to let you know you that over the last 12 months I have been recording podcasts with Squeeze archivist David Bailey where we discuss my solo albums from the last 20 years. It’s been revealing and engaging speaking with David about my solo work, he is incredibly knowledgeable about my music in and out of Squeeze.

I can also reveal that early in the New Year I will be making these podcasts available through the website Patreon, where a small subscription will give you exclusive access to the podcasts, live-streamed acoustic shows, and other fun stuff as well.

Please join me on this journey by signing up to my new official email newsletter below and I will send you a link to the Patreon page when we launch it, and the rest will be wonderful. See you there!

Live Shows
  • 24 Jan 2024
    Assembly Rooms
    Melbourne, UK
    SOLD OUT
  • 25 Jan 2024
    The Hub at St Mary's
    Lichfield , UK
    SOLD OUT
  • 26 Jan 2024
    The Music Room, Philharmonic Hall
    Liverpool, UK
    SOLD OUT
  • 27 Jan 2024
    Helmsley Arts Centre
    Helmsley, UK
    SOLD OUT
  • 29 Jan 2024
    Barnoldswick Music Centre
    Barnoldswick, UK
    SOLD OUT
  • 30 Jan 2024
    The Witham
    Barnard Castle, UK
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  • 31 Jan 2024
    The Fire Station
    Sunderland, UK
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  • 1 Feb 2024
    Old Fire Station
    Carlisle, UK
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  • 2 Feb 2024
    South Beach Hotel
    Troon, UK
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  • 3 Feb 2024
    Celtic Connections w/ Boo Hewerdine
    Glasgow, UK
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  • 23 Feb 2024
    Dunmow Music Club
    Great Dunmow, UK
    SOLD OUT
  • 24 Feb 2024
    Dunmow Music Club
    Great Dunmow, UK
    SOLD OUT
  • 7 Mar 2024
    MET Arts Centre
    Bury, UK
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  • 8 Mar 2024
    Rough Trade
    Nottingham, UK
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  • 9 Mar 2024
    Haslemere Hall
    Haslemere, UK
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  • 10 Mar 2024
    Leytonstone Social Club
    Leytonstone, UK
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  • 23 Mar 2024
    Login Lounge
    Camberley, UK
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  • 6 Jun 2024
    St Mary's
    Cobham, UK
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  • 7 Jun 2024
    Nells
    London, UK
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  • 8 Jun 2024
    Coleshill Manor
    Tamworth, UK
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The ground is solid nature sleeps and takes all it can from the earth, there is rests for all the hard work it needs to achieve come the spring. To flower to leaf to be shade provider and pallet cleanser, there is the garden there it rests for me. Feeling burnt out in the cold air as grey sky fills above my head, I walk as if, and then there is. I walk from house to shed and back, I tinker I look back and wonder if this year is already a runner up. What dreams young boys have like me, and have still, as I dream about things beyond this day where nature provides warmth colour and stillness. I feel peculiar today as if I’m not here, as if life is a breeze that tickles my needs, it must be the time of year. So much in the pipe line maybe that frightens me perhaps I’m not good enough a chancer drifting on memories in woollen slippers, nothing much but now. Recent lyric writing dissolves in a heap of today’s sadness, a kind of inertia in danger of rust. I’m grateful for my recovery and these winter months that ground feelings deep within the beauty of nature, sleeping for the spring. Gathering silence capturing each frost with a deep sigh looking out to look in, to taste the air heavy with combined images of distant warm days sitting watching waiting. Oh the birds they sing, they think hello it’s time to find treats, to feed to frolic to chirp and be chirped at from a distant branch. Each song sung with such brightness, youth and hope, a song without a middle or end a place of great awakening. The ground is solid with nature the day gets longer, my life gets shorter my head is a box of chocolates, the second layer untouched, all those favourites there to be taken from the tray, the milk tray of life, its a wonder I get anything done. Today the country and tomorrow a rare afternoon and curry in London with Mrs D, I have a box ready and waiting to warm our walks along the cold January Streets.
✍️ In 1974 my diary said very little, there was nothing much to report on the 7th Jan. Today in the real world Squeeze have just announced two shows supporting The Who at the Albert Hall in London. This for the TCC a wonderful charity started by Roger Daltry. Back in 1974 my next door neighbour Bob had wrangled his way to work on a gig at Charlton Football ground where The Who were headlining. I managed to tag along. My job was to charge batteries for walkie talkies being used by the road crew at the show, this meant standing about watching lights turn green on banks of brick like walkie talkies in a tent. When The Who went on stage I managed to sit out of sight on the side stage and watch the masters at work. Keith Moon was all over the place which was amusing and terrifying to watch. Pete told the audience who broke into a fight on mass to come and start on him, the whole night was edged with excitement and a sound I will never ever forget, it was the sound of being in a band. I was in a band, we didn’t sound like this. Humble Pie opened up along with Maggie Bell and Lindisfarne who I had little time for. Stevie Marriott was the lad, what was not to like, he spoke in our tongue he walked like we walked he was everything I dreamt of being, a bit like Pete. Two men I looked up to and wanted so hard to be in a band of my own making sometime in the future, it was not to be. Today they announced we would be supporting The Who next month, a walk on part in a week of amazing acts, an annual event that raises money for the charity. Pete Townsend is a hero of mine his recovery his pace, his words and music have never been anytime other than very special so seeing him again next month will be a fan boy thrill for me, with I hope a nice warm hug and with a walkie talking on full power. Higher power. ✍️ @officialthewho @@teenage_cancer @royalalberthall
🔆A good day with the pencil and pad, some lyrics flowing in the New Year. Not much else. In 1974 I went to London and bought my first LP of 74, Judy Garland ‘The Hollywood Years’ and saw my first film of the year, ‘Paper Moon’. I used to love that record shop in Soho that only sold show albums, the owner in his roll neck jumper and chords, he was a mince pie. I have many records from that shop all soundtracks from shows and films, a passion that is still there somewhere in the back of my mind. ‘Paper Moon’ was a powerful film the soundtrack so captivating and has always followed me around, songs from a bygone, a place of sturdy words and melodies uncomplicated from the heart. It introduced me another world of light but intelligent lyrics. After a week of reflections from my 1974 diary I’m now moving on, once I have collected enough thoughts together I hope to have a book covering this important year in my life. A journey I know nothing about until it’s happened. Today is still, the day looks grey but inviting with deepened strength, a place of continued learning. A drifter at best a dreamer for sure that 19 year old boy flew on the wind from one discovery to the next joining energy from those around. Here aged 69 I respect the youthful adventure that I seemed consumed by, today a pilgrimage back to the boy with his shortcomings and assorted dreams of being always in another place. I was lucky, it all fell together without design or structure if just is, just as it was. The anchor dropped and from here I can see my home and without all of those days gathered together in one year I don’t think I would be here now. Grateful and still hungry with ambition, light ambition in all reality, the journey continues. 🔆
✍️ Up too early to get my car to the garage, sat in the waiting room while boys in overalls fitted a tracker. A car above my station. Iv had a few since 1974, from Morris Minor to Saab, from Jaguar to Audi, BMW and Maserati. A long very expensive list of wheels. My history with cars is long and full of travelled miles, cars linked to stories cars where you would not believe what happened next. But often it did. When I had some money and managed to spend it all, I wonder why, I bought this Jaguar, it was hand built from the waist up, every piece lovingly restored, I and my kids loved swanning about in this car, it smelt lovely and rolled around tightly to the ground. Sadly the tax man cometh and the car had to go, it ended up in Tokyo Japan where I once saw it on the street when on tour. A massive journey of sadness. Sat here in a cold waiting room I dig deep to find an empty pit of why’s. Why does everything I do cost so much, my Dad would have been livid. A tight careful cheerful chap who never owned a car, a moped was as nifty as he got. I do a lot of miles so being in comfort is something I pay the price for, it’s a long way from a 54 bus across Blackheath to wrestle with new songs and a lonely desk in a solicitors office. In my diary entry it shows I was in debt, I think I was paying off money I owed to the office I worked for as an solicitors clerk. I was a light fingered teenager. Another day floating between thoughts, between the rain the wind and sorting out the corners of home, it’s a day without any ambition yet back in the day thats all there was. ✍️
✍️ If you are interested in these short sweeps across my 1974 diaries you might want to subscribe to my newsletter on my website chrisdifford.com and there you will receive updates on when these simple musings will appear. Along with my entry from the present day you will be able to see the pages from the diaries themselves, with their silly drawings and scribbles rare pictures and hand written lyrics. A day of clearing the decks ready for work, if indeed writing can be seen as work, I always think of it as a hobby. Lots of decks to clear while yet another storm blows our village into a cocked hat. Flat is a good description of days like these but they don’t come back so I make the most of them if I can. Walking the dog I bumped into a neighbour who told me that he found the concert I played recently in the church very emotional, his good friend was in hospital and died later that week, they were both big fans and loved ‘Up The Junction’. A song that I also love and find emotional too, it was written from the subconscious and not the front brain, if indeed there is one upstairs. Words like these on the street lift my day and push me to try my best and write more songs people will reference in the future. In my diary from this day in 1974- Didn’t go to work again recorded more songs and not much else- but there I was doing what I wanted to do and heaving my ambition up the wooden hills, with friends who like me only wanted to be in another world, we were recording demos and trying to launch a radio station called Sky Co, the name of our band. Not much of a name but again there was the ambition. No distractions no screens only music mates and parents who found it all too much. In this picture Maxine shows off a recent stencil on a bollard. Writers block was rare but when it did strike I just put on a bit of Gilbert. Problem solved. ✍️
🔆Up early to greet the washing machine chaps, turns out the machine had been dropped and thats why its its not working. Spent all day drafting up this book idea and doing the washing, while taking in the wind gusts outside, 50mph plus. David, a man who came to my local meeting in Rye when I first got sober always said never rush making a sandwich or having a shave, take that time to be in your prayers. He suffered from a gentle wheeze, he was a retried minor from Kent with a Yorkshire accent, a lovely man, I thought of him this morning while shaving. I said a prayer for him on a dog walk in the wind, the noise incredibly. Looking back at my 1974 diary I seem to have spent lots of time over at Number 4, the house Maxine lived in with her parents, and with Glenn. I’d gone from council estate to large house on the other side of Blackheath in a few verses and a middle eight. We were recording songs with our friend Mark capturing our young skills on a tape machine, notice the word perfect, perfection a rainbow in curved air. Mark Smith was the first person to transmit one of our songs, albeit on a transistor radio across Blackheath from a transmitter he had set up and built in one of the bedrooms. Mark worked on Radio Caroline, a pirate radio station of old, we loved a pirate. What a great chap he is and always ready with a big smile and a spare fag. I was 19 years old I was all over the place. Today it feels like a Monday but it’s a Tuesday, thats the trouble with bank holidays, but it gives me time to look back and take in the kind of day I had 50 years ago, avoiding work and recording songs, even having a row with my Mother who argued a lot with me at that age. First sausage roll of the year today, from Beryls shop in Alfiston, a beautiful village a few miles away, they are hard to beat.🔆
🔆Welcome to 2024 and all who sail in her, what a year ahead like no other year it will be, time to work rest and play. 50 years of stages and musical faces, travel within and without a simple spirited mind. 70 years of me and my wondering life, up and down the many valleys inside and outside inspiration. My pencil will be as sharp as it ever has been, if not sharper. The past can not be repeated and in some ways thats a good thing, the future who knows but the present day floats around in a deep blue sea of ambition and love. Squeeze have two exciting records to record which we are working on, and this year we have a very special tour which is selling like hot cakes, cakes that sell fast. A busy year for the boys and girls of the Squeeze camp. For me I have three writers workshops which I love, and some solo shows up and down the jolly roads of the UK. In addition a few in America too. I also have season four of my Podcast coming out with Help Musicians. New Year heralds so much but unless the work is done the work is never achieved, my intention is to knuckle down the older I get so that maybe one day I can sit for longer than four minutes and enjoy the reflection of great things that happened in my life. I feel grateful for my sobriety I feel loved by my children and Louise, I feel privileged to be working with some great people and I feel deeply about the journey that has been granted me in this life. I can look forward without tripping over myself because I know that the year ahead will naturally have its challenges but there will be some guidance from above, and that my journey will be full and fruitful, and I hope yours will be too. Happy New Year all my chums here on the Internet a place I had no idea would bring people together and join words with images, for now we have 2024 on our plates with pudding just around the corner. Much love and respect from here on the comfy chair. 🥂🍾2️⃣4️⃣ 🔆
We had a fabulous time in Somerset at Pennard House, looked after by such wonderful people. Games, gifts, Tele, food and drinks, bed and swims, hugs and dog walks. Juno made the main stage at Glastonbury, early morning dips in cold lakes, brilliant food from Mike, hospitality from Harry and Gee, what a great way to be in the Christmas week. Thank you Sean for the Somalia's Cissy for the chicken pie and hugs, Tim for the fire lighters and smiles, Nat for the womb full of kicks, Grace for the Glastonbury book and hugs, Linus for the mince pies faces, Mitzi for the all that d riving to be with family, Pebbles for the brave cold morning swim. All memories now. Mostly thank you to Louise for this bunch of pictures and holding the fort together, for the love and amazing gifts. I feel very lucky to be loved. Home now and the next page gets turned in the book of life from a comfy chair.
Through this door deep feelings through his door such joy the marriage of the millions the birth a girl a boy, the stained glass tells a story of Shepards with their flock and through this door is Christmas where time has been unlocked. Through this door the passing through this door a prayer a knee upon a cushion where thoughts hang in the air, the readings tell a story of how we came to be and through this door its Christmas a place for you and me. Through this door redemption though this door a faith a place for deep reflection a space where vows are made, angels sing together for all of us to hear and though this door its Christmas the path ahead is here. Through this door a shadow through this door the light streaming from the windows with candles burning bright, words fall like confetti from readings read aloud through this door its Christmas where all love can be found. Through this door commitment through this door I’ll be textured in a picture of one big family, where all are seen as equal and joined as one to pray through this door its Christmas and Santa is on his way.- merry Christmas everyone much love and cranberry sauce 🎄🎅🏼🎄
This is the kind of Christmas present I will be hoping for, a model railway and motorway combo, what fun! I have written to Santa several times. You may have noticed that Christmas cards have been thin on the ground this year, even less that last year it seems that we are moving away from the traditional to the more effortless texting. The digital Christmas is here, it’s a flat screen that penetrates your eyes with information. Swipe up for Boxing Day swipe left for New Year’s Eve. Its been a long build up to December and the shopping, this year all online, no shops involved I’m sad to say although I do try to buy from small businesses and not from the big chaps, it makes sense. I like this time of the year as I shop like mad and then feel ever so guilty, too much too many presents but then its only once a year so its worth the extra push to show the love, the respect and the joy. The biggest gift I have for myself is the sober gift it still amazes me how I just never think about it anymore, its all back then, part of journey I think I was on but looking back I’m not too sure. I grab each day with a quizzical look and many prayers as I pass the church on my morning walk with Juno. Next up tomorrow night a very special song and sing at my local church, first show 5pm donations on the door, all welcome. Second set 7pm sold out. A very village affair with some special moments from Guy Chambers and friends, a fine evening is just around the corner. @firleplace @firle.stores
Dressing room chair. Aldershot in the arm, a really great night on the little wooden hill. A fabulous night with great sound nice people complicated parking but overall a right result. Thank you all for being the palm of, it made me feel very special and Melvin too. And then The Ascroft Arts Centre Fareham, another lovely night, a different animal of a theatre sandwiched between Southampton and Portsmouth. Stage monitors for the 1970’s thin and worn out but we found ourselves in there somewhere. Last show before the next one which will be a walk away not a drive. This time next week the excitement of Santa will be all over our living rooms, but as I look back I reflect on venues like these, and in five years will they still be on my date sheet. Run by great people but you can tell shoe strings are all over the place. Live music needs a home so support your local venue see some music or theatre and enjoy what’s left of our many stages. The Music Venue Trust goes a long way to lend a helping hand, look them up. Thank you my audience who came who took part and went with me down a very well furnished memory lane, I will miss the stage for now but its time to set the controls for the heart of the sun, sharpen pencils and smile. Talking of smiling, Melvin has been so supportive and wonderful the perfect co pilot and wing man on these dates, the Tele tubby tour continues sometime soon. He’s Tele I’m Tubby. Next year in 2024 Squeeze celebrates 50 years on the fret board and it’s also 50 years for the Wombles, and one of us is going to clean up. @musicvenuetrust
Church Concert special, hymns hers and kids too. I will be supporting not only the roof but Guy Chambers he of many hits, all of them wonderful. Guy will be with his chums playing my old upright piano which we used on my first solo album ‘I Didn’t Get Where I am’ a record produced by the inspired man that is Francis Dunnery. He worked me hard and nailed me to the cross, something I needed and possibly still do. Without him I don’t think I would be playing at the church, he gave me so much encouragement to stand on my own two feet and sing flat or sharp or in-between. My piano has an evocative sound and has lived in the church for the last 11 years, it still sounds like my album it sounds like me. Guy will make it sound like him and on it he will send you away with the hits that you know and love from his vast cannon of work, a night under the roof we are raising money for, raising the roof is all we can do so please come along, first set is donations on the door, and not ticketed. 5pm. Second set sold out. Sorry. Pete our vicar will be on patrol making sure that we all behave ourselves, I would love Pete to sing a song too, he has a voice that I admire, it speaks so many kind words and belongs with the piano in the sanctuary of the church, he has a way with his voice that soothes, it can make grown men weep, as I did at my wedding, his voice tells stories it resonates like a handsome angel. His voice my piano Guy Chambers and myself at the sharp end of a few songs with special guests it should be a lovely way to invite Christmas into our lives. Tonight Mathew I will mostly be on stage in Aldershot. See you there. @guyachambers @firleplace
At last a seat, outside my local church a place of prayer refuge and serenity. I could sit here inspired for hours as I temper my inner voice who wakes me up far too early in the morning turning on the interrogation lamp right into my face. Back down the well I climb the slippery rope up to the light back to the chair. Days rumble by ever so quickly it’s almost time for Santa, I wonder what treats he has in his sack? We shall see. This Friday Aldershot the last of the solo shows this year, a lovely venue run by dedicated people, a treat for sure. Melvin and I will be in full stride, a night of this that and some of the other. But wait! The final show is actually in the church with the chair outside on the 21st December, Yule for Cats as the vicar heralds it, a shorter set but full of love and respect for the people in my village. Raising money for the roof, it’s always in need of repair and maybe when that’s done they can fix this chair. The church concert will be a perfect way to close the year for me, a steady sing into the pews some local faces and mince pies. First show at 5pm tickets available second sitting at 7.30pm sold out. All welcome for an early evening of popular song. Living on a estate has always been part of my life, seeing what can be done what can be achieved is very inspiring, so please follow and donate to the Vanbrugh Estate, once Combe Avenue of old. Link in bio. A community of people giving back and leaning on each other however wealthy or poor they might be, it’s the coming together that inspires me more than anything. Leafs can be taken from this book of wonder for sure. @vanbrughparkestate
It’s hard to take on board what 50 years looks like but Louise captured a dressing room coming together last week, and 50 years looks do young. Brighton a local gig and up I got to play with Jools and his Orchestra. It was great to see Gilson again playing as tastefully as ever, his playing a very important part of Squeeze songs back in the day. 50 years and here we are all to this way down the track, a fantastic journey for me. Phill Veacock and Christopher Holland were missing from the stage along with Derek Nash and I send my love to them. It was lovely to see people dancing as if in the 1950’s and smiling faces looking up the stage. Many memories float down from above many journeys safe in the cosy back waters of my soul, life transports us all on a steady flow from one memory to the making of another, and how time escapes, I can’t hold on to it as I’m forever letting go. Nice to be backstage again, nice to hold that moment. He doesn’t need Rod when there’s me at the coal face of G minor, a deep voice through the eye of a needle but then Rods got the rasp and after all he is amazing, what songs what a life. Can’t wait to hear the new record. Anyway a lovely night back on the stages thank you for the invite, 50 years men and boys. @jools.holland.official
I’m incredibly moved by the success of our tour in 2024, it’s lit many fires not only of ambition but of inspiration too. More shows have been added, more catering more dressing rooms more songs from the vast cannon of Squeeze songs waiting to be realised. 50 years seems like a long time but it’s not, it feels like yesterday when our first songs fell off the fret board. Thank you everyone who has invested in buying a ticket to see us play around the houses next year. It’s hard to take on board the love there seems to be for the band and our journey, it’s incredible. More dates are released next week, see you there or thereabouts as we celebrate 50 years on the planks. Thank you.
Solo Album Discography
Pants
2018

Pants

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Let’s Be Combe Avenue (Demos, 1972)
2017

Let’s Be Combe Avenue (Demos, 1972)

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Fancy Pants
2016

Fancy Pants

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Cashmere If You Can
2011

Cashmere If You Can

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The Last Temptation of Chris
2008

The Last Temptation of Chris

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South East Side Story
2006

South East Side Story

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I Didn’t Get Where I Am
2002

I Didn’t Get Where I Am

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Chris Difford on Patreon

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I Never Thought It Would Happen
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I Never Thought It Would Happen

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Chris Difford Songwriting Retreats

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