Music

6 He’s more popular in America…
‘I’m not sure why. I think in Britain in the late ’70s and early ’80s there was a definite vision of what was wanted from a punk band. We played on punk bills but never really fitted in. We were seen as too proggy, and thus ideologically unsound, and too unashamed of being middle class. In America they’re not really bothered about all that. It’s all just rock music.’

7 He only sings in an English accent so we can hear him…
‘Partly it was copying Syd Barrett – that flat, Home Counties delivery. I was also listening to a lot of traditional music – I’m an absolute Martin Carthy obsessive. But I think that certain rock voices develop to cut through shitty PA systems. You need a certain beak in your voice to cut through the upper to mid range. Lennon had it. So did Dylan. I think that’s why I sound so nasal when I sing. Actually, if I hear my voice in a shop I find it really annoying. “Open your larynx, dammit!” I think. “Sing like Spandau Ballet!”.’ Feature continues

8 His guilty pleasure is ‘silly soul songs’ from the 1970s…
‘Stuff like “The Hustle” by Van McCoy, or “Rock Your Baby” by George McRae. I hated them at the time, but I now appreciate them as elegant pieces of quality music. They’re structured perfectly, like a Jane Austen novel.’

9 He makes a mean prawn curry…
‘There’s lot of garlic, cumin, turmeric, ginger and fried onions. It’s made with a great deal of love.’

10 He often plays charity gigs at the Three Kings in Clerkenwell…
‘They’re for Medicins Sans Frontier and they’re organised by my wife Michele Noah, who’s an artist. We don’t publicise them because they sell out by word of mouth. I did one where we played the whole of “Piper At The Gates Of Dawn” and another where we performed “The White Album” in its entirety. We’re going to be doing “Sgt Pepper” next…’