This interview was conducted over the internet by Mark Van Dongen, following the Stranglers' appearance in Halle, Belgium. Photo also provided by Mark.

YOU’VE BEEN A STRANGLER FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS?

Yeah I’ve been in the band for 5 years now and there’s been many highlights….the first gig I did with them in Kosovo, the first recordings I made with them, the first album, the first single, a selection of the biggest gigs…of which I’ve done around 170 now…Guildford 2003 sticks out in my mind…right up to the last one which was the Wickerman Festival in Scotland…brilliant! Went to Australia last year for the first time which was a blast…Canada, Iceland…you name it…..

THE STRANGLERS’ RENAISSANCE MORE OR LESS COINCIDED WITH YOU JOINING THE BAND. WHAT HAVE YOU ADDED TO THE LINE UP?

Well I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to think that it all kicked off again with me joining…no way…but a bit of fresh blood and new ideas always comes in handy in anything in life that’s been going for a long time…doesn’t have to be a band…could be anything. I’m from a totally different background to them, come from the opposite end of the country, I’m younger than them (don’t tell ‘em I said that though!) and I guess these things have their bearing too…a bit of rekindled enthusiasm and a different voice…it all goes in the pot…it’s hard to put real specifics on it…it’s just an amalgam of loads of things…

YOU PLAYED A LARGE PART IN DELIVERING SONGS FOR NORFOLK COAST. WHAT WAS IT LIKE PLAYING YOUR SONGS TO THE REST OF THE BAND?

Nerve wracking to start with…are they going to like them? Are they any good? They know a thing or two about hit records after all so it was a daunting prospect, but I knew they’d asked me to join partly because they knew I was a songwriter so it was inevitable, you know? The first song I wrote was Dutch Moon. I think they expected a shit kicking punk song or something for my first one, but I decided to go the other way and deliver something sweet…and they loved it ! That gave me the confidence to write more and I ended up with 4 songs on the first album…very satisfying…

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING STRANGLERS ALBUM? WHAT WILL YOUR INPUT BE THIS TIME?

The next album will be a lot harder and heavier…I’m pretty certain of that. We’ve started demo-ing and it’s chock full of riffs and there are some truly mighty moments…JJ and I lived in a house in Cornwall on the south coast of England for 6 weeks during January and February this year, and we wrote every day…together or separately…mostly together. This is going to be a great record…fingers crossed!

THE LEVELLERS WERE GUEST PERFORMERS ON NORFOLK COAST. ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR GUEST PERFORMERS ON THE NEW ALBUM?

We didn’t have all the Levellers on our album actually, only John, the violin player. We were pretty certain we wanted violin on ‘Sanfte Kuss’ and our producer was mates with him…since then he’s become a good friend and whenever we play with the Levellers, which we do from time to time, we catch up for a beer.

Don’t know about any guests on the new album…have to wait and see…it’s still early days…

YOU’VE BEEN QUOTED AS AN ADMIRER OF THE STRANGLERS BEFORE YOU JOINED THE GROUP.WHICH SONGS DO YOU LIKE TO PERFORM MOST?

Never thought about it…I like to be onstage and playing…! My faves would have to be Goodbye Toulouse and probably The Raven….good tunes.

YOU’VE RECENTLY PLAYED A PART IN A FILM. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT?

The director is a mate of JJ’s…he came to visit us one night in Cornwall when we were writing for the new album. He mentioned a movie he was doing and needed a ‘heavy’ from the North East of England…I’m from there, I’m big, I’m ugly. I’ve acted before….need we say any more?!

THE STRANGLERS ALL HAVE A CAREER OUTSIDE THE BAND. IS ACTING GOING TO BE A PERMANENT DETOUR FOR YOU OR JUST A ONE OFF?

Well Paul and JJ do their own thing outside the band from time to time, as sometimes do Jet and Dave…but at the moment we’re all pulling for the new album…it’s important you know?

I don’t mind the acting so much….it’s the fucking waiting around….does my head in! Been offered another couple of things, not too time consuming etc…so might do it…might not…depends what else is going on, you know? I’ve got no aspirations to be the next De Niro, but I enjoy it and am told I can do it, so why not? As long as you don’t take it too seriously…it’s just a sketch really….

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE STRANGLERS? WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS?

Just to keep on keeping on…sounds a bit old hippy fart like, but it’s true...We’re making a great album, no one can touch us when we’re onstage and going for it, and everyone still loves and is up for what we do….can’t argue with that can you?

Me personally….? I’m still gigging as I seem to have done forever, have a new solo DVD coming out soon, and have tentative plans for a new solo album as soon as I can fit it in…so…busy times!

Nice to talk to you…take care