Squeeze plus special guest Billy Bragg

Cool cats fronted by songwriting masters Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford

To begin with, Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford were inspired by music’s great songwriting partnerships. Lennon and McCartney. The Davies brothers. By their ’80s commercial peak, many would argue that Tilbrook and Difford had joined their ranks.

Squeeze started out the old-fashioned way: an ad in a window. Difford placed it, Tilbrook answered, pianist Jools Holland and drummer Paul Gunn joined, and Squeeze was born. Harry Kakoulli joined shortly after on bass, with ex-Chuck Berry drummer Gilson Lavis replacing Paul Gunn.

The band recorded their debut EP, Packet Of Three, and self-titled debut album with John Cale– quite fittingly, seeing as their name was inspired by a disowned Velvet Underground record. While both drew attention, it was their second album, 1979’s Cool For Cats, that really kicked things off. The band notched up two No.2 singles with the title track and Up The Junction.

Argybargy built on its predecessor’s success in 1980, landing further hits with Another Nail In My Heart and Pulling Mussels (From The Shell). Holland left the band that year, replaced by Paul Carrack. The band returned in 1981 with East Side Story, produced by Elvis Costello and Roger Bechirian and featuring the fan favourites Tempted and Labelled With Love. At the end of the year, Carrack left the band and was replaced by Don Snow.

2026 marked the band's first album in eight years, Trixies, with Squeeze announcing the most ambitious UK tour of their 50 plus year career in support. The 16-date Tried, Tested and Trixies Tour is set to kick off at Glasgow's OVO Hydro on 12 November 2026, with the British legends bringing their concert run to an end at Brighton Centre on 5 December. Headlining a slew of new arenas for the first time, Squeeze will also play a hometown show at The O2 Arena in London just 3 miles from where the band started. Billy Bragg joins them as a very special guest.