Everybody remembers that first hit single (produced by Martin Rushent), although the rest of the album (produced by Steve Severin) had a much darker side – particularly songs like Insects, Real Toys and Leave Me Alone. How did Happy Birthday, the song, come about? Our first single was actually called Dead Pop Stars, and sadly it got released the same day as John Lennon was assassinated, so was instantly and understandably pulled and didn't even make it on to our first album. We wanted to avoid any controversy, so perhaps it came from there. I call Happy Birthday the song that keeps on giving, as it is constantly used in films and TV. But I am also delighted that Dead Pop Stars is back in the set aſter such a long time. The second album, Pinky Blue, included a cover of Neil Diamond's Song Sung Blue, with the one and only John Peel featuring on backing vocals. How on earth did that happen? We talked him into it – I have no idea where we would be if it hadn't been for John Peel's early support. I can't describe how amazing it was for a young band like us to have him on our side. The final album, Bite, had a more polished style, but also moved into 'pop' territory with songs like 'Don't Talk to Me About Love'. How much of this was your decision, and how much were you led by producers Mike Chapman and Tony Visconti? Getting to work with two legendary producers was an incredible experience.
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It was very much our choice to move our sound on, though, and they enabled us to do it. We were experimenting, which is what you do when you're young. Actually I'm still experimenting! Popular song-writing today seems to reflect young people's concerns about the environment, mental health, and equality. If Altered Images were starting up today do you think that you, too, would have been a lot more political? Our bass player Johnny McElhone's mum and dad were both MP's so we definitely had a political connection. We would have our tea at the House of Commons when we were passing
through London. Our songs were more about escape and love and disappointment. Being young is confusing, fun and exhausting, and that's what I wanted to say in my lyrics. There was quite a long gap between those final Altered Images gigs in the US, and you getting back on stage almost 20 years later. How did that finally come about, and how did it feel for you? Timing is everything and when Tony Denton, the promoter behind the Here and Now shows, asked me to do an arena tour with a whole bunch of artists that I admire I had to say yes! Also I had a magnificent cake made that I jumped out of every night, which was always a ambition of mine. You are married to former band member Steve Lironi, who went on to work with artists such as Space, Black Grape and Suggs. Have the two of you ever been tempted to perform together on stage again, or to write any new songs? We did perform together last year at a big charity event in Glasgow which was a truly magical evening and in between running our two restaurants I've persuaded Stephen to do some writing with me. You both hail from the Glasgow area, and I know that the restaurants in London feature plenty of fresh Scottish produce.
But are there any things 'Scottish' that you still really miss whilst living in London? I'm lucky enough to visit and work there all the time. I'm in the middle of presenting a new cookery show for BBC
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