Glenn Tilbrook is a successful solo artist, writing his own songs, and packing out venues.

But to a generation of pop lovers he will always be one thing — the bloke out of Squeeze.

He may protest, and talk of the following his new band, The Fluffers, has built up.

But, we all know that most of us love him for those pulse-racing feelgood hits from the 70s and 80s — Pulling Mussels, Up the Junction,Take me I'm Yours, and Black Coffee in Bed, alongside the likes of co-writer Chris Difford, and former keys man Jools Holland.

Yep, to anyone who has ever sung along to Squeeze's still fresh-sounding tunes, Glenn, the band's instrumental genius, is still very 'Cool for Cats'.

"I'd agree to some extent," he says.

"But you must not disregard the fact I've been touring solo for eight years, and there is a bunch of people that come along to hear the new stuff — not just those who want to see me because of Squeeze.

"I'm still proud of our contribution, and we got together last year to pay respect to ourselves, but I'm not into doing horrible medleys.

"I do some of the back catalogue that people want to hear, but in a respectful way, not just charging through, as people can hear all that on record."

Does he miss those days of chart success?

Not at all. In fact, he confesses, things were not nearly as cheerful as their breezy stage personas suggested.

"I rarely look back," he says.

"I'm certainly enjoying myself now more than then, though. I've been much happier since going solo, and much more at ease with myself.

"I'm just in a different space. When I met Chris we were teenagers. We were good mates but since then we went in different directions.

"We weren't a happy bunch of people."

And he hints, they weren't prepared for the commercial success. "We expected to have a small amount of fame," he says. "And were just getting going in America when we split up. We were very unhappy.

"It was life going through the mill."

"Now we get on brilliantly," he insists.

Still, the songs (tunes by Glenn and lyrics by Chris) stand the test of time, and appeal to new fans as well as old — as he proved when he stormed the main stage at Truck Festival, in Steventon, last year.

"There's a good deal of me in those songs as I was one half of Squeeze," he says. "Musically Squeeze was my band, as is my new band The Fluffers.

"I don't know where the songs come from," he admits. "The best songs I do are instinctive. I don't think about it. It's like going to a different place, the same as any other artform.

"Something clicks in on a subconscious level and when I look back at Squeeze it feels like nothing to do with me!"

Straight outta Deptford, Glenn has stayed close to his roots, and spoke to The Guide from his home in Charlton, South East London.

"I've always lived down here and have become curiously attached to it," he says.

"I like London and I like sticking to my roots. I don't want to sound like a weird throwback but I like it here and always have done."

And, despite being tempted, he has no plans to leave. "I've just come back from Los Angeles," he sighs.

"It's by the sea and is very beautiful. I can see why living there would be very appealing, but I couldn't afford to, and wouldn't want to.

"I'm not a class hero or anything, but I just couldn't wait to get back here."

Glenn Tilbrook and The Fluffers play the Oxford Carling Academy on Friday, October 24.