“Jake Burns called me up in 1990 and said Ali [McMordie] was leaving. The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers’ paths had crossed and me and Jake were good drinking buddies.

I jumped at the chance, but I didn’t know any of their material! I went to see them before I joined play Brixton Academy and I was knocked out by the energy, it was so similar to what The Jam was all about.

That got me back in a band, back where I should be. As we moved on I got more involved and did five albums with them. The first one Flags and Emblems, it was great because I was helping with the writing again. I felt more of an integral part with Fingers at that stage, whereas before I was learning what Ali had done. That was a step up for me.”