Singer, Roland Gift hit the charts with the first Fine Young Cannibals album, Johnny Come Home, their most famous hit single, made its world premiere via TV’s The Tube in 1985. With their second album the band saw She Drives Me Crazy become a No 1 single. Gift is now playing a few selected dates in his favourite places, including Sage Gateshead on September 7, with his own band

You started your career as an actor, can you tell us a bit about that?

I was a member of the Hull Community theatre workshop, this was an amateur group but it was the first place I sang in public on a stage.

How did you move into a music career?

When I moved to London I was thinking about auditioning for drama schools but you had to pay for the privilege, I didn’t fancy that, also I thought it’s harder to get going as an actor where as if you and some friends get together and call yourselves a group you are a group because you say you are.

What was it like working with former Beat members Andy Cox and David Steele?

Good. I went up to Birmingham for a couple of days and we worked on songs, ideas they already had, we could tell we had something straight away.

Can you explain why you refused two Brit Awards on behalf of The Fine Young Cannibals in 1990?

We thought Jonathan King was giving Thatcher a photo opportunity because he was a blue rinsed tory himself and that didn’t seem right.

If they had just said before, ‘By the way, Thatcher’s coming to dinner’, we would have declined the invitation and saved everyone the embarrassment of dealing with a refusal.

Why did The Fine Young Cannibals break up?

Childishness.

What can the audiences at Sage Gateshead expect to hear?

Songs from the soundtrack of my new film Return to Vegas, plus others they already know.

What can we expect from your new album, Return To Vegas, and when is it due to be released?

Not sure yet.

Who is your musical hero and why?

Otis Reading, all good heroes die young.

If you could duet with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?

Petula Clark.

What’s the next challenge for Roland Gift?

Peace of mind.

  • Roland Gift and support will be appearing at Sage, Gateshead on September 7. Box Office: 0191-443-4661. sagegatesdhead.com