LAUREN HOLDEN speaks to frontman SIMON FOWLER ahead of their Morecambe date

LH: OCS have played in Morecambe before haven't they? Back in the 90s at The Empire.
SF: Yeah, I can't remember it though. We did about 120 gigs in '96 alone. But we love playing seaside towns and I've heard Morecambe is the capital of potted shrimps. That's what I've been looking forward to. I've been wanting to get some. It's what the Queen has for her tea.

LH: Before OCS, you were a journalist yourself weren't you? At the Birmingham Post.
SF: Yeah, I became a journalist becomes I wanted to be a sport commentator. I wanted to be like John Motson. But by the time I was a journalist I decided I wanted to be John Lennon. And it's because I was a journalist that I can give you good quotes like that!

LH: You're the main support for Sex Pistols next month at the 'Live at Loch Lomond' festival. Are you a fan of the band?
SF: Not really. I was just a little bit too young when they came out. I was 11 in 76 and by the time I was old enough I was into Neil Young and Bob Dylan. It'll be fun to perform with the Sex Pistols though. They're probably just a bit bigger around the waists now!

LH: Your most recent album 'On the Leyline' was out in April last year. Are you in the studio recording any new material?
SF: No we're not. Steve (Cradock – OCS guitarist) is busy with Paul (Weller) at the minute and they'll be on tour at the end of the year. We plan to release an album early next year and we'll go on tour in Easter. That's the plan anyway. I've been a housewife for the last six months. I suppose I need to get on and do something.
You can only walk the dog so many times.

LH: You've played some pretty big shows in the last year, including Japan and Korea. Which has been the most memorable?
SF: We played quite a few festivals last year but I suppose Korea would have to be the strangest one because we went on after this absolutely horrendous death metal band. But the Koreans loved us. I like the festivals too because you don't feel a great deal of pressure.

LH: So what's your favourite Ocean Colour Scene song to play live then?
SF: It's probably the first song we play on any given night. 'Hundred Mile High City' because as soon as that kicks off you know the night's started. But one of my favourite songs to play acoustic is 'The Circle'.

LH: When you're not on the road, what do you do to relax?
SF: I live between Stratford-upon-Avon and The Cotswolds so I like going to country pubs, walking the dogs and listening to Radio 4. I've become quite boring haven't I?

LH. So what was the most rock 'n' roll thing you've done in OCS?
SF: During the mid 90s it was exactly as people think it was, only more so. There was an awful lot of staying up late with those cheeky Gallagher brothers and Uncle Paul (Weller). We had a right old laugh. But I didn't really go to all the party places, it was never really my scene. When you come from Birmingham you don't see yourself as terribly glamorous. It's fairly level headed and it's a lifestyle that would have killed me. It's much nicer walking through The Cotswolds.

LH: What do you reckon to the current music scene then? And are there any new bands you like?
SF: I don't really know much about the modern bands to be honest. Everyone's all dressing like we used to dress 20 years ago. They all look like they're into the New York Dolls, which I suppose they are. But I haven't listened to Radio 1 since the back of the tuck shop at school.

LH: Do you ever argue with the fellow OCS members?
SF: We don't at all. I normally just complain about the level of violence on the films we watch on the bus. The last time we were watching Saw. I'm a bit squeamish and I don't really like blood. I find Casualty quite frightening! We don't argue at all though. I think that's one of the reasons we're still together. We're all hoping we'll be paroled soon.

LH: Finally, what can the Morecambe crowd expect from your set at The Dome?
SF: It'll just be the hits – that's what we like to do. When you play a gig it's for the audience. The audience pay to see the songs they like you for. And we've got 20 years of stuff so there'll be plenty. We'll just play the ones people love.

n To book tickets to The Dome gig on Friday, August 1 please call the venue on 01524 406108.
n For more about Ocean Colour Scene, go to www.oceancolourscene.com