It is a bit of a decision in England, because in America you can do anything you like � it doesn�t matter. But in England people do think you are a dilettante in one area or the other if you haven�t paid your dues. We did all that �We�re a recording band � we don�t gig�. I wish we had gigged, because it would have been fun. Basically, I don�t think we had the bottle for it � we were too scared of how people would receive us.

We actually wrote some good music, but then the band fell apart. I stuck together with the bass player and then somebody turned out a couple of singles, which were alright actually, a couple of our songs. But it was make your mind up time and then the acting really took off.

Now, at the age of 49, it�s very interesting to have an audience. I was really chuffed with the album. It was one of those, �Do you want to do it? situations� and I said, �As long as I don�t come out like David Hasselhoff!� I don�t think I do.

When they gave me the opportunity to do it, Sarah said, �Why don�t you get a bunch of friends and just jam, and write some songs that mean something, rather than waffle," and so I wrote songs about things I was thinking and stuff I was observing, and I think it has a place.