Wednesday 14 August 2013

Phil Daniels finds Soho track suits for a quick cameo

Quadrophenia legend Phil Daniels has been tempted out of musical retirement after recording a song about the tailors of Soho.

It is the first time the 54-year-old has lent his vocals to a track since his turn on the 1994 Blur hit ‘Parklife’. ‘Ain’t Made To Measure’ is a quirky number about the importance of being suited and booted, and features on The Soho Hobo, an album by London singer/songwriter Tim Arnold.

Arnold, 38, also enlisted the help of his partner, EastEnders star Jessie Wallace, and Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp, both of whom feature on the album. He said: “What people don’t realise is that Phil is a phenomenal musician. It was a song that I had written with him in mind and it was only through good luck that he wanted to do the song. He hasn’t done anything since ‘Parklife’, so I feel very lucky.

“It was a really incredible experience. We went into a tiny studio in Soho and he just knew and understood the subtext of the song.” Arnold is the son of former cabaret girl Polly Perkins, 70, who now plays Rose Cotton in EastEnders. He added: “My family’s from Soho and I’ve pretty much lived here for most of my adult life. “I began writing a book 18 months ago called Soho Heroes all about the colourful characters around here, and the album just evolved from there. Soho and its heroes are the real stars.”

Daniels, Kemp and Wallace will join him for a performance of the album at The Soho Theatre on Tuesday.

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