You’re coming to The Brook and Lighthouse Poole next week. Are there any new additions to the line-up this time around?

“For Poole, we’re bringing over Tony Vincent from America. He was the original lead in We Will Rock You, the Queen musical a few of us worked on.

“He did it for three years here and opened it in Las Vegas. Most recently he’s been performing the Green Day musical American Idiot and he hasn’t performed with us or in the UK at all for a couple of years and his fan club have been haranguing me! We have to give the public what they want so he’s back! He’s a special addition for Poole.

“We’ll have a great line-up at The Brook though too. We’re always grateful to the fans there. We never tell them who is playing, but they turn up and like the surprise when we walk out on stage.”

What can we expect from the show?

“There will be a festive feel to some of it and some old favourites, but mainly anything we want to do. We know the audience wants to hear the hits, but we balance that with the choices of the artists. We always try to do something a little unexpected. No one ever refuses to do any of their songs, it’s part of the deal, but we try to find songs the artist hasn’t played in a while and wants to. It keeps the variety for the musicians.”

Do such incredible musicians need to rehearse much?

“Yes. Every time extra people come in we have to learn extra songs and with so many musicians it can be quite a logistical nightmare. So contrary to what people may think, a lot of work actually goes in. We’ve been rehearsing something really special this time. I can’t believe it, but it’s 25 years since Do They Know It’s Christmas and we have Midge Ure who wrote the song and Paul Young, who sang the first line. That should be pretty special!”

What have been the highlights or your year?

“Every year brings its own unique collection of stuff. I ended last year doing a tour with Queen featuring Paul Rodgers and the warm up show for that was something else.

“Bands normally try to do a relatively low key show just to get everything right and in case of any mistakes. But we did one in Ukraine in front of 40,000 people and live on TV! It was unbelievable. We looked out from the stage that was the former KGB Headquarters and were under a statue of Lenin. I thought that was quite ironic! It turned out to be one of those amazing gigs.

“The SAS Band is the official Nelson Mandela band and the UN decided this year that his birthday, July 18, was going to be a special Mandela Day so we did a special gig at Radio City in New York with Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys. It doesn’t get any better than that! I also got Roger Taylor from Queen and Roger Daltrey from The Who together for a gig, which was great fun, and I’m hoping to do that again.”

You’ve had so many incredible musicians in the line-up. Is there anyone you’d like to have on stage who has still eluded you?

“The ones I want in the band are all dead I think. We do pretty well, although I’ve always wanted Joe Elliott from Def Leppard. He will do it at some point but his wife has just had a baby. I’d also like to get Alison Moyet and Michael Carrack as I think they’re great singers, but we’ve got some great people at the moment with Kiki Dee, Chris Thompson, Midge and we’ve got Tom Robinson who is a radio DJ for BBC6. We’ve been doing it long enough for people to know what we’re about now. I approach them and say come along and have some fun. But what I’m trying to get across is just because it’s good fun, doesn’t mean there is any less musical value.”

When you started the SAS Band in 1994. Did you ever expect it to become this big?

“No, I only did it for fun and expected to do a few shows. Here we are 15 years later and every year gets better. Every night is different and I love it.”

What other projects are you working on?

“We have some shows in Germany next spring and I’m doing Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy in LA where people can pay to perform with their idols.”

What are your plans for Christmas?

“I’m married to an American so we do one Christmas here and one over there. This year we’re going to America. Her parents have just moved to Arkansas, so I will be spending Christmas in the middle of hillbilly country! I’ve no idea what it will be like!”

What’s your New Year’s Resolution?

“To do one or two things really well, rather than try to do everything badly.”

Spike and his SAS Band play a sold out gig at The Brook on Wednesday. In a new venture for The Brook, they will be taking the SAS Band to Poole Lighthouse on Thursday. Tickets: 0844 406 8666 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk.