AFTER a 20-year wait human rights singer and broadcaster Tom Robinson is back with a new album, a new sound - and a long awaited tour.

The veteran rock star turned genial 6 Music radio presenter will be hanging up his headphones temporarily as he takes the new LP ‘Only The Now’ with an enviable backing band (Gerry Diver, Faithless’ Andy Treacey + more), stopping off at the Wickham Festival on August 9 and Southampton’s The Brook on September 17.

The Tom Robinson band is best remembered for hits including Glad To Be Gay, 2-4-6-8 Motorway, Up Against The Wall and War Baby.

After releasing a further ten albums, Tom began hosting radio programmes on all the BBC’s major networks where, over the past 13 years, he’s become a staunch champion of independent bands and emerging artists.

Chatting to Tom ahead of his two local dates I point out that the tour has been a long time coming and ask why.

“It’s my first big band tour this century! I turned 65 this year and that’s the motivation - and the kids have fled the nest,” said Tom.

“My youngest child is 18 and we’ve got the decks clear. I’ve got the room and the brain space to think about what I want to do now.

"It’s about seizing the moment - which is what I’ve been urging other bands to do for years... This is the first tour of the rest of my life!

"My youngest is about to go to college. My oldest is 25 and a computer programmer: time marches on! I’m looking forward to the tour - particularly with this band . They are a great band of musicians."

The biggest change is the addition to the band of violinist Gerry Diver who is adding a whole new dimension to the music.

Tom said: “Having always hated strings on albums this has given us a new lease of life. It is very aggressive.

“I happened to meet Gerry who is a virtuoso violin player with an incredible punk attitude to the piano and fiddle and he was keen for us to work together.

“The noises he makes are wild and radical – and very unfolk in some ways. People need to hear his work.

“He will be with us on tour and has phenomenal energy. He makes the violin sound like a chainsaw!" “ Tom admits he didn’t ease himself back gently into live performance as he chose Glastonbury as the first gig!

“We went in at the deep end! It was the first time in 40 years and I broke my bass string on stage!”

He therefore had to perform an impromptu acoustic song but says it was a “ thrilling” experience.

He says he looks forward to playing Wickham Festival “enormously” adding, “ but the thought of climbing back in a van at my age 65 is a bit odd!”

Fired up by this birthday milestone he adds: “It [the album]is called Only the Now because it is about seizing the moment, looking back on how we did not seize the moment back in the day. It is not an exercise in nostalgia.

“You can’t regret the past – that is the whole point of the album. What matters is what you can do with this energy now. This is the first day of the rest of your life.”

‘Only The Now’ sees an star-studded cast join Tom on the record with guest spots from Sir Ian McKellen, Colin Firth, John Grant, Billy Bragg, Nadine Shah and many more.

The first track taken from the album ‘Don’t Jump, Don’t Fall’ is already out and features guest vocals from Mancunian artist Lee Forsyth Griffths.

Tom adds: “It was only through meeting Gerry Diver that it became possible to make the new album. Some of it has the same primal energy to it but at the same time I don’t want to retread the same ground.”

He says the new music has “a bigger, more sonic dimension” and a lot more depth. But will we hear this when he plays live?

“When you play live you try to do something different. I hate it when bands have backing tapes. People want to hear a fresh performance - music freshly minted in that moment especially for them.”

I recall his angry young man attitude in those hit songs and Tom laughs: “26 was a bit old to be an angry young man by punk standard - I could never have got away with being a punk! I was in an acoustic duo before that but our record only sold 600 copies! Once I saw the Sex Pistols it was a eureka moment .

It was at The Hundred Club in London’s Oxford Street before they were famous . We had played a gig in Scarborough where they were billed as “ the worst band in Britain” ..so we just had to see them!"

So was he a frustrated politician and did the political message mean more than the music?

“The music was always primary. It was always about making music people like. If they don’t like your music they won’t give a toss about your message!"

As for being a politician he says, "I take my hat off to people who are. They get bad rap and have to make so many compromises.

"If you are just singing on the sidelines you can be amazingly idealistic and give a clear message - I would have been crap as a politician.

"And the problem with political music is you are preaching to the converted - only those who already believe in what you are saying.

"But I do think you are providing a tonic for the troops because if I can reflect back their own strength and solidarity they may go out in the world and argue for their cause.”

Asked what is his greatest achievement Tom instantly answers: “My kids have been my greatest achievement.

"Outside of that Rock Against Racism 1978 at Victoria Park.

"We expected 20,000 people and 80,000 turned up. It was un-be-liev-a-ble! I looked out at all the faces and thought lots of people believe in this . And the National Front were smashed at the next election."