Interest is high in this Squeeze reunion because it reunites Tilbrook with his songwriting partner, Chris Difford. The two, who penned such memorable tunes as "Another Nail In My Heart," "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)," "Tempted" and "Black Coffee in Bed," have not performed together as Squeeze since 1998.

"We had a few years of not seeing each other," Tilbrook said, referring to the chill that developed between the two following Squeeze's split in 1999. "But we've learned a lot about each other.

"A few years ago we did a book (Jim Drury's "Squeeze: Song by Song," released in 2004). We let out most of the bile we had for each other. We were more honest (in the book) than we were to each other's faces. ... We're not like peas in a pod, but now we respect one another."

The Squeeze lineup for the "Quintessential Tour 2007" includes bassist John Bentley; having him on board represents another bit of fence-mending on Difford and Tilbrook's part.

Squeeze split up in 1982, but upon reuniting in 1985, Difford and Tilbrook replaced Bentley with Keith Wilkinson.

"We always felt bad the way we treated John," Tilbrook said. "He was the one guy who didn't get invited back when we reformed. But I really liked what John did when he was in the band."

Tilbrook and Difford did not ask keyboardist-vocalist Paul Carrack or pianist Jools Holland, who is putting the finishing touches on his autobiography, "Barefaced Lies and Boogie-Woogie Boasts," to be a part of the reunion.

But they did seek out - unsuccessfully - drummer Gilson Larvis, who anchored Squeeze from 1976 to 1992. "Gilson has a regular gig (with Jools Holland's R&B Orchestra) and we couldn't give him a regular gig," Tilbrook said, explaining the drummer's turndown.

So drummer Simon Hanson and keyboardist Stephen Large, who play in Tilbrook's band, the Fluffers, will fill out the lineup. "I didn't want to transpose my band into Squeeze, but they are both great players," Tilbrook said.