Inside The Duke Box

I spent a lovely evening with Duke Special last night. We were pre-recording a radio show that will go out sometime in October, to promote his excellent new album, 'I Never Thought This Day Would Come'. Peter talked us through a clatter of new songs that range from rumbustious jazz to ballads and wibbling exotica. The stories are rich, the creative rush is ongoing and there is talk of some astonishing events before the year is out.

The friendship between Duke Special and The Divine Comedy is also gathering pace, and anyone who manages to catch the Amnesty gig on October 14 in Dublin is in for an amazing shoot-out between two grand pianos. Also expect some theatricals and while I can't go into the details, you might imagine Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone. With Steinways...