Mike + The Mechanics fly into York Barbican with new album in tow

The Mechanics have been at work for 32 years now, returning to the bay with a tour that began last Saturday, followed by the release of their eighth album, Let Me Fly on April 7.

York Barbican will play host to guitarist and bass player Rutherford, keyboard player Luke Juby, drummer Gary Wallis, guitarist Anthony Drennan and vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar tomorrow night in the first Yorkshire chance to hear the new songs.

As ever, Rutherford stresses that Mike + The Mechanics were always intended to complement rather than replace Genesis. “In 1985 we were having the best time in Genesis,” he recalls. “But after 28 years, myself, Phil and Tony wanted variety, so we ran our band and our solo careers side by side happily for many years. To be honest, it saved Genesis. The fact I’m still doing it with the Mechanics just makes me smile.”

Let Me Fly began to take off as the band toured the Mechanics' 2011 record, The Road, the first to feature the present line-up. “The Mechanics hadn’t played live much, so we started to do what I’d done 40 years ago and build a name," says Rutherford, now 66. "We did Euro festivals, UK tours and small places and, yes, I really did wonder at my age if it was OK to be at Portsmouth Guildhall, but we got to be a great live band.

"The chemistry works because we’re all very different people, who’re fun and quirky. If there were any personality problems, I couldn’t deal with that, I really couldn’t. We needed new songs though.”

Step forward Rutherford's friend Brian Rawling to be the sounding board for Let Me Fly, after his production work for David Bowie, Tina Turner, Cher’s Believe and the Mike + The Mechanics hit Now That You’ve Gone. Rawling duly introduced Rutherford to former Johnny Hates Jazz singer Clark Datchler and in December 2015 a new songwriting partnership was born.

“We sat down together and from day one it worked," says Rutherford. "Clark’s a proper writer and he brought something new. I’d send him lines and he’d bring them to life. We never had a slow day.”

Mike + The Mechanics + York Barbican = February 17 gig

Along the way, Rutherford also collaborated with old friend Fraser T. Smith, whose credits include Adele, Kaiser Chiefs, Sam Smith and Kano, and Ed Drewett, who has worked previously with One Direction and Professor Green. Both Mechanics singers contributed too.

Big studios were out. Instead, Rutherford and one of the singers would make a demo to be passed around for the others to embellish. Layer by layer, the songs evolved. “You don’t go into studios any more: doing it this way feels like you’re working on the good bits all the time, but the songs really have to deliver,” says Rutherford.

The results pleased even the chief Mechanic. “The Road didn’t move anyone’s world as we made it just after we’d met. We’ve learned to play together now. For me, it’s about proving I can write a good song, but the older you get, the less you let yourself off with ’it’s not bad’, the less you pretend and the tougher you are on yourself," he says.

"The hardest part of the whole process is staying relevant, but anyone who says success doesn’t matter is a liar: what you really want is people to like it. Then you feel it’s all been worth it. It’s as simple as that. Oh and my wife loves it, more than she’s loved an album of mine for a while! Trust me, that’s a really good sign.”

Mike + The Mechanics' album cover for Let Me Fly

Let Me Fly, sung by Roachford, provided both the album’s title and its emotional centre. “For the sleeve, we used a base jumper leaping around on a trampoline. He had to shave his head for the shoot," says Rutherford. "The phrase [Let Me Fly] has a lovely, aspirational feel, but the song isn’t just about love, it’s about life. It’s got a great Roach vocal, a choir and it sounds fantastic. I imagine a guy on a hill just letting go and seeing what happens. If you don’t try things, you'll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Elsewhere, Let Me Fly has the Mechanics' trademark sense of joy and a host of characters, not all of them upstanding citizens, such as the hapless philanderer of Don’t Know What Came Over Me. “Here’s this guy who’s happily married, loves his lady and everything’s wonderful. Then, one night, he goes AWOL and loses everything by having a one-night-stand," says Rutherford. "It was a moment of madness and he’s beyond remorseful. Was he forgiven? The song just leaves him hanging. And no, it’s not autobiographical!”

The Letter is based on the Sliding Doors principle. “Someone finds a letter in a drawer. It’s from his wife and it says things about him she’s never said to his face. His whole life turns around," says Rutherford. "If he hadn't opened the drawer, everything would have carried on the same. Once he’s done it, it's too late. He's left hanging too by the way.”

Further tracks on a mostly up-tempo album will be Are You Ready, Wonder, Save The World, High Life, Not Out Of Love, I’ll Be There For You, Save My Soul and, most pertinently, The Best Is Yet To Come, as a band formed to offer Rutherford "variety" continue their long and fruitful journey.

“I never imagined Mike + The Mechanics would last. Then again as a 15 year old I never imagined Genesis would last,” he says. What next? Is the best indeed yet to come? "I’ve never had a long-term plan, even with Genesis. I’ll put Let My Fly out and I’ll see where it goes. What happens this year will tell me what to do next. I like that!” Rutherford ends.

Mike + The Mechanics play York Barbican on their Word Of Mouth Tour tomorrow night, supported by Ben McKelvey at 7.30pm. Tickets update: very close to selling out. Box office: 0844 854 2757, at yorkbarbican.co.uk or in person from the Barbican box office.