'Man, it's so boring in this flat since we stopped being able to nick free WIFI from Costa Coffee next door'

We talk to Campbell from The Courteeners about being big in Japan, being in Belgium and being beaten by Big Brother...

Back in the late 70's, everybody who was anybody had a Ford Cortina. It was, by far, the coolest family hatchback that money could buy. If your dad picked you up from school in one of those babies, you were instantly one of the coolest kids in school, even cooler than Zammo from Grange Hill, and he was taking heroin at 13. But then Ford went and ruined everything by introducing a new model with a tarpaulin roof.

Almost over-night the cool Cortina kids were treated as lepers and were regularly water-boarded in the toilets by a baying mob. It's taken around 30 years but the name of that car is suddenly cool again. And it's all thanks to the Manchester's latest big thing, The Courteeners. ( yes, we know the spelling is different but you try thinking of a opening paragraph with the word courteener)

So Campbell, new single is out this week and you guys are touring the second album next month. Everybody feeling good in the Courteener Camp?

Things are great at the moment mate. This is the point where you actually feel like you are becoming a band again. Recording the album and all that is great but it's getting the album about and starting touring again that really excites us. We were always a band that loves playing live, so we cant wait to get out there again.

We are sure your fans can't wait too. Were you guys not selling out 600/700 capacity venues before you even got a record deal?

We were, we were always a popular live band back in Manchester, that was before anybody from London really got interested. Getting the record deal was such an organic thing, we were just mates who decided to start a band and then it went from there.

As they say in Manchester, 'job's a good un' Or is that Surrey? We presume you guys were all talented musicians before you stared the band?

Not really actually. Liam, the lead singer, used to play a few solo gigs and we used to have a few cans with him in his garage before he went on. He had a drum kit in there and he said I should give them a try. So the next time he played, he took the kit and got me up to play for a couple of songs.

Impressive stuff Campbell. You must have been born with the beat in your blood. Gloria Estefan must have been right, the rhythm does indeed get you in the end.

Ha ha, I don't know about that but I just seemed to pick it up. then we decided we wanted to make more noise so we drafted in our mates Daniel and Mark to form the band.

We notice that you spent eight weeks in Belgium recoding your new album. Was it a bit like that film 'In Brugges' and you all ended up dying in a bloody gun battle?

Actually we recorded it in Brussels but we loved it over there. It was great to get out of Manchester to record the the album because it really focused our minds on making a good album. We would wake up in the morning and know exactly what we were doing that day. We really made an effort to do as good a job as we could with it. Not only so that other people would like it but so that we could handle playing the songs on tour for the next two years.

We know what you are saying. Poor Ricky Martin must have drove himself insane singing 'Living the vida loca' everyday for 11 years. Where you guys looking forward to playing on tour?

Most nights are great on tour. Obviously Friday night crowds can be a bit more mental than Tuesday night crowds but for us it's still amazing to see people loving our music. Sometimes I look down from the stage from in somewhere like Japan and see all these people singing our songs back to us and I think 'how the hell did this happen? But it's a great feeling.

It must be great indeed to be famous throughout the world. Hopefully one day ToePoke will be internationally famous. Or at least nationally famous. Or at the very least, our flat-mate might read it from time to time. We know you guys are from Manchester, so using our expert football knowledge we reckon you support Man Utd. Or Man City. But definitely one of the two.

Yeah, we are all United fans, bar one who supports Oldham. But I have been a United fan all my life. I don't get to as many games as i would like these days though. The last two games I have been too were the home defeat by Leeds and the away game against Liverpool. Maybe it's better if I stay away.

It's not all bad though. You must have enjoyed putting your noisy neighbours in their place in the Carling Cup?

I absolutely loved that night. I was watched it in a flat with a bunch of guys from Manchester and I was the only United fan. When Tevez scored the were all like 'I wonder how much it will be for a hotel in London for the final, we better get on the internet'. When Rooney scored I just went mental, it was brilliant.

Speaking of master Rooney, we presume you wouldn't trade him for Carlos 'I have learned two words in English in the four years I have been here Tevez'?

No way! Rooney is just on fire at the moment. Loads of people were wondering how we would cope with Ronaldo and Tevez leaving. Rooney is playing so well that most Man Utd fans don't even remember Ronaldo or Tevez. If he stays fit, I reckon we can do well in both the League and Champions League.

Do you reckon Rooney could help England to World Cup glory? Despite the fact Emile Heskey and Stuart Downing might be in the team too?

To be honest, I have sort of divided loyalties when it comes to international teams. My folks are Irish so I support the Republic. But I do want England to do well too. But I reckon it will be the usual with England. They will get to the quarters or the semis and then go out on penalties.

We don't think Mystic Meg could predict it better. What about yourself, any good at football?

Actually I was not too bad. I used to be captain of my school team and I played midfield. But then I played all over the place for my Sunday league team, I think I was a bit too versatile for my own good.

Don't be too harsh on yourself Campbell, you were obviously just a man who could play total football, like a product of the Ajax youth system. Do you and the band still pull on the boots from time to time?

Not anymore. We played in a charity event once at a festival and we got beat 3-1 by people that used to be on Big Brother. So after the shame of that, we decided just to stick to getting pissed instead.

Catch The Courteeners on tour in March at the following venues:

  4 March    Hull, University
  5 March    Lincoln, Engine Shed 
  6 March    Liverpool University           
  8 March    Nottingham Rock City
  9 March    Bristol O2 Academy
11 March     Norwich UEA
12 March    Blackpool Empress Ballroom
15 March    Bournemouth O2 Academy
16 March     Oxford O2 Academy
18 March    London O2 Brixton Academy        
19 March     Sheffield O2 Academy
20 March    Birmingham O2 Academy
22 March    Newcastle O2 Academy
23 March    Edinburgh Picture House
24 March     Glasgow O2 Academy
26 March     Leeds O2 Academy