Razorlight's Johnny Borrell on rise to fame and reunion ahead of Bingley Weekender

He adds: “We almost became the pop establishment. Which was one of the most alienating things I have ever experienced.

“But I hope if anyone looks at my track record they can see that all I’ve been doing since then is kicking hard against that idea.”

Razorlight – who perform at the Bingley Weekender in West Yorkshire on Saturday, August 5 – emerged from the same London music scene that spawned The Libertines and Amy Winehouse, climbing the charts with hits such as America and Wire To Wire.

At their centre was the partnership between Borrell and drummer Andy Burrows, both now 43.

When the latter quit in 2009 amid infighting it marked the end of their most creative and commercially successful period.

So there was understandably much excitement when, back in April 2021, it was announced that their classic line-up would be reforming.

“I was pretty nervous about it,” admits Borrell as he reflects on burying the hatchet with his former partner.

“Andy is a great guy. He has a great heart. There are ways in which our personalities are really complementary, and ways in which they are not.

“Andy leaving the group in the middle of the tour and everything like that – by text or whatever he did.

“That was a really big deal in my life. I had a certain amount of trepidation about going back into that world.”

The pair were brought back together in part by a documentary about Razorlight, titled Fall To Pieces.

They came together near Borrell’s home in the Basque Country in the summer of 2020 to jam informally. But they found the spark was stil l there and decided to play a series of live dates coinciding with their 20th anniv ersary.

There is the possibility of a new album, but Borrell won’t be drawn in talking about the subject

When it comes to the live act, Borrell says Razorlight are incapable of playing their slower songs. They can just about manage their chart-storming hit America but other more balladeering tracks fall by the wayside on tour. “It’s just not Razorlight live,” he says with a laugh.

“Razorlight live has always been a really tight but punky energy.

“It’s tight but with lots of improvisation. I like to push it and push it and try and knock it over but I can’t.

“We’re always running that line, the thing falling apart, and being super tight, which for me is really important in music.”

Bingley Weekender takes place between August 4 and 6. Borrell’s other band Jealous Nostril will also play on the Saturday.