My favourite photo

English pop veteran Nick, 70, recalls his rise to fame in the 1970s with I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass and Cruel To Be Kind

Musician Nick Lowe shares a treasured snapshot

“THIS is me larking around in a bin outside the London office of Stiff Records, whose first release was my single So It Goes in August 1976. That summer I was decorating my flat, which explains the paint on my trousers. I look fresh-faced and hopeful with chestnut tresses... now all gone. I was just starting to make money then. I’d produced a couple of records that did well and I’d written a couple of songs that weren’t bad, so I was on the up.

If I could go back to this time knowing what I do now, I’d tell my young self to learn to read music properly. I never did, thinking, ‘I don’t need that. I’m rock’n’roll, me,’ but I really regret it.

My dad Drain Lowe was a military man and met my mum Pat during the war. She came from a vaudeville family and her parents were in show business.

My initial ambition was to be famous. In the 1960s the quickest way to be famous and attractive to girls was to be in a pop group. I had no thoughts of being an artiste. My musical career began in 1967 when I joined the band, Kippington Lodge, with my school friend Brinsley Schwarz, who we renamed the band after in 1969. Dave Edmunds produced us in 1974 and, when we broke up, I did more work with Dave – in the group Rockpile and writing his 1977 hit I Knew The Bride.

Thanks to my own hit singles, including I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass and Cruel To Be Kind, I had a brief run as a pop star and it seemed natural, like I’d been standing in a queue and a voice said, ‘Cashier number five,’ and it was time for me to step forward. I had a lot of fun. It was nice getting tables in restaurants and people being pleased to see you when you turned up, but it wasn’t as glamorous as I expected. A few of us were living in a scruffy flat in London and I was working so hard that I didn’t have time to go looking for a mansion.

In 1979 I married the American country singer Carlene Carter. We were a party couple and had a good time with lots of friends. Her stepfather Johnny Cash was the most charismatic person I’ve ever met and he was very kind to me. When I went on tour Carlene stayed at home, and vice versa, and no marriage can survive that. Our marriage ended in 1990 but we stayed friends.

About 16 years ago, at a music lecture on the South Bank, I met graphic designer Peta Waddington. We married in 2008, three years after the birth of our son Roy. Becoming a dad is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. In 1983 I moved to Brentford because you could buy a house there for about £10 back then. I still have that small cottage but I mainly use it for work now, and in the Noughties I bought my family house a minute’s walk away.

Being on the road as a solo artist is not as much fun, and

I’ve enjoyed working with the American instrumental band Los Straitjackets lately. I’m not very good at doing anything else and, as long as I and the audiences get a kick out of it, I will continue. I’m still writing good stuff, so I don’t feel I’m a tribute act featuring the original bloke.

I didn’t think I’d still be doing this aged 70, and I’m so pleased I can, though I can see the chequered flag getting ever closer. I’ve instructed all my people to tell me if they think it’s time I jacked it in. I’ve gone out of my way to keep my head down, so I can’t complain about not being better known. I’ve had no shortage of people patting me on the back, but I don’t think too many people will remember me after I leave this planet.”

Nick’s new EP Love Starvation/ Trombone (Yep Roc Records) is out now. He plays Ealing Blues Festival from July 21 to 23. See nicklowe.com.