Your long running dispute with Too Pure has been well documented. Is this why you have decided to reissue Hefner’s back catalogue? Do you hold any resentment to Too Pure over the way the ownership of Hefner’s material was handled?
“Well its not really well documented, I don't think too many people outside me and Too Pure know what it was about exactly. I own the back catalogue as a result of the dispute, but the way they released my records was fine and I have no complaints about the way they promoted my music. I did 6 albums with them and over the years there were some falling outs. But really I owe my career to Too Pure. I guess if I was the sort to get hung up over anything I might have some resentment about the specific contractual dispute we had and how they chose to fight the issue. But if I saw any of those guys again, I'd be completely civil and happily buy them a drink. The records are coming out again, purely because I now own them, and I have to otherwise you wouldn't be able to buy them.”
You’ve already reissued Breaking God’s Heart, what will be on The Fidelity Wars reissue?
“Oooh much the same, lots of b-sides, The Hefner Heart EP some unreleased stuff. I think there's a list on hefnet. It's better! I think the extra stuff is better on this one.”
Looking back, would you have changed any of the tracks on The Fidelity Wars? Do you have any regrets about it?
“Not too many really. Albums are photographs about who you are at the time, and even though I think some of the lyrics could be better it is what it is. ‘May God Protect Your Home’ could come off. If I knew more about engineering back then I might have been able to make the drums sound better.”
Tell us about the gigs you're playing to promote The Fidelity Wars reissue.
“Oooh I don't know, the London shows have sold out! I guess that’s good. It'll be fun playing with Jack, I'll enjoy playing Hefner songs, but in my heart I'll know that this isn't really what I'm about anymore. I don't mind playing smaller shows to sing my new songs.”
You’ve said that you wouldn’t reform Hefner as "it would look bad". Do you hold any hopes for a Hefner reunion?
“They were the best band that I've played with, I miss that, I miss John's talent at arranging especially. There's more to it than it 'looking bad' but I think the four of us think as one on this issue. Hefner are not the type of band to reform. You wouldn't like it if we did. You'd like Hefner less, trust me.”
Would you reform Hefner without some of its original members?
“No, never.”
Do you think you will put out any of the unreleased material of The French?
“Yes eventually, The French album will be re-released; it will have a whole disk of unreleased material. That is to say unreleased songs, not unreleased versions.”
I read in an interview from three years ago that you don’t like touring much due to the organisation involved. Is this still the case?
“Yep, touring is shit, only idiots and drummers enjoy it. It has very little to do with why I chose music as my profession. I like to play live, but touring is just miserable and sucks the life out of you.”
Now on to your current project, what does the future hold for Hayman, Watkins, Trout and Lee?
“Well not too much. It’s a band that’s designed to have fun only, and with everyone’s commitments I wouldn't even count on us doing a second album. The first album was really an attempt by me to record it for prosperity lest the band dissolve with no songs recorded.”
How do you think your solo work compares to your other projects?
“Well quite honestly I think it's better. I don't expect any Hefner fans to agree with me, but a song like ‘Perfect Homes’ or ‘Little Democracies’ are just as strong as ‘The Greedy Ugly People’ or anything Hefner did. My next record, Pram Town, is my favourite thing I've done.”
Will you continue to put out records independently or would you ever go on a major label?
“A major label needs to ask of course, but no door is necessarily closed to me.”
Finally, do you have any festivals lined-up for the summer?
“Primavera, Indie-Tracks, Latitude and End of the Road.”

Darren is DJ-ing at How Does It Feel To Be Loved at the 100 Club in London on Friday July 4th. This is the same night as Morrissey at Hyde Park, so if you want to go to a club playing indie pop and soul afterwards, then we're just ten minutes away. Advance tickets are onsale now at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/29608