When Razorlight last played in the Isle of Man, well, they weren’t exactly Razorlight.

Line up changes had completely transformed the successful hit band, and singer Johnny Borrell had taken the reformed group out on a tour under his own name.

That line up visited the Isle of Man during the 2010 TT festival, and now, after a hiatus lasting over two years, Borrell has brought them back to the island under the name Razorlight, playing at the Villa Marina for the closing night of the fortnight, on Friday June 9.

Drummer Dave ’Skully’ Kaplan played with Borrell in 2010, and is relishing the chance to return to the island, and to the TT.

’We are all looking forward to it,’ he said.

’Johnny is a huge bike motor bike enthusiast. He likes his Moto Guzzis. I don’t know that much about bikes myself, but I love watching the races.

’We love the TT too. We played on the island in 2010, and we had a an amazing time, just sat in some stranger’s garden watching these bikes go screaming past at light speed.

’It’s such a great event and it brilliant to be part of it.

’We can’t wait for Friday. We’re travelling up on the day and will spend the day after on the island, hopefully seeing some of the action.’

During the latter half of the last decade, Razorlight were ever-present in charts.

Their debut album ’Up All Night and the eponymous follow-up topped the album charts amd songs such as ’America’ and ’Before I Fall to Pieces’ were never off the radio.

The reformed and reconstituted group are currently in the midst of writing and recording new material in preparation for a new album.

’We haven’t really played in two years,’ said Dave.

’But we are now working on a new album and we hope to have a new single out soon.

’We’ve got some new songs in the set too, along with some of the older songs that a lot of people will be familiar with.

’But essentially this is the beginning of a new start for us, for Razorlight, and it is very exciting.

’Johnny is writing some of the best songs he has ever come up with, and we are all loving playing them.

’They remind me of U2, Kings Of Leon, The Killers. They are exactly what you would want Johnny to come up with.

’They are really great songs. Catchy, up-beat and just great to play.

’We’ve written about 40 songs and we are currently whittling them down to the ones we want to keep and put on the album.’

They have been gigging throughout the summer so far, and are indulging in a spot of island hopping to get here.

’We are actually going from one island to the other. We are playing on the Isle of Wight on Thursday, the 8th, and heading up to the Isle Of Man after that.’

Tickets for the Razorlight concert are £28.50, available from the Villa Marina box office.

Support comes from local group Call Me Amour, featuring Harry Radford.

by Mike Wade

twitter:@mwislandlife