But judging by Borrell’s latest band Razorlight he’s lost none of his passion for the raw elements of rock, he's just jaded with the media circus that surrounds it.
Together with three equally skinny street urchins, they rip through the Clash-esque Action and add blizzards of guitar on In The City with such exuberance it’s like watching dogs tethered up outside the butcher’s shop trying to slip their leash.
This isn’t a superficial take on New York and London rock through the ages, despite Action and To The Sea coming over like a Diet Strokes.
There’s depth in the acutely observed lyrics about the muso lifestyle on Rock’n’Roll Lies and in Borrell’s glorious pronunciation of “brrrrrrr-reaks” and endearing Jarvis Cocker-style whisper of “I can’t lie” on Stumble and Fall."
Paul Cockerton - Manchester Online