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On his debut solo album ‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine’, The Struts frontman Luke Spiller has jettisoned the glam pyrotechnics that make the Derby quartet such an enjoyable and formidable force in modern rock music. Instead, Spiller has opted to go with a more personal and cinematic approach that harks back to the glory days of the 60s era London (Carnaby Street, to be precise) and when Britain ruled the waves with luxurious elegance in the shape of Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, the QE2, and, of course, James Bond.
James Bond theme songs were always big business and an event. Larger than life, and alongside the trademark John Barry score, they were often just as important as the movie itself. And some years ago, Spiller wrote a pair of songs, ‘Devil In Me’ and ‘Angel Like You’, for consideration for 2021’s ‘No Time To Die’. Brimful of John Barry-isms, they were perfect for Bond. But the producers opted to go with a bigger name from the pop world to bring a bit of street cred, and Billie Eilish was their choice with the simplistic approach of ‘No Time to Die’. But the die was cast, and the seeds of Luke Spiller – Solo Artist were sown. Fast forward to 2025, and Spiller arrives with his debut album ‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine’, and it is bloody marvellous.
Everything about ‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine’ is gloriously cinematic. From the heartfelt lyrics and towering performance of the best UK import to the US since golden balls Beckham, the sweeping orchestral arrangements, to the Godfather-like font used on the black and white album cover, it is music in CinemaScope aspect with Spiller as the director.
Spiller sets his stall out early doors with album opener ‘Devil In Me’, the first of those two songs from a few years back, and if you were not aware of the Bond connection before, you soon will be after a few short moments. Lavish orchestral string arrangements give way to Spiller at the piano, and his vocals are the main draw here, with his enunciation being as clear as ever as he unravels a tale of Tinseltown after dark. The electric guitar that brings the band in after three minutes is sizzling, and the biggest surprise is the restraint that Spiller shows in using it only fleetingly.
The title track sees Spiller in epic territory, with the Queen influence seeping through in places, while ‘I’m With Her (But I’m In Love With You)’ has Spiller at his most vulnerable. This continues with ‘Don’t Be Afraid to Love Me’ where Spiller displays the qualities that make someone a Broadway star. The arrangements on the latter are lush, and the gradual build mid-song is magnificent.
The flamboyant side to Spiller is still very much prevalent here and there, ‘The Ending is Always the Same’ is especially noteworthy, but it’s mostly on the magnificent Bernie Taupin/Elton John-ish ‘Magic at Midnight in Mel’s Diner’ which could have only been written by an Englishman in L.A.. In the ’80s, this one would have appeared on the soundtrack to a Dudley Moore movie.
‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine’ ends the same way that it starts, with one of the Bond try-outs, on this occasion it is ‘Angel Like You’. It’s a stunning duet with the sultry Los Angeles-based Kendall Rucks, on which Spiller’s close friend Taylor Hawkins played drums – one of the very last recordings before his tragic death. In homage to his father, Taylor’s son Shane recreates the drum part in the video (above). Dramatic and full of Bond-like qualities, it is fitting that Spiller picked this one to close his debut album.
At just ten tracks in length, ‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine’ never overstays its welcome. It shows a different side to Luke Spiller. At times both grandiose and low-key, it is a coming-of-age masterpiece, and when Spiller calls it quits on The Struts, he has a great future on Broadway.
Available now via Big Machine Rock, more information HERE
Review – Dave
Portrait photo credit – Joseph Lynn
Live photo credit – Dave Jamieson
