Ahead of their appearance at SHIIINE ON Festival, we caught up with Peter Hooton, frontman of Liverpool legends The Farm, to reflect on a remarkable journey that has spanned four decades. From the independent success of Spartacus and the enduring power of All Together Now to memories involving Joe Strummer, Mick Jones and even Eric Cantona, Hooton offers a candid and passionate look back at a career built on community, conviction and an unwavering belief in music's ability to bring people together.
SHIIINE ON brings together so many bands who helped define an era. What does it mean to The Farm to be part of a festival that celebrates the music and culture of the late 80s and 90s?
We’re very proud that we were, and still are part of that incredible scene. Shiine On is a brilliant celebration of the late 80s and 90s and we are made up to be part of it.
When you step out on stage and see thousands of people singing along to songs that have soundtracked their lives for decades, what emotions does that bring back for you?
It is always very emotional seeing thousands of people singing along to our songs and Shiine On always delivers and more on that front. Sometimes we just stop playing and stand there in awe of the crowd. This was the case a few years ago just after lock down and we were all so overcome with emotion. It was a lump in the throat job.
‘All Together Now' remains one of the most powerful and unifying songs of its generation. Did you ever imagine, when writing it, that it would still resonate so strongly with audiences all these years later?
When we were recording the song we knew it was something special, but we didn’t let anyone hear it for a while, so we didn’t know what other people thought about it. One day, Andy McDonald the top man at Go Discs was allowed in as Chas Smash from Madness was working in their A&R dept at the time and asked Suggs (our producer) if he could come in the studio to hear it. Andy sat there open mouthed and declared it to be a Xmas No 1 but only if we signed for Go Discs as they were distributed by a major label. He said ‘stay on your indie label and it won’t be but we will make sure it is if you sign with us’ – we stayed on our indie label. We were on a totally independent label at the time that we had helped start ourselves, so we decided to reject the seven figure offer out of loyalty.
Many SHIIINE ON fans grew up with The Farm as part of the soundtrack to their youth. What do you think those songs represent to people today?
I think people want to relive their youth when everything seemed so simple – if we can help them in their time travel, we’ve done our job.
Liverpool has produced some of the most influential bands in British music history. How did growing up in that city shape The Farm's identity, attitude and songwriting?
That’s a difficult one as some of my favourite songwriters growing up weren’t from Liverpool e.g. Strummer/Weller/Marley. Because Liverpool is such a musical city it undoubtedly gave us confidence. My early memories as a youngster were family parties when relatives used to take in turn to sing so it was probably in my DNA even though I never really intended to front a band, it just happened because a mate’s band didn’t have a singer so I just went to have a go. By the way I used to sing ‘Somewhere’ from West Side Story at Xmas family do’s.
Your music has always carried messages about unity, community and social issues. Do you think those themes are even more relevant now than they were when the songs were first written?
I think they are – division, anger and hatred in the world seems to be getting worse but on reflection compared to previous generations they probably aren’t, but we need to learn from the mistakes of history. I’ve read numerous books on the First World War, and no historian can really explain why it happened - it was ultimately a futile war. Millions died and the seeds of the Second World War were sown which resulted in tens of millions more dying. We simply cannot return to the days of Imperialism and endless wars. All wars end in negotiation we need politicians who will negotiate rather than fuel the arms race.
‘Spartacus' became a landmark album of the era. Looking back more than three decades later, what are your strongest memories of that incredible period when everything seemed to be happening at once?
It was an incredible period for us, and we were riding the crest of a wave. At the time I don’t think many really appreciated what we had achieved. Within a year of starting up a label we had a purely ‘independent’ No 1 album. That was unheard of without major label distribution. Pressing plants couldn’t keep up with demand, It was punk rock DIY and Jamie Reid, the Sex Pistols record cover designer came into Produce Records in Liverpool and declared ‘’this is the essence of punk rock.’ Even Bill Drummond (KLF) used to ring the Produce Records office asking which entrepreneurial genius was behind us as we were always selling more than them.
The SHIIINE ON crowd is famous for bringing incredible energy and passion. What can fans expect from a Farm festival set this November?
A mix of old and new. SHIINE ON fans on X voted ‘Let the Music (Take Control)’ as the album of the year in 2025 which was brilliant so maybe a few songs off that as well as songs from Spartacus, Love Sees No Colour and maybe Hullabaloo.
You've played countless shows throughout your career. Are there any particular festival memories that still make you smile whenever you think about them?
When we supported The Stone Roses with the Justice Tonight Band (Mick Jones/The Farm/Pete Wylie) in 2012) it was special. We will never forget the solidarity of The Stone Roses raising awareness for Hillsborough, they were brilliant. One memorable night in Lyon in a Roman amphitheatre stands out for me. Even though it wasn’t specifically a Farm gig we played 4 songs before we performed with the Justice Tonight Band doing 7 Clash songs. Eric Cantona got up to sing ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ with us and it was biblical. I had asked him before the gig whether he knew the significance of what he was doing and he gave me a proof in his own words – he said he was doing it because Hillsborough was a terrible injustice and he supported the cause. It hardly made the news which was a great shame, as it was an All Together Now moment.
The Farm's songs have always felt bigger than simple pop songs, almost like collective anthems. What do you think is the secret to creating music that brings people together?
Just by writing songs with a social meaning. I’ve always wanted to bring people together I despise hatred and division. Too many on social media just fuel fear and hate. It’s the lowest common denominator.
Many younger music fans are discovering The Farm for the first time through streaming, festivals and family recommendations. What would you say to someone about to see the band live for the very first time at SHIIINE ON?
Learn the words and sing along!
Looking back, what do you think made the music scene of your generation so special, and why do you think people continue to celebrate it decades later?
It was authentic – groups weren’t manufactured, they developed organically. The major record labels would never have signed groups like The Farm. They used to ask us what our image was and why did we dress like we were going to a football match. They simply didn’t understand but Tony Wilson did and so did Alan McGee. He has since told us that he wanted a group that looked like The Farm and in the end, he found one!
If you could relive one moment from The Farm's journey, whether in the studio, on the road, or on stage, which moment would you choose and why?
It was undoubtedly when Joe Strummer was in New York deputising for Shane McGowan in the Pogues. He rang our hotel room and told me to come to Mick Jones’s room (we were on tour with Big Audio Dynamite), but I thought it was a hoax and put the phone down a few times. Eventually, Roy Boulter our drummer answered and said that is definitely Joe Strummer, so I went to the room. Suggs our producer was there as well it was like a dream. After a while Mick and Joe hugged and declared that The Clash were reforming, and they wanted The Farm to support them. Nothing will ever beat that!
Finally, when the crowd gathers in front of the SHIIINE ON stage and the first notes begin to play, what message would The Farm like to send to everyone coming to celebrate this music together?
Let the Music Take Control
As this conversation makes clear, The Farm remain far more than a nostalgic reminder of a golden era. The themes that have always defined their music, unity, hope and collective spirit, remain just as relevant today as they were when those songs first emerged from Liverpool in the late 1980s. With another SHIIINE ON appearance on the horizon, Peter Hooton's message is characteristically simple but powerful: put division aside, sing along, and let the music take control.
Keep up to date with The Farm’s exploits via INSTAGRAM