'A big compliment people want to see me' - Nigel Kennedy

Musician Nigel Kennedy said people still wanting to see him was a "big compliment" as he heads on tour in the UK for the first time in almost 15 years.

The 69-year-old, who is from Brighton, said he will be "playing better than ever" on this tour, but admitted that with practise taking up a few hours and few distractions, sometimes he would forget to do jobs around the house.

Kennedy's The Virtuoso tour will include 31 dates, with shows in Tunbridge Wells, Guildford and Worthing.

In an interview with BBC South East, he said: "Nobody comes up to you and says can you wash the dishes, or something."

He added: "Something nice about this tour that I'm really enjoying is bringing the music to people.

"The fact that it has not ended, and that I can play and people bother to come and listen, that's a fantastic thing."

Despite being born on the Sussex coast, Kennedy said he was a huge supporter of Aston Villa Football Club, adding fans were often singing a version of his songs to him as he entered Villa Park.

"It does mean my music reached people and people who may not have listened to classical music in the first place, so I'm happy about that," he added.

Born into a family of musicians, Kennedy studied at the Juilliard School in New York before becoming a best-selling violinist, working with artists such as Kate Bush and Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant.

For this tour, Kennedy said the concerts would include compositions by Bach, Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, and some of his own music.

He says the upcoming gigs are for "those who love music" like him.

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