Success struck them, but they are still dealing with the aftermath.
A legal battle rages on since bass player Damon Minchella left the band when they were supporting Stereophonics in 2003.
But famous friends always come in handy and Primal Scream bassist Mani stepped in to cover.
Simon says: "It's ongoing but we need to go forwards now, not backwards." "We're looking forward to Liverpool and, without meaning to, we do have a big Liverpool connection.
"We do a song on the album by Real People which we will be singing live on the tour. We also do a cover of Wah Wah by George Harrison."
But Simon had a solo gig last year that bombed. Really. It was bad, and not in a bad-is-good way. He sucked. But he says: "Yeah, it ended in disaster. I was ill and on medication and I shouldn't have played. We're stronger together. We're a band and solo is not the way forward.
"On the tour we will be playing a lot of the songs from the new album. But we'll never get bored of playing the hits.
"This may be rare, but I could play The Day We Caught The Train a thousand times. The gig really does come down to the crowd - so it is over to you."
And what happened to the beard? "Yeah, it went," he laughs. "I'm a hippy. I thought I looked like Brian Wilson - turns out I looked more like Dennis Wilson. Everyone thought it was time for me to grow up."
In a big way, he has. The band has struggled but they're producing some good stuff and it will be interesting to see where the regeneration of one of the founding bands of the Brit pop sound will lead.
* Ocean Colour Scene, Liverpool Academy, Saturday April 2
