Nils Lofgren has been in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band for three decades, is renowned for his work with Neil Young and Ringo Starr, and was inducted into the US’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.

But the ever modest multi-instrumentalist, 63, says he hasn’t mastered any instrument and is only “fairly accomplished” on rock guitar.

Such a claim is a major understatement as the American has enjoyed an illustrious career, building a massive discography of his own solo work and performing on the world’s biggest stages.

He may not be a household name, but Nils is a hugely respected musician and has an extremely loyal fan base.

Now, in what will be a whistlestop tour, he is returning to Britain to visit 16 towns in 19 days and will perform at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, on Sunday, January 18.

The Chicago-born Arizona resident will be joined for an acoustic set by fellow multi-instrumentalist Greg Varlotta when he makes the trip back across the Atlantic.

This will be your first tour in the UK for a few years – are you looking forward to returning?

“I’m very excited about it. It’s been a while so I’m thrilled to come back. It’s a nice shift of gears to get back to singing my own songs and I’m not musically rusty because I’ve had a great run. So with my buddy Greg Varlotta, we’re hoping to do a great show every night in the UK.”

How different is it playing in these smaller, more intimate theatres in the UK to what you’ve done with the E Street band?

“I do love it all if you’re with great people and great music. I love live playing so much – it’s my favourite part of my job. You’ve got to do your homework and prepare, mentally, physically, musically. When you get out there, you turn your mind off and get down to the music and trust your instincts.

“I will say that’s easier done in smaller venues because people are on top of you and there’s not that distance you find in a stadium where people are quite a distance away. I love the intimacy and immediacy of a small place and these beautiful little theatres all over England, which is something I don’t see anywhere else. They’re just great venues for this.”

What will audiences be expecting when you come over to the UK?

“It’ll be pretty much where we left off, a very colourful night. Greg plays a lot of keyboards, guitars and sings. I’ll go over and sit on the piano in the middle of the show for a few numbers, and we have a tap dance board that Greg does beautifully. I’ve taken it up as a hobby so I’ll take a turn at it but I won’t overstay my welcome – I’m not that good at it!

“I certainly have this enormous 45-year retrospective 10-disc called Face the Music, so I’ll try and get a nice selection of some of the older songs that never get played live. It’ll be a mix of new songs and old songs, with unreleased things that are on Face the Music.”

Looking back, can you pick out any of your highlights with the E Street band for us?

“I love performing so much that all the runs with a great band like E Street, and Neil Young or Ringo, it’s all just top of the heap because the music’s so great. There’s certainly many vivid memories. One that pops to mind in the UK was my first adventure with the Born in the USA tour: it was an incredible experience. We walked out at Wembley Stadium and I had a 100,000 Brits singing Born in the USA and pumping their fists in the air.”

How have you mastered so many different instruments over the years?

“I took accordion lessons for 10 years. I certainly would disagree with the word mastered. I haven’t mastered anything. I think I’m a good beginner on everything, and probably fairly accomplished on rock guitar, but that’s a very limited scope with music. So I’m always learning and growing and it’s a good exercise for me emotionally, spiritually and musically.”

You enjoy meeting audiences after your concerts – why do you do that?

“I’m a working musician, that’s what I do. The lifeblood of everything is playing in front of people. I hope to make another record this year, at least get one started. It’s a journey I’ve been committed to for 46 years, and I’ve got a great home with my wife, Amy, our dog pack and garage studio across the way. It’s just been blessed. It’s been a rocky, beautiful ride, and 46 years later here I am getting ready to play a great run of shows in the UK. I’m blessed and grateful about it and will just carry on.”

ON NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS...

“I used to make them and break them. Now, I’m booked to come over to the UK and I’ve been on the road a long time without my family, so Amy has booked to come with me and my resolution will be to have a safe, beautiful journey in the UK and do some special nights every night for the great audiences that have been coming for decades.”

ON TRAMPOLINING...

From 1969 until 1985, Nils was renowned for his on-stage theatrics, including playing guitar while doing flips on a trampoline.

“I was opening for the J Geils Band – a spectacular band with Peter Wolf dancing all around. For a year or two I was pretty shy, I just stood there and sang. But to cut a long story short, I had my old gymnastics coach teach me how to do a back-flip off the trampoline while I play the guitar.

It was in the show from 1969 to 1985, and between beating my body up I had to have both my hips replaced – because of too much basketball and antics on stage. They’re working fine now, but the trampoline’s in the closet.”

Nils Lofgren will perform live in concert at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells on Sunday, January 18. Tickets from £28.50. Show starts at 8pm. Call 01892 530613 or visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk