HE played Madonna's brother in the hit film Evita and worked with Gerry Rafferty at the time of Baker Street.

But nothing could prepare Steeleye Span lead guitarist Julian Littman for the fantastical world of Terry Pratchett.

Born from their friendship with the late author, Julian and the folk band were invited to write and record a concept album based on the Discworld novel, Wintersmith.

The record was released in October 2013 and was one of the best-selling writer's last collaborations before his battle with Alzheimer's disease ended last Thursday.

Julian, speaking to Weekend before Terry's death, said: "Terry had been a fan of the band for a long time.

"It all started when his friend played him a song called Thomas the Rhymer. His mate sat him down and said: ‘You’ve got to listen to this’ and he was forever smitten.

"Since then it had been talked about doing something with Terry for ages.

"The band played at his 60th birthday party and then a few years later he told us about a book he’d written as part of a trilogy called Wintersmith which he thought would really suit Steeleye’s music.

"A couple of years ago, we finally got around to it. Some of it was taken from the book, other bits were inspired by the book.

"But basically the album sort of tells the story and gives you a feel of the book.

"The beautiful thing about it is we did a gig during the last tour when Terry came on stage and said: ‘If I’d known it was going to be that good I’d have written a better book’. It was really nice of him."

Julian, who was part of the cast for Queen’s We Will Rock You in the West End, wrote three songs for Wintersmith including the opening track, The Dark Morris Song.

"The thing that inspired me was the dance," he added.

"The main character Tiffany Aching does a dance called the dark morris which brings The Wintersmith forth...and possibly eternal winter!

"I wouldn’t say writing the songs was easy but it’s inspiring, especially with Terry’s writing because he’s fantastically robust and great with his imagery so there’s no problem getting ideas from it."

Julian told Weekend he last saw Terry about a year ago.

He said: "When he talked about writing and work he was very lucid but as soon as you mentioned ordinary things like a cup of tea there was confusion.

"If he talked about writing or developing his characters his brain seemed to go to another place.

"It was bittersweet but also joyous that we did the Wintersmith album while Terry was cognisant of it."

It is not the first time Steeleye Span have created a soundtrack to a novel. Back in 1977, they put music to Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter.

Julian, a former member of Dexy's Midnight Runners, added: "It’s ideal if you think about it because a lot of the traditional songs that we do follow a narrative anyway.

"A lot of them are child ballads from around 1600. They’re the ballads of brutality and magic and chivalry from around that time and always contain a story so it’s ideal for us to collaborate with writers."

Julian joined Steeleye Span about four years ago and said it was daunting living up to his predecessors Ken Nicol and Bob Johnson.

He said: "The band's got a lot of history and my two predecessors are phenomenal guitar players.

"So I had to do that thing where you say to yourself: 'Don’t try and be them, just be yourself' which is quite hard when on a lot of the songs you’re playing their licks.

"But since being in the band four years I’ve made up my own riffs and written my own things and contributed in my own way.

"I’ve found my own place. It won’t be the same as theirs but it’s a good place."

Julian also reckons getting new blood in the band is essential for keeping ideas fresh.

"It just keeps it alive because the thing about Steeleye is it never looks backwards," he added.

"At the moment we’ve got a new fiddle player called Jessie May Smart. She’s 27 and she’s a great energy in the band and brings the average age down to about 63!

"We’re always looking forward and always trying new things out.

"The other thing is the folk scene has exploded. There are a lot of young people doing folk now and lot of them come to see us because we’re the keepers of the key as it were.

"I like Bellowhead and O’Hooley and Tidow and there’s Hannah James who sometimes does stuff with us and she's a great clog dancer.

"Maddy (Prior) is a big fan of Lau and they’re a big fan of her daughter Rose and there’s a possibility they might do something together."

One of the highlights of Julian's career was working with Madonna for three months on Evita. He played her on-screen brother Juan Duarte.

Julian said: "We didn’t meet until we got to Buenos Aires so we all went to her hotel suite and had dinner. It was very nice but surreal.

"I got on really well with her. I really liked her. We lived in each other’s pockets for three months."

- Steeleye Span play at the Parr Hall on Friday, March 20. Visit pyramidparrhall.com or call 442345.

DAVID MORGAN