Imagination have performed for Princess Diana, the Mandela family and even performed at the Kremlin. The group have sold over 30 million albums worldwide and have had hits such as Just An Illusion, In the Heat of the Night and Music and Lights, which was sampled by local rapper HHP for his own mega-hit of the same name.

Now the group is headed to our shores for Rewind: The 80s Festival, which will also feature Rick Astley, Soft Cell and the Village People, amongst others.

John is not only multi-talented as a musician - he's also a film producer and actor who's done theatre work. We spoke to him about Imagination's influence, charity work and modern pop culture.  

Times LIVE: Along with Imagination, you'll be in South Africa soon for the 80s festival. How excited are you?

John: "Well it's not my first time in South Africa - I have a fondness for the country. It feels like coming back home. I love the genuineness of the people.

"The last time I came here was three or four years ago. I hope to visit the SOS Children's Village in Durban [while I'm here].

"It's 30 years of Imagination and we're celebrating with a Greatest Hits, which I hope will come out [in South Africa] and a big tour towards the end of the year. I'm hoping to do something with Black Coffee as well. Something to add to our Greatest Hits."

Times LIVE: What can audiences expect from the upcoming live performance?

John: "I'll be giving you a teaser of what's to come. You'll probably be seeing a lot more of me [later in the year]."

Times LIVE: And the live outfits? Any catsuits and leotards?

John: "[Laughs] Oh no, I don't think so. Not after 30 years. But you can expect a bit of glitter and a bit of pizazz. It'll be fun. It's always about the audience."

Times LIVE: You work with SOS Children's Villages - tell us about that.

John: "I started working with them about 10 years ago. I attended a charity event and there was a raffle. I won the raffle and I put the money back in. SOS asked if I would like to get involved in their charity and if I could get some sponsors. They then invited me to come and see what they do, which was great because a lot of the time you give money to a charity and you never see where it goes.

"We live a very privileged life in the western world and through my music and through travelling all over the world, I have been able to see how other people live, how they breathe... My mum is an MBE, she's in her 80s and she has always been big on philanthropy, so I guess some of that rubbed off on me.

"If we can give five minutes of our time, let's do it. Because I'm a firm believer in that what you give to the world, the universe gives back to you."

Times LIVE: You're a modern-day Renaissance man - singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, film producer - how do you find the time?

John: "I make the time. It's all down to planning. You know you have to go shopping on a Monday, clean the house on a Tuesday... it's the same sort of method. It's great [doing so much] because you have a full career.

"What a lot of young people don't realise is that you need an education. History has so much you can gain from. It's great to understand the history of music, the history of jazz, of soul... but nowadays a lot of artists want it all quick, quick. They want it all to happen now."

Times LIVE: And you have reality shows breeding artists in that fashion.

John: "Yes. It's this fast food supermarket chain TV existence. A lot of people who want to be famous, but what happens to them after the show? They fall through the cracks and no one cares about them once the show is over. There's going to be a lot of tragedies.

"I think what needs to be done is for artists to go back to the old method of rock and soul: go out, do small gigs. And nowadays, you can set up your own website so people can see your music. Not just Facebook or YouTube... But we still need that organic experience, of live shows."

Times LIVE: After 20-odd years in the industry, you released your solo debut album, Feel My Soul, in 2005. What took you so long?

John: "I wasn't really ready. I wanted to do something extraordinarily different from what I had done before. I wasn't in the right space before then."

Times LIVE: What do you love about songwriting? How do you go about it?

John: "Sometimes I may go for months without writing anything, then it just comes. I try to keep it natural."

Times LIVE: A Vanity Fair article recently argued that pop culture stopped evolving in the 90s. Would you agree with that?

John: "I think there's been a bit of a regression, yes. Years ago you would have 'pinnacle people'. In the 70s it was Sly and the Family Stone. In the 80s it was Prince. You had Motown, which took you through so many periods.

"You had these phenomenal people in the 90s such as Erykah Badu and D'Angelo, and you would have thought that would elevate us into something else coming into the 2000s, but it didn't.

"With hip-hop and rap, when it came to the black experience, it only showed you one zone. But there are so many voices that make up the body.

"I like Beyonce. I think she's a fantastic performer and singer, but there's a bit of Tina [Turner] and Diana [Ross] there. She takes a lot from them. With Lady Gaga, I hear her dances and outfits are inspired by Imagination. Scissor Sisters are also inspired by imagination. I once ran into their singer [Jake Shears] who told me that when they were doing their first album, they looked a lot at Imagination."

Times LIVE: Is there anything else you would like to add?

John: "I hope to embrace as many people as I can. Last time we toured South Africa, I did so much press. I was knackered but I learnt so much. We performed a few songs as part of Operation Hunger by Zindzi Mandela. We were in Soweto and when people heard the music, people ran out of their houses. It was such an emotional experience. It's a memory I'll treasure forever."

• Lee John and Imagination will be playing Rewind: The 80s Festival in Durban on 25 February.
• www.leeejohn.com