The DAISY HILL
Keeping music live!
THE BIG DAISY HILL INTERVIEW No 3
Mark........a regular at The Daisy (you know him, special NHS specs & dancer extraodinaire..!!!)
Q. What is your occupation/work status?
A. I pretend to be a nurse but really I'm a frustrated Gynaecologist (mm.....there's lots of openings on that type of job..!!)
Q. Married, divorced, single, other?
A. I have a secret gay marriage to Gary Glitter (d'ya know...I actually believe you!)
Q. How did you get into watching the bands at The Daisy Hill?
A. I only go to humour John Bowery and to siop him being Billy No Mates! (that's your caring 'nurse' side, Mark!)
Q. Most embarrassing moment(s) you’ve had, so far, at The Daisy Hill?
A. I am embarrassed (so are we, so are we...!) many Saturday mornings when I wake to realise that the copious amounts of beer drank the previous night did not turn me into the great dancer that I thought I was after all
Q. Who or what are your musical tastes?
A. Fifties Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues [I mean proper R&B]
Q. First band you saw live?
A. Gary Glitter (I was never the same after going to his dressing room after the gig) (me neither….!)
Q. Best live gig ever seen?
A. John Lee Hooker Hammersmith Odeon 1982
Q. Worst live gig or band you’ve seen?
A. The Side Valves (understandable….err, Mark, Davey H wants a word with you!)
Q. Band/artist you most regret not seeing live?
A. It has gotta be Elvis (and I ain’t talkin’ Costello either!)
Q. Audiophile or will any music equipment do (state your hi-fi makes)?
A. I have a collection of old record players, wind up gramophones and a great state of the art 1950’s entertainment centre that contained a black and white TV [long since gone] a valve radio and 78 record player (both in need of a bit of work to get going again but it looks great)
Q. What’s on your car CD player at the moment?
A. Are you joking I can’t afford a car CD player on my wages! But on the tape player is a recording of a recent Mark Lamar’s Shake Rattle and Roll radio programme
Q. CD, Vinyl or MP3?
A. Vinyl!!! Long live e-bay there has never been a better time to buy great old vinyl for a few quid
Q. ‘Sing’ or ‘hum’ along to the music?
A. Fart (it’s a midland’s thing, then?)
Q. Sit & listen or dance?
A. Hand Jive
Q. Who is your favourite local live music act?
A. The Revolutionaires can not be beaten any where, any how, by nobody (very eloquently put..!)
Q. If you were on Desert Island Discs, what 5 albums would you take with you?
A. The Coasters - Atlantic Years
Elvis Presley - King Creole
Wynonie Harris - Women Whiskey and Fishtails
Big Joe Turner - Jumpin with Joe
Louis Jordan - Somebody Done hoodooed the Hoodoo Man
Q. Favourite guitarist?
A. Chuck Berry
Q. Favourite singer?
A. Wynonie Harris
Q. Favourite drummer?
A. Ain’t got one but what about piano players!!!! Where would I start Champion Jack Dupree, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Professor Longhair, Albert Ammons, Maude Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson, Fats Domino, Little Richard, etc, etc
Q. Favourite music venue (apart from The Daisy)?
A. Quite like The Carling Academy, you can sit or stand, rough and ready, get right up to the band and plenty of bars to get the beer in with out having to queue
Q. What’s the furthest distance you’ve travelled to see a gig?
A. Probably Camber Sands, Rye, Sussex for the Rhythm Riot Weekenders
Q. What track(s) would you like to have played at your funeral?
A. I often mull this very question over and change the choice of tracks as often as I change my underpants. This month I would choose John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat Burnin’ Hell, Ray Charles The Mess Around, Big Joe Turner Boogie Woogie Country Girl, Howlin’ Wolf’s Howlin’ for My Baby and Jackie Wilson’s Your Love Keeps Lifting Me (Higher and Higher)
Q. Hobbies?
A. Beer, going to the barbers, shagging, farting, snoring and scratching my balls but not in that order (yeah, but what do you do when your not at work…!!)
Q. What’s your favourite junk food?
A. Elvis style deep fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches
Q. Beer or Lager?
A. Definitely beer (talking of which do I get a free pint or what for completing this poxy questionnaire) (of course….over to you, John….!)
THE BIG DAISY HILL INTERVIEW No. 2
Pete - he runs the ‘daisy’ website amongst other things, as well as being front man for The Sidevalves & just recently The Suspects Q. What is your occupation/work status? A. I’m a manager for the local NHS Mental Health/Learning Disabilities Trust.. I’m actually a nurse by profession….don’t go there, John! Q. Married, divorced, single, other? A. Married (to Andrea..21 years), with 3 children (& a Harley….!) Q. How did you get into playing in bands? A. When I was working at Northgate Hospital in Morpeth, a couple of lads who also worked there were starting a band, needed a drummer, I volunteered, bought a drum kit……played for the patients…you’ve gotta start somewhere (I was pretty crap, mind)! Q. Most embarrassing moment(s) you’ve had, so far, playing in bands? A. Too many to mention, really, and might get into trouble….getting left behind after gigs due to female distractions….not for over 21 years of course…!! Q. What or who are your musical tastes? A. I’m mainly into rock stuff but appreciate most types of music….. Free, Paul Rodgers, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, UFO, Courtney Pine, Wishbone Ash, Thin Lizzy, Eagles…….to name but a few….I also dig the more modern bands…Kaisers, Killers, Fratellis, Snowpatrol Q. First bands you saw live? A. Wishbone Ash at City Hall….then Hatfield & the North (who?)…then Rod Stewart….then Lindisfarne….varied tastes Q. Best live gigs ever seen? A. Has to be Thin Lizzy at the Reading Rock Festival in 1976, followed by Paul Rodgers at City Hall (more recently), also Back Street Crawler with Kossoff at City Hall just before he died, Genesis at Glasgow Apollo in 1975, Stones at Wembley in 1983 (think the years are about right?) Q. Worst live gig or band you’ve seen? A. Has to be Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, also at the Reading Festival in 1976 – they did 3 songs & then got stoned off (or should I say Party 4’d off…) the stage by the crowd, who for some unknown reason, didn’t really like them…their 1st song was called “If You Won’t F%£k Me, F%£k Off”, it all went downhill after that….this festival also saw the start of the “John Peel’s a c!!nt” chant by the crowd, which then became a classic anthem whenever he compered at festivals!!! Q. Band/artist you most regret not seeing live? A. There are many bands/artists I have not managed to catch live (yet) but I would have loved to see Hendrix – he played a gig at Ashington just before he ‘made it’ but I was just too young to go Q. Audiophile or will any music equipment do (state your hi-fi makes)? A. I was a bit of an audiophile, & I have always had a ‘separates’ system ever since I could afford them – don’t really use my gear much these days with the advent of PC’s with mega sound cards & 5.1 speaker systems, as well as mp3 – I have Mission speakers, Arcam alpha amplifier, Yamaha cd player, Denon tuner Q. What’s on your car CD player at the moment? A. A cd with all my new band’s (The Suspects) songs on, as I’m in the process of learning & becoming familiar with about 25+ new songs – I’ve also got a cd of Lenny Kravitz that my dad gave me recently (he got it free with The Mail on Sunday!) Q. CD, Vinyl or MP3? A. Definitely mp3 these days Q. ‘Sing’ or ‘hum’ along to the music? A. Quietly sing along……really! Q. Sit & listen or dance? A. Definitely sit and listen…I’m not for dancing Q. Who is your favourite local live music act? A. I love Rattlesnake Road, just for their choice of songs…..I like Black Rose ‘cos I just love Lizzy & they do ‘em really well…for sure! I’m also a fan of Floyd 2 as I’m a Floydie…I also caught Roadstunner at The Shamrock in Durham last Sat night & was impressed with their energy & rapport with the audience.. Q. If you were on Desert Island Discs, what 5 albums would you take with you? A. The Free Story, Dark Side of The Moon, Every Picture Tells A Story (Rod), Live’n Dangerous (Lizzy), Tales from Topographic Oceans(Yes) ..only ‘cos I was fascinated by the album cover & photographs when I was younger, never got tired of looking at it….sad! Q. Favourite guitarists? A. Kossoff (god rest his soul), Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash), Satriani ….look out for Joe Bonamassa, American guitarist….I was on my way to Wetherspoons in the toon after the match recently, walking past The Carling Academy rear doors, heard a band sound checking, walked (sneaked) in and was blown away by this guitarist…..catch him if you can Q. Favourite singers? A. Paul Rodgers, Q. Favourite drummer? A. The guy from Rush….what’s his name…Neil Peart…what a player! Q. Favourite local music venue (apart from The Daisy)? A. Not The Glen……think my favourite is actually The Daisy, but I also like seeing bands at The Newfields Inn & The Shamrock (which is a bit awkward for viewing but has a good atmosphere usually) Q. What’s the furthest distance you’ve travelled to see a gig? A. Well, it’s a toss-up from seeing The Stones at Wembley in the early 80’s, & going to the Reading Rock Festival a few times in the 70’s, those were the days….. Q. What track(s) would you like to have played at your funeral? A. Lights Out by UFO, Down to the Doctor by Dr. Feelgood, Against the Wind by Bob Seger, American Idiot by Greenday, I’ll Be Creeping by Free, China Town by Lizzy Q. Hobbies? A. Shooting, riding my Harley with my other biker mates, watching live music, playing in my band(s), watching the ‘toon’ (yes, I know, painful this season..!), going to see live music, taking my daughter Katie (she’s 13) show jumping with her pony (not my favourite…more a duty thing), did I mention riding my Harley!……..how do I get time to work? Q. What’s your favourite junk food? A. Kebabs, chips, loadsa chilli sauce plus I’m a bit of a chocoholic, coc cola (the real stuff, full fat) Q. Beer or Lager? A. Beer usually, but I drink lager when I’m in the ‘toon’ at the match That’s it…cheers, mate JB
THE BIG DAISY HILL INTERVIEW
Q. What is your occupation/work status?
A. Semi retired from the Fire Service after 30 years, now I only work 3 days a week still with the service but not on the trucks nee mare too aud 4 that lark…. suits me fine! J
Q. Married, divorced, single, other?
A. Married for 34 years to Sue, bloody hell. that’s almost 5 mirrors ah must have broken…! J
Q. How did you get into putting the bands on at The Daisy Hill?
A. Kevin, the owner used to run the Three Horseshoes in Gilesgate, my local at the time, he knew I was into music..so when he got the Daisy he just asked me……in our sixth year now (here’s to the next 6, then).
Q. Most embarrassing moment(s) you’ve had, so far, at The Daisy Hill?
A. Cannot really say I ever was embarrassed at the Daisy, a nice tale to relate though, a band were playing (The Rejexx) and just ‘afore half time the bass players girlfriend turned up, a complete surprise to him, she had came straight to the Daisy Hill from…Russia !!. Sue the singer almost forgot her lines….and his face was a treat. They went out to the van for the break…obviously just to chat in private. (Sue’s not his wife, then?.......) J
Q. What or who are your musical tastes?
A. Generally blues / rhythm and blues genre and prog rock, to a slightly lesser degree, classic rock, some of the new modern rock, ska, a bit of reggae and dub.
Q. First bands you saw live?
A. Saw my first bands in Allington House 1968, forgotten their names (not Hendrix, then!), later though I saw Caravan, Van de graff Generator….Fleetwood Mac, Free, Strawbs etc at Dunelm House
Q. Best live gigs ever seen?
A. Never been to the bigger gigs but I’d have to say The Australian Pink Floyd Show in Carlisle recently were awesome, and Boxtie in Donegal featuring the legendary Johnny Gallagher, loads more near to the mark. Too see Johnny and his twin brothers Pauric and James (bass and piano) go to http://www.youtube.com/ and search for..johnny gallagher boxtie, best songs are Runnin up the (Daisy) Hill, Restless Mover, I’m Going Home, and The Loser (checked it….class, man)
Q. Worst live gig or band you’ve seen?
A. I am not Simon Cowell and I will not publicly give this accolade to any particular band, the way ah see it nee band tries to be crap, it seems to come naturally, but I applaud anyone who has big enuff balls to get up there in front of strangers and entertain. (well said, you should see the size of…)
Q. Band/artists you most regret not seeing live?
A. Pink Floyd, Dire Straits
Q. Audiophile or will any music equipment do (state your hi-fi makes)?
A. A crap system at the moment, but I have my eye on a BOSE WAVE system J (ace, good choice, if I may say so…..brill reviews)
Q. What’s on your car CD player at the moment?
A. Martha Wainwright or The Scorpions
Q. CD, Vinyl or MP3?
A. MP3 i.River 20 gb, best musical acquisition I ever bought, treated me’sel when ah retired (splashed out, then!).
Q. ‘Sing’ or ‘hum’ along to the music?
A. Sing if ah nah the words like (heard you, don’t give up the day job…)
Q. Sit & listen or dance?
A. Sit and listen…too fat for dancing now…
Q. Who is your favourite local live music act?
A. Revolutionairres, Little Stevie, Deacon Jones and the Sinners (the sinners are interesting, most definitely….you were obviously ‘converted’ after hearing them!)
Q. If you were on Desert Island Discs, what 5 albums would you take with you?
A. In the Flesh, Roger Waters for sure and the others would be anything that I am into at the time. Eric Clapton Unplugged,
Q. Favourite guitarist?
A. Johnny Gallagher, Eric Clapton, Alvin Lee
Q. Favourite singer?
A. Not Sure….not you, anyway! (ouch, that hurt…you can go off some people)
Q. Favourite drummer?
A. Mitch Mitchell (yeah, canny)
Q. Favourite music venue (apart from The Daisy)?
A. I only go to O’Neil’s in
Q. What’s the furthest distance you’ve travelled to see a gig?
A. Donegal to see the Rory Gallagher Festival (3 times)
Q. What track(s) would you like to have played at your funeral?
A. So difficult….easier to say what I won’t have played…I’m Still Standing (E.John) I’m Alive (The Hollies) Runnin up the (Daisy) Hill (K,Bush)
Q. Hobbies?
A. I walk a lot…to and between public houses (yeah, we’ve noticed) J and…..err…..music….surfin the web (to listen to music, of course!) …..err….of course!
Q. What’s your favourite junk food?
A. Pasties, pies, burger sometimes, biscuits, cakes, crisps (& I had you for a healthy eating convert!)
Q. Beer or Lager?
A. Beer, I can count the amount of pints of lager ‘ave ever quaffed on one hand (fizzy southerner’s brew, yeah)
Thanks, John, that was most enlightening.......isn't it your round?
Pete
