I'm a rockstar on hiatus - Ask Me (Almost) Anything

[SweetnSaltyPopcornPlease]

I'm a semi-successful musician in a rock band. It's my only occupation, has been for some years. I've been a lot of places, seen a lot of stuff and met a lot of people. Ask me anything. I can't answer everything for various reasons but let's see how it goes...

If you're anything to do with Wilco then Jesus, Etc is one of the most beautiful gentle songs in my evergreen playlist!

Which musician's death has affected you most?

There are a lot of talented people around, most of whom never get anywhere. In your view, how important is luck, and being in the right place at the right time?

My dh has a pub band - he's been a professional guitarist for over 40 years. Of course, lockdown meant all pubs/clubs were closed; all his gigs were cancelled immediately.

Do you regard pubs and clubs as the training ground for young musicians (it's how my brother made it - he started playing in pub bands when he was 14, by 17 he'd toured the world and continued to work and tour with some top notch people, the late Peter Green being just one of them), do you think that we will ever return to that sort of pub culture where young musicians hone their skills? How important do you think it is, and do you have any ideas of how we can encourage young bands in front of live audiences, if not in pubs?

Great thread.

Have you ever been involved in a musical rivalry? Do you have a nemesis band?

@WorryWartOne The Hives off that list have also played Red Rock Ampitheatre and T in the Park

Never mind the biggest gig you've played - tell us about the smallest!

Did you go to a Steiner school?

Which is the most famous film your music has been featured in?

SweetnSaltyPopcornPlease

“Daaaaaammn. You got me there, do I have a hobby? Am I a weirdo if I don’t? ... Always searching for something new, inspiring, unknown. ... I SEE music, so prefer to watch songs than watch tv.”

Does the last sentence imply that you’re a synaesthete i.e., you associate colours/images with sounds? Or just that searching for/listening to unique, absorbing music really fulfils you when you’re not playing or writing?

If the former, my daughter is a synaesthete and associates different colours for names, common words and numbers. It can certainly make life interesting but also is something of a sensory overload. If the latter, I totally admire that passion to find amazing music. I can never understand the concept of “background” music - sure, it adds atmosphere but IMO either listen properly to the music or don’t have it on at all!

@SweetnSaltyPopcornPlease Ah, OP, I think I have you sussed, but won't spoil it for you (or anybody else guessing.) If I'm right I saw you live n Scotland about two years ago. Good gig!

OP, great thread :) I am interested to know about how you see the future of your income, once touring and putting out records ends - so you think you'll have to do some other type of work or will royalties be enough for your future?

Secondly, has covid affected your income this year? I've got a couple of friends in the music biz who rely on touring for income, one has sadly had to sell their new dream home as they cannot make the mortgage : (

We have been nominated for an award and been on popular music shows. We get regular radio play, mostly 6 Music. Other bands of our 'school' have long since broken up and disappeared. We tour, have between 4 and 10 albums but you wouldn't know our faces. We're not rich in money but we're rich in experience. We started before the age of social media so lots that we have done isn't documented as well as new bands.

@SweetnSaltyPopcornPlease

See, you're the kind of musicians that I respect. You do it because of the music, nothing else, just the sheer passion and with sincerity and integrity. I co-wrote a song 20 years ago (alias) that did rather well but then I fell into my other love as a career and children! You have made me get my gear out though with the plan to just song-write. Thank you!!

I've a rather good idea who you are, well, at least I think I do!!

@Kithulu

How did you find the first part of lockdown? Did you bother to put clean jeans on everyday?

Life is generally either all systems go, or floating out at sea waiting for land. Lockdown happened before summer touring season kicked off so I was already floating out, waiting for festival dates to be confirmed. On land. So not much upheaval so far. It's really about filling time and staying sane.

What festivals/gigs are you looking forward to going to when things are back to normal, OP?

I would quite like to see Nick Cave at 02 next year.

What stage at Glastonbury have you played on? Do you hang around after or get back on the bus? When Im there I like to think some of the acts mingle in with the crowds and enjoy the whole experience. I know they probably dont 😃

How old are you?

How many are in your band?

Are band mates more like friends or colleagues? And are the relationships equal?

I always wonder When a band has say 5 members & two do the writing how much closer those two are.

do the other members get to veto new songs or is it presented as a done deal.

I’m interested in the songwriting aspect.

You said that you nearly became a copy writer, so you must be good with words. Do you contribute more lyrics than melodies. Do you consider the lyrics, melody or the “groove” of a song to be the most important? Do you write songs as a team together or you bring in ideas / lyrics to which someone else fits a melody to? Do you ever jam together to come up with ideas?

What brought you to mumsnet?

Ibibio Sound Machine on Tim's Listening party now

Do you like throwing your hands up in the air?😉