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...

Have you ever dated Liz Jones?

Has any of your music been used on Homes Under The Hammer?

@Vix20678 it doesn't feel like a job to me, it's just my norm, it's all I know now.

What I listen to is different to who I enjoy watching play. We once played a festival with The Hives, they blew me away. I also thought Foals were amazing. Probably lots more but it's not easy to impress me. Festivals are really a different entity. I could go on, or I may come back to this question a bit later.

@Sockbogies - the best question

@crosser62 haha. Yeah, or there's always a really tall guy right at the front getting in everyone's way. The future of gigs? I have no idea. When Coachella got cancelled, a 2 weekend festival where all hollywood's vip flock to, I knew it was bad. It will affect musician insurance, because now we know a lockdown could happen at any time and everybody loses money. Insurance companies will want to protect themselves from that.

Has your drummer ever exploded?

Have you ever played on Blue Peter (cunning question that might confirm one of the guesses made earlier)

Have you ever smoked crack with Shaun Ryder and Bez? If not, why not?

@Butterer partners often travel with us if they choose to. We cut our touring lengths from months at a time to 2 weeks max. So we're not away too long from loved ones.

Does your dad own a factory in Wakefield?

Did you study music at higher education and if so, where and what course and would you recommend it?
Is it helpful for a musician to get an agent and how do they get a good one?
Whats the best way you've found to network in this industry?

Not the OP, but I hear Salford is good for music and have at least one good course.
Not heard much good about agents. Ever. Even when there was money for agents.
Best way to network? Drink, go to lots of gigs, use social media and talk to lot and lots of people. Eventually you will find the right crowd - the number of people who know all the same people is surprising - the 'scene' isn't as big as you might think, in my experience. Everyone knows everyone else somehow - its all friends of friends etc. I suspect the OP will say the same on this score.

Iamthewombat I think we're thinking along the same lines. Maybe they appeared on the Fanclub takeover episode of BP....... or maybe not!

Are you in The Enemy?

Did not know musician insurance was a thing 👩‍🎤

@daisychain1620 probably FujiRock in Japan was a favourite. Japanese people enjoy music is a different way to westerners. They made us feel like we were Michael Jackson. The festival is set with view of Mount Fuji, there are giant tropical insects and humid weather. All the bands are in the same hotel (always fun) and they stop to listen between songs, going dead silent. It's all quite an experience!

Have you ever had your music used as hold music for an energy company?

@SeriouslyRetro my plans are to move more towards songwriting for other artists. It's lockdown proof! That's me with my sensible hat on.

Iamthewombat I think we're thinking along the same lines. Maybe they appeared on the Fanclub takeover episode of BP....... or maybe not!

Yes, we absolutely are!

Hi SweetnSaltyPopcornPlease .. why rock music?

What I mean is, which way round was it .. did you love music so much when you were a kid you visualised yourself into the job (practised a great deal, etc) OR were you one of those people who picked up an instrument and just fell in love with it immediately, and were so good you were always going to earn your living from it?

The next thing I want to ask you is .. who are the true greats? You are allowed 10. I will go first:

Billie Holiday
Elvis
The Beatles
Ray Charles
Stevie Wonder
Aretha Franklin
Carole King
Joni Mitchell
The Beach Boys
The Clash
The Sex Pistols
Kate Bush
Bowie
Van Morrison .. Totally outing myself .. Okay obviously it's impossible to stick to 10 ..

Madonna .. I know she can't sing but as a performer obviously ..

Taylor Swift
Mark Ronson
Bruno Mars
RadioHead

.. I'm enjoying myself here .. apologies but I can't include Prince because although I liked some of the songs I didn't really enjoy watching him live.

I loved Phil Spectre's Wall of Sound but he was such a bastard I can't include him.

@FlowerTink I'm home watching too much Netflix trying not to get fat. Currently unable to record in a studio but working on it soon.

My behaviour around people in up and coming indie bands in the early to mid 00s was so cringe inducing I still think about it. Anyway, sorry if I ever took a photo of you with a disposable camera and made you sign a crumpled gig ticket or started talking to you outside a train station OP.

I've just realised your girlfriend asked you to do this

I forgot the Fleet Foxes

Ha @goodthanks - I could have written that!

Were you ever on Never Mind the Buzzcocks?

I've been in the Green Room at an Arena when The Arctic Monkeys were playing (knew the Lighting Director). It was empty at the time. A windowless room with a fridge and staffroom-type chairs, the kind of place you'd endure for a meeting.

Do you ever feel underwhelmed at the lack of glamour?