Favourite spaceship? "The TARDIS"

What was the first record you bought? When, where and why? Where was it the last time you saw it?
Pretty sure it was Cruel Sister by Pentangle. It was a bright orange plastic cassette tape. I must still have it somewhere, but where is anyone’s guess...

What was the first gig you remember going to?
The Nashville Symphony

What was the first band/solo artist you obsessed about?
Bob Dylan. Never really got over that one, but I must admit I haven't listened to any of his new albums since the infamous “Christmas album” (which I have very carefully not been exposed to yet, and intend to keep it that way).

What was the first gig you played? what was the name of the band and what kind of stuff did you play?
It was a folk duo called Storm & Grace. Simon and Garfunkel covers, stuff like that

What was the name of the first song you wrote/recorded/released?
You know, I'm really not entirely sure on that one. The first thing I released myself was my first album, but there were songs before that, and I'd been writing for many years prior

Other than the people you currently play with, describe your dream backing band
The original members of Pink Floyd, with both Syd Barrett *and* David Gilmour

If you were stranded on a desert island with a record-deck, which three albums would you want with you?
It's very hard to narrow it down to three, and it would change depending on my mood at the moment, but right now I'm thinking Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here, Miles Davis - In a Silent Way, and Portishead - Dummy. Ask me tomorrow and I'll probably pick three different albums.

What is your favourite era/genre of music?
I’m not sure how to answer that one. My tastes are extremely diverse. I am particularly fond of early 1970s era British music, but I also love American music from the same period, and classical music, and jazz, and so much more...

...and your favourite band/artist/album of the last five years?
Again, really hard to pick just one, so I'll name the very latest one I've encountered that really knocked my socks off: Jack Ellister.

Who do you regret never seeing live?
Frank Zappa and David Bowie.

11. Which artists/labels have you collected over the years, if any?
I'm not much of a collector of CDs and albums anymore, but I did go out of my way to purchase the reissue of Neu! (first album) on white vinyl. I've got quite a few CDs, and some unusual vinyl I couldn't part with, but when I moved across the Atlantic I got rid of at least 75% of my music collection out of necessity. My digital music collection is immense, but I don't buy many physical albums apart from stuff I really, really love. I'd definitely buy more if I had more disposable income and more storage space.

12. Name three memorable album sleeves
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (most of the other Floyd album sleeves too; they were great)
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World
The Velvet Underground and Nico

Beatles or The Stones or Dylan or Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin? why?
All of the above. Can't possibly rank or choose between such different bands/artists.

What is the most embarrassing record in your collection? why is it there? Hmmm. Define embarrassing. Perhaps the vinyl bootleg of Bob Dylan singing “VD Blues”...

Which do you prefer - on-stage or in the studio? and why?
Both, for different reasons. The studio allows a more premeditated sort of creativity, and much greater ability to expand upon and refine ideas. It's a wonderful creative and compositional tool, and I love the process of experimenting and polishing things into just what I hear in my head.
The stage, on the other hand, requires an approach that is more in the moment. In some ways it's less polished, but there's also an immediacy and energy that comes from playing in front of an audience that is very difficult or perhaps even impossible to achieve in the studio. It can be an indescribably great experience when the monitor mix is good and everybody is playing in top form.

Describe your current/typical recording set-up (where and what)
I have a home studio that is largely self-built. I use a DAW on an aging Mac Pro. Any DAW is better than the recorders I had in the ‘90s, for sure. I also use a lot of analogue equipment. All my recording tends to utilise a rack of custom built mic preamps from Hinton Instruments, which sound amazing, and my collection of vintage microphones. Usually I put the band all in one room together, wearing headphones, with the amps in other rooms, or even out in the shed if they are really loud. There are even permanent audio tie lines in the shed.

What are your recording/release/gig plans for the next six months?
I'm going to be working on the next studio album. That's my main music-related project for the winter. Also trying to book as many festival appearances as possible for next summer.

Answer three questions I haven't asked you!
Favourite number? 13

Favourite lipstick? Lady Danger by Mac

Favourite spaceship? The TARDIS