Andy O'Neill is a guitar playing singing person who resides in London, we caught up with him and chatted about David Cameron's iPod, playing gigs in paddy fields in China and Christmas songs, here's how we got on....
Please introduce yourself and your music in one sentence....
“Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow”
Where did you record your EP ‘Fantastic Action? And what made you choose that studio?
I have a home studio. Doesn’t everybody ? It’s a bloody digital revolution!
In your Bio you say you were going to see Tottenham Hotspur, did you ever get to see them?
To dare is to do. Yes.
How has social media aided your music?
You’d have to ask society.
How and when did you decide that you wanted to be a performer?
I am not performing. This is fucking real.
What is the best way to make a cup of tea?
Through delegation x
What is the best advice you ever received and who was it from?
“Wake Up”. Jim Morrison
Which act/band made you want to get a band together?
Tommy Cooper. I saw him die on stage and thought, “Just Like That“...
Where is your favourite venue to play and why?
I once played a solo set in a rice paddy field in China. One lonely old coolie got very excited indeed. Happy days.
‘Penny Pincher’ is a hard, dirty rock song with a great solo, what gave you the idea to write this?
Her real name was Amy. She liked Heroin.
Would you rather live with a dog that sings lullabies or a gorilla that can do sign language? Explain your answer
I do live with a dog that sings lullabies and as for a gorilla that can do sign language... that may be the single most incisive description of my own work that I’ve yet heard.
In your opinion, what is the BEST album/record ever released and why?
Mine. Because it’s a fucking miracle it ever happened. I like miracles.
‘Blow Me’ another good track what and how did you come up with this song?
I was walking up a mountain getting over the latest debauch and it came to me ...this insight into the nature of addiction. I just wanted to be loved, forever and ever.
Do you own a record that you wouldn’t like to admit you have?
No.
What classic song would you have liked to have recorded and why?
I’ve written a Christmas song. I’ve been meaning to record it for ages. Maybe this year.
First gig you ever went to?
Iron Maiden...Cornwall Coliseum. It might actually be the only gig I ever went to. I was deaf for three days. Thanks lads.
‘Deep Shit’, the final track and a great one to end on, there is a lot of emotion within your lyrics, is music your therapy?
Are you talking about me ?...
Name three people (alive, dead or fictional) that you would like as dinner party guests?
Ozzy Osbourne, Martin Amis & Dolly Parton….what a night !! and they’re all still with us. Let’s make this happen.
Who would you like to know has your music on their iPod, MP3 or cassette walkman?
David Cameron. Maybe he’d grow a moustache. This could only be good for Britain.
If you could describe your music in the form of a fictional character, who would it be?
“Is he in Heaven, Is he in Hell? That damned elusive Pimpernel“.
Do you think we can ever live in a world where a chicken can cross the road without having its motives questioned?
We can dream mate, and we can walk towards it ….hand in wing.
What are your plans for the remainder of 2014?
You mean there will be some of it left by the time i’ve finished this interview?
Coffee or Tea?
Tea
Coke or Pepsi?
Coke
Russell Brand or Ashton Kutcher?
I don’t know who Ashton Kutcher is.
Drum machine or the real deal?
A drum machine is great when your human drummer dies.
Mac or PC?
Can’t afford Mac.
Fry up or Sunday roast
Roast
Lemmy (Motorhead) or Ozzy (Black Sabbath)?
The Oz
CD or Vinyl?
Are you from the 90’s?
Car or Motorbike?
Whichever stops when I put my thumb out.
Jennifer Lawrence or Zoe Saldana?
Don’t they come together? yak kak fwahey!
Acoustic or electric?
If you can’t rock on an acoustic you can’t fucking rock.
Shower or Bath?
Shower.
Tattoos or Piercings?
Tatts
Robert De Niro or Al Pacino?
De Niro
God or Google?
It’s all Rock and Roll to me.
We'd like to thank Andy for taking time to share his answers with us and we wish him every success in the future.
Interview by Mark Wincott