Entertainment

Peter Cunnah on meeting his birth mother and discovering he sat beside an Undertone in school

Jenny Lee puts performers and artists on the spot about what really matters to them. This week, Derry-born pop singer and songwriter Peter Cunnah

Peter Cunnah of pop group D:Ream, whose show Beats For Better Days begins on BBC Radio Ulster on Sunday
Peter Cunnah of pop group D:Ream, whose show Beats For Better Days begins on BBC Radio Ulster on Sunday Peter Cunnah of pop group D:Ream, whose show Beats For Better Days begins on BBC Radio Ulster on Sunday

1. When did you think about a career in music and what were your first steps into it?

It’s just something I've been compelled to do all my life. There's been a lot in the press recently about baby and mother homes and I'm one of those adopted through Nazareth House in 1966. I was brought up by a wonderful couple Monica and Les Cunnah who encouraged me, my creativity was nurtured. In 1991 my mum got a letter which she read over the phone to me as I was in London at the time. It contained a very heartfelt message from my natural mother, Ann McCrea, wishing to meet me. I flew home straight away and with my mum's blessing brought everyone together at Ann’s house. One of the first things she told me about was that she was the front woman in The Marines showband in the 60s. It really validated me and gave me encouragement to do what it is that I do.

2. Best gigs you’ve been to?

Johnny Cash at the old Opera Hall in Belfast when I was nine years old. The crowd rose to its feet as he strode across the stage and said the immortal words: "Hi, I'm Johnny Cash." This truly was the closest thing to a religious experience I had.

The Undertones at Shepherd's Bush Empire in the noughties. Not only were they note perfect, but they had a fella called Paul McLoone instead of Fergal [Sharkey] as a frontman. He sat beside me in class at school in St Columb’s College and I had no idea he could sing. He was a real mild mannered guy. He wasn't that quiet on stage.

U2 at Phoenix Park 83/84, supported by Simple Minds, Eurythmics, Steel Pulse and Big Country. That was one of my teenage treasured memories.

3. Fantasy wedding/birthday party band?

Nile Rodgers on guitar, Curtis Mayfield on vocals, Stewart Copeland on drums, Shovel from M-People on percussion, Thomas Dolby on keys, Tony Butler on bass, Stevie Wonder on harmonica and Bez on good vibes.

4. The record you’d take to a desert island?

The Blue Nile's A Walk Across The Rooftops. I know it's rooted in the 80s but there is an otherworldly quality to it. I do play it at least once or twice a year now. Paul Buchanan’s voice is mournful and soulful.

5. And the book you’d take?

A Hayes manual on how to build a raft capable of making my escape.

6. Top three films?

Luc Besson's The Big Blue, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey and A Good Year with Russell Crowe. I’m not normally a big one for romantic comedies but this one got to me.

7. Worst film you’ve seen?

Manchester By The Sea. I stopped it 15 minutes in – I just haven't got the patience.

8. Favourite authors?

JRR Tolkein and John Niven. With 30 years in music I have to say that his book Kill Your Friends pretty much sums up the chaos of the 90s narcissism and sheer psychotic energy.

9. Sports you most enjoy and top teams?

I’m not a huge fan of sports. My partner in D:Ream Alan Mackenzie is a huge Hearts FC Fan. I found out recently that that makes him a ‘Jambo’, I'm still not quite sure what that means.

10. Ideal holiday destination?

I love diving and I qualified in the 90s as an advanced PADI (the pun is not lost on some of my English mates, let me tell you). My bucket list would be Guadalcanal near the Solomon Islands. Many aircraft carriers were sunk, along with supply ships and Japanese Zero airplanes in crystal clear shallows here in the Second World War.

11. Pet hates?

News and sport should be ‘news and music’ or ‘news and theatre’ or even ‘news and pizza making or beer drinking’. Why does it have to be news and sport?

12. What’s your favourite:

Dinner? Curry.

Dessert? Black Forest gateau or tiramisu.

Drink? Hurricane cocktail, which involves passionfruit syrup, white rum, dark rum and an over-proof rum served over crushed ice.

13. Who is your best friend and how do you know each other?

Paul Greendale. Pretty much everyone I've met in the music industry, even my current wife Ruth, was introduced to me by Paul.

14. Is there a God?

I love people of faith who can find solace there. I flip-flop daily with my faith. A factoid I love is when you die something like 21 grams of electricity leaves your body and that energy stays in the universe.

Peter Cunnah’s Beats For Better Days begins on BBC Radio Ulster on Sunday 4 April at 4pm, and also on BBC Sounds.