1) When did you think about a career in music and what were your first steps into it?
When I was 10 I discovered a guitar in my attic. It was love at first sight, and sound – a career in music found me right there and then!
I taught myself to play and joined my first semi-pro band when I was only 14. I have never thought about anything else since and count myself lucky to have discovered what I wanted to do at such a young age.
2) Best gigs you’ve been to?
1: Stevie Ray Vaughan, June 1990, Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, California. The bill included BB King, John Lee Hooker, Dr John, Irma Thomas and Joe Cocker. His amazing set climaxed with Riviera Paradise as the sun set – there was hardly a dry eye in the house.
2: Ray Charles / Van Morrison, June 1996, Point Theatre, Dublin. Van opened with a great set then Ray took to the stage with the Raylettes and his orchestra to spellbind the crowd with some of the greatest songs ever written.
3: Tom Waits, August 2008, Phoenix Park, Dublin. On the Glitter and Doom tour in his Big Top tent, he gave a performance that was pure Vaudeville Theatre led by a circus master. At the end, he chanted like an Indian Rainmaker "let it rain, let it rain!" and we exited the tent to a monsoon that lasted for the rest of that summer.
3) Fantasy wedding/birthday party band?
The Rolling Stones
4) The record you’d take to a desert island and why?
Bob Marley, Legend. Seems appropriate!
5) And the book?
Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival – even more appropriate!
6) Top three films?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Shawshank Redemption, Life is Beautiful
7) Worst film you’ve seen and why?
Inception: Leonard DiCaprio pretending to be an actor – and what on earth was going on anyway?
8) Favourite authors?
I mostly read non-fiction. I tend to go for philosophy, true stories, history and autobiographies, but for fiction I would favour Elmore Leonard: hard-hitting realism with great characters and humour.
9) Sport you most enjoy and top team?
Football, Chelsea.
10) Ideal holiday destination?
Japan
11) Pet hate?
Unkindness: we are all brothers and sisters in this together.
12) What’s your favourite:
Dessert? Chocolate Fondant
Drink? Guinness
Dinner? Homemade hard shell tacos
13) Who is your best friend and how do you know each other?
Jon Nichols. We met in California while playing a 'dep' [stand-in] gig in a club one night and have remained great friends ever since.
14) Is there a God?
Yes, and his name is Jeff Beck. His son is called Peter Green.
:: Davy Watson is in concert with the Ulster Orchestra on Friday August 31 for Rhythm and Blues Meets The Ulster Orchestra at The Ulster Hall. Tickets via Ulsterhall.co.uk.
