Ahead of his first album in eight years, Banana Skin Shoes, the artist otherwise known as Damon Gough spoke about film soundtracks, ‘the world going crazy’ and giving up alcohol 2.17pm BST
Thanks a lot for anyone that took the time to be here and ask some great questions. Sorry we've not answered them all! Thanks to anyone that's been looking forward to the new album, I appreciate that too. 2.16pm BST
mrstein asks:
Do you still have Born in the
USA as your ringtone? Do you like any of Bruce Springsteen’s more recent material?
Does someone actually know that I had that as my ringtone?! I'm trying to remember if I did. I don't have it any more. Bruce's recent album is amazing, it's like something he's never done before. It's similar to some of his other albums, like Devils and Dust and Tom Joad and more acoustic and Americana-y than what he's typically been doing, but I was really lucky to see him in October, my birthday present from my wife was to see Bruce do a Q&A at the Hamyard Hotel in
London, a screening of the film that accompanied Western Stars. It's a beautiful album and the film's even more beautiful. It's really reflective and sad and poignant. Even my wife was in tears. She's not a huge fan but she understands my love for Bruce - she was really touched. That was the last time I saw him. He was just amazing. I've met him several times but this was the most brilliant. You can just sense that he's getting older. He's still fit as a fiddle, he looks amazing at 70. But you can tell with the film, he's been pen about his mental health issues, and in his book, all the deep-rooted stuff, his relationship with his father. We only had about 10, 15 minutes chat, and I really wanted to perhaps offer some advice - not that I could - or ask him a few questions, like, have you tried this? Things I've learned in recent years. But that would be patronising to think I could help him! Yesterday, in fact, I heard that someone who works with him was hoping to get my new album to listen to - when I saw him in October he said he was looking forward to hearing it.