1. How did you first get involved with Nick Cave in the first place?

My brother Ian was friends with the Bad Seeds soundman / producer Victor Van Vugt, met Nick and the band, and began writing the'Bad Seed' biography...as a result I ended meeting the band, both at Bad Seeds gigs, Gallon Drunk gigs, and socially. This was just after 'Henry's Dream'...I ended up on the Lollapalooza tour in 1994, 'Let Love In' was the Lp at the time. Nick had asked me to play percussion on their european tour earlier in the year, but I'd declined, obviously I wanted to do it but I can't play the drums to save my life!...So when the chance to play guitar came up due to Blixa having theatre commitments, I absolutely jumped at it. The irony is that now I've ended up playing the organ.

2. When did Gallon Drunk first start and what were your influences when starting the band?

Mike Delanian and I had been recording in 1988, but we didn't actually try getting a band together untill the following year, with Nick Combe and Joe Byfield. I was sharing a house with Joe and Nick, so it was partly born through boredom, inevitability, and a shared need to make music....and one of the main influences was the appalling state of music at the time...everything was so 'indie'. We all had different tastes, but I suppose it covered Hank Williams to Suicide, jazz...Archie Shepp was a big influence, Bo Diddley...but we were all unified by the need to make our own music....to make some noise...to have some release from the parlous state of our lives at the time.

3. Some people are wondering if Gallon Drunk are still together, what are your plans for 2005 for GD?

Firstly the rerelease of 'From the Heart of Town', 'Tonite...the Singles bar' and 'You..the night...and the Music'. It's been a bit delayed but it will finally be out...in box form. Steve Gullick, who took most of our photos at the time, is designing it with me. There will be unreleased material, and all the B-sides etc. It's coming out on Sweet Nothing through Cargo. Then there will be the new record, which I'm writing at the moment...it will be a lot rawer then the last two albums....I'm really looking forward to it.

4. Your other project Bender just released a CD - are there any plans to play live ?

...bender have already played several gigs, and we have some support gigs lined up after the Bad Seeds tour, we've also got a limited vinyl release coming out....and a new LP on TV records in Feb. General ...bender info's on the www.bend.tv site. In fact Joe Byfield is playing with us this evening.

5. Do you have any favourite songs you play on, on the new Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds double album?

I love the record, and I'm very proud and happy to be on it. I really like 'Hiding all away', 'Cannibal's Hymn', 'There she goes...', it's just a bloody good record s a whole entity, like a classic, mad, 70's LP.

6. How long did it take to record the Bad Seeds album - was it entirely in Paris?

The rehersals were in London, but the record was recorded in Paris (apart from the Gospel singers). As it was recorded pretty much live it really didn't take too long...it was about three songs a day. It was a great looking old studio, and it was perfect for recording in such a traditional 'live' way....the atmosphere was really good...the place was completely decked out in slightly faded, crumbling, brown fixtures, and old worn out carpet. The place was very shag-pile 70's, but just a little bit fucked. Nearly all Nick's vocals are the original live takes.

7. Who do you play in the new film CLEAN and whats it about? How did you get the part?

I play a whacked-out sad wasted rock fuck-up. My wife then sorts her life out, after a fashion. I'm dead fairly early on...in a motel, shoes, no trousers...as it should be. As for getting the part..........I got an e-mail through www.gallondrunk.com believe it or not. I was the right colour.

8. We know you have been in other films, as well as done soundtracks - what are they? Did you act (or just play live) in Ken Russell's Fall of the Louse of Usher?

Did I act???? The jury's still out on that one. As for soundtracks..there's Black Milk...FOR WHICH WE/ I WERE N E V E R P A I D !!!!!!!!!!!! The Most fertile Man in Ireland......and various others...all comedy for some reason. Sound effects records should be the next mountain to climb...'door opens', 'man off cliff', 'the poison drink', 'loaded shopping trolley at Asda', etc. etc. Now THAT would be a challenge.

9.. Are there plans to tour the USA with the Bad Seeds, as well as perhaps Gallon Drunk in the future?

There are definite plans to tour the U.S. with the Bad Seeds next year, as for Gallon Drunk, I sincerely hope so. The problem remains that our records havn't found distribution there in a while. We played some great gigs in the States, both on the PJ Harvey tour in 1993 and the Morrissey tour in 1992. If there's anyone out there that wants to put our records out finally.....LET US KNOW.

10. What else has been going on??

..... OH MY GOD.................well....I toured with Lydia Lunch this year, which turned out to be really enjoyable, very free musically. The band was myself, Terry Edwards and Ian White....in a jazz freakout. I've spent a lot of time on ...bender with Geraldine and Steve, and aside from the Bad Seeds that hasn't really left much time really. So after the Bad Seeds tour I want to get on with preparing the new Gallon Drunk album for next year, and more ...bender gigs. I'd also like to thank all the people who've made contact through the site, we appreciate it.