Pugwash and XTC collaborator Duncan Maitland plays The Alternative Sunday Social Club Presents in The Wild Duck in Dublin on Sunday, 2 April at 4.00pm. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
Originally from Stoke on Trent in England, Duncan formed his first band, The Flood, in 1985. After the band dissolved, he joined Picture House and became one of their principal songwriters and was responsible for two of their biggest hits, Heavenly Day and Sunburst.
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After he left Picturehouse, Duncan began playing with acclaimed Irish band Pugwash and he also began recording his own material at home and enjoyed several successful solo gigs across the country.
In 2010 recorded first solo album Lullabies For The 21st Century and has worked as a producer and session musician for Slumberjet, Colin Hare, Gavin Mee and the new upcoming album by Jack Lukeman.
Duncan is currently finishing his new album with Leslie Keye and will be debuting new material alongside 'golden oldies' at The Wild Duck gig.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Only three? Ok, I'm a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer and collaborator who has been part of both Picturehouse and Pugwash. I'm currently finishing up a brand-new album due out later this year. Oh, and I have perfect feet.
How would you describe your music?
The Creation once said "our music is red with purple flashes". I wish I could be so certain! Stu Kidd from Scottish melody masters The Wellgreen once said it sounds like the Beach Boys' SMiLE! done by a really stoned Ray Davies. There are a couple of other things I might throw in the pot, but I'll settle for that description.
Who are your musical inspirations?
That's a big question and it's going to get a big answer - The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Pink Floyd (especially with Syd Barrett), Frank Zappa, David Bowie, The Byrds, Love, Jefferson Airplane, The Incredible String Band, The Association, The Free Design, The Who, The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, Jimi Hendrix, The Action, The Zombies, The Pretty Things, Kraftwerk, Neu!, Joy Division, The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Electric Prunes, The Strawberry Alarm Clock (the band obviously), Country Joe & The Fish, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Sly and the Family Stone, Gil Scott Heron, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, Captain Beefheart, BBC Radiophonic Workshop, especially people like Delia Derbyshire, Paddy Kingsland and Malcolm Clarke, John Carpenter, Bernard Herrmann, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Vince Guaraldi, Krzysztof Komeda, LeRoy Shields. I could go on and I know there are some I'll look back and wish I'd mentioned . . .
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The first "proper" gig was The Smiths at Hanley Victoria Hall, March 1985.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Aside from the theme from Rainbow and Ma Nah Ma Na by The Muppets, my first proper single was Cars by Gary Numan. First album was Metamatic by John Foxx. There is a part of my brain that will always be hooked up to a Moog synthesize.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Well, this of course is ever changing, but right now it's a toss-up between The Idiot Bastard Son by The Mothers of Invention and The Clown Died In Marvin Gardens by the Beacon Street Union.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Probably "...people will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with welcome written on it..." from the XTC song Snowman.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Either Autobahn by Kraftwerk (the 22-minute version) or Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast by Pink Floyd....they're both pretty long but seeing as it's for the rest of my life, I feel I have time....
Where can people find your music/more information?
Currently, it's mostly through Facebook, specifically the group Duncan Maitland Official. You can find my first album Lullabies for the 21st Century on Spotify - if it's physical media you're looking for, copies are currently scarce (something that is soon to be rectified) but are still around – you can always contact directly through the Facebook group, and we'll sort you out!
