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Tom Sheehan
The Zutons: “We love…”
What inspires our inspirational bands? In the first of a new series, Abi and Dave of the Liverpool five-piece tell us the highs – and lows – of some of their life-enhancing experiences
Over to you, Abi…Song that inspires meMichael Jackson's demo of ‘Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough’
The very first demo version of ‘Don’t Stop…’ was made using make-do things like pots and pans in Michael Jackson’s house. It’s so raw you can hear his brothers and sisters on percussion like milk bottles and cow-bells, laughing in the background. The crazy thing is that it turned out to be so close to the studio version – it’s amazing. That song has made me think that if I have an idea that I think might just be silly and stupid, it could actually go on to be something a lot bigger.
Best gig I’ve been toAllen Toussaint at the Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Hall
He came in, sat down at his piano and didn’t stop playing for a full hour. Even when he’d finished one song he’d still be tinkling away and talking to the audience until he broke into the next song. At the end of the gig he went up to this old lady in the audience, handed her a rose and said: “I’ve seen you watching all night and I’ve noticed that you’re a very beautiful lady.” If he’d had a bigger ego, he could have given the rose to a really good-looking girl, but instead he went up to her. I was proper-crying throughout the gig. It was beautiful.
Musical idol I metArthur Lee at the Liverpool Summer Pops, 2004
I had all his albums, and I loved Forever Changes, so I was really excited when we were supporting him. It took me all day but finally I plucked up the courage to knock on his dressing-room door – and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. He was sitting there, with cream leather couches and women draped on them, drinking champagne. Eeeew! He right came up to me and went ‘Heeeey’ and started stroking my arm – it was the sweatiest thing. I haven’t listened to the album since.
Now here’s Dave on birds, The Bees and prison-pyjamas…
Album that changed my lifeNirvana 'In Utero'
The first time I ever tried to write a song was after listening to that record. I just got an urge to go and pick up pen and paper and write. The music was exciting but I also loved seeing people making music and not really caring about anything else. I guess it inspired me to become a musician.
Musical era I’d like to visit
Summer of Love
I’d like to just get off my head and experience a bit of the free love that was going on at the time. I’d also like to see the Grateful Dead and Neil Young playing in their heydays. I might wear pyjamas ’cos you could get away with wearing anything back then, or maybe prison-pyjamas with loads of stripes on them.
Album I fell in love to The Bees 'Sunshine Hit Me'
I was with this bird that I was really in love with but didn’t realise until it was too late. She used to go to work in the morning and I’d stay in bed and put that album on. For a while when I listened to it after we’d split up it could be a bit bittersweet, but now it takes me back to those mornings. It’s nice.
Favourite place to write musicMy house, Liverpool
I’ll go for a wander around the house and the garden, then I’ll note some stuff down. Once I’ve done that a few times the song will write itself. Early in the morning is when I do my best stuff. I guess during the day there’s too much stuff to worry about, like crossing the road and what I’m going to do when I’m not famous. I don’t wake up and think ‘I’m famous’ – I’ve stayed Dave, but other people now see me as Famous Dave. The way I see it, music is my job at the moment. If it stops, I’ll do something else, like be a postman.
Story by Erica Goodey
The Zutons’ new single, ‘What’s Your Problem?’, is released on Columbia Records on September 8
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