Leytonstone BLUES JAM - Blues Jam Profiles: KEITH GEDDES

Keith Geddes

Blues Jam regular and Resident Shutterbug!

Are you local?

No.

Where are you from, originally?

Ponders End, Enfield.

What's your tipple?

Adnams Broadside, Speckled Hen. John Smiths if need be.

What's your earliest memory?

Grandma's piano. I could pick out a tune.

What was the first record you ever bought with your own money?

"I Feel Fine" by The Beatles.

...and do you still have it?

Somewhere...

Any hobbies/interests?

Too many to list, but mainly Music / TV / Films and Photography.

Do you remember the very first gig you went to? What was it like?

The Palladium, with mum. It was a package show: The Shadows and Tom Jones - brilliant!

Worst job you've ever had?

Trying to act as a social worker while doing MY job.

What's your claim to fame (not necessarily musical)?

Warming up for "Spectrum", who recorded the theme to "Captain Scarlet".

If you could invite 6 people (past, present or fictional) to dinner, Who would you choose?

Kenny Everett
Rick Wakeman
Carol Vorderman
Philip Schofield
Bruce Lee
Peter Sellers

...but would they all get on???

Been playing/performing long?

Since the age of 4, on grandma's piano.

Been in any bands?

Many "hobby" bands, from the age of 15.

What first got you interested in the Blues?

Difficult to say. Hendrix... Gary Moore... Realising that so much music stems from the blues... Seeing Robben Ford live by accident: we went to see Spirogyra, and Robben was on first I think. Blew us away. And SRV. All part of the interest.

What other types of music do you like to listen to/play?

Everything except punk.

Favourite Blues artists?

Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Favourite artists (any other genre) ?

Rick Wakeman, some Bowie, but I'm more interested in the work of producers, such as Trevor Horn.

Ever been lucky enough to meet or share a stage with one of your musical heroes?

Not that I remember...

Favourite instruments and/or equipment?

I rely on my Yamaha PSR8000 and DX7, and the Korg Triton sounds good, but basicly any keyboard with "proper" sounds on it.

If you had to sum up your relationship with the Blues using just one word, what would it be?

Happy.

Who would you pick (past or present) for your dream band?

Blimey! It's all down to chemistry, isn't it?

Most embarrassing moment?

On stage? Plugging the speakers into th wrong sockets and blowing the chips in an HH head - oh, and knocking over someone's expensive cymbals!

Proudest moment!

Any gig that's gone well. And passing my driving test.

What do you most enjoy about the Blues Jam?

Cameraderie, live music. Anything can happen and does. To coin a phrase: "Dull it ain't!"

Who would they cast to play you in the movie of your life?

John Hurt. No: - Keith Waterman!

Marmite: - Yes or No?

Yes - I love savouries.

If you were invited on "Desert Island Discs", which 8 records would you choose?

1. Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
2. Heart Of The Sunrise - Yes
3. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
4. Girls - Moments and Whatnauts
5. "Nimrod" from Elgar's Enigma Variations
6. The Allegretto from Beethoven's 7th Symphony
7. "Tommy" by Focus
8. Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John

...and what would be your luxury item?

Shower Gel.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Never expect or assume.