Music

What's on your rider? Aidine O'Reilly of The Would-Be's

What’s on your rider? Berries N’ Beer, Hobnobs and a lifesize shrine to Willy Wonka.

Fri Jun 8 2012 - 01:00

What's on your rider?Berries N' Beer, Hobnobs and a lifesize shrine to Willy Wonka.

What would be on your fantasy rider?Lickable wallpaper, Snozberries and everlasting beer.

What's your pre-gig ritual/ routine?A tantric rehearsal.

What are your favourite and least favourite venues?The best would be the Workman's Club, a real old-school, great venue; the worst is any venue where the audience asks for requests, especially Sweet Home Alabama.

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Who is the most famous person to have shown up at one of your gigs?Carol Vorderman and Harold from Neighbours. (Rumour was they were seeing each other at the time.)

Most embarrassing on-stage moment?Some over-zealous fan grabbed the end of my trombone to try and drink the spittle (classy guy). Long story, but a tussle broke out and the bloke left with a trombone scarf.

Groupies. Would you?WOULD THEY???!!!!

Have you a special stage wardrobe?Only clothes we'd never wear to a wedding, funeral or job interview. Nah, I'd say our look is rockabilly/ Mad Men.

Do you like to meet and greet fans after the gig?Only the ones who are smiling as they walk towards us – and not too manically!

What's the worst thing ever thrown at you?Unfortunately more dirty looks than knickers.

If you could be in any other band, which one?Probably such Cavan legends as The Kingscourt Brass and Reed Band or The Nobber Noiseniks. Failing that, Radiohead, if they'd cheer up a bit.

Who's invited to your aftershow party?Everyone who buys our new single, Ivy Avenue (shameless plug).

What's your best tour story?In 1990, as a group of innocents averaging 17 years and freshly plucked from the sticks, we were brought over to London by one of the majors for a major wooing. They put us up in a Rock'n'Roll hotel on Hyde Park where The Stranglers, The Grateful Dead, The Inspiral Carpets and, ahem, New Kids on the Block were staying (a good night guaranteed, so).

The next morning, as a car waited to take us to a showcase, we realised that our 14-year-old rhythm guitarist Paul was missing. A big search of the hotel ensued and we found him sprawled amid groupies in the Grateful Dead’s suite, still high on Calpol.

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea. The Would Be’s play Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin tonight