What's on your rider?

TONY CLAYTON-LEAtalks to  Pierce Turner.

What's on your rider?A brand new motor car – fully insured.

What would be on your fantasy rider?Someone to give me a massage. A big, soft, sea-blue carpet to do Yoga on . . . and a hundred grand.

What's your pre-gig routine?Eat a banana. Make my self laugh with funny faces. Vocalise and envision a bright light coming from the audience.

How do you get to the gig?In New York- by taxi. In Ireland, Clare, my wife, drives me.

What's the best gig you've been to?Bruce Springsteen at the Bottom Line, a 400-capacity club in New York. I went there not knowing who he was. I sat in the front next to two New Jersey fans of his. He was everything – Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Otis Redding and Rory Gallagher. Oh, and Van Morrison.

And the worst?Van Halen opening for Thin Lizzy, also in New York. Lizzy had just had a hit single, and they were conned into having Van Halen as their opening act (to make VH look good). It was their audience, and poor Phil Lynott was struggling as the Van Halen audience walked out. Lizzy sounded great, though; VH were just rubbish – they were really sloppy musically with flashes of cliché brilliance from Eddy. When a musical form requires no originality at all, it befuddles me.

Ecologically speaking, are you closer to Radiohead or Motörhead? The head part of both of them – but I'm more into Radio than Motör.

Who is the most famous person to have shown up at one of your gigs?Brad Pitt, I suppose. But I was more chuffed to see Christy Moore.

What's your crowd-pleasing number? Wicklow Hills / All Messed Up / Manana in Manhattan/ Thunderstorm. . . Sorry, it's hard to pick one.

Have you a special stage wardrobe?No. I sometimes require slip- on shoes for a song ( Three Minute World) where I kick the shoe into the air and catch it.

Any useful stage tips?Remember people do not come to your show to wish you to fail – that is every bit as painful for them as it is for you. They want you to be good, they are on your side, and you are not alone. And do not lose your focus, even if it seems you are dying.

Pierce Turner plays in Wexford, on Saturday