Q & A with Billy Rankin
Q) Best festival?
A) Reading 1988, Meat Loaf took a 2 litre bottle of cider right in the face.
Q) What is your pet hate?
A) Parking in disabled spaces. Last week I watched a young lady do just that and then she jogged into the supermarket. I asked, “Where's your wheelchair?” (She told me to f*ck off!). Oh, that's another pet hate.
Q) Do you have any unusual qualifications, talents or skills?
A) I can look at Wild Willie and still eat dinner.
Q) What is the most rock ‘n’ roll way to travel?
A) In a glass coffin.
Q) Have you ever been attacked by an animal?
A) Indeed. Wild Willie once tried to snog me.
Q) In your opinion, who is the most infamous rock manager?
A) Don Arden once dangled Andy Fairweather Low from a 5th floor balcony until he agreed to sign a contract. That's 'infamous' enough for me.
Q) What do you wish you’d never said?
A) "Genesis were better when Peter Gabriel sang with them." (To Phil Collins in a Chicago bar just before he smacked me in the mouth.) Yep. Phil was Peter's replacement.
Q) Who’s the hottest rock chick?
A) Lita Ford, no doubts. Knew her, that's all. No really! Married Man, me.
Q) What were you doing at 3am this morning?
A) Thinking - "Maybe you don't wanna drink that. You're on in 3 hours!" - Damn you, Work-Shy Willie!
Q) What is your favourite song?
A) 'Maid in Heaven' by Be-Bop Deluxe
Q) What’s your favourite gig venue and why?
A) Glasgow Apollo, I got to play it in '82 before they pulled it down. There will never be another gig like it, anywhere.
Q) What was the last text you sent?
"Hey Tom, stop hiding in the toilet. It's ur round, as well u know."
Q) What is the most embarrassing CD you have in your collection?
A) 'SONGS FOR SWINGING LOVERS' by Willie Docherty. He autographed it for me, bless.
Q) What did the last text you receive say?
A) "Whoever you are, you've stolen my mobile. Give it back, now! Tom Russell."
Q) Have you ever been arrested or have you ever been close to being arrested? If so, what was it for?
A) Urinating in a hotel elevator, except, it wasn't me!
It was actually the singer of a well-known Canadian rock band who got out on the floor before me.
The police eventually accepted my innocence though I never spilled the beans.
Q) Best piece of advice?
A) Alway's drink upstream from the herd.
Q) Worst nightmare?
A) Wild Willie Docherty. Have you seen him? Sheesh!
Q) Who do you respect at Rock Radio and why?
A) That Tattie-Muncher Ciaran O'Toole. He drinks for Ireland, North & South!
Q) Any unfulfilled ambitions?
A) Getting Uncle Tom Russell to buy me a drink."
Q) Got a nickname?
A) Guitarist? Singer? Rock Jock? Naw, listen. It was only one sheep! Right?"
Q) Comfy?
A) Kirkintilloch.
Q) Favourite Drummer's joke?
A) A wee boy say's to his dad, "I wanna play drums when I grow up."
Q) Dad say's, "Well, you can't do both."
A) Any Bass Player's jokes?
Q) How can you tell when there's a bass player at your door?
A) Either he can't find the key, or he doesn't know when to come in.
Q) What's your idea of a good night out?
A) Me & O'Toole in a bar watching Wild Willie snogging Uncle Tom to get at his wallet.
A) In come's the Captain and a "bitch fight" ensue's. The fight break's up when Kieron Elliott smashes through the pub roof yelling, "Which wan o' yooz put an anvil in ma parachute bag?"
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