The Waterboys – Mike Scott

The upcoming tour is your first to Australia, why did it take you so long to plan a visit our here and what feels so right about it taking place in 2013?

I always wanted to visit, but it never happened for one reason or another. Finally the stars were right and my agent told me we’re coming.

What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?

I fell in love with music and songs when I was very young, hearing The Beatles and Bob Dylan’s “Blowing In The Wind”.  From the age of 9 all I wanted was to do was be a musician and singer.

What records have you borrowed from your parent’s record collection that have been a massive influence in the music you have written over the past 30 years?

Sgt Pepper and Revolver.  I still have their vinyl copy of Sgt Pepper with a slightly torn cover.

The music industry has changed rapidly over the last 10 years and especially since the 80’s, to you view the whole digital world as positive or negative for the musicians? Explain why.

I have no strong views on this subject.  I just accept it as what is.

Your latest album ‘An Appointment With Mr Yeats’ contains 14 new songs created from the lyrics of Ireland’s greatest poet, WB Yeats, Tell us how the idea for this came about.

I set a Yeats poem to music in 1988. That was “The Stolen Child” on the Waterboys’ album Fisherman’s Blues.  I’d already noticed that many of Yeats’ poems rhymed and scanned sweetly and looked, on the page, as if they were song lyrics.  So over the years I continued to work with them, setting another to music every now and then.  And they really worked well.  His lyrics are beautiful to sing and to work with.  Finally, by about 2006, I had around twenty of his poems fastened to music, enough for a show.  I kept going though until I had what I thought was a really top class selection, and created a full stage show from them, then the album.

Of all the albums you’ve been involved with making, which is your favourite and why? Tell us a story around why it’s so special to you?

Fisherman’s Blues represents a very special time of freedom and magic, and the first flourishing of my musical partnership with Steve Wickham.  It’s gotta be the greatest fiddler’s album ever – he plays so many styles, including so much original work that only he could do.  This Is The Sea was the product of all my teenage influences as well as a strong period of songwriting and recording discipline.  Mr Yeats represents a dream long held and finally realised.  Those three are my favourites.

Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage?

I “tune in”, make sure I feel centred, and call in the spirit of The Waterboys.

If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have?

It would be in Venice, in May, and would star Steve Reich (open air show on St Mark’s Sq), David Bowie (singing the songs of Brel with his 120-string guitar and an orchestra at La Fenice opera house), Richard Hell and The Voidoids busking, British Sea Power playing on a boat in the lagoon, of course, Camille O’Sullivan with a pocket orchestra, Charlie Watts playing jazz on the back of a truck, new Irish band The Gloaming playing at dusk, Pussy Riot in the Basilica, and Prince playing guitar with his power trio.

Because everybody loves a good collaboration, and you’re about to visit Australia which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with? 

I’d like to hear Warren Ellis facing off with Steve Wickham, while I play rhythm guitar.  Why?  Because I’d wanna hear what happened.

What is The Waterboys music the best soundtrack for?

Depends which songs.  Some of them like The Pan Within should be good for sex, though I havem’t tried.

With your first time performing live in Australian tour just around the corner, what can your Aussie fans expect from your live shows?

The unexpected. It’s better that way.

Catch The Waterboys on their first Australian Tour in 2013 on at the following venues:

Brisbane, The Tivoli – Saturday Jan 19

Sydney, Opera House (As part of Sydney Festival) – Saturday Jan 26 – www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Melbourne, Hamer Hall – Wednesday Jan 30

Adelaide, Thebarton Theatre – Thursday Jan 31

Perth, Concert Hall – Saturday Feb 2

Tickets available via  www.mikescottwaterboys.com or www.livenation.com.au

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