What did you want to be growing up?
I wanted to do anything at all I could do with music. I come from a family of six and I’m the youngest, so I was steeped in music from the age of four. We had loads of music in the house. I knew Cliff Richard and Elvis Presley, and then The Beatles came along when I was about seven and everything changed for me. I was in their fan club from beginning to end. The Beatles opened every door for me.
What has been your greatest achievement in life?
Luck. I was lucky, that’s my greatest achievement. That implies that I made my own luck and I didn’t. I got lucky and I grabbed it with both hands.
Have you any regrets?
None whatsoever. Nothing keeps me awake at night. Maybe I should have been paid more. I should have asked for more money for gigs.
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
I’m allowed to say anything other than my wife Ursula, am I? [Jokes] I wouldn’t get away with it. My wife, my kids and The Beatles.
When are you happiest?
Being with my family, I know that sounds so corny, but it’s true. And working.
Has any song or movie changed your life?
I remember going to a movie called Nashville when I was about 20 years old and that had a huge effect on me. It was amazing. There is no lead character, there are 24 characters of equal importance and it’s based on the country music scene in Nashville. I went out and bought the album afterwards and most of the actors wrote their own songs. One year, I got Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles as a present for my birthday. Penny Lane was on the A-side of the single, but when I heard the B-side I couldn’t believe how good Strawberry Fields Forever was.
What are you most looking forward to as you get older?
More work!
How do you want to be remembered?
I don’t. I am who I am and I think I’m fine. Do I want to be remembered? No, not really.
Do you like your personality?
That’s very hard to say. I think I do. But there are certain aspects… I’m very lazy, or I’m very un-together. That’s a better way of putting it. Other than that, yeah, I do like my personality.
Are you religious?
No.
Is there any talent you wish you had?
I’d like to have played the piano. I never got around to playing it.
What living person do you admire the most?
I admire the way Ricky Gervais cuts through and he’s very funny.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?
I was working in a field in Ireland. My job was to pick up big rocks and throw them out of the way before the combine harvester came along. I did it for about 10 days with another guy. It was awful. I hated it.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Sometimes by My Bloody Valentine or Tin Soldier by Small Faces. It wouldn’t be enough to play Tin Solider though, you would have to show the video too.
What drives you on?
I love the work that I do. I love when it’s finished and I’m usually pretty happy with it. It’s a great feeling. I did 420 episodes of The Movie Show on TV and every week I’d wonder how I’d do another one while doing interviews, going to watch the movies, writing scripts and filming. I’d watch it back then and think, “That was very good.”
Dave is back with Fanning At Whelan’s on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Play
Read the full interview in the January issue of RSVP Magazine - on shelves now
English (US) ·