A question of taste - Carl Plover

Cork-based performer Wasps vs Humans (aka Carl Antony Plover) is starring in The Nearly Men which comes to Cork Arts Theatre on the evening of Thursday, June 1. 

The Nearly Men is a semi-autobiographical two-man production, drawn from their own experience in the music industry, as well as writing a comedy series together, which nearly made the big time.

Best recent book you’ve read:

The Watchman, a picture novel.

Best recent film:

Seeing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 with my son, Thomas. Complete nonsense of course; a talking racoon in outer space and David Hasselhoff!! Great fun though.

Best recent show/gig you’ve seen:

Jack O Rourke in The Opera House with full orchestra. What a thrilling, exhilarating experience. The guy has got songs that will outlive all of us.

Best piece of music you’ve been listening to lately (new or old):

I have the new Gorillaz album which is a fine mix of electro hip hop (though too many guest vocalists for me). I also picked up an old copy of The Faces’ Best Of — what a band before Rod went all mainstream on us, which also features a very young Ron Wood (still looking old though).

First ever piece of music or art that really moved you:

Under Milk Wood has been a strong influence for me. Dylan Thomas’ work still moves me. The original BBC broadcast with Richard Burton takes some beating. There are plenty of records over the years that still mean a lot to me — The first Sex Pistols’ album, Ok Computer by Radiohead, Sign o’ the Times by Prince, I could go on...

The best gig or show you’ve ever seen:

I can say without having to think about it, The Damned at Sheffield Lyceum in 1982. A defining moment for me when I realised right there, staring up at the band, that this is something I wanted to do. Pure energy, a great band, underrated and slightly left behind in musical history.

Tell us about your TV viewing:

We are watching Breaking Bad at the moment — we must be the only two people left in Ireland that hasn’t seen it. Also Peter Kay’s Car Share.

Radio listening and/or podcasts:

Back in the day, it would have been John Peel, listening under my duvet when I was a kid. These days if I tune in, I would tend to listen to shows that promote new Irish music such as Paul McLoone on Today FM, Dan Hegarty on RTE 2FM, and of course Michael Carr on the Green Room with Cork’s 96FM.

You’re curating your dream festival — what three artists are on the bill, living or dead?

Sex Pistols, The Ramones, and Elvis Presley opening with his 1956 set featuring DJ Fontana and Bill Black.

Your best famous celebrity encounter:

John Cooper Clarke; he was the business for me growing up, a big influence on my work. It was great to meet him, just me and him, hanging out back stage. Funnier encounters would include Linda Lusardi, who starred in a short film I wrote called Oh Minnie, which involved her dressing up as Minnie Mouse and putting a mouse down her top.

You can portal back to any period of human cultural history or music event — where, when, and why?

The Romans really knew how to declare war on people. They also had great underfloor central heating and gladiators.

Do you have any interesting family?

My uncle was in a 60s band called the Ivy League, who had a couple of hits. My granddad was a Welsh miner; down the pit when he was 13 years old, he also went to Dunkirk, a tough old life. My grandma was a magician’s assistant, back in the 1940s. Her job was to sit in the audience and when the magician asked for a volunteer she would get up.

Unsung hero — individual or group you think don’t get the profile/praise they deserve:

My wife, who is always there for me, encouraging me, believing in me and making me laugh.