I’ve been obsessed with music since the age of 14. I started going to gigs at 16. Now I’m 47, and maybe I’m someone who hasn’t grown up because I typically go to between 40 and 50 gigs a year, all over the UK. It usually costs me about £500 a month, including travel.
I’m a big fan of singer-songwriters, and old-school indie bands. My favourite artists are Morrissey, Adam Ant and Robert Forster, former member of the Go-Betweens. I’ve seen Forster 50 times in the last 30 years. He once did three UK gigs on consecutive nights in Glasgow, Manchester and London. I went to all three.
I will also spend up to £20 on merchandise at each gig. But often I’ve already got all the stuff they’re selling – I spend £80 to £100 on CDs, books, DVDs and vinyl each month. It varies, depending on what has been released and whether I can resist the temptation.
I don’t just listen to music – I play it, too. I own 25 guitars but they weren’t very expensive. The most I’ve ever spent on a guitar is £500.
I don’t buy MP3s or subscribe to Spotify and I’ll always pay £1 extra for a ticket to be posted. I like owning a product. I’ve probably got over 1,000 vinyl records and maybe 2,000 CDs. Many are autographed or limited editions. I’ve got singles I paid £1.99 for that are worth £150, but I’d never sell them. They are for my kids.
Songs come to life when you hear them performed live. There are subtle differences, you can hear the artist at work. I also love discovering the support acts. I once saw The Killers supporting British Sea Power at Colchester Arts Centre.
Each music venue affects the character of the gig in different ways and changes how I experience the music. Life is about experiences, after all. You can’t take your money with you. All you have on your deathbed is what you’ve done with your life and the places you’ve been.
I recently bought a folding bike for £100 so I could explore all the music venues in the cities I visit for gigs. I’m curious about venues whose names I know well from tour itineraries, and towns I wouldn’t normally go to. I find I often have great conversations with like-minded people I don’t know in the crowd. I’ve written a book, London Gig Venues, which covers 600 music venues in the city.
Quite often, I’ll work out a route round the UK that enables me to combine our family holidays with a gig I want to go to.
My very understanding wife will stay in, looking after our three children. We used to go together, before babysitters. Her favourite band is the Pet Shop Boys. Once we got tickets to see them, but my wife went into labour late. A day or two after the child was born, I went off with her sister to the gig. It’s unfortunate they were her favourite band but it didn’t make sense to waste the tickets.
My daughter Ciara, who is 11, has been to about 20 gigs with me over the past two years. Often, when the band sees a little girl in the audience, they point her out. So she thinks every gig you go to, the artist makes a reference to it or you get to meet him or her afterwards.
My wife has her own lifestyle PR agency and I work for her. We split the household bills. I pay £200 for council tax, £230 for gas and electricity, and £400 on food each month. My wife pays the mortgage and the broadband and mobile phone bills. She knew I was obsessed with music when we married but I have promised her I’ll cut down on gigs this year.
Sometimes the children roll their eyes and say: “Daddy’s off to a gig again.” But I’m not someone who goes off to the pub or watches football. Music is my passion.
As told to Donna Ferguson
