Geraint Anderson is the author of ‘Cityboy: Beer and Loathing in the Square Mile’. Since 2006, he has written the ‘Cityboy’ column in thelondonpaper, until recently concealing his identity. The column blew the lid off the sordid inner workings of the City of London. He tells us how he took the house at a Lake Tahoe casino after watching the Specials and mistaking Noel Gallagher for Father Christmas.
by Tourdates Staff Writer, first published in LondonTourdates #048 ,5th June 2009
Favourite album ever and why?
‘Dark Side of the Moon’ by Pink Floyd. I literally listened to it about four times in a row on the balcony of my beach hut in Goa a few months ago - though I was admittedly in a heightened state of awareness! Really pissed off the neighbours.
What song would be played at your funeral?
‘Crazy’ by Gnarles Barkley (pictured). I played this song to myself about ten times a day when I split up with a girl around the time it came out. I completely lost it and I found solace in its message that being nuts ain’t such a bad thing!
What’s your earliest music memory?
It’s dancing around my parents’ stereo with my middle brother to Muddy Waters when I was about five. We used to do it so much that our eldest brother broke the record on his knee.
Is there any particular song you never want to hear again in your life?
Anything by Gary Glitter!
Who’s in your fantasy group?
Jimi Hendrix, Richie Blackmore, Robert Plant, Bob Marley and Janis Joplin [Hmm. Bit thin on bass and drums there, Geraint - Ed].
Best gig you’ve ever seen?
The Specials at a casino’s club in Lake Tahoe in 1998, mainly because it was a small, sweaty, intimate place and I was off my nuts. Also because as soon as it ended I ran into the casino and put $100 chip on my age at the time (26) and won myself $3600. I became extremely popular with everyone else around the table because they’d all followed my lead and made loads of cash too.
Most high profile musician you’ve ever met?
Noel Gallagher at some party around Christmas time a few years back. He was being very generous with a bag of goodies that he was handing out willy-nilly. Father Christmas, eat your heart out!
What’s the thing you like most about music in 2009?
There is some genuine passion and non-manufactured rock 'n' roll spirit out there.
What’s the thing you like least about music in 2009?
The X-Factor / boy band crap that is aimed at conning small girls out of their pocket money!
Biggie or 2Pac?
2Pac all the way. Thandie Newton, who I knew at university, was in a film with him called ‘Gridlock’d’ and she said he was a total and utter dude.
