12 awkward questions with Kinsey

Q1. You're known for being a good all round musician; you can play guitar, bass, double-bass, piano et al. What made you think you had the balls to front RP McMurphy on vocals?

In all honesty I didn't think I did, it's a different kettle of fish to hiding at the back behind with a double bass. Having done bags of backing vocals over the years was a help - also I'm blessed with natural rhythm and good looks.

Q2. Do you have a favourite vocalist of all time?

That's a tough call between Robert Plant and Eddie Vedder. I think Eddie has to take the prize because I really related to his lyrics when I was a kid which is harder to do with Zeppelin cos it's all about hobbits.

Q3. Are you able to recount any anecdotes involving a fishing trip, a supermarket trolley and a Muslim woman?

Ha ha ha, why do all the best stories involve fishing trips? You're of course referring to the episode in the supermarket last year when I tried to ride a shopping trolley but instead it flipped on its back wheels into my face. I hit the deck and the trolley shot off into the back of a ethnically dressed passing bystander. I don't know who was more shocked, she must have thought someone was attacking her for sure. My mumbled apologies and explanation that 'I just slipped' must have seemed flimsy.

To this day I'm unable to pass over the threshold of Tescos Carmarthen due to the shame.

Q4. You're quite fond of expensive shoes. Is this a recent fetish or a deeper seated perversion?

I've always appreciated a good pair of shoes and live by the maxim that if you spend more money on good quality footwear they'll repay you in the longer term. It's all about economies of scale in the Kinsey household.

Q5. Tommy K or HP on your bacon sarnie?

HP. Get that red muck off my plate thank you.

Q6. Who's cooler, Tim or Neal?

This is one of those impossible questions to answer - cooler in what way? If you mean looks or style then it's Neal. If you mean disposition and attitude then it's Neal. If you mean average temperature then its Neal.

Q7. You’ve been a biker for 20 odd years and following Marty Forrest's Japanese road rash racer for some of that. What are you riding now, and what's your dream bike?

I have a Triumph 1050 for fun and a BMW K75 for the commute. Dream bikes are fickle beasts and they change often. Right now it'd be a dirty brat bike like Norman Reedus' Honda CB750 in Walking Dead.

Reedus on his CB750 chopper

Q8. How did you manage to successfully get through art college hardly producing a jot of work (like even less than Tim)?

Well here's the thing folks, I don't know if I ever did (shock!). I definitely do not remember getting a certificate in the post, put it that way...

Q9. You now work in the corporate world. What gives man? Are you trying to bring down the system from the inside?

It's deep cover for my inner art-school long-haired hippy self. Surely they'll figure out it's all a sham sooner or later?

Bringing down the machine from the inside, one day at a time.

Q10. You are currently rocking a Gretch Silver Jet. Is she behaving or are you keeping an eye out for another mistress?

Guitars are like dream bikes, they're fickle beasts. I do love the Gretsch but am thinking I might get something Gibson related in the future. You'll be the first to know if I do.

Q11. You have two beautiful young sons. Are there any early signs of them following in Dad's footsteps in their leanings towards instruments, motorbikes or shoes?

They're both musical already which makes me really proud. They're both obsessed with motorbikes which makes me really scared. They both wear shoes which makes me happy.

Q12. Finally we asked your so called ‘best man' Marty Forrest if he'd like to chip in a question. Unfortunately this turned out to be ill-conceived on our part as his question(s) were unsuitable for family viewing and could not be included except perhaps his reference to your middle name being embarrassing. Perhaps you could comment on your middle name and it’s curious relationship to the fact that you were actually born in August.

I read Martin's first two questions and they are not fit for publishing however for his benefit the answers are 'I didn't know what I was doing at the time' and 'I thought everyone could do it, why wouldn't you, it's less messy?'

But to answer the remaining question - ahh my middle name, Julius. Bane of the playground, given to me by my mother, named after my great grandfather Julius Soltanus Ritter von Ujhelyi.

He was a concert violinist who toured the world playing music and starting families wherever he went, apparently he started little colonies all over. He managed to escape the Third Reich by skiing over the alps into Italy with his Guarnerius violin on his back before fleeing to Australia. I read somewhere that the Perth air is good for Italian violins. Look him up, it's all true.

Julius von Ujhelyi

Upcoming gigs - 19th October at the Barrells, Nov 23rd at the Rose and Crown, Dec 14th at The Golden Cross