THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Reverend Peyton

You gotta love the name: The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band. Love it because the Reverend isn't actually one and the “big damn band” is just a three-piece of guitar, homemade drum kit (with a plastic bucket) and washboard.

Out of the delightfully named Beanblossom in Indiana, the RPBDBand are schooled in old country blues (Mississippi John Hurt, Charley Patton etc), the sound of early rock'n'roll and slide guitar.

The Reverend, as he tells us below, has a collection of cigar-box guitars but also plays a modified shotgun when the mood takes him (more than six million views on You Tube here).

Loud, rambunctious, enjoyable and critically acclaimed, the RPBDBand return to New Zealand in February for a show at the Tuning Fork and an appearance at Splore (see dates below).

As Living Blues magazine said, “The tent revival, almost punk energy of the Big Damn Band is a refreshing splash of cold water to the face.”

Time then for the good Reverend to answer a Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire . . .

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . . 

That's tough, but one that was massive for me was a blues compilation release called Bottles, Knives, and Steel. It was all about blues slide Guitar, and man did that open my eyes. 

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

Not embarrassing they are still influencing me. When I was little I was huge into AC/DC. Even though I was born in the 80's, 80's music and 90's grunge never really appealed to me. After I started playing guitar it was probably Chuck Berry first. Then back and back and back in Blues. 

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

Jagger, Ramones, Gaga, The King of Pop

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

Professional Fishing Guide

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . . 

Let's do the narcissist list and make them mine, We Deserve a Happy Ending, Clap Your Hands, and one of my new ones that hasn't been released! 

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home... 

I have one of the largest collections of cigar box guitars and American Folk instruments in the world. I have them made out of guns, axes, biscuit boxes, bed pans, wine boxes, hubcaps, the list goes on and on. All of them have been given to me by builders of all kinds all over the USA (and a couple from around the world). 

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . . 

Tour Smart and Break the Band by Martin Atkins. It tells you how to really tour. 

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be? 

Taj Mahal

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . . 

Joe Vs. The Volcano, The Shawshank Redemption, a River Runs Through It

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include...) 

Last Vinyl was the best of Howlin' Wolf, and recent downloads are Samantha Fish, Langhorne Slim, JD Wilkes, Jimbo Mathus

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .  

Right now it's We Deserve a Happy Ending.  It will be different next week probably.  

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

Just about anything by John Langford

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

The next tattoo I am getting is of a blind bear. 

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where and doing what? 

Just five years... I'd have to spend some of them on the road, and then maybe finish it out in Key West. I couldn't stop though I have too much work to be done. Too much music to make. 

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

I don't know if it's the best, but it is the most beautiful. That's worth something! 

REVEREND PEYTON BIG DAMN BAND DATES

Tuning Fork, Auckland Friday Feb 23, 2018 

Splore Festival, Tapapakanga Park - Feb 24, 25, 2018