Under the Spotlight - Dave Allison
Based in Portsmouth Virginia USA Dave Allison has been a part of the DIY music scene since the early 90’s. He started the band Last Remaining Pinnacle nearly 20 years ago and in 2007 he launched the record label Custom Made Music which has since put out over 100 releases including recent offerings from the likes of Elora, Mayflower Madame, Absent Sound, The Musket Vine and more.
Read on to find some interesting answers to Dave’s Under the Spotlight.
Music
What are your top 5 favourite songs? Brian Eno “Deep Blue Day”, Turkish Delight “Spinster”, “Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan, “Shock Me” by Kiss, “Rumble” by Link Wray.
Who are your top 5 favourite bands/artists? Turkish Delight (90’s Boston band), Eno, New York Dolls, Kiss, T Rex
Who is the greatest rock star of all time? David Bowie (He does it so well)
What song best describes you? “I’m Your Man” Leonard Cohen
What is your favourite song lyric? “Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man came singing songs of love.”
What is your favourite thing about being in the music industry? Getting to create things everyday.
What’s been your most rock n roll moment to date? Performing Live On Ring Of Honor Television August 2013
Name one underground/unsigned band that deserves to make it? Clustersun from Italy
What has been the best gig you’ve attended? Prince - Norfolk, Virginia, April 17th 2001
If you’re a musician what is the best gig you’ve ever played? Grand Rapids ,Michigan at Mulligans Fall 2012
If you could perform at any venue in the world where would it be? Madison Square Garden
What is your karaoke song? The Doors “Riders On The Storm”
TV / Film / Literature
What are your top 5 favourite films? Hold Me While I’m Naked, Easy Rider, Blue Velvet, The Shining & Apocalypse Now
What are your top 5 favourite television shows of all time? Dream On, Different Strokes, Maude, Square Pegs, Sopranos
Which ‘Binge TV Box Set’ are you watching at the moment? Ken Burns “Baseball”
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? A young Robert Redford
What is your favourite music related film? Velvet Goldmine
What is your favourite line/speech in a film/TV Show? Eddie Murphy’s jail scene from Trading Places.
Which fictional character would you most like to date? Ophelia from Trading Places
What is your favourite book? The Odyssey
What are you reading at the moment/last book you read? Dayton Moore “More Than A Season: Building A Championship Culture”
What would you name the autobiography of your life? “Constantly Creating”
Personality
What is your biggest fear? Going deaf or blind.
What is your proudest accomplishment? Being able to make working in music a career.
What makes you laugh the most? Anytime I have a conversation with my guitarist Dave Dembitsky when ‘Last Remaining Pinnacle’ are travelling on tour.
Describe yourself in 1-5 words? Creative, Heartfelt, Passionate, Determined and Resourceful
What is your life mantra/ultimate goal? To continue to make and promote music as long as I live.
Who is your hero/idol? My nephew Gibson
You can choose your last meal. What will the menu consist of? New York Style Pizza, Tofu, Steamed Vegetables and Rice
Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? Portsmouth
What place would you like to visit that you haven’t already? Norway
What’s been your favourite holiday? Celebrating family at Christmas time
Hypothetical
What superpower would you have for one day? Ability to fly
What’s the first thing you would do if you won the lottery? Get every piece of musical gear I’ve ever wanted and support several charities.
If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? Everyone has to be kind and respectful to each other no matter what.
What one item would you take with you on a desert island? My favourite guitar
If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for? It would be a celebration of all people and all kinds of incredible music would be playing throughout the day and night.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Hit a baseball 500 feet
If you could know the answer to any question, besides “What is the meaning of life?” what would it be? Is there life on other planets?
If you could go back in time, what is one piece of advice you would give your younger self? One day you’ll look back and laugh.
If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? Martin Luther King, Gorgeous George (pro wrestler), Liberace and Andy Kaufman.
Inside the ‘Pure Studio’
What is your favourite word? Noise
What is your least favourite word? There are many
What switches you on? Music
What switches you off? Negativity
What sound or noise do you love? A fuzz drenched power chord from a guitar and amp
What sound or noise do you hate? The sounds of negativity
What is your favourite curse word? Shit
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Professional Wrestling Manager
What profession would you not like to do? Construction
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “I’ve Been Waiting On This One”
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