Pat Sprakes, Steve Buckley

How long have you been playing?
Started playing age 7 when my Dad brought down his 1959 Hofner Club 40 guitar from the attic. Love at first strum.

What was the first concert you ever went to?
I was taken to see Bill Haley in about 1979/80; I was about 8 - he came out played three songs and then went off stage. Turned out that he wasn't getting paid as much as he wanted - all the Teddy boys started rioting, throwing chairs around etc.. I wanted to stay and watch them...

What gear do you use?
Shed full of them - Gibsons; Les Paul Custom, L-5CES, L-4CES, ES345TDCV, 1950 BR9 Lap Steel, 1957 Fender Telecaster, Fender Custom Shop Nocaster & CS '56 Stratocaster, Fender Jazz bass, 1954 Gretsch Duo Jet, Danelectro Baritone, Sho Bud LDG 10 string E9 Pedal Steel, 1954 Fender Champion Lap Steel, 1959 National Lap Steel. National Resophonic Tricone Baritone, National Resophonic Model D squareneck Dobro. Favourite is the 1957 Fender Telecaster.

Who was your biggest musical influence growing up?
Initially, it was all '50's/'60's rock and roll/rockabilly/r'n'b; my Dad's records. Compared to what was in the charts during the '80's, the '50's stuff just had so much guitar on them. Main ones were Cliff Gallup with Gene Vincent & The Bluecaps, Scotty Moore with Elvis, Billy Butler with Bill Doggett, BB King, Lonnie Mack, Charlie Christian; used to just sit learning them note for note. About 16 I heard Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, John McLaughlin, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans and it just made so much sense. And then later other things turn up and push you in another direction - just mix it all up in a big pot is my rule..

Are you in a band? Have you been in bands?
Many bands - all kinds of stuff. Whatever whenever.

If you could jam with anyone, who would it be?
Cannonball Adderley - he had it all; feel, swing, harmony, groove, joy and a deep connection to blues. He was just trying to make great music and succeeded every time.

What's the biggest audience you ever performed to? What's the smallest?
Biggest; I don't know - few thousand? Played at the Albert Hall years ago during a festival season. Smallest was for for someone who had booked a gig at a bizarre venue; a service station in the middle of nowhere. No-one was there and we were paid off to go home.

You're stuck on a desert island and only get to bring one album with you. What do you pick?
Nothing with guitar playing on. It'd probably be Vaughan Williams Tallis Fantasia or one of Debussy's works. Just prefer listening to that kind of thing these days.