Page 17 - BiTS_06_JUNE_2021

GW: In Cheltenham, Gloucester.

BiTS: That’s been your home for some time. What made you move there?

GW: Well, it was a combination of things, really. Me and my partner, Angie, were looking to move
house once my parents passed away and we visited people—we knew people in the area, and also, I
thought as well as being a nice part of the world, it was a convenient part because we’ve family
spread both north and south, so we thought it was a good stopping off point. I’ve been looking to

play more gigs in the south as well, so it makes it easy. We’ve got family down in the New Forest,
Lyndhurst and also down in Surrey. I thought we would also explore some new areas and hopefully
some new gig venues in the south of England.

BiTS: Tell me something about playing the guitar right-handed when you’re left-handed and a
harp, I believe as well. How did that happen?

GW: Yeah. Well, obviously, when I started, I didn’t realise [chuckling]. I think because the guitar I
picked up was a right-handed guitar, me being left-handed didn’t realise that and just picked it up
and just looked to play it how other people played it. I believe Noel Gallagher is exactly the same.
He’s left-handed, but he plays right-handed for the same reason as me.

BiTS: I know one or two people personally that do that. You never thought of putting the

strings in upside down like Albert King?

GW: Well, yeah, I have tried actually, but I’ve gone too far, so I’ve got to stick with what I’ve got
unfortunately and with the harmonica, yeah, I started learning to play and then I thought I’ll buy
myself a tutor book and see if I can learn properly. Then I thought I’ve got it upside down. The
numbers on the harmonica don’t correspond, and obviously, I realised then I was playing the
harmonica upside down. I tried playing back the other way and same as the guitar, I found it

difficult, so I had to stick with what I’d started with. Having spoken to other people about playing
the harmonica, they said yeah, it’s probably a left-handed thing that’s sort of naturally put the base
notes to the right side of my mouth, which feels more comfortable, so yeah. Little oddments but in
the scheme of things, I don’t think it would make much difference really which way round I was.
Sometimes I think well maybe if I’d have played left-handed, I might have been the next Hendrix,

but maybe not [chuckles].