1. When did you think about a career in music/writing and what were your first steps into it?
Music? Hearing The Beatles sing Love Me Do on a borrowed transistor radio in the infirmary in St Patrick’s College, Armagh, in October 1962 was a real road-to-Damascus moment for me. Writing? I did a degree in English at college and worked as a copywriter before I started Horslips. But it was directing pop videos and documentaries for U2 that got me writing screenplays. Thanks guys.
2. Best gigs you've been to?
Alex Chilton (Big Star) in Memphis, 1978. Brilliant and wildly eccentric performance from one of my favourite performers and band. U2 Joshua Tree in Tempe Arizona, 1987. Great opening show of the tour that saw them become officially the biggest band in the world. And right after, I got to film I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For on the streets of Las Vegas.
3. Fantasy wedding/birthday party band?
The Travelling Wilburys.
4. The record you'd take to a desert island?
JS Bach. Collected Works. This would be a very, very big record indeed – but heck, we can wish.
5. And the book you’d take to a desert island?
James Joyce's Ulysses, or Dickens's The Pickwick Papers. You can dip into both.
6. Top three films?
Men In Black, Amarcord and Fargo.
7. Worst film you’ve seen and why?
There are so many. I'd put Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon up there for over-hyped, pretentious, twaddle. And pretty much anything by Jim Jarmusch,
8. Favourite authors?
Herodotus (trans: Aubrey De Selincourt) – I like a bit of history; Charles Dickens – he goes on a bit, but you have to like him – and James Gleick.
9. Sport you most enjoy and top team?
Gaelic football. Well it’d have to be Tyrone, wouldn’t it? In terms of soccer, I'm a Liverpool fan, for my sins. And I pay daily.
10. Ideal holiday destination?
Lautrec, Midi Pyrenees. Glorious hilltop village in an area of magical beauty and cruel and unusual history: just ask the Albigensians.
11. Pet hate?
Pet hate questions.
12. What’s your favourite:
Dinner? Couple of Kippers.
Dessert? Angel Delight.
Drink? Glass of Cider.
13. Who is your best friend and how do you know each other?
Jim Lockhart, fellow Horslip. Met him in UCD in 1968, been knocking about and having a laugh ever since.
14. Is there a God?
You talkin’ to me?
:: Barry Devlin will be hosting an industry talk on screenwriting, as well as taking part in the panel discussion Lights, Camera, Action as part of The John O’Connor Writing School and Literary Arts Festival in Armagh, November 3-5. To view the festival programme visit Thejohnoconnorwritingschool.com. You can book tickets at Visitarmagh.com/john-o-connor-writing-school-3-5-nov.
