NAME: ROBERT GERRARD
INSTRUMENT: Keyboards
LOCATION: The glorious Isle of Sheppey, amongst the Sheep.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO PINK FLOYD:
Aged 14, I bought the 'Relics' album in the local CO-OP 'cos it was cheap, and found I enjoyed playing the keyboard part to Cirrus Minor more than the Bach Organ Prelude in C. It was my dark secret - playing Pink Floyd on Rochester Cathedral organ on dark winter evenings when I should have been practising.
WHAT MADE YOU JOIN THINK FLOYD:
I volunteered. My first ever sign of bravery. Well, actually I was threatened by a friend that he would do something unspeakable to me if I didn't apply. Well placed ultimatum.
FAVOURITE FLOYD TRACK:
If I didn't love most of them, I wouldn't do this job. Alright; 'Sorrow'. No, scratch that. 'Echoes'. Although that's unfair to 'Have a Cigar'. Or am I not saying 'Shine On' just because it's too obvious? Er... (He goes on like this for another hour or so....)
FAVOURITE FLOYD ALBUM:
Oh, right. How to alienate half the fans in one go. Ok, it's The Division Bell. It isn't the best (that wasn't the question - ha!), but it reminds me of a good time in my life.
BEST GIG and WHY: The first one with Think Floyd (Dartford, 2009) of course. So much work went in to get ready, it was a great, responsive crowd, and despite being the "new boy" under pressure I enjoyed every second.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE:
Korg Triton Extreme, CME UF80 controller, and occasionally Korg Microsynth (for the Vocoder). Also starring are my beloved Moog Prodigy monosynth, Roland D50, and Roland MV30 modular workstation. Next purchase - Clavia Nord EX.
BRIEF CV: First Piano lessons were at school aged 7, where I was taught by a Nun who rapped my knuckles with a ruler if I played a wrong note. I gave up as a result, but started again two years later with a kinder teacher. Later became Organ Scholar at St Stephen's, Chatham, and spent eight years in the excellent choir there. Got into Prog Rock (via 'Relics'), and eventually attended Surrey Uni studying Audio Engineering and Production. My Uni band was 'NightshifT' - Jazzy, Proggy, original, lovable, and popular. I put on a production of 'Godspell' whilst at Surrey that was well received but adversely affected studying! Various bands and production projects followed that all got nowhere. Original writing projects likewise, but in 2002 I started doing Floyd numbers as the second set in live gigs with 'Moving Pictures', and ended up forming a Floyd tribute, playing Gilmour's parts and everyone said "play keys, play keys... you're better at it" so here I am!
NAME OF FIRST BAND: There were school bands and such, but the first paid gig was with a band called Diablo. It was a tribute to Santana, and pretty darned good too.