LIFESTYLE
Making waves -
Alistair Griffin on
Saltburn Pier with
Huntcliffe in the
background.
Delivery - Alistair
could have been a
milkman.
WORKING LIFE
My greatest achievement was…coming back when I’d spent ten years clawing my
way back after being written off - and charting a song in the Top 40 despite having
no record label.
My biggest disappointment was…after I was on Fame Academy there was a lot
of talk about me having a TV music show. It fizzled out and I ended up having a
normal music career but I sometimes wonder what might have been.
My greatest regret was…I got involved in writing with Robin Gibb through Fame
Academy but we only completed one song together and he very sadly passed away,
so we didn’t get to write any more. But it was pretty special to get to write with a
Bee Gee.
My business mantra is…from the bottom to the top, respect everyone.
The alternative career I might have had was…a milkman. I was a milkman
in Staithes for about two years after our friend, who was the regular milkman,
became seriously ill. I thought I was doing it for a week but 18 months later I was
still doing it, moonlighting with my university studies. It was a great job. I actually
enjoyed getting up early – you see things you don’t see otherwise. I learned that
the milkman is a lifeline for so many people, particularly in a place like Staithes.
I used to put the milk in the fridge, not the doorstep, and bring in the papers. I
always think there’s a Hollywood film somewhere in that!
LIFE’S LOVES
A book I love is…The Far Corner by Harry Pearson – I love that
book and it was quite influential on me. I also like Adrian Mole, the
Cappuccino Years or anything else by Sue Townsend.
A film I love is…24-Hour Party People.
A TV programme I love is…Line of Duty.
A song I love is…The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel.
PEOPLE
IN LIFE
I most I like to spend time with…my son, Tom.
The biggest influence on my career was…my parents,
who initially thought I was mad to have a career in
music but have supported me ever since. They taught
me to constantly think out of the box and that anything’s
possible.
The person no longer with us who’d I’d most like to
spend another hour with is…Brian Clough. I spent
an hour with him once when we were both turning on
Middlesbrough’s Christmas lights. I’d admired him as a
football manager and character, and the hour I had with
him lived up to everything I’d thought of him. He also gave
me a great Brian Clough story. I sang for the turning on of
the lights and afterwards he said, “Well done – I thought
you’d be crap!”
The people who make me laugh…are my mate Dave
Underwood, plus comedians Tony Hancock, Leonard
Rossiter and Steve Coogan. I used to play cricket with
Dave for Westerdale, near Castleton, and he always has me
in stitches.
A personality I love is…Alan Partridge. The people who inspire me…those who never give up on
their dreams.
A holiday destination I love is…Kefalonia – I don’t go on holiday
very much but I like the idea of being on a boat off a Greek island. The people who make me angry are…those who tell you
what you can’t do.
Alistair plans to record a new album later this year and will be returning to the area to play at Hit the Bar on Bridge Street West
in Middlesbrough on Friday October 25 (Doors 7.30pm). Tickets are available from alistairgriffin.eventbrite.co.uk.
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