WATFORD FC - FANFARE - Compiled by Peter Fincham Anyone with even a basic taste in music will have heard something featuring Danny Thompson. A local Watford District resident, Danny is regarded as one of the world’s leading acoustic bass players with album credits unlikely to be equalled. For 50 years, he has collaborated with the likes of Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, T-Rex and on two of the greatest albums ever made (in my opinion): Five Leaves Left (Nick Drake) and Solid Air (John Martyn), He is soon to release another album in under his own name. Peter: So Danny, given your background, how do you come to be a man who watches Watford? Danny: Living in Battersea from six years old meant, as a boy, I fell for Chelsea! I still remember the heartbreak of losing to Arsenal in the semi-final at White Hart Lane when Logie scored directly from a corner. I sobbed my way home and have retained a severe dislike for The Gunners since then. I went to‘The Salesian College”and we had school on Saturday mornings so afterwards I walked over Battersea bridge to the real‘Bridge’where sometimes I was the first in the ground, looking over the fence at the half-way line and eventually becoming a fully paid up‘Shed’member. Left-winger Billy Gray was also my boxing coach and I was a ball-boy, but got told off for always wanting to give the ball to my idol Roy Bentley. I became friendly with Ossie and Hutch later...but when I moved to the Watford it was obvious that I had to support the Golden Boys. I’m not going to try and pretend that I’m the biggest Hornet around as I have many friends that are far more loyal to the club than I with a lifetime dedicated to the club including a friend now in Australia who at one time was Harry the Hornet. But when I say I’m a Watford supporter, it is because I strongly believe that the club is central to the community and, as I live here, I passionately feel the need to support the team and all it stands for. Peter: And when you come to The Vic, who do you come with and where have you traditionally sat? Danny: I usually find myself in the Rookery with the chaps behind the goal where I love to feel the real football atmosphere. As a season ticket holder, I sat in the Lower Rous but I didn’t feel like a true football fan while there. Like many, I would like to have standing areas back and, as my son supports Millwall, I went into the away end earlier this season and it was a great atmosphere there; just impossible to sit down, just like the old days. Peter: Down the years, who have been your favourite players at the club? Danny: My favourite Hornet was Tommy Smith, but I really enjoyed the club loyalty that the likes of Tommy Mooney and Paul Robinson inspired. I am huge fans of them all and miss them a lot. Peter: Are you the sort of football fan who stops to watch any game? Danny: I always stop to watch a game on the common and played regularly at school and even started the team Queensmere Athletic in the 50s. As a conscript in the Army, I was captain of the platoon team playing as centre-half, but my true position is the old-fashioned inside left where my real love was a passing game so others could score. Peter: You must spend a lot of time on the road. How does football influence relationships in the business? Danny: When you travel with many different bands, there’s a constant conversational element about the game and naturally a lot of urgent debate about our battles with each other. I always respect fans’ passion and love of their team, but I also want to stuff them! So Saturday night concerts always start with dressing-room banter of cheer, fury and ridicule; but then it’s forgotten by the first note played on stage. Peter: And have you ever come across Elton? Danny: I was supposed to play with him and Kate Bush on her new album, but ended up doing the song Misty instead. However, I once shared a hotel lift and polite chat with him out in Australia when he was out there for the cricket. Peter: And finally on music, if you were in charge of the PA at kick-off time, what would you play? Danny: Tons of stuff could really work, for example March of the Toreadors (Carmen), Lust for Life (Iggy Pop) or even Shout (Tears for Fears). Peter: If you could change the game in any way, how would you do it? Danny: In cup matches where there are potentially penalties at the end of the game, I would make sure they are done before the start of 90 minutes’ play. Teams would have to fight to the end rather than hanging out for the draw and gambling on pens. Peter: Thanks Danny for both your time here and your enormous contribution to my music collection. I look forward to the new album. P.S. Tommy Smith – Danny’s No. 1 former Hornet Ticket Hotline: 0844 856 1881

MAJOR AIRLINES BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS Help !!!...someone please explain why after flying with my Double-Bass since the Bi-plane , B.O.A.C. AND TWA days that even after restrictions which meant having to forget about travelling with "Victoria"after 45 years I am now told that I can't travel with any of my new basses which have been designed specifically for international travel (I am referring to MAJOR airlines)..weight max 26k...

January 2011 TRANSATLANTIC SESSIONS: Just completed a wonderful 2 weeks work in the Highlands of Perthshire recording the 5th series of "Transatlantic Sessions" - tremendous pleasure to have been invited to work with amazing musicians and fine people. A vast amount of credit must go to Director, Mike Alexander, and the crew of "Pelicula Films" whose dedication to recording music with such fine quality is a huge part of the success of the series. We are able to enjoy playing without any intrusive camera work and the attention to fingers at work is a special treat for any instrumentalist or music lover to enjoy. Also, the outstanding hospitality of all the "Thewes" family there will live on along with the "Series"...Thank you for all the fine food and friendship. Now when I am asked "Have you ever played Bluegrass?" I can say "Only once...with Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush and Bela Fleck!!"...not bad eh? And there is proof !! For anyone interested here is a name check... MUSIC CO-DIRECTORS Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas HOUSE BAND Aly Bain (fiddle), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Mike McGoldrick (pipes and whistles), Donald Shaw (keyboards), Danny Thompson (bass), James MacIntosh (drums). First Week Only John Doyle (guitar), John McCusker (fiddle) Second Week Only Russ Barenberg (guitar), Nollaig Casey (fiddle) AMERICAN SPECIAL GUESTS Alison Krauss, Sarah Jarosz , Bela Fleck, Dirk Powell, Sam Bush, Amos Lee, Eric Bibb IRISH SPECIAL GUESTS Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Sharon Shannon, Jim Murray, Donal Lunny, Declan O’Rourke SCOTTISH SPECIAL GUESTS Eddi Reader, Phil Cunningham, Iain Morrison; Kathleen MacInnes

MAY 2007 Danny why did you find it necessary to put up the 'Official Danny Thompson Website'? After some years of hestitation and dodging the 'net business'.. I have taken the advice of my peers and decided to become involved directly with anyone interested with my music activities past, present and future. I have noticed that there have been sites with my name on which had stuff that I disagreed with. One of them stated that I was the best acoustic bass player the world had ever known, when I phoned to complain I was told "I have written it, I believe it, and I am not removing it". It seemed to me a very dodgy attitude, people out there could actually assume I believed that statement myself, what's even dodgier is they could write I was a wife-beater or just about anything good or bad. Well I am not the greatest bass player the world has ever known, but I have been involved in music making with some wonderful people, I know I can play otherwise I would have become a pro boxer! Danny where can people contact you for any questions? I have a 'Contact Danny' tab on this website where you will see I have a Myspace site, Danny's My Space mainly to have a place where artists/bands can be heard and possibly get a gig or even a deal.. I do think it's a good idea. There is also a P.O. Box number and of course my 'damager', Paul Crockford, Dannys Management I am new to this but promise I won't use the C.U.2 morrow language...Whoppers for now....

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