Booker T Jones
What's on your rider?Distilled water, cranberry juice, food plates, red wine, Hammond B3 Organ, the usual backline, amps.
What would be on your fantasy rider?A Steinway grand piano, center stage.
What's the worst gig you've ever played?Memphis in May a few years ago. The Hammond B3 was actually missing two adjacent keys on the upper manual, a "g" and an "a". Just empty spaces. No one had even attempted to glue replacement keys in, so it was impossible to play the melody to the majority of my songs without leaving out key notes. A nightmare. I fantasised having the courage to actually push the big wooden box over the edge of the stage to spare future Hammond players the same fate. The promoter knew better.
Who is the most famous person to have shown up at one of your gigs?Jimi Hendrix, at a show in New York city. People just stood back and looked at him in the audience.
Most embarrassing on-stage moment?Once, when I first started working with Darian Gray (my drummer), I forgot his name when I was introducing the band to the audience. I remembered, but only after an embarrassing beat or two had passed.
What's your crowd-pleasing number? Born Under a Bad Sign.
Chatting between songs – good or bad?Good, if not too much is said, and the music remains the focus.
Groupies. Would you?Of course, if she's my wife.
How many roadies does it take to change your lightbulbs (ie, how big is your entourage)?Very small. Most times I climb up on a chair and change the bulb myself!
Have you a special stage wardrobe?Yes, I have hats, shirts, ties and jackets for the stage. And a kneepad so my knee doesn't rub against the wooden bar under the organ.
Any useful stage tips?
Make every effort to give each audience a unique performance.
What's the worst thing ever thrown at you?A pair of panties one night at the House of Blues, New Orleans. She looked great, but the panties had been worn too many times!
- In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea. Booker T plays the Cork Opera House on Monday and The Village in Dublin on Tuesday
