PLACE OF BIRTH:

DOMINIC PHILIPS Ireland.

DAVE GERAGHTY Out in the Wild West. I rode into town on a horse with no name and stayed ever since.

DATE OF BIRTH: DP 12/12/73

DG Mind yer own bleedin’ business. It seems wrong to be promoting the truth.

PERSONAL MOTTO: DP No regrets.

DG Never reveal your age’s true identity.

STYLE OF MUSIC: DP Camp-fire disco.

DG In the winter, some corduroy slacks with perhaps a matching cravat. If it doesn’t hinder movement too much while performing, an evening jacket from a different but suitable ensemble. And in the summer time – what with the heat and all, jeans and a t-shirt.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF: DP Quiet, easygoing, happy.

DG Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau having a domestic.

 

Already a household name in their native Ireland, Bell X1 consists of frontman Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty and Brian Cosby on guitar and keyboard and bassist Dominic Philips. Their third album, ‘Flock’ has already entered the Irish charts, back in October 2005, and went straight in at the top spot. The band formed in 2000, with their debut album as a four-piece entitled ‘Neither Am I’. Before this, the band went under the name Juniper and had a fifth member, none other than Damien Rice. Juniper created a lot of waves in Ireland after only a couple of singles, but when Rice decided to leave, the others were determined to re-name and get back into the recording studio. And they have never looked back. They actively chose to change their style, writing elegant and majestic lyrics with a sound resonant of Talking Heads. Their second album, ‘Music in Mouth’ was released in 2003 and to great critical acclaim, raising them to stardom in their native isle. Since then, they have performed to massive crowds at the SXSW festival in Texas, and ‘Music in Mouth’ has gone double platinum in Ireland. However, it is with ‘Flock’ that they hope to further their success in the UK and even further afield. QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY DAVE GERAGHTY AND DOMINIC PHILIPS

DP Go for a drink with band/friends. Creamy pints and whiskey.

DG A good Isley and an episode of CSI Miami.

DP Musically, proud of the albums we’ve made. For the blow-you-away factor our gig at Oxegen this year ticked a big box.

DG Opening my eyes at the top of the ferris wheel at Oxegen.

DP Johnny Cash, the Beatles and Radiohead.

DG I idolised Phil Lynott when I was younger.

DP World domination (small steps!). We’d like to continue to make records and tour, wherever people will have us.

DG To continue what we do best. But better.

DP Razorlight’s ‘In the Morning’ - I like it a lot.

DP Bob Geldof - I saw him speak recently and he’s captivating. Marilyn Manson - I think would be great for dining conversation. Anthony Hopkins - Mmm, very nice, very tasty. Jim Carrey, Tommy Tiernan and Eddie Izzard. Oh dear it’s all men! Edith Bowman, Kathy Bates, Kate Winslet, Sugababes and Eddie can come in drag to even it up a bit.

DG All of the above and maybe the Olsen Twins. They look like they could do with a good feed.

 

DP Knowing what’s important. If I’m happy I consider myself successful. Keeping a variety of interests. Keeping things fresh is always a good thing. Surrounding yourself with nice people. Being as active as possible. Cooking nice food. Enjoy everything, but not too much of anything.

DG Keep yourself challenged –to be like Macgyver except with music.

 

DP ‘Grandma’s Hands’ by Bill Withers. I can picture my Nana’s hands when I hear it. It really gets me. She was an amazing and special lady.

 

DP Mathematician. I’ve a bit of a mathematical mind. Always looking for something to solve. I like the idea of passing the time in some oak panelled University room pondering the Riemann Hypothesis. They say music is maths.

 

BELL X1’S CURRENT SINGLE, ‘ROCKY TOOK A LOVER’, IS TAKEN FROM THE ALBUM ‘FLOCK’. BOTH ARE OUT NOW. CHECK OUT ROCKY’S BLOG AT WWW.ROCKYTOOKALOVER.COM