Simon Calnan

When did you join Spearmint & how?
I joined The Mint when we changed our name from Big bird to Spearmint way back when the planet Earth was in the year 1995.

What do you do in Spearmint?
I play with things, like keyboards, sequencers, tamborines and vocals but most importantly I play with the others band members (not in a sexual way of course.)

What is your favourite word?
My favourite word right now is text (I've just been bought a mobile phone)

Tell us some of your favourite places?
The Lake District, Spain, My living room and my couch.

What does Spearmint mean to you?
Playing with people and things.

Do you collect anything?
People and things.

How do you indulge yourself?
With an online game of Medal of honor, I'm not very good though.

Tell us some of your favourite films?
Star wars, Jaws, Close Encounters, Raiders of the lost Ark, The Deer Hunter, Phone Booth and Lord of the Rings...

Who would play you in the movie of your life?
My younger brother Richard because he looks very similar to me.

What annoys you?
That last question.

Which are your favourite Spearmint gigs?
I have to say it's the ones in different countries,the whole travelling together and getting on each others nerves, great!

What would you like to happen over the next year?
Get to travel abroad to play some gigs and get a good response for the new album.

What is your ritual before going onstage?
We all gather round in small circle and have a group hug and we dont let go until Ronan utters the words of wisdom "light and shade boys.....light and shade." Then we all completely ignore him.

Which are your favourite Spearmint songs?
The fast Punky ones like Wont be long now, Flaming lips, Goldmine, I Invented Someone, Last Bus Home at the minute.

Tell me a secret about another band member
James has a pair of rather large blue pants.

What did you want to be when you were young?
I think it was the old classic: Truck driver. (we could put this to good use - Shirl)

Which songs would you like to play more live?
The fast punky ones.

Tell me a story about being in Spearmint?
We did a small tour of Sweden Early 2002 and driving up and down the country to the various towns we kept passing this old ruined castle and finally one day we got our driver JC to pull over so we could visit the snow covered ruin and we all just had a good old wander round and chucked a few snow balls about and it was a really special moment or two. Doesnt take much to please us.

What is your favourite smell?
Other peoples barbecues.

Tell us some of your favourite books?
The Hobbit, About a boy, Catcher in the rye, Kes and Lord of the rings.

What is your least favourite thing about being in a band?
The waiting around between the sound check and the gig.

Which songs make you cry?
Sad songs, but only when I'm sad.

What is your favourite city?
London, but Amsterdam is a very close second.

Tell us some of your favourite records?
Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars, The La's The La's, Best of the Lovin spoonful and The Eagles, Marvin Gaye's What's going on.

What is your favourite song on the new album and why?
A Happy Ending, not because of the wall of Si but because it's a little rocker.

What is your favourite Spearmint catch-phrase?
SHIT HOTEL.

Have you any hobbies?
Playing computer games my fave at present is Zelda Wind Waker.

What are the best things in life?
Well anything thats free.

What is your favourite item of clothing?
My red B 52s t-shirt,its a bit old and faded but I still love it.

Tell me about a low-point you have had during the band's career?
- Well I think (and im sure the rest of the band would agree) it was after we had played a gig at The Rose club in Germany and we were all kebabed up and pissed out of our heads when Jeff (our driver and dad) decides to put some water into the van instead of diesal fuel,so of course the van wont work so we end up pushing the van for what seems like miles (because at this stage jeff didnt realise that he'd put water into the van) down the autobahn to try to get it started, no joy.To cut a very long story short we hardly got any sleep and I was by the end of the night, no morning, feeling suicidal and was convinced there was no way in hell we ere going to do the gig that following evening. A cup of tea and a pastry sorted me out though and we ended up doing the gig. Do i still love Jeff? Yes,but only because he's our Dad.

What is your favourite thing about being in a band?
The guys involved and the gigs.

Where are you from originally?
Lee London S.E.12.

What do you like about living in London?
- Easy to get about without having to drive.

3 words to describe yourself
- Happy, relaxed and tense.

Choose 3 slow songs to smooch to
- Lets get it on (Marvin Gaye), Close to you (Carpenters) and Concerto for a rainy day (The Electric light orchestra)

What is your favourite Spearmint lyric and why?
- If you dont want this pain you shouldnt fall in love you knew the risk you took the chance you let it happen you let it happen if you dont want this pain you shouldnt ever fall in love again. It happens to us all...

What is your favourite Spearmint album and why?
- A Week Away because of the memories surrounding it.

Anything else to declare?
Does anyone know were the bloody deku tree island is in Zelda Wind Waker? I've lost it.