THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Chris de Bazin of the Sky TV Arts Channel

 |   |  2 min read

Bob Dylan: I Was Young When I Left Home
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Chris de Bazin of the Sky TV Arts Channel

Chris de Bazin has the job that many Elsewhere readers might want, he is manager of the Arts Channel on Sky TV in New Zealand. Some people are well read, Chris we must guess is well viewed.

Amidst the intellectual drought that is New Zealand television -- yep, we all like a bit of trash, and there's so much to choose from, right? -- the Arts channel (see programme details here) offers fascinating documentaries across a range of cultural subjects.

For Elsewhere music lovers there are programmes like Other Voices (artists in performance) and this Sunday March 4 at 8.30 the Pixies are filmed doing a greatest "hits" show in Boston. On May 18 there is John Mayall's 70th birthday gig too, Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor join him.

Spoiled for choice when it comes the visual arts, classical, drama and literature too. (This month Van Gogh, Bruckner and Barenboim)

And because today, March 1, the channel celebrates its eighth year we thought it might be interesting to get Chris to answer the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire. And if you look at his answers to one of the questions you'll see he has a pleasingly lowbrow taste in films.

He was allowed to change the final question . . . and he did! 

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

Jethro Tull’s Aqualung… the instrumentation…and, why would anyone write about a dirty old man? Album cover fascinated me. Being a South Island country boy and early 1970’s I didn’t know homeless people even existed.

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

Jimi H! Go figure.

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

No Jacko, no Gaga, no Madonna, no Jay-Z. Some Lennon, some Ramones, some Nirvana.

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

Photo journalist

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

“Rockin Chair” John Lee Hooker

“Blues Deluxe” Joe Bonamassa (Royal Albert Hall live version)

“I was Young When I Left Home” Bob Dylan

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

My wife’s vinyl collection.

2071728_LThe best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

“Swirly World” Andrew Fagan… cos it is the most unlikely thing a musician would ever do. Ever.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)

Les Paul. Gibson LP or Strat. Blues.

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

Rambo; Mission Impossible; Transformers

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

Last CD… Beethoven Symphonies. Last download… The Windy City Strugglers “Snow On The Desert Road”.

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

”Gabriels Oboe” by Ennio Morricone

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

The Doors… “Strange Days”

Arts_Channel_Red_NEWYou are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

After 25 years married… of my wife.

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?

Southern Alps NZ, climbing.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why you bought a pig?”

To eat it!

For more on the Sky Arts Channel go here.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   The Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire articles index

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Sola Rosa

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Sola Rosa

As Sola Rosa, Andrew Spraggon has previously brought reggae, Latin, soul and hip-hip into seamless electronica albums which have placed him on the world stage. And on his new album Low and... > Read more

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE TEACHERS' QUESTIONNAIRE: Judith Bell of Chisnallwood Intermediate School

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE TEACHERS' QUESTIONNAIRE: Judith Bell of Chisnallwood Intermediate School

When the organisers of this year's annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards were considering the landscape of local music they wanted the awards to acknowledge the past, the present and the future.... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

EPS by Yasmin Brown

EPS by Yasmin Brown

With so many CDs commanding and demanding attention Elsewhere will run this occasional column by the informed and opinionated Yasmin Brown. She will scoop up some of those many EP releases, in... > Read more

GUEST WRITER GREG PARSLOE looks at when Grand Prix drivers would crash and burn

GUEST WRITER GREG PARSLOE looks at when Grand Prix drivers would crash and burn

In those years between 1961 and '73 – when Grand Prix drivers “wore lucky charms instead of seat belts” – those behind the wheel seemed expendable. A conveyor belt of new... > Read more