Where did the name The Waterboys come from ?

From a line in a song on Lou Reed's "Berlin" album. "I just liked the sound of the word" said Mike Scott.

What other bands did Mike Scott play in before The Waterboys ?

Mike played in several bands including Another Pretty Face, Funhouse, The Red And The Black.

Is The Waterboys a Scottish or Irish band ?

Mike Scott who formed the group is from Edinburgh in Scotland. Several Irishmen and one Irishwoman have been members at various times and the group was based in Dublin from 1986 to 1991. At other times the group has been based in London or New York. The Waterboys have had English, Welsh, American and other Scottish members too.

What is "The Big Music" ?

According to a 2000 Mike Scott interview it is "a metaphor for seeing God's signature in the world".

Where did the Waterboys symbol originate and what does it mean ?

The "waves" sign was designed by Stephanie Nash in 1983 when she was a member of Island Records art department. It symbolises water.

Is "Red Army Blues" a true story ?

Mike has said in interviews that the song was inspired by a book called "The Diary Of Vikenty Angorov" but that the story itself, though based on historical fact, was his own.

Who inspired "The Whole Of The Moon" ?

Mike has often said that the character is a composite of many people. Some have said it was about Prince though Mike has denied this. He once mentioned that the author C.S.Lewis was "in there somewhere".

Where is Spiddal and what did The Waterboys do there?

Spiddal is a few miles west of Galway City on the west coast of Ireland. The Waterboys recorded there between 1988 and 1990.

Who are all the people on the cover of "Fisherman's Blues" ?

From left to right they are (back) : Jake Kennedy (crew), Colin Blakey, Pat McCarthy (recording engineer), Jimmy Hickey (crew), John Dunford (co-producer), Trevor Hutchinson, Fran Breen (front) : Anthony Thistlethwaite, Mike Scott, Steve Wickham

What does the term "A Bang On The Ear" mean ?

It's a term of affection.

Will all the great unreleased Waterboys songs ever come out ?

A number will be released on "Too Close To Heaven", an album of unreleased songs from the "Fisherman's Blues" era due in late 2001/early 2002. One day there may be another "Secret Life" type album and there is always the possibility that Mike will dust off an old unreleased song and record it or play it live.

Who is the second lead voice on "A Life Of Sundays" ?

Drummer Noel Bridgeman.

Who drew the cartoons that appear inside several of the Waterboys album sleeves ?

They were drawn by various members of the band and crew during "Fisherman's Blues" sessions. "The comic", as it was called, was left lying around the studio and whoever wanted to would draw the next frame of the story. It ran to about 50 pages, each with 6 or more frames. Mike still has the original. Many of the frames on the album covers were Steve Wickham's drawings including "The power of the music gives everybody wings".

Why did The Waterboys "raggle taggle" band split in 1990 ?

Mike and Anthony wanted to take the music in a harder, more rock direction. Steve didn't.

What are Steve and Anto up to these days ?

Both live in the west of Ireland. Steve writes music for plays, has toured Ireland playing music with The Abbey Theatre of Dublin, plays fiddle with a band called Cadenza, has toured and recorded with his band The Connacht Ramblers, does two-man shows with Mike Scott and has recently written and produced a play called "Crash". Anto plays with various musicians around Galway, tours with The Sawdoctors, has made three solo albums - "Aesop Wrote A Fable", "Cartwheels" and "Crawfish And Caviar" - and contributes electric slide mandolin to the new Waterboys album "A Rock In The Weary Land".

What is The Findhorn Community and what did Mike Scott do there ?

It's a holistic and educational spiritual community in the north-east of Scotland. Now called The Findhorn Foundation, the community was founded by Peter and Eileen Caddy and their friend Dorothy MacLean in 1962. Mike attended several workshops at The Foundation and stayed there as a long-term guest in 1994. He worked in the kitchens and gardens and recorded "Bring 'Em All In" in the Foundation's little recording studio.

What or where is Iona ?

Iona is a small island off the west coast of Scotland. It has been a place of pilgrimage since before history.

Who is Pan ?

Pan is the Greek god of wild places.

Where are The Waterboys now based ?

London.