[ January 14, 2004 ]
Scotsman: Dinner Date - Alison Wheeler
Scotsman.com
Dinner Date - Alison Wheeler
Jan 14, 2004
By Neil Brown, PA Features
Courtesy of Gina Dipper
Last year, Alison Wheeler made her debut as the new female vocalist for Hull-based band The Beautiful South, at the Carling Homecoming gig.
She was born on March 4, 1972, in Northampton, and worked at various record companies as a temp where she experienced all aspects of putting a campaign together for a single and an album.
After joining a gospel band in 2000, she was one of three people selected for a session job as backing singers for The Beautiful South's drummer Dave Hemingway's solo project. Through him she came to the attention of the rest of the band members, and the rest is history. Wheeler is currently engaged to her partner Andrew, and they live in London.
Q: YOU'RE HOSTING AN IMAGINARY DINNER PARTY AND CAN INVITE ANYONE IN THE WORLD, LIVING OR DEAD, TO YOUR HOUSE FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY... WHO WOULD BE ON YOUR INVITATION LIST?
A: "Elvis. I'd just want to find out about what made him tick. Madonna would have to be there as well. I was a real pop tart as a kid, and I'm amazed at how she's always recreated herself and continued to keep the fan-base that she's got. I'm pretty vocalist-based at the moment. Probably Ella Fitzgerald and Doris Day. I just love their voices. I'd invite Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
"Nelson Mandela. I'd ask him about the time he was locked away. And I'd probably also choose to invite the Dalai Lama, because I've always wondered what that's all about. Bill Gates would be interesting, because he's not passing any of his wealth to his family when he dies. I'd have Brad Pitt -- because I can do. Mind you, I probably wouldn't eat a thing if I was sat in front of him."
Q: WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE?
A: "We'd have soup at the beginning, and then I'd have a really heavy roast, with lots of garlic -- I love garlic -- very kind of heavy winter food, with root vegetables and roast potatoes, and gravy. I'd have to have a really heavy chocolate dessert, something that with the last spoonful you really know you shouldn't have had it. And I'd have a dessert wine, heavy red wine, and a brandy at the end."
Q: WHICH MUSIC WOULD YOU PLAY?
"It would have to be lounge, jazz, kind of Frank Sinatra. And I would be in the perfect situation, because I could ask him to perform it live, as he's one of the dinner guests -- that is, if he RSVPs."
Q: WHO WOULD YOU HAVE AS THE LACKEY IN THE KITCHEN?
A: "Somebody to do the washing up. It would have to be the former Riverdancer Michael Flatley. He annoys the pants off me. I know I shouldn't say it, because he's very skilful."
Q: WHICH AFTER DINNER JOKE WOULD YOU TELL?
A: "I've got the shortest memory. It would have to be an anecdote of some description. Rather than telling a joke, perhaps I could talk about something good that's happened to me, like joining The Beautiful South. I'd love to pay recognition to Dave Hemingway. I owe everything to Dave. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be where I am now."
Q: HOW WOULD THIS UNLIKELY EVENT COMPARE TO THE WAY YOU NORMALLY ENTERTAIN FRIENDS?
A: "It's spot on. I'm a great fan of dinner parties. I can't go to really loud bars because you end up shouting and it ruins your voice. I'm a great fan of people arriving for seven and leaving about four or five in the morning, just having sat and drank and eaten. So it would be the same. We'd have cheese and port as well."
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