Bio:

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Who is Dominic Brennan?

Dominic was born in Middlesbrough in 1950, the only son of Irish immigrant leprechaun slave traders.

For readers who live south of Watford, Middlesbrough is a sleepy village where white walled thatched cottages surround a picturesque duck pond and croquette lawn (honest).

Middlesbrough’s most famous son is Capt. James Cook who famously sailed the world in a vain attempt to find a nicer place to live. (fact)

Dominic attended St. Mary’s Grammar School which he described in a 1970’s interview as "Colditz with chalk boards". The school was run by demonic priests who left lasting scars on the young Dominic. “If Darth Vader ever took off his mask, I would fully expect him to be wearing a white collar underneath” he told the NME in 79.

But it was at St. Mary’s were Dominic’s life was to change forever, when a friend played a Bob Dylan LP. Suddenly he knew what he wanted to do. Music was now his future.

That night he swapped two leprechauns for an old guitar and harmonica and as soon as he’d learnt two chords, started writing protest songs. This made him a playground hero and one of his protest songs about school dinners, “Why can’t we have gravy with our chips?” became the school’s Alma Mater. Another written at this time, “What the f*$k was that in that custard” was later recorded by The Singing Nun.

Suddenly the young troubadour became a schoolyard hero who could do no wrong and his popularity increased until one fateful day, when a chance remark brought his world crashing around him.

He quibbed to one of his “disciples” that he was “bigger than God”.

“I was misquoted”

he later protested in a Melody Maker interview, “What I said was, I was bigger than God, Godfrey Baggins, but then again everyone was”. Godfrey Baggins, a hobbit exchange student from Middle Earth, was only three feet tall.

But this explanation was not enough to curb the hate campaign that followed. There was a call to burn Dominic’s records, but since he hadn’t actually made any at that point, they settled for a few Beano’s and a packet of Rizlas. Hundreds gathered around the fire behind the bike sheds and in protest sang “ging-gang-gooly” as most were ex-boy scouts and old habits die hard.

Dominic left St. Mary’s in 1966 with 5 GCSE’s, a pencil sharpener, 36 rubbers and anything else he could fit in his satchel. But more importantly he left with a sense of excitement for the future.

He grew his hair, donned a combat jacket and with acoustic guitar in hand, started wowing the crowds at the local pubs and folk clubs with his self penned songs delivered in his unique smooth jazzy voice. He quickly developed a following and admiration from fellow songwriters. After a gig at the Cavern in Liverpool, John Lennon described his poignant love song “You are my Fireplace”, as “a mantelpiece”.

But perhaps the highlight of his musical career came at Glastonbury in 1981 where he performed in front of an estimated 5000 people (over three days busking outside the loos and burger vans).

Tragically in 82, at the height of his popularity, he developed a coke addiction, which quickly spiralled out of control. He began to experiment with Fanta, Tizer and at a low point even main-lined Iron Brew. He was so hyper he could no longer concentrate on his music and just ran around the room, burping and throwing massive temper tantrums.

He was admitted into the Harry Ramsden Rehab Clinic in Batley and immediately put on the “Yorkshire Detox “ diet of mushy peas and Teltey’s bitter.

He turned recluse and spent his time watching CBeebies on the TV in his room, watching re-runs of Big Cook, Little Cook & Andy Pandy. This became his world. Eventually he would eat nothing but pizzas, shaped like choo-choo trains and sleeping in a laundry basket with a teddy bear (and a Swedish flaxen haired nurse he called Looby-loo).

But Dom has put all that behind him and now the kid is back. You can buy his new CD “Hot Summer Night” on CDBaby.com.

P.S. although every word of this bio is true, you can read an alternative bio from Dom’s blog.

Member Since:

November 12, 2009

Influences:

Robert Johnson, Burl Ives, Artie Shaw.

Sounds Like:

dire straits, chris rea, paolo nutini, moody blues, james taylor, rod stewart, johnny cash, red hot chilli peppers, queen, eagles

Record Label:

NoWhereVille Records