December 2012
I LIVE just outside London on the Hertfordshire/ Buckinghamshire border, which is an ideal location for us as we can get into London quickly
by train or tube in less than 30 minutes.
It's also close to the M1, M25 and M40, so it's very handy for getting to gigs.
It's quite green with a fairly mixed, close community and has been a good place to bring up our family.
I have been married for 40 years and we have four children aged 33, 26, 24, 22. Jack, the 24-year-old, is now a permanent member of my band playing drums and percussion.
In our business there is no weekend really.
Saturday depends if we are working and where Sheffield Wednesday are playing. I still get to as many games as possible (including the recent one at Forest and last season at County).
It's more of an effort these days but I made a rod for my back by indoctrinating my eldest son, who is still fanatical and sees almost every game.
Sunday could be tea cup of tea in bed with the Sunday papers depending who gets up first.
When the boys were younger I had to get up in the rain and snow and stand on the touchline watching them get hammered every week with their various teams.
Most Sundays my wife cooks a lovely Sunday roast and, if we're not working, I'll open a bottle of wine.
My doctor always says 'eat like a gourmet, not a glutten and drink the best wine you can afford’. I try to obey the second bit.
When I was a kid I would hardly eat anything but I was constantly on the go. I was like a stick. My ribs stuck out and my folks were really concerned. These days I'm the opposite. Good food and wine is my only remaining vice, if you exclude the football fanaticism and like a lot of men my age I am overweight.
My wife cooks so we try to eat fresh stuff and rarely eat processed foods. I do a pretty good spag bol.
Most of our touring is in the UK and we try to get home as many nights as possible. I usually have porridge (with fruit of some kind) for breakfast. I try to have my main meal just before we leave for the gig. And I might have a banana sandwich after the sound check or show.
Unlike my wife, who likes all the drama stuff on TV, such as 24 and the ones about psycho serial killers, I don’t watch a lot. If I do it’s usually comedy, like The Mighty Boosh or Peter Kay.
I can never follow the plot of a thriller as I read about one page a day. My son gave me the Alan Partridge autobiography which is quite funny.
I'm ashamed to say I hardly listen to any music at home. It's hard to do it objectively unless it’s a classical symphony, which I find soothing. Bringing up four kids, the house was quite chaotic so I always appreciated a bit of peace and quiet.
A perfect weekend would involve a Sheffield Wednesday win, fish and chips, Match of the Day, tea and papers in bed, a long dog walk, roast beef, Rioja, a big chair, more footy on TV and falling asleep.
Yes, I’m Mr. Interesting!
Paul Carrack plays the Royal Concert Hall on Thursday, January 10. Tickets are £27.50 and £37.50 from the box office, call 0115 989 5555 or go to www.trch.co.uk.
His latest album, Good Feeling, is out now.
