Wish You Were Here... Cameron Avery

Fresh off the Glastonbury stage, Tame Impala’s bassist Cameron Avery shares his behind the scenes photo diary. Also included: a chat about day drinking, dream diaries and… festival fedoras.

Where are you right now and what are you doing?
In Florence, scanning negatives from Glastonbury.  

How would you sum up what you do in a sentence?  
Feeble attempts at escapism and playing bass, mostly. 

Describe yourself in three words…
Attention deficit disorder.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?  
Elvis Presley. I remember wanting to fly planes also. 

What did you do on your last day off? 
I had a long lunch with some friends, did a few bombiez in the pool (after 15 minutes digestion time of course) then had an even longer dinner. 

Do you have any phobias? 
I’m quite claustrophobic, so there must always be an open window or door.  

Who do you most admire?  
My mother.

If you weren’t a musician what would you be doing? 
I like being taught things and then teaching them to others, so maybe something in education. 

“I was very lucky to have a role model of sorts when I was a teenager. He told me to pick one thing and commit your entire life to it, for better or worse. It’s the lows not the highs you end up appreciating.”

If you could do anything without fear of repercussion, what would you do?  
Day drinking.

If you could ask anyone a question, who would you ask, and what? 
Bruce Springsteen – were public health and safety concerns ever a factor when you were writing “Dancing In The Dark”?

What’s the most surprising thing we’d find out if we looked at your phone?  
Depends what you find surprising really. I just looked and all I could find that might be weird is a dream diary thing I kept for a couple months in 2016 in my notes, and a completely downloaded copy of ‘A Few Good Men’. 

Best thing about playing festivals?  
All of the blokes wearing those little Jamiroquai fedora hats that they would never normally wear.

And the worst?  
All of the blokes wearing those little Jamiroquai fedora hats that they would never normally wear. 

“If you weren’t a musician what would you be doing? 
I like being taught things and then teaching them to others, so maybe something in education.”

Most memorable festival moment?  
Pyramid Stage, Saturday night a couple of years back. Can’t forget that easily.

One thing you can’t live without? 
Day drinking.

Favourite thing to eat?  
Steak tartare.

Least favourite thing to eat? 
Licorice.

What was your first job?  
When I was twelve, I drove the golf cart on a driving range that picked up all the golf balls. Did it for the babes mostly.

Favourite place on earth? 
Tie between Josie’s bar in New York and Glastonbury.

The best advice you've ever been given?  
I was very lucky to have a role model of sorts when I was a teenager. He told me to pick one thing and commit your entire life to it, for better or worse. It’s the lows not the highs you end up appreciating. Closely followed by: “If it’s not challenging then it’s most likely not worth doing.”