005 - Josh Dunford: Blues Rock Singer (who has played the O2 Arena) and Primary School Teacher Paths Podcast

A conversation about Josh's life, from being lead singer in blues rock band Sal Vitro whose highlights included playing supporting slots to Jeff Beck, Thin Lizzy and Status Quo, whom they supported in the O2 in Dublin (now 3 Arena) to a crowd of 10,000 people. They also released an album and moved to London - four band members sharing a two-bed flat for a year. Now Josh is a primary school teacher in George Eliot Primary School in North London, a job that he loves, whilst still writing music and singing.
Episode index:
00.00 Intro
01:22 Interview begins with background and context
06:40 Growing up in Dublin and musical beginnings
14:25 Forming a band
15:07 Being a shy person performing onstage
17:56 First phase of the band as Roadrunner - Dime Store in Sweeneys etc
19:35 Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll?
23:22 Parting ways musically with a good friend
25:33 New drummer, new name Sal Vitro
26:32 Dreaded question: what was their style of music?
27:43 Rick Beato and songwriting
32:47 Sal Vitro moves up a gear
34:15 Did he ever see it as a career? Chat about idea of making your passion your career.
38:25 Supporting Jeff Beck, Thin Lizzy and Status Quo
41:36 Playing the O2 in Dublin (now 3Arena) to 10,000 people
42:55 Best gigs he ever played?
45:58 Can never predict how you'll feel onstage
46:43 G leaves the band to concentrate on engineering career
48:32 Making the album
49:23 Moving to London - four band members to two-bed flat
56:00 Differences between Dublin and London
59:20 Corley getting naked
1:00:27 Blues rock no longer considered cool?
1:01:10 Crisis of confidence
1:04:30 The album, response to it and reflections since
1:08:09 The end of the band
1:11:09 Took it further than they ever could have dreamed
1:11:35 Theme of podcast - the majority of artists we never hear from at large
1:13:39 The other side of life - degree and jobs along the way
1:14:45 Becoming a teacher
1:17:55 Froebel College inspires him
1:19:06 How rewarding teaching is
1:21:06 Style of teaching
1:23:09 Teaching kids about mental health - George Eliot a brilliant school
1:25:46 Still playing music
1:29:44 Working with Bres from Republic of Loose
1:31:00 Chat about creativity
1:34:40 Thoughts on being a teacher in 2020/21
1:38:02 His other passion - bouldering
1:39:42 Goodbye and thanks
1:40:15 Outro
Guest: Josh Dunford
Links to Sal Vitro and Josh's music:
https://youtu.be/ik0wsKiFzkM
https://youtu.be/xSjQDhz26UU
https://youtu.be/8l0dTNDbXw4
https://youtu.be/w6Fs5EqgDHc
Host and producer: Donal Gallery
Recorded using Cleanfeed between our houses in North London
Artwork by Anna Obert https://www.instagram.com/annaobertillustration/
Music by Donal Gallery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PathsPodcast
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PathsPodcast
Get in touch with stories of people who've had dramatic changes in their lives at pathspodcastpeople@gmail.com
Thanks for listening