Date & place of birth:
December 10 1954; Liverpool, UK.

Profession:
MD of Garwood Monitor Systems.

What was your first professional job?
Bumming cash from my parents! I worked in pubs and clubs as a roadie before graduating as a completely unqualified sound engineer. My first real touring was with a legendary Liverpool band called Supercharge, a wildly funny, fantastic jazz-funk/R&B band. I spent 10 years bluffing in the belief that I knew nothing; spent the next 10 years pontificating in the belief that I knew (almost) everything; spent the next 10 years with the realisation that I was right first time.

How did you get into live sound engineering?
I lied about my abilities! I probably did OK because I didn't touch anything I didn't understand, which was a pretty good way of working with most sound systems of the day. I was also pretty lucky with the various people who took me under their wings.

Would you be happy with the description of 'The Godfather of In-Ear Monitoring'?
Since adopting that title would legitimately make me a horse's arse, I think midwife would be closer to the truth.

Are you flattered or irritated by the success of companies who have fared better than Garwood in the IEM business?
I'm mostly content with the way things are. I'm quite easily flattered so I don't take flattery too seriously and I'm probably only irritated by stupid things - certainly not someone else's success.

In what areas of technology is the Garwood business currently active, and where do you plan to go from here?
We are extremely good at designing wireless technologies without shouting too much about which areas of economic activity they are sold in or to. Some of the many things we have in the pipeline are really quite interesting and we have a couple of IEM surprises for the not-too-distant future.

Who has provided your biggest inspiration?
My son, Fionn.

Who were the most demanding artists you ever mixed live?
David Byrne, whose self-absorption would sacrifice the enjoyment of the audience to his own comfort; Mike Oldfield, for an astonishing grasp of musical intricacy; and Ry Cooder, for the most beautiful concerts I have ever heard - the only shows where I ever just left the board, found a seat and just listened.

What were the last additions to your record/CD collection?
The Best Of Spike Jones on CD and a (vinyl) Dakota Statton album.

Any hobbies away from the job?
I clean and filter pond water in the sublime expectation of returning as something quite low on the evolutionary scale.

The last live show you attended as a paying punter?
Pay? With money? Probably Caruso.

If you met the teenage Chrys Lindop, what advice would you give him?
Learn to spell, Chris.