Oh, see: super-dad sings
PETER GALLAGHER feels virginal with CD 7 Days in Memphis
eter Gallagher is not here to talk
about The O. C. The actor, who plays wise- cracking, bagel- loving superdad Sandy on the hit Fox show, is at Yorkville’s Flow to promote his debut album, 7 Days in Memphis. But the record, which has the 50- yearold actor interpreting songs by Lucinda Williams, Isaac Hayes and David Porter, Randy Newman and others, did come about as a result of his character singing on the show.
“ What I was hoping to do when I sang ‘ Don’t Give Up on Me’ on the show, what I was touched by was that, yeah, the kids on the show really liked it and that was nice, but the crew guys my age loved it,” Gallagher says in his beautifully modulated actor’s voice. “ They said, ‘ Man, that makes me think of Three Dog Night’ and ‘ You should sing these songs, it’s good to hear these songs.’ And I realized, especially being on such a pop culture phenomenon show as The O. C. that even if our audience is very diverse, that so much attention and marketing energy in our culture is geared towards kids . . . and I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to do records for people my age?” Sandy sang to wife Kirsten (Kelly Rowan) to make up for having forgotten their wedding anniversary and Gallagher found himself approached to record more songs.
“It was truly the most remarkable thing that’s ever happened to me professionally. I actually got a job, something came out of what I was doing and I got a couple of record deal offers. Epic wanted me to do a record of the kind of
Pmusic I did on the show,” he says, adding that he wanted to make sure the album was something he would be proud of, because, “ you can only be a virgin once in this thing.”
Gallagher, whose eyebrows are just as remarkable in person as you’d think, says his co- stars have been nice about his musical adventures. “ They’ve been very generous, very nice. Adam ( Brody) and Rachel Bilson . . . listened to it and said they loved it.” Rowan took time to help him out with a video, which he calls “a fun, alternate Kirsten-andSandy reality.” Album promotion dutifully done, Gallagher agreed to a round of random questions: Where would you go if you were invisible?
For a walk in the city. What would you first rescue from your burning house? My children and my wife. What do you like most about yourself?
I guess . . . that I . . . I guess that I, I don’t know, that I don’t give up easily. Who is your favourite comic book hero?
I’m not a huge comic book guy, but when I was a kid I loved Superman. In fact, I honestly believed that if I could control the flinch response when I jumped from the couch over the coffee table I’d be able to fly like Superman. I managed to control the flinch and came straight down on my head on the table. I didn’t fly, but I didn’t flinch. Jon Stewart or Anderson Cooper? Jon Stewart. Favourite swear word?
F---. What makes you laugh? So many things, thank God. What’s your favourite electronic gadget?
I guess my computer. Are you afraid of flying?
I’m more afraid of crashing. What’s the worst job you ever had?
I have to say house- painting. I hated the prep work. Hated it. Have you ever done anything illegal?
Yeah. What?
That would be just nuts if I tell you that. What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done? Made a record. What’s your favourite movie?
Harold and Maude. What would we be surprised to learn about you?
That I’ve been married 22 years.