When did you first get involved with music?
I got involved with my Dad Martin Gamble’s band years ago. He was in a two piece and the other guy couldn’t perform with him one night, so they were looking for another singer. I was training to be a pilot with Aer Rianta in Dublin at the time and I gave it up to go on the road with my Dad for a couple of years. I was also in a Westlife tribute act for a while in England, I was the Mark Feehily of the group. I came back to Ireland and saw Jimmy Buckley performing and my Dad said that could be me. From there, I put my own band together the following year. That was 2005.
Was your Dad a big support?
Oh God he was, and my Mam was as well. My Dad lives in Cork now. I moved to Manchester for about a year, where I lived with a guy called David, and Alan Carr the TV presenter and comedian.
The Alan Carr?
He used to take me everywhere with him. I was seeing a guy called David in Manchester and they were friends. He used to take us to all the comedy clubs and the drag shows. I remember he started presenting The Friday Night Project on Channel 4 and that year he came to Dublin for my birthday and I showed him around.
You also do a Daniel O’Donnell tribute show?
People were like “this is mad” when I started doing it because I sound so like him. Daniel heard about it, and at the time he had a lot of people taking the mickey out of him. I got chatting to him and I told him my intentions weren’t to slag him off. He brought me to one of his gigs, there must have been more than 2,000 people there and he invited me on stage. Everyone was laughing their heads off because they thought it was really him. He came on the stage then and said “You’re more like me than I am.” His wife Majella came on then and I asked her if she would rather have the young Daniel or the old Daniel and she said “I would rather have the real thing.” It was really funny. Daniel gave me a lot of advice and he told the audience to buy tickets to see me. From there, my crowds doubled.
There aren’t many out gay men in this industry, has your sexuality hindered you in any way?
I was afraid when I first started out in music and I didn’t know what to do if someone asked me if I was gay.
When did you “come out” as gay?
I never came out, I didn’t have to [laughs]. It was at my fourth or fifth gig at a hotel in Tipperary and these two women came up to me and said “Can we ask you a personal question?” They said “Would you be gay by any chance?” After a couple of seconds, which felt like a lifetime, I said “Of course I am.” They then said, “That’s amazing. We’ve a friend who’s a hairdresser and we’d love you to meet him.” I never looked back after that.
Are you glad that you were honest from day one?
A lot of people respected me for it. But a lot of people also don’t know I’m gay because I don’t talk about it. Philomena Begley was on the stage in the Millennium Forum in Derry one night and she said “I might take a notion towards you.” I told her “Not only are you barking up the wrong tree, you’re in the wrong forest.” The audience were roaring laughing.
Are people in the industry afraid to talk about their sexuality?
No, they’re not. Well, I don’t think they are anyway. They shouldn’t be afraid either, your sexuality is just your sexual preference and it doesn’t change who you are. I’m still Gary Gamble. I’ve never been insulted in the country scene and that’s what I was afraid of at first. I thought I was going to be called names and that never happened at concerts, weddings, dances or parties. I’ve always been accepted, just like everyone else.
Are you in a relationship?
I’m in an open relationship.
How does that work for you?
I’ve been in relationships since I was 22 and I’ve always gotten hurt in them. I said the next relationship I was going to be in would be an open one. I haven’t looked back.
Are open relationships more common in the gay community?
I’ve a lot more straight friends than gay friends and it’s very common in that world too. It’s very popular. I know a few straight couples that are in open relationships.
Is Gary Gamble your real name or is it a stage name?
Everybody asks me that. My dad is Martin Gamble and I’m Gary Martin Gamble.
It seems like Derek Ryan, Mike Denver, Nathan Carter and Daniel O’Donnell are the biggest stars in Ireland. Is it hard to crack the industry and get to the level they’re on?
I believe that slow and steady wins the race and I keep doing my thing. They all have their own following.
You were the MC at Lisa McHugh’s wedding in Donegal last summer, what was that like?
It was so so funny. I had to do the safety announcement for the marquee and I made a dirty joke. Fr Brian D’Arcy just looked at me and was like “Oh no.” Everybody else was in stitches. I’ve been friends with Lisa since she started her career in Ireland and I know her family very well. I’ve spent time with them in Glasgow too. The wedding was on in their holiday home in Donegal and the view was incredible. There was a lovely atmosphere as well.
What’s on your bucket list for the next few years?
I’m not doing as many gigs and I want to take things a lot easier. I’ve a lot of travelling I want to do this year and next year and I’m happy just plodding along. I organise a weekend in Blackpool every year and the line-up is always huge. We’re already looking forward to going back next June, it’s always a sell out.
This interview first appeared in the Autumn issue of RSVP Country
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