Graeme Clark is a Scottish musician who was a founder member, songwriter and bassist in Wet Wet Wet for 28 years, until quitting in 2010. While in the band, he also worked on songs for himself and has begun performing as a solo singer-songwriter. Prior to the release of his first solo album, Mr Understanding, he is on tour performing an acoustic set of new music and old favourites.

Graeme Clark performs at Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, at 7.30pm on Wednesday. For tickets, call 0845 2938480.

Which film star/musician/artist/writer do you admire?

Salvador Dali. When I was eight years old my school went on a visit to an art gallery in Glasgow. There I saw Dali’s Christ Of Saint John Of The Cross. It’s an amazing piece of work. My life was enriched the moment I saw that painting. I thought it was fantastic but had no idea what it was about or what it meant. I’m paraphrasing a famous quote here but they say great art is not how it looks on the outside, but what it does to you on the inside.

Which TV programme couldn’t you live without?

The Wire; clunky direction at times, but the plots, sub-plots and characters make up for any minor flaws, as they are all fantastically believable.

The story about the human trafficking in the docks is powerful – all pitched up alongside the backdrop of a brutal, urban drug scene.

Do you remember the first record you bought – what was it, and where did you buy it?

Me and my two brothers chipped in our pocket money (12p each) and bought a Slade record Gudbuy T’Jane.

Independently, I remember buying Althea And Donna’s Uptown Top Ranking at a record shop called Bruce’s, which was owned by Bruce Findlay, manager of Simple Minds.

Tell us about any guilty pleasures lurking in your CD or film collections…

My record collection is full of ’em! I have The Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way, which I thought was “pop cheese gold” and Gilbert O’Sullivan wrote a couple of tunes I tried to deny I liked – Clair being one of them.

Do you have a favourite film?

The Road, though it was more of an endurance test than an enjoyable experience. It’s scary, thoughtful, evocative and there are some tender moments too. An old favourite I saw the other day was One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. The casting is inspired.

How about a favourite book?

The Poems And Songs Of Rabbie Burns. I find the older I get, the more I warm to him. I started to read a bit of Burns when my son was learning it at school and found I really liked the language he used. When we studied him in Scotland I was just not ready for it at all. I had found pop music and if it wasn’t from my generation, then I couldn’t relate to it – the arrogance of youth!

Is there a song or individual piece of music you always come back to?

Back Stabbers by The O’Jays. Why? Let me try to explain – right from the piano at the beginning you get a sense of drama and suspense, then a beautiful understated bass and drum groove starts that has the most sublime melodic flow. The strings and brass start to build a complex musical narrative, then bam! That staccato brass punctuation just before the vocals. It’s everything a song should be – memorable, melodic and skilfully crafted.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’ve just started Ernest Hemingway On Writing, also Salmon Fishing In The Yemen by Paul Torday. I know I should read more, and I get a lot of inspiration from things people write, but I find it difficult to organise my time!

Tell us about a live music/theatre/ cinema experience that sticks in your memory...

I was lucky to see Bob Marley live at the Glasgow Apollo and that gig was an extremely spiritual experience. This was when music became like a religion to me. His music seemed to grab hold of me and transport me to somewhere I’d never been before. He was like nothing I’d ever seen – an alien from outer space.

Is there a book/record/film/play/person that made you want to do what you do now?

The Ramones were the first band I saw and those two hours made up my mind.

I was 12 years old and it’s a cliché but that musical experience changed and shaped my life.

If you get a spare 30 minutes, how are you most likely to spend it?

I like to get my telescope out and look at the stars. Recently there was a supernova that could be seen pretty easily. I like the idea of watching a cosmic explosion. Inspiration can come from some far-flung places – you just need to know where to look!