For Barry Burns, multi-instrumentalist of Scottish
band Mogwai, a temporary change of scene led to a
second career as co-owner of Berlin bar Das Gift
HOW DID YOU END UP IN BERLIN?
My wife and I decided that we’d like to get out of Scotland
for a while — and we ended up staying for the long-haul.
To be honest, Berlin was the irst place we thought of
trying out and I don’t remember why we were so single-
minded about it. It’s been good to us, but it has also made
us appreciate Glasgow, too. I think we were taking the old
city for granted, but both are brilliant places.
WHAT ARE YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES OF THE CITY?
I remember walking down the street we were temporarily
living in and it was quite a trippy experience. Now I have
nothing but respect for people who have been brave
enough to just pack a van or a bag and move somewhere
they have no prior connection with. It takes a long time
to get used to new surroundings.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT BERLIN?
The complete lack of anyone caring what you look like
or what you’re doing — unless it’s crossing the street on a
red light or similarly unthinkable behaviours.
HOW DID THE BAR COME ABOUT?
By accident, really. My wife was looking for an art studio
and the rental agent asked if she wanted to have a look
at a bar that was up for rent. A month later and we had
asked our pal, artist Phil Collins, and his boyfriend if they
wanted to open a bar. Just like the move to Berlin, it was
done on a whim and quickly became a part of our story.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE AREA FOR DAS GIFT?
We didn’t really. We just liked the look of it. It was
already a sort of old man’s pub, and we didn’t change
too much visually. We now live in that area (Neukölln).
The bar isn’t themed at all, and other than the sporadic
haggis event, you might not know it’s owned by Scots.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC VENUE IN THE CITY?
I’ve only been once but I love the new Festsaal Kreuzberg.
I saw Low [an American indie rock group] performing
there fairly recently. For playing, I like Huxleys Neue Welt,
because it’s grimy, and also the nicer Admiralspalast,
where we did the live soundtrack to a screening of Mark
Cousins’ ilm Atomic, Living in Dread and Promise. JL
THE ROAD
TO BERLIN
92 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel
BERLIN