Mail Star

Sunday, February 27, 2000
By Martello Tower
Daily News, Halifax

What You Don't Know

Many Nova Scotians don't know it, but Premier John Hamm's spokesman, Rob Batherson, is the nephew of one of Nova Scotia's most famous musicians.
Batherson's uncle is ha
rd-living Cape Breton rocker Matt Minglewood, whose real name is Roy Batherson, Matt doesn't strike us as a Tory voter.
Minglewood, 53, is having a well-deserved comeback with his new CD, Drivin' Wheel. The albums debut single, How High is High Enough? is even getting airplay on Q-104, meaning metro's rock station can only fit Trooper in 12 times a day now.
Matt tips his outlaw hat to his heritage on the album, beginning the disk with a recording of his grandfather, John Batherson, playing the fiddle. Rob, 24, tells Martello it's the only known recording of his great-granddad.
The young political junkie admits he doesn't share his kin's talent: "The musical gene wasn't passed on to me." Alas, Rob can't carry a tune any better than his boss can negotiate gas exploration deals.