THE path to comedy has not been a straight forward one for Gary Faulds. His father was a bank robber, whilst his step-father ran of the most notorious security companies in Scotland.

Yet the experiences he has had throughout life is all part of a brand new show, “Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Yum Yums”, running at the Glasgow Comedy Festival in March. In it, he openly discusses his fascinating upbringing, from turning his back on a life of crime, finding Jesus and falling in love. He said: “My whole show is about my life. Everyone has a story, but I think mines is worth £10 for the gig. It’s a very Glasgow show - I love Glasgow.”

Gary reminisces watching comedians Jim Carrey and Robin Williams in his youth, who have shaped his two year comedy career, as well as Billy Kirkwood, a strong influence and someone Gary had the chance to support at last year’s festival.

However it all could have turned out so differently for Faulds, with a different path open in the early days to follow: “I have been brought up in a crime environment from day one. It seems glamorous, but Hollywood are the ones who make it appear that way. I have family who are well established in the underworld, but the difference between them and myself are our fathers. My step-dad David Faulds, always encouraged me to be who I am today. The papers called him a gangster, though I call him a very smart business man. He was self-educated and had a manner about him that made him hold power over criminals. His work ethic was amazing, he always grafted and what he wanted, he’d get. Although he was a well-known face in Glasgow, he served in the Parachute regiment in the early days. That encouraged me to join the British army.”

The loss of his step-father left massive hole for Gary, however it would be a constant inspiration to pursue his dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian: “After David died I got into comedy. I don’t want to steal from people or to sell drugs. I’ve always wanted to make people laugh and be happy.

"When he passed I never knew what to do and I had considered getting involved in the family security firm. But with players such as Ferris, Scoobie Rodden & The Devil (Boaby Dempster), I knew I had no chance of survival and decided what I’m best at is being funny”.

“I have been doing comedy for two and half years now. It started with playing at rough pubs in Glasgow. I think that’s why I started to build up a good name for myself, because I have started out by playing a lot of hard gigs.  I originally got into it after I was telling stories about a lads holiday I had just come back from at the barbers, Urban-Funk, and I had a whole place full of strangers in stitches laughing. The barber, my mate Jimmy told me I should do comedy, so the next weekend I went along to The State Bar to try it. I only lasted 1 minute, 24 seconds before being gonged off. But that one laugh I got was like a drug and I perfected my act before returning a few months later and winning the gong.”

However perfecting the act is certainly no easy task: “People must think that it’s easy being funny and sometimes it is. But the work a comedian has to put into a set is unbelievable. If I have a joke that is maybe 10 seconds long and for that joke to be perfect and to fit for the stage, I will have probably written about half a notepad. So imagine what a 40 minute show is like”.

There have been a lot of emotions during Faulds’ years as a comedian. However emotions were perhaps never higher on the night of the Clutha disaster, with his mother and auntie at the bar on the night of the crash: “They are both still suffering from it mentally today. My dad had just passed away a few months before, so it was very challenging to go on stage and be funny when my mother was suffering so much.”

Gary also speaks about the influence finding Jesus has had on him and the positives it has had upon his life: “People always ask about how I found Jesus and I always tell them - he wasn’t hiding behind a curtain or anything, he’s always there. I found a good church called C7 and the experience has changed my life in so many positive ways. Hopefully with the show, I will be able to make as many people laugh as possible.”

Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Yum Yums” will be at Urban Funk, 12th, 19th & 26th March, during the Glasgow Comedy Festival. Gary’s website is at (www.GaryFaulds.co.uk)