We put the same questions to a number of musicians, you know the thing, all those interesting facts that are not always the truth but what we all like others to believe...eg the first single you bought was, say (cool, approved answer) 'I Don't Like Mondays' by The Boomtown Rats...whereas it was actually (cue ridicule overload) 'The Smurf Song' by The Smurfs...and such like...
The questions we ask are:
1 - FIRST SINGLE BOUGHT
2 - FIRST GIG ATTENDED
3 - TOP 3 TRACKS OF ALL-TIME
4 - TOP 3 ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME
5 - TOP 3 FAVOURITE ARTISTS OF ALL-TIME
6 - FAVOURITE GIG VENUE
7 - BEST GIG EVER ATTENDED
1 - FIRST SINGLE BOUGHT
2 - FIRST GIG ATTENDED
3 - TOP 3 TRACKS OF ALL-TIME
4 - TOP 3 ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME
5 - TOP 3 FAVOURITE ARTISTS OF ALL-TIME
6 - FAVOURITE GIG VENUE
7 - BEST GIG EVER ATTENDED
STEVE CRADOCK - guitarist/singer (Steve Cradock Band, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene)
1 - 'Beat Surrender' (The Jam)
2 - UB40 (Birmingham Odeon, 1981)
3 - 'I'm Stepping Out Of The Picture' (Johnny Maestro & The Crests); 'The Night' (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons); 'Better Use Your Head' (Little Anthony & The Imperials)
4 - The Gift (The Jam); Innerspeaker (Tame Impala); The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari (Count Ossie)
5 - The Wailers; The Beatles; The Lilac Time
6 - Glasgow Barrowlands
7 - The Stone Roses (The Birmingham Irish Centre, 1989)
2 - UB40 (Birmingham Odeon, 1981)
3 - 'I'm Stepping Out Of The Picture' (Johnny Maestro & The Crests); 'The Night' (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons); 'Better Use Your Head' (Little Anthony & The Imperials)
4 - The Gift (The Jam); Innerspeaker (Tame Impala); The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari (Count Ossie)
5 - The Wailers; The Beatles; The Lilac Time
6 - Glasgow Barrowlands
7 - The Stone Roses (The Birmingham Irish Centre, 1989)
SAM FORREST - singer/guitarist, Nine Black Alps
1 - 'Heatseeker' by AC/DC. Black seven inch vinyl with an orange label in a black bag. I think it was half price or something because it didn't have the fancy artwork. I got it from Track Records in York. The shop used to change locations every couple of years and then vanished about ten years ago when the internet swallowed everything up. AC/DC are so bad, and so good. I don't think it's possible to listen to them without a sense of humour. Plus Angus Young's guitar solo on 'Let There Be Rock' makes me cry every time.
2 - The Wedding Present at York Barbican. When I was into metal, I was too young to go to any gigs. So when I was old enough, I was getting into 'weirder' things like Pixies, Sonic Youth and The Wedding Present. I didn't know them really well, but somebody made me a compilation mix tape, so I knew the 'hits' and knew that they were really indie. I don't remember much of the show, except it was really loud and violent sounding, and that I got punched in the face which made me feel kind of cool.
3 - 'JC' by Sonic Youth, 'Dear Prudence' by The Beatles, and 'Teenage Whore' by Hole.
4 - 'Doolittle' by Pixies, 'Elliott Smith' by Elliott Smith and 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' by Neil Young.
5 - The Beatles, Nirvana, Elliott Smith.
6 - Club Quattro - Tokyo because it's in Tokyo.
7 - The most memorable one I can think of was Babes In Toyland at Queens Hall in Bradford. It was probably the fourth show I'd been to, and it was the first American band I'd seen. I remember it being really sloppy and violent and weird but it was mesmerising, and was the first time I'd seen star quality - whatever that is, in the flesh. By the end of it I knew that I wanted to do whatever it was that they were doing.
2 - The Wedding Present at York Barbican. When I was into metal, I was too young to go to any gigs. So when I was old enough, I was getting into 'weirder' things like Pixies, Sonic Youth and The Wedding Present. I didn't know them really well, but somebody made me a compilation mix tape, so I knew the 'hits' and knew that they were really indie. I don't remember much of the show, except it was really loud and violent sounding, and that I got punched in the face which made me feel kind of cool.
3 - 'JC' by Sonic Youth, 'Dear Prudence' by The Beatles, and 'Teenage Whore' by Hole.
4 - 'Doolittle' by Pixies, 'Elliott Smith' by Elliott Smith and 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' by Neil Young.
5 - The Beatles, Nirvana, Elliott Smith.
6 - Club Quattro - Tokyo because it's in Tokyo.
7 - The most memorable one I can think of was Babes In Toyland at Queens Hall in Bradford. It was probably the fourth show I'd been to, and it was the first American band I'd seen. I remember it being really sloppy and violent and weird but it was mesmerising, and was the first time I'd seen star quality - whatever that is, in the flesh. By the end of it I knew that I wanted to do whatever it was that they were doing.
SHERRY LeBLANC - singer, Love Inks
1 - I don't remember the first single, but the first cassette I bought with my own money was Phil Collins' 'No Jacket Required' when I was 8 years old. My dad thought that was odd for a kid, so he bought a copy of Paula Abdul's 'Forever Your Girl' to try and lighten it up a bit. Both of those tapes continue to rule.
2 - The first concert I went to with my own money was David Bowie & Nine Inch Nails when I was 12. I had to beg my parents to buy the tickets in advance and did tons of babysitting & yard work to pay back the cost of the $30 ticket. It was well worth it - I was obsessed with Bowie at the time.
3 - This is actually an impossible question because my answer changes every 5 minutes. Right now I'll say 'Whatever Gets You Through the Night' by John Lennon, 'Tight Rope' by Leon Russell and 'I'd Rather Be With You' by Bootsy Collins. Obviously this list was changing even as I typed it - it's all about the emotion your feeling at that exact moment.
4 - Oh man, same thing with the ever-changing. I feel like this needs to be a more specific category. Like, the top 3 albums for working through a broken heart. Or the top 3 albums for road trips. Answering on a whim I'll say Neutral Milk Hotel's 'Aeroplane Over the Sea', John Lennon's 'Mind Games' and then it's a total tie between Paul McCartney's 'Ram' and Paul Simon's 'Graceland'.
5 - Joni Mitchell, JJ Cale and John Lennon
6 - La Marquise in Lyon, France. The sound guy & promoter were awesome, we had dinner with them and laughed a lot all night. It was one of the best shows we've played just because the vibes were so positive. I found out later that my family is originally from Lyon so I like to think there was some sort of historical magic working with me that night. The only downside to playing on a boat is the seasickness...
7 - It's a tie between Jeff Mangum playing 'Neutral Milk Hotel' songs last year and Erykah Badu on her 'Mama's Gun' tour. For Jeff Mangum I went with my best friend and we were both crying - those songs had such a big impact on our lives and it was honestly a spiritual experience for me. Erykah Badu is one of my all time favorites and she brings it with her live performance. She pretended to smoke incense, stripped down to a bald head and her underpants by the end of the show, turned the whole place into a dance party, crowd surfed, it was incredible. A close second is seeing Paul Simon live which was also life changing.
2 - The first concert I went to with my own money was David Bowie & Nine Inch Nails when I was 12. I had to beg my parents to buy the tickets in advance and did tons of babysitting & yard work to pay back the cost of the $30 ticket. It was well worth it - I was obsessed with Bowie at the time.
3 - This is actually an impossible question because my answer changes every 5 minutes. Right now I'll say 'Whatever Gets You Through the Night' by John Lennon, 'Tight Rope' by Leon Russell and 'I'd Rather Be With You' by Bootsy Collins. Obviously this list was changing even as I typed it - it's all about the emotion your feeling at that exact moment.
4 - Oh man, same thing with the ever-changing. I feel like this needs to be a more specific category. Like, the top 3 albums for working through a broken heart. Or the top 3 albums for road trips. Answering on a whim I'll say Neutral Milk Hotel's 'Aeroplane Over the Sea', John Lennon's 'Mind Games' and then it's a total tie between Paul McCartney's 'Ram' and Paul Simon's 'Graceland'.
5 - Joni Mitchell, JJ Cale and John Lennon
6 - La Marquise in Lyon, France. The sound guy & promoter were awesome, we had dinner with them and laughed a lot all night. It was one of the best shows we've played just because the vibes were so positive. I found out later that my family is originally from Lyon so I like to think there was some sort of historical magic working with me that night. The only downside to playing on a boat is the seasickness...
7 - It's a tie between Jeff Mangum playing 'Neutral Milk Hotel' songs last year and Erykah Badu on her 'Mama's Gun' tour. For Jeff Mangum I went with my best friend and we were both crying - those songs had such a big impact on our lives and it was honestly a spiritual experience for me. Erykah Badu is one of my all time favorites and she brings it with her live performance. She pretended to smoke incense, stripped down to a bald head and her underpants by the end of the show, turned the whole place into a dance party, crowd surfed, it was incredible. A close second is seeing Paul Simon live which was also life changing.
NIGEL CLARK - lead singer/bassist of Dodgy
1 - 1st notable single - apart from Benny Hill's classic 'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)' with the B-side stick yer finger in yer ear ('Ting A Ling A Loo' - Ed) - was 'God Save The Queen' by The Sex Pistols - second hand off a friend's older brother - it cost a whole week's lunch money....
2 - Well this should have been Stiff Little Fingers at the Odeon in Birmingham....but I had a little brush with the law and as punishment my parents refused to let me go. So the honour of first gig must go to The Damned at the Tower Ballroom - probably the craziest gig ever. All the punks pulled out these huge palm trees from the dance floor and proceeded to plonk them onstage.... I thought this was normal behaviour.... Captain Sensible playing guitar naked whilst been called a wanker by the entire crowd....ah those were the days ;-)
3 - I hate these sort of questions: 'Little Baby' (Lee Dorsey); 'London Calling' (The Clash); 'Good Vibrations' (Beach Boys)
4 - Sandinista (The Clash); Forever Changes (Love); Marquee Moon (Television)
5 - Leonard Cohen; Townes van Zandt; Bill Withers or Neil Young
6 - Outdoors in a field somewhere with sunshine, a big sound system and any of the above artists playing the songs I love, with a cider in my hand and a joint in my mouth.... ;-)
7 - Leonard Cohen at The Big Chill in 2007/2008 or Neil Young at Finsbury Park with Booket T. and the M.G.'s
2 - Well this should have been Stiff Little Fingers at the Odeon in Birmingham....but I had a little brush with the law and as punishment my parents refused to let me go. So the honour of first gig must go to The Damned at the Tower Ballroom - probably the craziest gig ever. All the punks pulled out these huge palm trees from the dance floor and proceeded to plonk them onstage.... I thought this was normal behaviour.... Captain Sensible playing guitar naked whilst been called a wanker by the entire crowd....ah those were the days ;-)
3 - I hate these sort of questions: 'Little Baby' (Lee Dorsey); 'London Calling' (The Clash); 'Good Vibrations' (Beach Boys)
4 - Sandinista (The Clash); Forever Changes (Love); Marquee Moon (Television)
5 - Leonard Cohen; Townes van Zandt; Bill Withers or Neil Young
6 - Outdoors in a field somewhere with sunshine, a big sound system and any of the above artists playing the songs I love, with a cider in my hand and a joint in my mouth.... ;-)
7 - Leonard Cohen at The Big Chill in 2007/2008 or Neil Young at Finsbury Park with Booket T. and the M.G.'s
MATHEW PRIEST - drummer of Dodgy (and ex-Lightning Seeds amongst others)
1 - 'Just Who Is The Five O'Clock Hero' - The Jam. For my brother's 14th birthday, I would have been 12. I believe it wasn't actually a UK release, a Dutch import, but the Jam were so popular that it still got in the charts
2 - Queen at the NEC on the Flash tour. My dad took me. I would have been about 10. Outrageous
3 - 'Change Gonna Come' (Sam Cooke); 'Higher Than The Sun' (Primal Scream); 'Family Affair' (Sly And The Family Stone)
4 - Quadrophenia (The Who); Pet Sounds (Beach Boys); Best Of Nina Simone (Phillips edition)
5 - The Who; Nina Simone; Neil Young
6 - Brixton Academy, though the old Astoria was ace. Festival wise, it would be Beautiful Days or Eden Project - natural amphitheatres
7 - Stone Roses at V last year was amazing
2 - Queen at the NEC on the Flash tour. My dad took me. I would have been about 10. Outrageous
3 - 'Change Gonna Come' (Sam Cooke); 'Higher Than The Sun' (Primal Scream); 'Family Affair' (Sly And The Family Stone)
4 - Quadrophenia (The Who); Pet Sounds (Beach Boys); Best Of Nina Simone (Phillips edition)
5 - The Who; Nina Simone; Neil Young
6 - Brixton Academy, though the old Astoria was ace. Festival wise, it would be Beautiful Days or Eden Project - natural amphitheatres
7 - Stone Roses at V last year was amazing
JAMES CHAPMAN - musician/mixer, mastermind behind Maps
1 - The BBC theme tune to the Mexico '86 World Cup!
2 - Suede (Hammersmith Palais, 1994)
3 - 'The Man Machine' (Kraftwerk); 'My Back Pages' (The Byrds); 'Sometimes' (My Bloody Valentine)
4 - Secret Name (Low); Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys); Geodaddi (Boards Of Canada)
5 - Kraftwerk; The Beach Boys; Low
6 - Union Chapel, Islington
7 - Low (Union Chapel, Islington, 1999)
2 - Suede (Hammersmith Palais, 1994)
3 - 'The Man Machine' (Kraftwerk); 'My Back Pages' (The Byrds); 'Sometimes' (My Bloody Valentine)
4 - Secret Name (Low); Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys); Geodaddi (Boards Of Canada)
5 - Kraftwerk; The Beach Boys; Low
6 - Union Chapel, Islington
7 - Low (Union Chapel, Islington, 1999)
PARLOUR FLAMES - Vinny Peculiar and Bonehead
1 - VINNY - 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down' (Joan Baez)
1 - BONEHEAD - not sure, probably a Stranglers record
2 - VINNY - Gary Glitter (Birmingham Town Hall, 1972)
2 - BONEHEAD - The Kinks, One For The Road Tour (Manchester, 1981)
3 - VINNY - 'All The Young Dudes' (Mott The Hoople); 'The Only Living Boy In New York' (Simon & Garfunkel); 'The Last Time I Saw Richard' (Joni Mitchell)
3 - BONEHEAD - changes all the time, but now: 'In A Broken Dream' (Python Lee Jackson, ftg Rod Stewart); 'Spooky' (Dusty Springfield); 'First Time I Ever Saw Your Face' (Ewan MacColl)
4 - VINNY - Hunky Dory (David Bowie); Marquee Moon (Television); After Murder Park (The Auteurs)
4 - BONEHEAD - changes daily, today it's: Ooh La La (Faces); The Smiths (The Smiths); any Bob Marley album
5 - VINNY - David Bowie; Talking Heads; Neil Young
5 - BONEHEAD - Bob Marley; early Bee Gees; David Bowie
6 - VINNY - Birmingham Town Hall - I've never played there but I've always loved it, it was the first place I saw bands
6 - BONEHEAD - Glasgow Barrowlands
7 - VINNY - Talking Heads + A Certain Ratio (Birmingham Odeon, 1981)
7 - BONEHEAD - I played it as well as attending - Oasis (Loch Lomond) - was special
1 - BONEHEAD - not sure, probably a Stranglers record
2 - VINNY - Gary Glitter (Birmingham Town Hall, 1972)
2 - BONEHEAD - The Kinks, One For The Road Tour (Manchester, 1981)
3 - VINNY - 'All The Young Dudes' (Mott The Hoople); 'The Only Living Boy In New York' (Simon & Garfunkel); 'The Last Time I Saw Richard' (Joni Mitchell)
3 - BONEHEAD - changes all the time, but now: 'In A Broken Dream' (Python Lee Jackson, ftg Rod Stewart); 'Spooky' (Dusty Springfield); 'First Time I Ever Saw Your Face' (Ewan MacColl)
4 - VINNY - Hunky Dory (David Bowie); Marquee Moon (Television); After Murder Park (The Auteurs)
4 - BONEHEAD - changes daily, today it's: Ooh La La (Faces); The Smiths (The Smiths); any Bob Marley album
5 - VINNY - David Bowie; Talking Heads; Neil Young
5 - BONEHEAD - Bob Marley; early Bee Gees; David Bowie
6 - VINNY - Birmingham Town Hall - I've never played there but I've always loved it, it was the first place I saw bands
6 - BONEHEAD - Glasgow Barrowlands
7 - VINNY - Talking Heads + A Certain Ratio (Birmingham Odeon, 1981)
7 - BONEHEAD - I played it as well as attending - Oasis (Loch Lomond) - was special
JASON HILL - frontman of supergroup Vicky Cryer, and Louis XIV
1 - I was 4 or 5 years old I think and I remember it vividly. My father was in the Air Force Reserves and he would take us to the base at Miramar in San Diego every once in a while on the weekends. I remember buying The Village People, 'YMCA' and 'In the Navy' while my older brother bought Queen's 'We Are The Champions'/'We Will Rock You' 7". I remember the drive home and my brother chastising me for my purchase, a conversation that hasn't stopped for the many many years since. Oddly enough, those two purchases of my brothers and my own would very much influence my musical tastes for my entire life so far
2 - First one I went to on my own that I can remember was Judas Priest in the 8th or 9th grade. I had gotten free tickets in some way, a friend or something offered them to me and I went and saw the show knowing nothing about the band. The show started with Rob Halford in all black, fully leathered up entering the stage on a motorcycle. It was pure show business and pretty amazing
3 - These next 3 questions are far too difficult to answer seriously. But I'll try and give some favorites that come to mind quickly. 1. 'L' Hotel Particulier' (Serge Gainsbourg); 'Oh Yeah' (Roxy Music); 'Mystifies Me' (Ronnie Wood featuring Keith Richards)
4 - I've Got My Own Album To Do (Ronnie Wood); C'est Chic (Chic); Themes (Vangelis)
5 - David Bowie; David Byrne; Marc Bolan - but this is just the beginning of a long list of favorites
6 - Casbah in San Diego and Great American Music Hall in San Francisco
7 - I was invited to dinner with Elton John a few years back at his suite at the Rio in Las Vegas - just me, a couple of friends and Elton and David. My friend Brandon asked Elton about his new album and to play it for us. Elton put on the CD of the record but said he didn't like the vocal mix so he pulled up a chair a foot or two in front of me on the couch, slid on some pink lensed sunglasses and sang the entire record, 45 minutes or so just sitting there inches from me, his face pointing squarely at my face. It was half the most uncomfortable concert I've ever seen and half the most interesting. The question consistently running thru my mind for the duration was, "Where do I look? I can't stare right at him but do I just close my eyes or do I look down". I believe I did a 3 step program of alternating between all 3!
2 - First one I went to on my own that I can remember was Judas Priest in the 8th or 9th grade. I had gotten free tickets in some way, a friend or something offered them to me and I went and saw the show knowing nothing about the band. The show started with Rob Halford in all black, fully leathered up entering the stage on a motorcycle. It was pure show business and pretty amazing
3 - These next 3 questions are far too difficult to answer seriously. But I'll try and give some favorites that come to mind quickly. 1. 'L' Hotel Particulier' (Serge Gainsbourg); 'Oh Yeah' (Roxy Music); 'Mystifies Me' (Ronnie Wood featuring Keith Richards)
4 - I've Got My Own Album To Do (Ronnie Wood); C'est Chic (Chic); Themes (Vangelis)
5 - David Bowie; David Byrne; Marc Bolan - but this is just the beginning of a long list of favorites
6 - Casbah in San Diego and Great American Music Hall in San Francisco
7 - I was invited to dinner with Elton John a few years back at his suite at the Rio in Las Vegas - just me, a couple of friends and Elton and David. My friend Brandon asked Elton about his new album and to play it for us. Elton put on the CD of the record but said he didn't like the vocal mix so he pulled up a chair a foot or two in front of me on the couch, slid on some pink lensed sunglasses and sang the entire record, 45 minutes or so just sitting there inches from me, his face pointing squarely at my face. It was half the most uncomfortable concert I've ever seen and half the most interesting. The question consistently running thru my mind for the duration was, "Where do I look? I can't stare right at him but do I just close my eyes or do I look down". I believe I did a 3 step program of alternating between all 3!
MARK GARDENER - solo artist/mixer/producer and ex-Ride
1 - 'Denis Denis' (Blondie)
2 - Big Country (Oxford Apollo, 1983)
3 - impossible choice, I have too many - for now, 'Best Friend' (The Beat); 'God Only Knows' (Beach Boys); 'I Wish I Knew How It Feels To Be Free' (Nina Simone)
4 - Who's Next (The Who); Surfs Up (Beach Boys); any of The Beatles albums
5 - Simon and Garfunkel; The Rolling Stones; Scott Walker
6 - Glastonbury Festival
7 - too many again - My Bloody Valentine at ULU on the 'Isn't Anything' tour; Rolling Stones at Wembley Stadium on the Voodoo Lounge tour; Orbital; The Orb; Prodigy; Leftfield and Paul McCartney at various Glastonbury festivals back in the day!
2 - Big Country (Oxford Apollo, 1983)
3 - impossible choice, I have too many - for now, 'Best Friend' (The Beat); 'God Only Knows' (Beach Boys); 'I Wish I Knew How It Feels To Be Free' (Nina Simone)
4 - Who's Next (The Who); Surfs Up (Beach Boys); any of The Beatles albums
5 - Simon and Garfunkel; The Rolling Stones; Scott Walker
6 - Glastonbury Festival
7 - too many again - My Bloody Valentine at ULU on the 'Isn't Anything' tour; Rolling Stones at Wembley Stadium on the Voodoo Lounge tour; Orbital; The Orb; Prodigy; Leftfield and Paul McCartney at various Glastonbury festivals back in the day!
CHRIS OLLEY - singer/songwriter of Six.by Seven and solo artist
1 - couldn't remember, but first single owned was 'All You Need Is Love' (The Beatles) - a gift from cousin Dave
2 - Iron Maiden (Dortmund, Germany, 1980)
3 - off the top of my head - 'All You Need Is Love' (The Beatles); 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' (Joy Division); 'Sugar Mountain' (Neil Young)
4 - Rust Never Sleeps (Neil Young); Highway To Hell (AC/DC); Green (REM)
5 - Neil Young; Pixies; The Dandy Warhols
6 - Rock City, Nottingham
7 - White Stripes at The Heavenly Social, Nottingham, about 10 years ago
2 - Iron Maiden (Dortmund, Germany, 1980)
3 - off the top of my head - 'All You Need Is Love' (The Beatles); 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' (Joy Division); 'Sugar Mountain' (Neil Young)
4 - Rust Never Sleeps (Neil Young); Highway To Hell (AC/DC); Green (REM)
5 - Neil Young; Pixies; The Dandy Warhols
6 - Rock City, Nottingham
7 - White Stripes at The Heavenly Social, Nottingham, about 10 years ago
