Films

TV

Books

Women

Artists

The first band I was ever into was The Monkees, back in the Sixties. Don't laugh...Oh alright, go on then, laugh. Anyway, I used to have a big scrapbook of clippings from magazines and newspapers, all devoted to The Monkees. Mickey was my favourite Monkee. He was the funniest, and he played the drums - which I thought were cool (oh, also - god that guy could sing!). I also used to have a collection of all but two of the Monkees swap cards that came out in the Sixties. For some stupid reason I gave them all away one time to a guy at Primary school. I often think that if I can only get them back someday I will regain something of my childhood.

Hey, you wouldn't happen to have them, would you?

My interest in music only really kicked in, however, when I discovered - rather belatedly - top 40 radio back in '74. 3XY was the station, and I listened to it every chance I could get. In fact, I'd get jittery if I couldn't hear it, wondering what they were playing. Maybe they were playing Steve Miller Band's The Joker or Alvin Stardust's My Coo Ca Choo right now!

Then I grew up, and discovered alternative radio. My interests went in all kinds of directions from there. Mostly I was just following my 'muse', but sometimes I had help. I can credit my mate Matthew for getting me into REM, and my younger brother Carl for turning me on to Kate Bush.

So, here are some favourites (That's right: all rock or country, no classical or jazz - maybe I'll leave them for my old age!):

The Kinks, Stereolab, Moody Blues, XTC, Emmylou Harris, Dusty Springfield, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, REM, The Go Betweens, The Triffids, The Clouds , Mazzy Star, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Teenage Fanclub, Black Sabbath, Kate Bush, Big Star, The Bangles, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Died Pretty, Justin Hayward, David Bowie, Tori Amos, Lisa Miller, Roxy Music, Bruce Springsteen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Clash, The Jam, The Velvet Underground, Abba, The Pixies, The Sundays

Fave songwriters:

Ray Davies, John Lennon, Justin Hayward, Andy Partridge

For a list of 30 favourite albums, click here .