What's this blog post all about I hear you cry (well, I say cry, but you're probably not even saying it, let alone think it. You're probably thinking please god not another wrestling blog post...well, your prayers have been answered because this isn't one of those posts). Well, this is my look at some of the things I enjoy.
I like to make lists. I'm an organised person. I make To Do lists at work. I categorise my favourite films & albums into a list. I make Pro & Con lists after I meet a prospective female mate. Its what I do. Call it OCD, but it helps me put things into perspective in a way.
This blog post will be full of lists. These will include random lists, but will give you an insight into my life & what makes me tick. Some of you reading this may also have made lists. If so, please feel free to let me know & elaborate why you chose what you did. It's weird, but certain things can spark an idea. This blog post was created because someone asked me what my favourite film was, & I could only name my top two. This got me thinking, what are my favourite things? Like most people, tastes change all the time. I know mine do. If you ask what some of my favourite things are now I can guarantee that these were all different at least 6 months beforehand.
Lets start off with music. Over the years I've had the fortune (sometimes misfortune) to appreciate a number of genres of music, and most people would claim that I have a very eclectic music library. Being a DJ (especially one who caters for private parties more than club nights) I have to ensure that I can play anything from the 50's onwards. When I look back as to what I actually grew up with & enjoyed, I find that I'm now moving back into that realm of music.
I have tried so hard to remember the songs & albums that shaped my youth, that provided me the ability to appreciate every kind of music. It's weird, I can remember the first vinyl single, the first vinyl album, the first cassette album & the first CD I ever purchased, but I can't remember the first piece of music I ever heard. As a rambuctious youth I was always kept "mellowed" out (if you consider air guitaring & jumping off the front room furniture) by the Queen Greatest Hits album. But then I also had memories of hearing Elton John, The Carpenters, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Barry White, Chuck Berry, Edison Lighthouse & many more, especially during Sunday lunchtimes when we would chow down on a roast dinner to the aural delights of the Jimmy Saville show on Radio 1.
At school I was one of the odd ones out. Whilst my schoolmates enjoyed the "delights" of rave and Jungle music, I would always be found listening to AC/DC, Guns N Roses, Iron Maiden and Metallica. The whole boyband & pop phase never really made its way to me, though I did own the 2 Unlimited album, as well as the cassette single for Jamaican In New York. Come to think of it, I may even have owned Mr Loverman by Shabba Ranks. Ok, so I listened to some pap, but 95% of my music collection was rock related.
Towards the end of my school life I became affected by the Britpop phenomenon that was spreading around the UK. I wasn't a supporter of Blur or Oasis, I liked them both, along with Shed Seven, The Supernaturals, Echobelly, Cast, The Seahorses, Mansun, Embrace & more. Outside of school I knew enough people that wanted to go to gigs but would always be boring & stand at the back. That wasn't (& still - to a degree - isn't) my mantra & I was lucky enough to be one of the people picked up & caught on camera in the Oasis video Live By the Sea (I was also in their video for Rock N Roll Star). I was also at Mile End when Blur returned home & managed to get three rows from the front to really rock on - not bad for a 16 year old right?
At college I met one of my closest friends who got me into heavier industrial vibes (NIN, Marilyn Manson, KMFDM, Ministry). From there I moved onto heavier bands (Pantera, Machine Head, Korn, Metallica, Slipknot), and the only progression from there was even heavier (Arch Enemy, The Haunted). I've always been into heavy stuff but over the last couple of years my tastes have changed. I compared my playlist of today with that of one I made (& noted on facebook on the 16th May 2011). Back then my playlist contained 41 songs by 38 bands/artists. Today, I only have 1 artist from that playlist on my iPod.
So now I get to that part where I list my favourite music related things.
My Favourite Song of All Time: Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
My Favourite Album of All Time: Mechanical Animals by Marilyn Manson
My Favourite Gig of All Time: Black Stone Cherry & Rival Sons at Kentish Town Forum, 28th March 2012
My Favourite Bands of All Time: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Queen, Black Stone Cherry, Arch Enemy, Metallica
The Band I've Seen Live the Most: Black Stone Cherry (7 times)
I'm Currently Listening To: Invaders Must Die by the Prodigy
The Last 10 Tracks I Listened To Are: 1. Lesser Man by Soil, 2. Autre Temps by Alcest, 3. Emerge by Fischerspooner, 4. Supersonic Sex Machine by Steel Panther, 5. Born to Raise Hell by Motorhead/Ice T, 6. Dark Night by The Blasters, 7. Voodoo People (Live) by The Prodigy, 8. Sister Christian by Night Ranger, 9. Jordan by Buckethead, 10. Push Push (Lady Lightning by Bang Camaro
The Last 10 Albums I Listened To Are: 1. Rise by The Answer, 2. Live at London Astoria by Black Stone Cherry, 3. Seeking Major Tom by William Shatner, 4. Born Villain by Marilyn Manson, 5. Picture Perfect by Soil, 7. Rise of the Fenix by Tenacious D, 8. Balls Out by Steel Panther, 9. Les Voyages De L'Ame by Alcest, 10. Get Your Wings by Aerosmith.
The Last CD I Purchased: Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea by Black Stone Cherry
The First CD I Ever Purchased: Boss Drum by The Shamen
The First Vinyl I Ever Purchased: Don't You Want Me by the Human League
The First Cassette I Ever Purchased: Bad by Michael Jackson
The First Gig I Ever Went To: Oasis at the Cliffs Pavillion in 1994
The Last Gig I Went To: Black Stone Cherry & Rival Sons at Kentish Town Forum, 28th March 2012
The Next Gig Lined Up: Lynyrd Skynyrd at Hammersmith Apollo, 3rd June 2012
First Festival I Ever Went To: Phoenix Festival, 1995
Last Festival I Ever Went To: Download Festival, June 2011
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