Music

David Bowie

23rd September 1999: the day that I first discovered David Bowie. Obsessed, moi? Finding the music of this ever changing talent changed my life, and if that sounds over dramatic, well, I was fifteen at the time. It’s been said a million times before but Bowie really is one of the most original talents there is. Musician, singer, lyricist, sometime actor and website pioneer (first musician to set up an ISP in case you were wondering) there’s no one quite like him. Not bad looking either. :)

REM

I’m a fairly new convert to this band, but I’m making up for lost time. Their songs can sometimes be profound, sometimes light hearted and sometimes, well, sometimes it’s anyone’s guess what Michael Stipe’s on about, but they’re always memorable. Great musicians, beautiful melodies and of course that voice.

Fairport Convention

Who? Shame on you. Fairport have over their thirty five years produced songs that leave the work of many well known ‘stars’ in the shade. They happen to have invented folk rock, but if that makes you underestimate them, do so at your peril. Songs by members of Fairport have been covered by such people as Eva Cassidy and REM and perhaps more people have heard of them than you think. There are three closet fans lurking in my year alone. The current Fairport line up (now I’ve written this someone will leave) consists of Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Gerry Conway, Ric Sanders and Chris Leslie who happens to be one of my most favourite people in the world. Go on; give them a try, folk rock might not be as scary as you think.