1. First record you ever bought:
Well DISCO doesn't count, as I was a mere child. My first real record was Booker T and the MGs. I thought I was a mod when I was 13 and loved the Specials, The Beat, northern soul and had seen Quadrophenia so was fully fledged mod-ette with winkle pickers and everything!

2. Best gig?
Echo and the Bunnymen at Erics in Liverpool.  I was madly in love with Ian Maculloch and this gig opened my eyes to how thrilling live music could be. Macca was freaking out and the band were unbelievable - I began to suspect there was more to music than meets the ear …

3. Six records you couldn't live without
* How Soon Is Now by The Smiths
* Transmission by Joy Division
* Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order 
* Down In The Tube Station At Midnight by The Jam
* Seven Days Too Long.Dexys covered this in 1980 and the original Chuck Woods version is equally essential
* Feelin' Alright by Traffic

4. First record you ever played on the radio?
Ray Of Light by Madonna on the GLR Drivetime show presenting a Christmas Special.

5.  A record that makes you laugh?
Babies by Pulp or Saturday's Kids by The Jam … without these there'd be no Mike Skinner.

6. A record that sounds better in the dark?
Vibrate by Rufus Wainwright .

7. A song you wish you'd written?
Mr Clean by The Jam.