I'm a rockstar on hiatus - Ask Me (Almost) Anything

[SweetnSaltyPopcornPlease]

I'm a semi-successful musician in a rock band. It's my only occupation, has been for some years. I've been a lot of places, seen a lot of stuff and met a lot of people. Ask me anything. I can't answer everything for various reasons but let's see how it goes...

@DryHeave

I want it to be Mystery Jets.

Me too Saw them at Oxjam a while back now and they were so good.

Liz Jones's rock star was Michael Hutchence, not Jim Kerr
My partner is a sound engineer and producer so i'm kind of intrigued now!

What's the most impressive freebie or perk of the job that has happened to you while touring?

How many people in the band - or are you a roadie?

How does each member of the band feel about Marmite?

What sort of music does the band play?

Do you drive around In a van and only eat at motorway services in the early hours of the morning?

Do you insist on specific M&Ms in the Green Room?

Who, in your opinion is the most underrated artist? (I was gobsmacked when Capaldi won the Brits over Kiwanuka)

Have you ever headlined the Godiva Festival?

are you male or female?

Oooh Yes! Cant disagree with any of those. Lovely to hear the Cocteau twins and De La Soul mentioned - you're right about context. So exciting and new at the time. You've got me interested in Natalie Merchant - am off to listen to her.

I also think Tracey Thorn was/is a very good songwriter. This thread is fun .. sometimes you get a DJ who's about to stand in for a regular on radio come on here looking for inspiration and saying "what's your favourite song of all time?" and asked directly like that I can never narrow it down. But a general conversation makes you think about and remember favourites.

Also for serenda If I love George Benson's guitar music, who would I start off with as far as Jazz is concerned? I have a feeling I'd really like it but don't know who to start with.

10,000 maniacs - Don't talk - just the best guitar intro

Felt - Primitive Painters

Yes to Tracey Thorn I did like EBTG.

But also The Jam, The Clash, a lot of the NY Punk scene (Ramones, Blondie)

And Talking Heads. And The Smiths. And The Cure. There's so many.

I think you’re in The Vaccines.

Speaking of which, how do you feel about vaccines? Do you always get the recommended ones for travel? Would you say you’re more sensible or rock-n-roll, generally?

Love this thread When was the last time you were star struck?

Ah she has buggered off now. Soz.

Good sleuthing guys.

RatM were with Kasabian at FujiRock.

Impressed at the Mumsnet detective skills as ever.

If anyone on this thread is into gossip about 90s indie bands then I highly recommend reading “tell all” books by the following ... the Appleton Sisters, Louise Werner (Sleeper), Pearl Lowe, Sadie Frost and Lily Allen. Liam Gallagher pops up shagging in nearly all of them 😂

@InappropriateFire

Have you listened to Coltrane yet?

Are you from Cleveleys?

Yeah serenada.. again I can't disagree. As you will have realised .. I didn't honestly think I'd narrowed it down to those people I listed some fantastic names on your next list. As you say Talking Heads and The Smiths - how could I have forgotten them? The Clash were one of the best live bands I've ever seen. Best listened to live IMHO rather than recorded. And Van Morrison the opposite. Not so great on stage but sublime at home with a drink in your hand.

I have been wanting to ask that question about jazz for a long time so I'm grateful for your advice/referrals. Will set off to google/applemusic. Another band I particularly loved was Royksopp, who were around in the early noughties. Loved them and also Bjork.

Bit mean to out her, she might have posted other stuff with that name.

Louise Werner was on the radio while my first child was born into the world. Will never forget it.

@Cheetahfajita I searched the user name before posting and this is the only thread that user name has posted on. However, point taken and I’ll report my own post and request to be deleted.

Hi serenda I was typing when you were ... I'm embarrassed to say I haven't what would you start off with?
Courtesy of YouTube I'm now listening to Blue Train whilst typing .. if you never do anything good again in your life you've converted me to Coltrane

@InappropriateFire

Oh yes, The Sugarcubes. Van the man, too.

I have Strummer's plectrum from the last gig he played in London. Got out at the end of the set.

I was very fortunate to see a lot of bands in teh eighties at Brixton academy, Camden Palais and Hammersmith Odeon. The following day you could get the bootleg of the gig in Camden Mkt (tiny then!)

Saw New Order,lots. That Petrol Emotion. My sister was at one of REM's first gigs with about 20 other people at the T & CC.

And I saw Echo and the Bunnymen play on top of HMV , OXford St the day they closed the traffic down (only other band who did that were The Beatles).

But RatM have had a top ten single and the mysterious rockstar says only top 20. So it must be... not them.