What was your first-ever gig, and what was it like?

Being a kid who was going through adolescence just as the nu metal era was entering full-swing, I was definitely a product of my time. My first ever gig was when I went to see Limp Bizkit at the age of 12.

Given that I was accompanied by my parents, it wasn’t quite on par with the infamous Woodstock appearance of ’99, but it was still my first real taste of a proper rock concert and I had an absolute blast going. Needless to say, I was hooked from then on!

What’s the best performance you have ever seen live, and why was it so good?

I’ve seen so many bands over the years that answering this question is almost impossible! I spent my teenage years immersed in rock and metal – even having the obligatory long hair at the time – before delving into electronic music in my twenties. 

As such, too many phenomenal performances come to mind for so many different reasons, but I’d think anyone who’s also been lucky enough to see Rammstein, The Prodigy (with legendary frontman Keith Flint) and The Chemical Brothers would be equally hard-pushed to choose a clear winner.

Is there an artist who, in your eyes, can do no wrong? If so, why?

Up until recently, Dave Grohl would definitely have been up there – but I think it’s fair to say that he’s somewhat tarnished his perfect image recently! If I had to pick a single person it would probably be James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, who has a very solid record of producing quality tracks.

If we’re extending my answer to a band, I’d have to go for Tool, who just seem to be capable of releasing outstanding music time after time. If you know, you know.

What is your most cherished album, and what makes it so special to you?

Again, I’ve listened to so many incredible albums over the years that it’s hard to pick just one, but Songs for the Deaf by Queens of the Stone Age remains a firm favourite and an absolutely unbelievable record to boot. I first bought it on release during a family holiday to Florida back in 2002 and must have listened to it thousands of times since then. I think it still stands up really well today – in fact, I probably still have the original CD knocking around somewhere!

What song always makes it to your gym playlist? What activities do you usually do in the gym while listening to it?

Funnily enough, I usually just go with whatever background music is on at the time – and anyone who’s ever been to a gym before will certainly be aware that that’s pretty far removed from my normal tastes! If I go for a run, however, I’ll usually opt for some techno, which really helps with keeping up a good pace. 

In particular, nineties Detroit techno from artists such as Carl Craig, Jeff Mills and Robert Hood is especially good when you want to put in the hard miles.

Which artist or song helps take your mind off work?  Why have you chosen this artist and genre? 

The downtempo, atmospheric sound of Boards of Canada (Roygbiv) or DJ Shadow (Midnight in a Perfect World) are great to leave on in the background when you want to relax, as are some of the masterpiece songs by Aphex Twin.

I think this kind of music can really take your mind to another place and it helps you shut out a lot of the external noise around work and other stressful situations, so for me it’s the perfect way to recharge when things are getting hectic.

If you could go on a night out with any musician, who would it be, and where would you take them?

While I wouldn’t say that I listen to his music specifically, Ozzy Osbourne has always struck me as an incredibly charismatic and engaging personality within the music industry. I can only imagine that some of the most incredible stories would come from sitting in a bar with the self-proclaimed ‘Prince of Darkness’ and listening to him talk about all the adventures and experiences he’s had over the years.

To set the scene a little bit more, I think a Wetherspoons pub in Birmingham would definitely be an appropriate venue for enjoying such an evening!