Willie on his Top 10's...

Dan was interviewed regarding his top 10 bands, solo artists and albums of all time. This is what he had to say...

Top 10 Bands

Oasis
They are everything. If it wasn't was them I wouldn't even listen to music let alone play guitar. The songs are embedded in me and are part of my person. I grew up trying to grow my hair like Liam, walk like him and play guitar like Noel. When I started listening to Oasis my fashion changed and the places I went to and the people I hung out with changed.

The songs mean something to everyone. Only Oasis can created that crowd noise and unite so many people from different walks of life. I still tingle every time I hear The Masterplan or Live Forever and the list is so long.

Noel is an amazing songwriter and Liam is Liam. There will never be a greater frontman, no one has his attitude, he really doesn't give a shit about anything. He's never nervous one bit and knows how great his voice really is. People can try to be Liam but only Liam is Liam. Luckily, I was able to see them at Wembley Stadium before they broke up. It was amazing. I had no voice afterwards for three days!

They send a positive message that gets lost in the shit we hear today. Be yourself, live forever, have a fucking good time and you can be whoever you want. They smashed everything, they are the greatest ever and no one will be able to match them. They deserved everything they had.

The Beatles
What can you say about them no one else has? Great band, melodies, riffs, drums, lyrics... they had everything. My favourite period would have to be the one just after they quit touring; when Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's were made. They weren't pop like they were manufactured to be early on. Songs like Hey Bulldog and Helter Skelter showed they were punk before punk.

The Rolling Stones
I used to want to be Keith Richards, although I could never play guitar half as good as him. For me, their work between 1967 and 1973 was the best. Brian Jones was a brilliant guitars with a great blues background but when Taylor came it, that's when Richards and Jagger's songwriting stepped up a notch. Songs like Honky Tonk Women, Wild Horses, Happy, Angie and Sweet Virginia are great. Saying that, I loved the roarer, edgier sound of songs like Street Fighting Man, Jumpin' Jack Flash and Satisfaction. Their first years they were basically a covers band, which is a bit shit.

The Stone Roses
John Squire is one of the greatest guitar players this country has ever produces and Mani is my favourite bass player ever. That first album is incredible and it was a shame they were fucked in the arse by their management. They should have been the biggest band in the world. They had it all. The lyrics always had a hidden meaning and the sound is monumental. I was fucking over the moon when they reformed.

Most people ignore their second album but I think Love Spreads is one of their best songs and Driving South and Begging You are great too.

Kasabian
They are every I love in music... The Stones, Who, Oasis, Roses, Beatles but they are like nothing you've ever heard before. Great intros and beats. Tom is a great singer. I've seen them live loads are they're amazing. Vlad the Impaler is a top, top tune. No one will ever be like Kasabian.

The Who
One of the greatest live acts ever. Keith Moon was the greatest drummer ever! Brilliant tunes that get you dancing. Kick started a mod revolution that lives on in music, fashion and culture today. Songs like My Generation and Won't Get Fooled Again are brilliant and most importantly, they are Gooners!

The Jam
They began like a pure mod rock band but they had everything. Great songs, blues, punk and psychedelic influences. They were massive. Eton Rifles and Town Called Malice are colossal tunes.

The Smiths
I love Johnny Marr's melodies and they were the first real Manchester band to come through. The tunes are very funky. I can listen to The Smith's for hours.

The Sex Pistols
They spearheaded the punk scene that influences a lot of my songwriting. They really did not give a shit about what anyone thinks and that is important in being the best; you can't let anyone hold you back.

The Kinks
Another bunch of Gooners and they've influenced on much of my songwriting. Waterloo Sunset is one of my favourite songs. They are old fashion Rock 'N' Roll with some great blues roots.

He also gave a brief insight in to his top 10 albums of all time...

Top 10 Albums


Definitely Maybe - Oasis
Every single songs is great. You can hear everything from the Beatles to the Stones, Pistols, T-Rex, The Stones. The lyrics are about being free and finding a better place and living your dreams. That's a philosophy every fucker should live by.

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
The melodies are incredible. The songs will last forever. It's about love, sex, drugs, life, anti-morchacy, ceasing the day. It's fucking incredible.

Revolver - The Beatles
Easily their best album for me. Has a psychedelic feel with the backwards guitars and sitars. Also some great all out rock songs.

(What's the Story) Morning Glory
Anthems of a generation and generations to come. These songs are embedded in to peoples lives. Songs like Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova mean so much to so many people. This blew the universe open for Oasis.


Stanley Road - Paul Weller
This was the first album I was ever given. This got me in to music. From there I started looking in to music and hearing Weller collaborating with Oasis and it went from there. Changingman is an all time  great song for me.

Kasabian - Kasabian
Music was dull for many years and all I was listen to was old music. This changed that completely.


Never Mind the Bollocks - The Sex Pistols
It kick started a revolution that did  not last long but will stick around forever.

22 Dreams - Paul Weller
I was unsure when the album was realised because I heard it was going to be a bit different but he brings back his Jam roots at times, there are such Kinks/Stones inspired tunes, great ballads, psychedelic hits and blues tunes. The album is great. I saw him live for the tour of this album, he was in top form!

The Sound of The Smiths - The Smiths
Simply because it combines all my favourite Smiths songs.


And finally his top 10 solo artists...


1. Neil Young
2. Paul Weller
3. Jimi Hendrix
4. Robert Johnson
5. Bob Dylan
6. Buddy Holly
7. David Bowie
8. Chuck Berry
9. Muddy Waters
10. Miles Kane

Shit... it's Olly Murs - Tales from the Sister

Not even tripping... though you think we was.

Well, the other week (losing track of days, weeks, months, years and even decades here) was my pals 22nd birthday (significant, no. Excuse to get shit faced, don't need one).

Went on a crawl, or a destruction of the entire inner circle of London, until we were actually crawling (this is fact). Started at 2:30pm, finished at 5am (that's how we roll). Erm... two pubs in Liverpool Street, one looked like the Royal Albert Hall (erm...) and the other one called the Gun (to suit my Gooner heritage). Bang on the Guinesses, red wine and how ever many Sambuca burners I managed to force down the old gullet. One woman, there for her son's 18th birthday (the next bit will amaze you on a mans 18th - the passage to life indeed). We was in a rammed, quite loud (or was that just us chanting Arsenal classics?) pub and she said 'shhhhhhhhh'. Unbelievable. Shhhhh on a Saturday on a kids 18th, get the chess tables out... I was on my way by then, having none of it!

Then it was off to Shoreditch. Ordered a fishbowl from a lovely barmaid. Asked a bloke behind the bar (who spoke very little English) where is the fish?... it's a 'FISH' bowl. He tapped the barmaid on the shoulder to ask. She looked at him as to say 'you fucking idiot'. Then started dancing with some random Frenchies. Said to a bird 'j'adore au Theirry Henry... joue au Chein' (which turns out to mean I play dog???). She was quite impressed, although, she didn't have a clue who Henry was. Really? You're French and don't know who Henry is? Give over. On that note, it was time to depart on hit Old Street (with a mallet).

Strolling down to Hoxton, pretty shitfaced. Spotted a billboard of Olly Murs and that was it. 'Fuck me... it's Olly Murs'. This applied for every male (some questionable) we passed by (you had to be there). Females were Gwen Stafani (fuck knows). Got some good feedback. One guy wanted a fight 'til he feel face first in to the curb (much to the amusement of his own girlfriend). All in all pretty funny.

Went to a few funny places in Hoxton before holding up the Northern Line in Tottenham Court Road to give passers by a hug and high five (which lasted about two hours or something). One guy pretended to be a cop and pulled out his wallet and threatened to arrest me. Imagine that in court... 'you sir have been found guilty of intending to high five mother fuckers'. What a dick.Convinced people the northern line was actually down at one point and half the people turned around the seek new routes (really... did I look official with sunglasses and stag horns on my head and half a can of Belgium's finest?).

Finished off in 'dull' Camden. Barfly... shisha and many more beverages. Banging out the classics (Whole Lotta Love and The Enemy were highlights... espeicially that song...erm...y'know the one that goes 'don't let the rain come down on an empire'...2 secs it will come to me...YOU'RE NOT ALONE - tune!). Then off to ridicule Olly Murs some more (he was everywhere, man). Convinced some E'd up girl her head was in a box.

Somehow woke up on a bus about 2 hours later with shades on and beer all down my nice white top... Epic!

'til next time

Willie Wilde