After reading Whitemetal's thread and chatting with a colleague at lunch today I have begot a question. It coursed out of the murky depths of my cerebellum at speed and is of some importance, relative to something of less importance.
While growing up, who were your role-models? Who did you watch and think: yes - I want to be a bit like that! And why: what attributes did they have? You don't have to like everything about these people - I certainly don't like everything about those in my list. You can obviously include people we don't know about (like family members), you just have to describe them a little.
If you claim you weren't influenced by anyone you're lying and possibly a sociopath.
My list (In no particular order):
- Richard O'Brian - He was mentally unstable and hugely funny
- Domonic Diamond - A complete arsehole but charming in his deviant ways
- Aphex Twin - Bizarre, hugely talented, and The Messiah
- Paul Merton - Surreal (He and I also have a similar hair texture, so I've always felt a little close to him.)
- John Lennon - I liked his non-standard approach to his passions. And his lyricism.
I also had a unwise dalliance with Thom Yorke a while back, but luckily that soon past.