The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions

The first song I became enamored with
My earliest memory is walking into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first record I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I strangely know every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to play at a gathering
It hinges on the point of the event you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The number I can not listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate piece to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The piece that brings me to tears
All music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard every time.

The song I’d like to be played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.