1. What is the first music album you remember owning?
I think it was The Sound of Music. As a child, I really liked the songs and I remember my father giving me a tape of the album which I remember listening to a lot.
2. If not the same, what is the first music album you purchased for yourself?
Definitely Blondie's Parallel Lines. I think I was 12 years old at the time and it was right around the time their Eat To The Beat album was coming out. This was the beginning of my obsession with all things Deborah. Ever since the first time I saw her on Solid Gold 79. And it wasn't a live appearance or anything. It was the video to Heart of Glass. I was transfixed on her beauty and voice. I think Blondie was at No. 10 with HOG and Rod Stewart winning the No. 1 song with Do Ya Think I'm Sexy.
3. What artist currently occupies the most space either in terms of shelf space or megabytes on your hard drive?
I think maybe there are three artists fighting for the top one in this category. It's either Depeche Mode, The Smiths/Morrissey or Soft Cell/Marc Almond. I can't say which but all three take quite a bit of space.
4. How many different types of music media (vinyl, cassette, CD, etc) have you owned in your lifetime?
I had quite a collection of vinyl during my time. During the time of the walkman, I even would purchase tapes of vinyls I already had so that I would have a perfect copy for my walkman instead of a second generation recording of the vinyl. Even when CDs were beginning to dominate, I still purchased vinyls. Way into the mid 90s - until I had no choice but to switch all to CDs. But now, not a lot of the precious vinyl recordings have made it into CD land so thanks to the interweb and those wonderful bloggers who take the time to convert some of their vinyls to mp3s so that we can enjoy them again. If I had all my vinyl with me, I'd be doing the same.
5. Who or what has had the biggest effect on your music taste?
What I heard growing up at home is exactly the opposite of what my taste in music was/is. I mean, I grew up with the sounds of Pink Floyd, The Doors, heavy metal music, southern and classic rock. AC DC, Led Zeppelin, The Who and the like. Sometimes there would be a little something like The Clash or The Ramones and David Bowie but not much to completely effect my taste in music. I had no influence from anyone over the music I chose to listen to. It was completely mine. And I didn't have any friends either so there weren't any to effect me. I started out with Blondie and then went into New Wave, New Romantic, mostly Brit Pop. I think I became more open minded this way and to this day my music taste varies so widely. To the point that some people are rather surprised that I would listen to some type of artist and another so completely different from the other.
6. How do you currently prefer to listen to music?
I am most comfortable listening to my music by headphones alone. When I lived at home, I couldn't listen to my music through loudspeakers because of the prejudice over the music I listened to. It was almost shameful in a way! Like I was listening to forbidden music. So I had to keep it to myself and wear my headphones throughout. I usually had to make tapes of the vinyls and listen to my music through the walkman or tape player through headphones. I really wasn't allowed to use the stereo system for a long time! So these days, it's just my headphones either connected to my iPod or computer.
7. In terms of music memorabilia, what is your most prized possession?
I have quite a few vinyls that I think are collectible. Some special 7" releases like Marc Almond's Tears Run Rings single which came in a box with two post cards and a badge.
Once after an Erasure concert I ran to meet Vince Clarke who autographed my Circus record. And I have an autographed Siouxsie & The Banshees album. And just recently, my friend over at Middle Eight sent my a 7" vinyl promotional single of Siouxsie's Into A Swan which I will consider a collectible! Thanks, XO!
8. Have you ever “swapped headsets” with a complete stranger (meaning have you ever unplugged the earphones from your listening device and plugged them into someone else’s player and had them do the same)? If yes, what did they play for you?
No.
9. Have you ever been completely obsessed with a particular artist? Who and to what level did your fandom go?
As I wrote before I was completely obsessed with all things Debbie Harry. So I would get my hands on any magazine or any article that had Debbie in it. By the time I got around to writing a letter and joining a fan club, the letter was sent back because the club was no longer in operation. Oh well. But during my second wave, I was obsessed with anything Depeche Mode. I always impatiently waited for the next single or album to come out by them. And I think at 18, spending $40 on a bootleg of one of their concerts on vinyl is something only an obsessed fan would do.
10. What is the farthest you’ve ever traveled for a concert?
During the 90s a friend of mine who had moved to Georgia once called to tell me that Depeche Mode was coming to play there and that if he bought a ticket, would I come to see it with him? Hell yes! I went and saw them there in Atlanta during the Violator tour. They were playing in a new venue, I forget what it was called but it was a great show. And I remember it was a double whammy cause Nitzer Ebb was opening the show. I had a pretty good time in Atlanta that time and seeing DM there with my friend topped it big time.
11. Who have you seen in concert the most?
Hands down, it would have to be Depeche Mode. I have seen all their shows since they began touring the States. Since 1985 and still going!
If you happen to do this meme, please let me know. I'd love to check it out.
