Most people can trace their interest in something back to a certain point in time, be that an event; a year; certain age etc.
It’s a question I hear on the radio listening to Mike Sweeny on Real Radio XS (Previously Manchesters Rock Radio) whenever he interviews someone “where did it start? what was the album that sparked it”
This got me thinking today, what was the period/album/style that got me hooked on music.
On reflection, I hadn’t taken a real notice of music until I was about 10/11 years old (1989/90), certainly not anything outside of a few Queen/Chris Rea or Shaken Stevens songs being played at home, but music was by no means a central focus in our house, and I was far to busy out in the fields, whittling wood, fishing, riding my bike and enjoying the great outdoors.
It was only when I got a back to back stereo and a walkman one Christmas that I actually sat up and took note of what was around me.
Albums that made a difference..
From there, I picked up Genesis – Invisible Touch from my mothers car and borrowed Michael Jacksons – Bad and Appetite for Destruction from a neighbour
- Genesis – Invisible Touch (1986)
- Michael Jackson – Bad (1987)
- Guns ‘n Roses – Appetite for Destruction (1987)
Not a bad set of albums to get your foot on the music ladder! But there was a clear favorite amongst these, the raw power of Appetite was too hard to ignore.. was this the point that my Genre of choice was etched in my skull?!
Well if it wasn’t a done deal already, as a youth entering adolescence, at the age of 12 and at my most impressionanble, like a wrecking ball coming through the music scence were some of the most coveted albums to this day that picked me up and took me along for the ride with them! From this year forward my fate was sealed and for the next couple of years these albums were in constant rotation on my boom box!
- Nirvana – Nevermind (1991)
- Pearl Jam – Ten (1991)
- Metallica – Metallica (1991)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
- Guns ‘n Roses – Use Your Illusion I/II (1991)
- Def Leppard – Adrenalize (1992)
- Extreme – III Sides to Every Story (1992)
To say these albums set a presedence for me is a understatement, they set the bar! A bar that most bands nowadays are still aiming for and only a few have passed.
Talk about being stood in a certain place and point in time and being hit square between the eyes…
These laid the roots that turned my head towards their influences and who they influenced going forward led me to appreciate and love the likes of Led Zep, Jimi, The Who, Cream, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC Elvis through to more recent Black Stone Cherry, Foo Fighters, Alter Bridge, Chickenfoot, New Device, Steel Panther, Razorlight, Green Day, Kings of Leon, and all those in between etc..
My door into Music came many years later.. but thats an entirely different story for another time..
Thats my Window.. whats yours?
Note: It also helped that my awesome Auntie used to play ‘Appetite’ & Tracy Chapman in the car when she picked us up from school!