What is the last music book you read? Rip It Up, the story of New Wave, New Romantic and their various children.

Who is your favourite classical composer? Probably Bach or Beethoven, although there is a hint of admirable miserableness in Mahler that I like.

Your partner doesn't like music at all. What do you do? I would surely find another.

What is the movie you enjoy best because of the soundtrack? Risky Business. Magnificent soundtrack, covering everything from Muddy Waters to Tangerine Dream.

Who do you think is New Zealand's most underrated musician currently? Duncan Davidson, a multi-instrumentalist folkie, who once had the temerity to tune my guitar during a gig while both of us were still playing.

You are packing for a trip tomorrow - you have room in the car for five CDs and you are going to be gone for two weeks. What do you take? The Band by the Band; Horslips Live; Gillian Welch’s Revelator; Big Country’s Steeltown; ACDC If You Want Blood.

Imagine you cannot play an instrument (if you already can). You are given the chance tomorrow to walk into a store and buy the top-of-the-line instrument of your choice and receive a month of free expert tuition (if you should want it). What instrument do you pick and why? Gibson Les Paul and a Laney Linebacker amp. So I could put one leg up on the amp and pull ridiculous faces while soloing.

A publisher wants you to write a book about ONE musical act - you have to pick the person/band you know the most about. The book is to be about your relationship listening to this artist's work. Who do you pick and what is the first sentence of the book? Horslips. First line: Monosodium glutamate poisoning has a lot to answer for.

You have the power to stop one band that is currently making music from ever recording and releasing another note. Who do you pick? U2 without a shadow of a doubt.

You have to recommend one album from your collection that you think the mystery visitor a) might not have b) might not have thought about for a while and c) will be pleased to be reminded of/introduced to. What do you pick? Rogue’s Gallery, a collection of sea shanties and pirate songs by such luminaries as Loudon Wainwright III (whose utterly filthy Good Ship Venus has to be heard to be believed), Lou Reed and Richard Thompson. Pure (pirate) gold.

What is the last music book you read? Jools Hollands autobiography. It was good, but hard to cram in everything he done in his life into one book! Who is your favourite classical composer? Mozart – like you said Simon, a great writer of melodies, but also unusual arrangements, and of course he was doing it all at such a young age. A true genius….a word that is thrown around too often these days! Your partner doesn't like music at all. What do you do? Make her listen to the Feelers for hours on end, so she will them realize that my music is not that bad at all. What is the movie you enjoy best because of the soundtrack? (Doesn't have to be your favourite movie) Probably Amadeus. Or Magical Mystery Tour (nowhere near as bad as is made out!). Who do you think is New Zealand's most underrated musician currently? Me You are packing for a trip tomorrow - you have room in the car for five CDs and you are going to be gone for two weeks. What do you take? The Beatles White Album, OK GO – OK GO, Elvis Costello – Blood and Chocolate, Jeff Buckley – Grace, Rage Against The Machine – Evil Empire Imagine you cannot play an instrument (if you already can). You are given the chance tomorrow to walk into a store and buy the top-of-the-line instrument of your choice and receive a month of free expert tuition (if you should want it). What instrument do you pick and why? Piano

A publisher wants you to write a book about ONE musical act - you have to pick the person/band you know the most about. The book is to be about your relationship listening to this artist's work. Who do you pick and what is the first sentence of the book? I guess I know more about The Beatles than any other band….probably because so much has been written about them. You have the power to stop one band that is currently making music from ever recording and releasing another note. Who do you pick? The Feelers or Kings Of Leon. You have to recommend one album from your collection that you think the mystery visitor a) might not have b) might not have thought about for a while and c) will be pleased to be reminded of/introduced to. What do you pick? Stevie Wonder – Innervisions or Songs In The Key Of Life. Or maybe Terence Trent Darby’s Vibrator?

I love these. The reader responses are always really interesting. Great Friday fun :)

1. Wow. It's been a long time since I read any music books. Does Bob Geldof's Is That It count? Probably one of the greatest autobiographies ever written. I pick it up at least once a year.

2. I'm going with Bach too. My mother is a major classical music nut, and when I grew up there was alot of Mozart and Beethoven, but Bach was the dominant one and I grew to love him.

3. I don't think the question is fair. Because I don't know anyone who doesn't have a favourite kind of music. I've never in my life met anyone who says "I never listen to any music at all ever." So I'll re-define the question parameters to read "Your partner doesn't like any of the music you listen to. At all. What do you do?" And the answer is: play it when he's not around. And refuse to listen to any of his crap that I don't like. :)

4. The Blues Brothers

5. I'm afraid I don't listen to enough NZ music to comment. I thought Hamster should have been paid more attention when they were around.

6. Queen's Greatest Hits Vol. 1, Crossroads by Bon Jovi, The Essential Bruce Springsteen, Def Leppard's The Vault, The Cure's Greatest Hits. And a Billy Connolly CD :)

7. The guitar. Coz it's cool.

8. It would have to be Bruce Springsteen. It was the first time I had developed a musical preference outside of what either of my parents listened to. Born In The USA was the very first album I ever purchased independently; I was 10. And my relationship with the music of The Boss has stayed with me all my life. I waited 20 years to see him perform, and despite the rain and the orange goo of Western Springs, I experienced that emotion that made girls scream and cry and faint at the sight of the Beatles; a display I had hitherto disdained. So the opening sentence of the book would probably be something like: "Having always viewed, and with a somewhat arrogant contempt, the international swooning reaction to the Beatles as vapid and ridiculous, I was amazed to discover I was capable of something similar. I did not scream, faint or swoon when Bruce Springsteen took to the stage, but I did allow myself a few tears. Who knew it would be so emotional?"

9. Chris Rhea.

10. Queen's Greatest Hits Vol. 1

seems a jolly wheeze of a Friday morning... Latest Book: China Mieville, The City & The City. Classical composer: unless the Swingle Singers count this does not apply, I'm saving classical and opera for when I'm having my dribble wiped up in an old folks home. Useless partner: also not really an issue. If you don't get off on musical exploration, we're just not gonna get along anyway. Movie soundtrack: Quadrophenia. Under-rated Kiwi muso: Caitlin Smith. Roadtrip cds: Daptone Gold; Richard Hawley, Lady Bridge; Quantic, Tradition in Transition; Kings of Digging; Guilty Pleasures collection. Instrument: piano, if you can get your head around that, you can get your head around anything. Book subject: Ray Conniff. A cat-stroking studio nutjob who put the oral in choral pop. Liquidated musical career: Mark Knopfler. Vinyl recommendations: (might not have)Enoch Light Singers, 12 Smash Hits; (haven't thought about for a bit) The Fall, Grotesque; (recommend) Richard Hawley, Truelove's Gutter.... right, coffee, stat.

*What is the last music book you read? "Something So Strong" by Chris Bourke. I wanted something to read on a fine afternoon, and I hadn't read that for over a decade. Bourke's access to everyone in and around Crowded House was certainly impressive, and it meant it wasn't just the Neil Finn story; in fact some parts were quite critical of him.

Who is your favourite classical composer? Samuel Barber.

Your partner doesn't like music at all. What do you do? Been there, done that. You compartmentalise and compromise, just like everything in a relationship.

What is the movie you enjoy best because of the soundtrack? (Doesn't have to be your favourite movie)? "O Brother Where Art Thou." Though, really, that film is just an extended music video for old-time string band music, isn't it?

Who do you think is New Zealand's most underrated musician currently? James Duncan, also.

You are packing for a trip tomorrow - you have room in the car for five CDs and you are going to be gone for two weeks. What do you take? I'd try to cover most of the bases for possibly required feels, so:

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love American Music Club - San Francisco Calexico - Garden Ruin Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies (extended CD with bonus tracks) Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks

What instrument do you pick and why? Drums; getting a free drumkit would be cool.

You have the power to stop one band that is currently making music from ever recording and releasing another note. Who do you pick? Tommy And The Fallen Horses

You have to recommend one album from your collection that you think the mystery visitor a) might not have b) might not have thought about for a while and c) will be pleased to be reminded of/introduced to. What do you pick? I always want to press something by American Music Club / Mark Eitzel on someone. Depending what the persons musical taste is I might choose "San Francisco" if they like things a bit rocky and wiggy, "Mercury" if they're into more mature dense music, "60 Watt Silver Lining" if they like things jazzy and laid back, or if they're into dark electronica it'd be "The Invisible Man" or, finally, if they like things beautiful then "The Ugly American" will do. AMC and Eitzel are, to me, infinitely rewarding; and more people need to hear / be reminded of them.

Tough Q&A! 1) Last music book was a book about Ozzy Osbourne (not his new one). Sort about his career, his time in Black Sabbath, Randy Rhodes. Not a bad book. 2)Haven't listened to alot of classical. Maybe Bach, his work is quite powerful from what I've heard. 3) Get a new partner or introduce her to something easy to listen to as a start, maybe Pink Floyd would be where I begin. Shine on you crazy diamond! 4) Not a soundtrack person. All I can think of is I Disappear by Metallica for Mission Impossible 2.. Lets go with that. 5) Ryan Kershaw band. They play the pub scene in Auckland. 6) Metallica - Ride the Lightning. Black Sabbath - Paranoid. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon. Iron Maiden - Powerslave. Pink Floyd - Echoes. 7) I love the guitar (current guitarist). I'd go back to that with a Gibson Explorer. 8) Metallica. "Define metal simply with, Exit Light, Enter Night." 9) Only one? Man that's tough. Gunna have to agree with Simon, Midnight Youth. 10) Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon. When in doubt, whip this baby out.

ooooh, music book...damn. OK, that'd be Nick Kent's 'The Dark Stuff". Again...I can just about recite it now.

What is the last music book you read?

The Garth Factor by pasti Bale Cox. Pasti worked for Capitol during Garth's time at Capitol. The Book sheds some light on the Scott Hendricks relationship with Garth.

Who is your favourite classical composer?

Can Randy Newman be called a classical composer?

Your partner doesn't like music at all. What do you do?

Each to their own.

What is the movie you enjoy best because of the soundtrack? (Doesn't have to be your favourite movie)

South Park.

Who do you think is New Zealand's most underrated musician currently?

Keith Urban, he may not be the best, but if there was a NewZealand born hiphop artist or Grunge artist that had a number one album in the USA, we wouldnt hear the end of it, but Keith gets no media time because of his genre.

You are packing for a trip tomorrow - you have room in the car for five CDs and you are going to be gone for two weeks. What do you take?

1: Randy Newman: Sail Away 2: John Lennon: Imagine 3: Billy Joel: 52nd Street 4: Garth Brooks: Double Live 5: George Strait: Twang

Imagine you cannot play an instrument (if you already can). You are given the chance tomorrow to walk into a store and buy the top-of-the-line instrument of your choice and receive a month of free expert tuition (if you should want it). What instrument do you pick and why?

The Piano.

A publisher wants you to write a book about ONE musical act - you have to pick the person/band you know the most about. The book is to be about your relationship listening to this artist's work. Who do you pick and what is the first sentence of the book?

Garth Brooks.

I feel like a kid again, watching a thunderstorm.

You have the power to stop one band that is currently making music from ever recording and releasing another note. Who do you pick?

Solo Artist:Robbie Williams. Band: Supergroove

You have to recommend one album from your collection that you think the mystery visitor a) might not have b) might not have thought about for a while and c) will be pleased to be reminded of/introduced to. What do you pick?

Chris Gaines: The Lamb

What is the last music book you read?- A biography of Phil Lynott I found at the library, was a good read (can't for the life of me remember the name)

Who is your favourite classical composer?-Pretty hard to beat Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Your partner doesn't like music at all. What do you do?- Show her the door.

What is the movie you enjoy best because of the soundtrack? (Doesn't have to be your favourite movie)- The Highlander

Who do you think is New Zealand's most underrated musician currently?- Me

You are packing for a trip tomorrow - you have room in the car for five CDs and you are going to be gone for two weeks. What do you take?- The Twelfth Man Box Set (absolutely marvellous!)

Imagine you cannot play an instrument (if you already can). You are given the chance tomorrow to walk into a store and buy the top-of-the-line instrument of your choice and receive a month of free expert tuition (if you should want it). What instrument do you pick and why?- Guitar. Those guys get all the girls

A publisher wants you to write a book about ONE musical act - you have to pick the person/band you know the most about. The book is to be about your relationship listening to this artist's work. Who do you pick and what is the first sentence of the book? - Mick Jagger , first line ummmmm how about "Whats the difference between Mick Jagger and the friend of a lonely Scotsman? Mick Jagger says "Hey, you, get off of my cloud!" And the friend of a lonely Scotsman says "Hey, McLeod, get off my ewe!" (The only Mick Jagger joke I've ever heard) You have the power to stop one band that is currently making music from ever recording and releasing another note. Who do you pick?- Coldplay.

You have to recommend one album from your collection that you think the mystery visitor a) might not have b) might not have thought about for a while and c) will be pleased to be reminded of/introduced to. What do you pick?

ZZ Top- El Loco (Man that Billy Gibbons can play!)

I'm always up for this sort of thing. Let's see... What is the last music book you read?

I'll get back to you on that. Good start, eh?

Who is your favourite classical composer?

Beethoven. I'm always up for a bit of Ludwig Van. Bach has too many notes. Mozart is too prissy. Mahler is a bit pompous and anything more modern is trying too hard to be clever. Beethoven gets it just right.

Your partner doesn't like music at all. What do you do?

Training. It's all about training. Comfy chair. Arm restraints. Stereo system. Crazed man jabbering about "but this is good! Listen to this!" You may laugh, but it worked last time.

What is the movie you enjoy best because of the soundtrack?

Conan the Barbarian. Corny film. Great music.

Who do you think is New Zealand's most underrated musician currently?

Most of the underrated ones slip under the radar for me, so I'll reach back into the past like Kirsty and suggest an oldie: The Front Lawn. (BTW Kirsty, I'm with you about Hamster)

You are packing for a trip tomorrow - you have room in the car for five CDs and you are going to be gone for two weeks. What do you take?

Exile on Coldharbour Lane (A3). Americana Deluxe (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy). Minstrel in the Gallery (Jethro Tull). Blur (Blur). The Best Little Secrets are Kept (Louis XIV).

Imagine you cannot play an instrument (if you already can). You are given the chance tomorrow to walk into a store and buy the top-of-the-line instrument of your choice and receive a month of free expert tuition (if you should want it). What instrument do you pick and why?

The banjo. So I can sit on the banks of the Waimak during the Coast to Coast and encourage the competitors to paddle faster.

A publisher wants you to write a book about ONE musical act - you have to pick the person/band you know the most about. The book is to be about your relationship listening to this artist's work. Who do you pick and what is the first sentence of the book?

Jethro Tull. And not the first line, but the title: Sitting on Park Benches.

You have the power to stop one band that is currently making music from ever recording and releasing another note. Who do you pick?

I'm one for letting everyone go with their own thing, but I wouldn't be upset if Placebo packed up and went away.

You have to recommend one album from your collection that you think the mystery visitor a) might not have b) might not have thought about for a while and c) will be pleased to be reminded of/introduced to. What do you pick?

Dead Media (Hefner)