Romeo Stodart: Music & Me

The first record I bought was...

Guns N' Roses, Appetite for Destruction. It was a shared album because I went halves with a friend of mine. He would have the record for a few days and I would have the sleeve. Then we would swap, until we realised that we could tape it. To this day I still listen to it.

The first gig I went to was...

Guns N' Roses in New York's Madison Square Garden. I went three nights in a row. Axl Rose's costume changes became predictable as he put on his tight, white little trousers. Slash would come out near the front while a tour manager put a cigarette in his mouth. By the third night the mystery was lost.

My favourite albums are...

Joni Mitchell's Blue and Leonard Cohen's Songs from a Room and his Greatest Hits.

But my parents always liked...

I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline. They would sit down, put it on and cry. I would listen carefully to it as a young child to work out why they were crying.

I couldn't marry someone...

Who liked really bad house music.

On stage I like to wear...

Flares. I have been wearing them for seven years. Other than that, whatever is clean. When I'm shopping for jeans, they are never flared enough.

I'd love to perform with...

Tom Waits. Even if I played a guitar in the background, I would be happy. We got to support Brian Wilson and sing harmonies with him. That was a dream come true.

One thing that must change in the music industry is...

For record labels to take more risks with bands. It took us a long time to get signed. We built up our own following. As soon as one label is interested, they all are. The industry needs to be more instinctive with its choice. It is good that MySpace helps unsigned bands to get exposure.

A great album cover is...

Anything by The Beatles and The White Stripes. Even The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, with a picture of them feeding goats, has personality.

On my iPod I listen most to...

Guy Clark's Anyhow, I Love You. It makes me want to cry every time I listen to it. We always put it on before we go on stage to get the crowd in the mood.

If I could have written any song it would have been...

What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, which is the most beautiful song ever.

The worst song I have heard is...

Anything by Crazy Frog.

Romeo Stodart was talking to Charlotte Cripps

The new single Take a Chance is out 23 October. More information: www.themagicnumbers.net