Music & Me: Fool's Gold

Los Angeles-based musical collective Fool’s Gold seamlessly meld indie rock, pop and African-influenced rhythms. Their second album, Leave No Trace, is released on 5 September and they are supporting the Red Hot Chilli Peppers around the UK in November. Guitarist Lewis Pesacov takes some time out to discuss his influences…

The first record I bought was...

Jimi Hendrix "Smash Hits", I’ve always wished I could be more like him. We’re both Sagittarians.

The first gig I went to was…

I can't quite remember the actual first gig, because I went to so many gigs with my parents while growing up! Two major shows that stick out in my memory are Guns ‘n’ Roses opening for The Rolling Stones in 1989, and Madonna’s Blonde Ambition World Tour in 1990.

My favourite album is...

Always changing and in a constant state of flux. I’ve had so many different favourite albums throughout my life, each of which have affected me in their own special way. All of these albums together add up to create my current yet ever-developing musical landscape.

But my parents always liked...

Really, really good music! My parents introduced me to some of the most influential music of my life, from The Ronettes to Robert Johnson to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

I couldn’t marry someone who liked...

Black Metal. I can get down with stoner-sludge-metal and the really slow, psychedelic-drone-metal, but the really dark, satanic metal just doesn't speak to me in any way, shape or form.

In the studio I like to wear...

Sunglasses and Vans.

I’d love to have on my show...

Klaus Shulze playing a monolithic wall of modular analogue synthesisers. He could teach these young kids with laptops what real electronic music is.

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

Waaay too many ugly tattoos.

A great album cover is...

Sweet Sixteen by Royal Trux.

On my iPod I listen most to...

I only really listen to my iPod while travelling on tour, so I’m usually deep into tuning out. That means I’ll generally listen to The Grateful Dead, new age music, classical music and university lectures.

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

"I Only Have Eyes For You" as recorded by The Flamingos. It might just be the dreamiest song ever recorded.

The worst song I’ve heard is...

What’s that band called, Vampire Schmeekend?