The 5-Minute Interview: Noddy Holder, Musician

Noddy Holder, 60, was lead singer and guitarist in the rock band Slade. 'Nobody's Fool' and 'B-Sides' have been reissued on Salvo Records. 'Slade In Flame' is released as a deluxe edition DVD on Monday.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...

Packing because I'm scheduled for a couple of days to go to Paris. I've got a couple of meetings because I'm doing consultancy work for a mate who's writing a movie about Paris. I spent a lot of time there in the Seventies and Eighties.

A phrase I use far too often is ...

"Keep on rocking". It's left over from the Slade days.

I wish people would take more notice of ...

Other people's feelings and their belongings and property. There's a large section of the population that treat other people with no respect, especially treating old people with no respect.

The most surprising thing that ever happened to me was ...

That I was given the part in the live 40th anniversary episode of Coronation Street. I was the first to have a cameo role. It hadn't been broadcast live for 40 years. It was very nerve-wracking.

A common misperception of me is...

That I walk around wearing platform shoes and a top hat with mirrors and go around shouting "it's Christmas!" all the time.

I'm not a politician but ...

I should be. I'm a good listener and I've got a good deal of common sense. It's the main problem with politics and bureaucracy in general, they should listen more to people's opinions and act on them.

I'm good at...

Good loving. I can cook and I'm pretty good at gardening.

But I'm very bad at...

DIY. I haven't got a clue.

The ideal night out is...

A really good meal with a good load of mates that I've known for years. At the end of the night we'd get our acoustic guitars out and play old rock'n'roll songs very drunkenly.

In moments of weakness I ...

I don't really do weakness. I'm a pretty strong character. I like to be strong for others.

You know me as a musician, but in a truer life I'd have been a ...

Teacher. I get on pretty well with kids and I'd have made a good teacher. I'd have taught history or English literature.

My favourite book ...

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.

The best age to be is ...

I've always enjoyed every age. I enjoy it even as I get older. I was 60 last year. You learn as you get older. You do feel very able to help younger people.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Do unto others what you would have them do unto you. Whatever goes around comes around.

Elisa Bray