Mansun? Oasis? Falco?

Pretty much at every gig and interview we do we get asked "so who are your influences?". I remember when I was younger and dreaming about getting asked this question and replying with a really long list of avant garde, indie and obscure acts. The reality is we simply answer with "Everything". And we really mean it too.
At the start it would have been Britpop and the whole Blur Vs Oasis thing with a little spattering of Sleeper, Menswear and The Bluetones amongst others, but from 99 onwards it goes a bit all over the place. Muse appeared and they gripped me tightly from the first single. Rockier, edgier and damn cooler than any baggy trousers and fringe ever were. Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and others brought the cheesy yet melodic Nu-metal, and Mansun, my one true love of the late 90's and early 00's arrived with Six, their second album that simply blew me away. From 01 through 06 I was treated to the rock/metal world through our house mate. Metallica, Sepultura, Pantera et al. all have found their music to me, whilst Jonathan was listening to Leanard Cohen, Pet Shop Boys and Erasure.
Alongside all of this was the constant one hit wonders. Tatu, Neil Diamond, Dizzy Rascal and yes, Falco. We figured long ago that dispite the size of the act, the popularity or the coolness, if the song's got a great melody, we'll listen to it.
A few years ago I would not even touch a Rasmus CD as my musical snobery was ripe. Now though, after a dose of My Chemical Romance, I have found the joy regardless.

So take off those burbery caps and turn down your trance, remove the eyeliner and dog collers and learn to embrace something new. I did and I never looked back. So much more great music has been brought to my attention because of it.

It is literally everything and anything that has influenced us and to quote Mr Jonathan Coates "If it's got a good melody, we'll nick it".

Michael