Mark the Head Chef

A cycling enthusiast and head chef from Pompey who when not being a grumpy old git in the kitchen can be found enjoying a beer in a crap pub somewhere in Portsmouth. A penchant for fast cars, roller coasters and mix-tapes. If he wasn't a chef he’d wana own his own record store just like in ‘High Fidelity’.

1) Sweet Jane by Cowboy Junkies
I first discovered this song on the Tarantino CD and fell in love with it. It’s from the film Natural Born Killers although the original song is by the Velvet Underground of which I’m also a huge fan.

2) Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones
When I was a kid first getting into music, my Dad had the Hot Rocks album so this was something I listened to a lot.

3) Patience by Guns N Roses
Guns N Roses are one of my all time favourite bands. They’re renowned for being heavy metal/rock and I think this song gives another perspective to their supposed ‘genre’. It’s a beautiful song and lyrics.

4) Motorcycle Emptiness by Manic Street Preachers
I was 16 when this came out and this is what really got me into indie rock. It’s edgy and as with all of the Manic’s early stuff their lyrics are powerful, a little dark and have real meaning to them. This is probably one of their most famous songs and one I’d definitely have to have on a desert island.

5) Lyin Eyes by The Eagles
My parents had this on record/vinyl and I remember them playing and singing along to it. I thought it was a really cool song. It reminds me of them and of growing up.

6) Cigarettes & Alcohol by Oasis
It’s just the ultimate 90’s Britpop anthem! Oasis at their pinnacle. That was their time.

7) Great Gig In The Sky by Pink Floyd
When I was at college and I met this guy called John who got me into Pink Floyd massively. This is a track off their most famous album Dark Side Of The Moon. This track was made in one take and created with such emotion and passion. They don’t make tracks like this any more.

8) Man In Black by Johnny Cash
I love country music and Johnny Cash is my hero. Whenever I hear ‘Man In Black’. I think of Johnny Cash cause he always used to wear just black. This song is just cool!

9) Another Girl, Another Planet by The Only Ones
I remember I heard it for the first time when I bought a double NME CD and this was one of the tracks on the 70’s decade. I’d never heard of The Only Ones before and then I met an idiot and dedicated this song to her on a mix tape ;)

10) You've Got To Hide Your Love Away by The Beatles
This is like The Beatles showing you how to make the perfect two-minute pop song. It’s not their early stuff and it’s not their psychedelic stuff it’s just bang in their prime in 1965 when Lennon/McCartney were still writing songs well together.