(Seeing 'Guns N' Roses) was the first time that we realised rock wasn't dead. We had the Stones, The Who, the Clash and we'd basically given up on hearing a new record that we'd really like. When we first heard this (Appetite For Destruction) it was so instant and exciting. 'Sweet Child O' Mine' is one of the most amazing love songs ever written and 'Welcome to the Jungle' is one of the most hateful, but most people just dismiss him (Axl) as a redneck. He's actually one of the few people I'd actually like to meet and talk to. Richey Music had got so tame and watered down, and all of a sudden Public Enemy were probably the most extreme band that's ever appeared. There's nothing more articulate or intelligent in the entire world. Nicky (1993) Nick tried to get Jocky Wilson's autograph once and Jockey just went 'Fuck off'. Nick's quite proud of that. We all loved the darts on the telly and things like Pebble Mill. When that closed down we shed a tear. Richey (1992) (Miner's leader) Arthur Scargill came to see us in Liverpool. He came back and had a chat. I still find him inspiring because, despite all his faults, everything he said came true. Nicky (1997) Alice In Chains are one of our favourite bands at the moment. They're like the American version of Joy Division, but a lot louder. Nicky (1994) (Joy Division singer Ian Curtis was) the only musician whose death I was saddened by. I love music, but I couldn't give a fuck if anybody dropped dead tomorrow, I wouldn't shed a tear. Richey Everything I've liked has always failed in some way. Richey (1994) Although people might not think it, the Stone Roses did have a lasting influence on us when we started. They were people we defined ourselves against. Nicky (1996) It's obvious to me that Oasis are the best band in the world. Liam is not very eloquent or anything, but you've just got to look at him and you know he's the business. He could only have come from where he came from. Nicky (1996) Oasis have made me a fan again. They've completely revitalised British music. But yeah, we do like to think it could've been us. Perhaps we didn't have the guile. We were too nasty and confrontational. We waged war on punters, the music press, everyone. Nicky (1996)

Meeting Arthur Scargill was the most nervous I've been this year. I found it scary that there was someone who had a lot in common with my uncles, but had found a way to articulate it all. But he was the worst strategist in the world. I just looked at him and immediately had a million questions in my head. You could talk to him all night and it would be as frustrating as it would be inspirational. James (1997) Musically I do genuinely love Oasis. They're so natural, I think it's above criticism. But I know we're too difficult for that. They have something that hits you like an elemental force. In many ways, Oasis are the band we wanted to be, but never could be. Nicky (1997) When we supported Oasis at Maine Road, it just put everything in perspective. It made me realise that we were becoming a big band, but we were nowhere near becoming a phenomenon, and we never would. Maine Road showed us our allotted position. I knew what we never would be after that gig. People have taken Oasis completely to their hearts, independent of anything like a marketing push, anything at all, it just seemed uncontrollable. Totally inspiring. James (1997) For us Public Enemy are the ultimate rock 'n' roll band at the moment because they've got style and rage, which is what it's all about. So many bands are just worthless. We adore people like Kylie because she doesn't pretend to be anything except someone who makes brilliant pop records. Richey (1991) Black people have got a far more genuine rage than any white man could ever have. White people feel repressed, but black people are completely oppressed - so you get a real militancy. Public Enemy combined that with being glamorous: the way they moved, the way they dressed - it was like Aretha Franklin on smack. Richey (1993) One lyricist I really admire is (Beautiful South singer) Paul Heaton, who's a real pop genius, but he still has a lot of depth in his lyrics, and his interviews are fantastic - when he goes on about being a Sheffield football hooligan: 'those people with the season tickets, they don't give a fuck, it was the hooligans who kept Sheffield United going in the 1980's. From a man who writes two-million selling albums, I've got a lot of time for him. Nicky (1997) One of my first heroes is Jimmy McGovern. He wrote Cracker and some of the early Brookside records. I've always really liked him, but I'd never seen him before last Sunday, when he was on the South Bank Show. He was absolutely fantastic. I loved all the Crackers he wrote, especially 'To Be Somebody' with Robert Carlyle as the Liverpool fan, which was one of the finest things I've ever seen. Nicky (1996)