Pick Six: Matt Gill

Book 

This is really difficult being a bit of a 'zine-head'. I have so many to choose from including of course zines and magazines but the one I always return to is an absolute classic by Charles M. Shulz of Peanuts and Snoopy fame. The book Happiness is a Sad Song is a thing of wonder and beauty and my copy which I have had since I was a kid is now very tatty and dog-eared. It is short and sweet and most importantly so full of wisdom. Everything it states is so true and the accompanying illustrations of Charlie Brown and his pals are so spot-on. I also really love the beautifully warm colours and typography. 

Film

I absolutely love Harry Dean Stanton and my all-time favourite film is Paris, Texas, directed by Wim Wenders. I first watched it with my Dad in the mid ‘80s when it was first shown on Channel 4. That film changed my life and I've never forgotten the impact it's had on me! The incredible soundtrack by Ry Cooder also introduced me to the beauty of the slide guitar. It's the story between a father and son so watching it with my Dad when I was a teenager made it even more significant for me and every time I watch it now it just gets more poignant with every viewing. It would be classed within the road movie genre and I generally really love road movies, such as Easy Rider and My Own Private Idaho too.

Song

Aside from print my main passion is music so this is almost impossible to choose but I'll go for Revolution Blues by Neil Young. This is an incredible track from his 1974 album On the Beach which was part of his amazing Ditch Trilogy. I could really pick any track from that album and the artwork is fantastic also. I love Neil Young's voice, the blistering guitar sound and the lyrics which paint a picture of the darker, counter-cultural side of California, in particular Laurel Canyon during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. My favourite line is, ‘I hope you get the connection, 'cause I can't take the rejection. I won't deceive you, I just don't believe you.’

Food
I just really love any type of seafood, and 'Moules et Frites' is always a winner in my book. I've always loved being by the sea and looking out at the ocean, so maybe it's just an extension of that. I don't have a favourite seafood restaurant, but I used to love going to Loch Fynne Oyster Bar when it was in Nottingham. I also love going occasionally to Langar Hall where the food is amazing, and always try to have any sort of seafood delight that is on their menu.

Notts Spot

Currently it has to be Peggy's Skylight - I just love the atmosphere they've created there. The food and drink is incredible, and of course the live music is always a major treat. I love the fact you can eat and experience music at the same time. I always feel transported to a different time and place when I am there, it's as if I could be somewhere like New York or New Orleans.

Holiday Destination

There are still so many places that I want to go to and obsess over where I want to go next on my travels. Due to my love of road movies (and also westerns) I am a bit obsessed with the midwest of America, but I would have to say that my ultimate holiday destination would be Japan. I have been to Tokyo a few times and found it absolutely fascinating, totally different to anything I've experienced before or since, yet I also felt very much at home there. So now I really want to visit the rest of Japan, especially the more rural parts of the country, and explore their rich cultural heritage.