The first album I bought
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan”
“I recall purchasing this album and Primus’s ‘Sailing the Seas of Cheese’ with my own pocket money. Both records first landed in my hands on a day I spent at Eat Concrete Skate Park in Omaha, Nebraska.”
The first song I remember hearing
The Four Tops – “Bernadette”
“My mother played classic hits at home. We tuned into KIOA in Iowa, where frequently artists such as Elvis Presley, Motown legends, The Temptations, and The Four Tops dominated the airwaves.”
The first gig I went to
George Thorogood & The Destroyers – Iowa State Fair, 1985
“Although I was still very young, I vividly remember the crowd dancing along to ‘One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.’ My mother’s home soundtrack of blues icons—George Thorogood, Janis Joplin—further sparked my early interest.”
The song that makes me cry
Tom Waits – “Day After Tomorrow”
“Many tracks can bring tears, but this one hits instantly. While filming the short Sweet Girl with my close friend Brian Andrew Mendoza, I was to shoot a scene set in a car after my wife’s passing. Before filming, my friend, knowing me well, asked, ‘Mind if I ride with you?’ He then played this song in the car, and I was overwhelmed.”
The album I’ll never grow tired of
Ani DiFranco – “Living In Clip”
“Ani DiFranco entered my life through a best friend who is now the godfather to my children. Her debut blew my mind with poetic brilliance and an independent spirit—selling albums out of her car. If Tom Waits is my god, then Ani is the goddess I adore.”
The song I want played at my funeral
The Pogues – “Fairytale Of New York”
“It is a Christmas classic, yet I cherish it year‑round because of the Pogues’ unique vibe. The melody lifts my spirits and feels appropriate for any reflective moment.”
The film soundtrack that changed my life
‘Basquiat’ (1996)
“Julian Schnabel’s biopic of Jean‑Michel Basquiat profoundly impacted me. Both my parents were painters, and Schnabel—himself a painter turned director—captured art and music beautifully. The soundtrack introduced me to Tom Waits and the Pogues, shaping my musical palate.”
The song I can’t get out of my head
Eazy‑E – “Real Muthaphuckkin G’s”
“A humorous anecdote: I had a track from the Gladiator soundtrack in my mind one morning, but my friend caught it, only to hear ‘Real Muthaphuckkin G’s’ on the drive. Since then, it anchors my thoughts and has not left.”
The song that makes me want to dance
Bob Marley & The Wailers – “Could You Be Loved”
“Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’ gets me moving, but ‘Could You Be Loved’ is my favorite to play when dancing with my children. It packs energy without losing warmth, leaving me smiling.”
The song I played in my ‘Supergirl’ trailer
Motörhead – “Ace Of Spades”
“While composing a playlist for my character Lobo in the ‘Supergirl’ film, I shared tracks with director Craig Gillespie and producer Peter Safran, emphasizing Lemmy’s influence on the role. The set list opened with the iconic ‘Ace Of Spades,’ followed by ‘Big Take Over’ by Bad Brains, Metallica’s ‘Kill Them All,’ and selections from Rage Against the Machine, Pantera, Ministry, Tool, Slayer, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and of course Black Sabbath. ‘Supergirl’ is now in UK cinemas.