Personal Best Record: Benjamin Star Lion

Best record you stole from your folks' collection?  
When I was five I stole my mother's Johnny Diesel & The Injectors cassette. I was sitting in the car outside the Alrose Cafe in Pittsworth and it was playing through the stereo. It's funny but I can remember everything about that moment – like the dash of the car, it must have been the first moment I decided I wanted to play music. Thankfully, following that I delved further into my parents' old vinyl and came up with The Beatles, Sabbath, Dylan, Cream, Frank Zappa etc. My parents still tell me conflicting stories about whose records they were.

First record you bought?
I think this kid at school, Damien, stole his parents copy of The Beatles album Rubber Soul and he sold it to me on the playground for $5. Big money when you're in grade 5 or 6. It was a very original pressing... at some point someone, in a fit of Beatlemania, had written their names over their faces with a ball point pen and drawn love hearts all over it.

Record you put on when you're really miserable?
Probably Mount Eerie's Dawn record. It really paints the picture of someone trying to find enlightenment and instead confronting absolute insignificance – much like Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums book.

Record you put on when you bring someone home?
That really depends on the person and how long I want them to stay. If I had “intentions” I might try to be cool – something slightly obscure yet recognisable... like say John Coltrane Blue Train?.... its quiet but still really fucked up. But that might come across corny in a low light, quiet situation. I can't say I have a formula for this sort of thing.

Most surprising record in your collection?
Sandwiched somewhere between the very predictable chunks of Sonic Youth, The Beatles etc is a double-LP version of Madonna's Immaculate Collection.

Last thing you bought/downloaded?
Steady Dedicated by Aoi. Matt (Aoi) used to play in one of my favourite bands Shuriken and for a while we played together in The Rational Academy before he moved to Melbourne. I really love the guy and he's a continuing source of inspiration.