...Charles Thompson, AKA Black Francis, AKA Frank Black. He seems like a lovely chap, and I like his wilful refusal to do much more than stand there and holler when he's on stage. Of course, he's unlikely to start doing cartwheels in any case being, as he is, heroically large, but there is an admirable sort of "I'm just going to shout for ninety minutes and then go home" air about him which I really like. He's there to do his job, which he's very good at.

With you all the way on Bob, Patrick. He copped a reasonable amount of flak from people over the whole Lol Tolhurst debacle, but Lol always struck me as a real pain in the arse, so as far as I'm concerned no blame accrues to Mr. Smith.

And finally, the Nicest Man In Rock (And Best Ever Drummer)™, I give you Mr. David Grohl. I just really like him. I remember there being an episode of TOTP a few years back in which Coldplay were inexplicably getting an award for something, and Dave Grohl came on after they'd finished playing, Michael Aspel-like, to surprise them with it. They were clearly starstruck and speechless, and DG camped it up hilariously, saying "YES! You will bow before me! I was in Nirvana, you know!" Add to this all his deeply endearing goofing-off during Nirvana's "Live! Tonight! Sold Out!" video, and he's clearly just lovely.

... years ago - what a good show that was - and I have this wonderful memory of Frank Black impersonating Bryan Ferry through a megaphone

He just always seems like a genuinely pleasant guy who happens to write and play great songs. I fondly remember his "This is a song stolen by Paul Young, and we're stealing it back..." and impromptu faux-KLF "It's Quite Nice Down South" from a few years ago.

My GLW and I met Johnny Marr in a hotel lift in Manchester a few years back. It was the morning after a "Manchester vs Cancer" concert at which he had played. I was initially a bit starstruck, so it was Mrs Rae that spoke to him first, but he seemed a genuinely nice guy - interested in our opinions of the previous night's show, and the bands that had played. He obviously had things to do and places to be, but the 60 seconds or so that we spoke were great. I've kicked myself ever since - I should at least have offered to buy him a pint for being part of The Smiths and Electronic.

In general, I like stars who go the extra mile in looking ridiculous and somehow come out the other side seeming very, very cool. Mick Jagger and Iggy Pop, at their respective peaks, are perhaps the greatest examples. Like Freddie Mercury, they divide opinion; too many musicians today don't do enough to elicit any kind of opinion at all.

Pure enthusiasm just shines our of him. That doesn't mean I'd like to go out drinking with him though, I'd expect to wake up imprisoned in Mozambique, no money, no passport, no clothes, no Iggy and no idea how I got there.

Steve Vai - great guitarist and by all accounts nice bloke. A friend of mine who hero worships SV paid paid for a special ticket to be in a small group to meet Steve and spend time with him at the soundcheck to one of his gigs. Doug aid he was one of the sweetest, most unaffected people you could hope to meet. Apparently Lemmy, in one interview, said his favourite people in the business (mainly due to their eschewing of bullshit) were Billy Gibbons, Dave Grohl and Steve Vai.

Frank Zappa - I miss him. I just loved the way he managed to stay so contrary and honest to his own beliefs. Plus, any man who spent that mount of time shoeing the PMRC with the elegance he manged can't be all bad.

Not only a bosting singer and a Wolves fan he bought me a bottle of Newcastle Brown after accidentally kicking mine over at a Sutherland Brothers and Quiver concert at Aberystwyth Uni in 1977.I've still got the bottle - empty of course.

By the way - if there is ever a "tenous links to Rock legends" thread in the future you may see this story again. I've dined out on it for years.

I interviewed him years ago for a fanzine and I remain convinced he's the nicest man in the world. Tina Weymouth was, contrary to her reputation, lovely as well.

his music...

Ozzy!

- radiated good humour, made warm and generous music, turned his back on the big time to tour villages in a caravan of trucks, musicians, dancers, jugglers and circus performers...

but where would we be without George Martin. Thoroughly decent chapee

always strikes me as a chap it would be good to have a pint and a natter with.

Agree with Robert Plant,Neil Finn..my number 1 would be Joe Brown,a genuinely nice bloke and a great storyteller.

He was extremely nice and friendly.

... ditto Chas Smash

Guy Garvey. Can't believe he's not been mentioned yet.

Johnny Marr.
Dave Grohl.
Richard Hawley.

Ronnie James Dio. Don't have personal experience of this but a mate of mine met him in some out of the way place on a world tour and ended up getting invited backstage for that night's gig. Extremely friendly and a real gent by all accounts.

Joe Elliot of Def Leppard infamy. Spent a pleasant few minutes chatting to him at Chester Races a few years ago without me twigging who he was - he was a guest on a corporate day out. Poured me a glass or two of champagne. Really nice bloke - no airs or graces (as you'd expect of a Sheffield lad). Dodgy powder blue suit though.

But I guess that goes without saying round here, eh?

But seriously (and I do happen to admire Bono, although I think Adam Clayton might be more fun to go out for a beer with...) I'm totally with Patrick on Freddie at Live Aid - I love that performance... Just legendary. I say this as a long-time Queen naysayer.

Others? I reckon Vince Clarke would be a bit of a chuckle. I could chat to him for hours about bleepy 80s pop music. If he invited Alison Moyet the night would be complete.

I once interviewed Nick Lowe, and as you might expect, he was a pure delight. I've certainly heard a few of his anecdotes re-employed in other interviews (Lowe's stories, polished over hours of successive trains and rooms and cars and rooms and rooms and rooms room whilst touring, are the mile-melters referenced above), but as he re-told the story of writing The Beast in Me for Johnny Cash - complete with Cash impersonations - I figured this was as good as talking to a pop star could get.

John Lydon - genuinely interesting bloke

Noel Gallagher - whatever you may think of him, he does spout sense (most of the time)

Here with the former Mrs. Rushdie and his dog Bobby Jr.

which would add to any fondness I had a special place in my heart for the funny, smart, bloody minded, tough yet vulnerable and criminally underated songwriter - Kirsty MacColl. I think she'd be good for a pint and a laugh down the pub.

I have always had a huge mushy soft spot for Mr Almond.
He seems to be a really nice guy, and he's been through all kinds of misery and survived it with his spirit intact, with humility and dignity.
And he is a wonderful artist! Soft Cell, Marc and the Mambas, his solo career; I have bought most of his albums through the years. Some of those albums only had two or three good songs on them, but those songs were good enough to make it worth the price anyway, and worth coming back for more, again and again.
I've just bought his latest album...of course!

got me thinking about Nick Heyward and while rock star might be stretching things a bit I am genuinely fond of him. It is amazing how often I return to "Pelican West" and his solo stuff. The man who really should have had everything but it never quite worked out but he seems genuinely pleasant, humble and just a decent bloke if a little eccentric (no bad thing). I would imagine that being involved in one album in your life as good as PW would be enough for most of us so I doff my blue hat for a blue day to Nick Heyward and the number of times his tunes have made me smile like a fool.

Met him twice, once back in the early 80's and a few years ago after a show at the ICA, just before his stroke. A lovely bloke, a true gentleman.

in addition to some of the names above, especially Messrs Finn and Grohl:

Andy Partridge
Tom Baxter
Josh Ritter
Teddy Thompson

I have seen most live, Suzanne Vega & Pat Metheny-and what I thhink of them as people.

I don't have any first hand knowledge, but I like what I see.

I've met him a few times and he's an absolute gent. As were the members of Los Lobos when I ended up drinking their beer backstage once.

In all those BBC Four documentaries on music three guys who are always a giggle and worth listening to are Lemmy, Rick Wakeman and Joe Brown.

I was lucky enough to meet Yes after a gig in the states in 2002. Sure enough, (with the exception of Steve Howe who left by the back door) they were all gentlemen willing to take a few minutes to meet the fans left in the hotel bar. They were also slightly surprised to hear an Englishman amongst so many American fans in Vegas.

Mr. Wakeman chatted about his appearances on Countdown and his desire to get back to the Isle of Man to clean his barbeque, much to the befuddlement of the surrounding Americans too. The band all signed my programme and I take my hat off to them all.

I also have a soft spot for the Johns in TMBG who seem to be so brilliantly witty, arch and clever that they'd make fine company.

Anyone who loves Level 42 or have seen Mark King interviewed can't help but warm to him. He seems a larger than life gentleman who'd be welcome to pop round for a cup of tea. He likes pizza too, apparently.

But my fantasy uncle would be Christy Moore... preferably sober.

I went back to university as a mature student in Manchester, v close to the BBC, and always wished I'd bumped into Mark Radcliffe, as I reckoned he could have been a good mate.
I'm very fond of quite a lot of musicians that are probably horrid really, Michael Franti, Guy Garvey, Julian Cope, Julianne Regan, Johnny Marr, er.. Robbie Williams & little Mark Owen, The Zutons and The Coral collectively, Ian McCulloch (based on seeing him in IKEA as a teenager, and my friend's Dad fitting his kitchen), Fab Macca, all of Supergrass, Dave Grohl and Frank Black to name a few.
I spect that they are all unworthy, but I have a soft spot for them anyway.

I called him a 'living legend' and he seemed quite surprised. A really lovely man, as was Grant McLennan who jumped into the crowd at a Manchester gig and stood next to me after his guitar malfunctioned during the encore!