700.MaroonedwithmyMusic:LukeThompson

Transcript

[00:00:00]LukeThompson:[00:00:00]You'relisteningtoLuke'sEnglishPodcast.Formoreinformation,visitteacheruke.co.uk.

[00:00:16]Hello,thisisepisode700,whichisafairlybigmilestoneforthispodcast.Iwaswonderingwhattodoforthisepisode,butthenmycousinOliversuggestedthatheinterviewmeforanepisodeofMaroonedWithMyMusic.Nowyoumightnotbefamiliarwiththispodcastseriesmaroonedwithmymusic.

[00:00:39]Long-termlistenersmightrememberthatIhavedonethreepreviousepisodesusingthisthemeonewithmydad,onewithmymumandonewithmybrother,James,andtheyareepisodes248,250and252,ifyou'dliketofindtheminthearchiveandlisten.Sotheconcept[00:01:00]ofmaroonedwithmymusicisverysimilartotheconceptofanextremelysuccessfulandlongrunningBBCradiofourprogramcalledDesertIslandDiscs.

[00:01:12]Manyofyouwillbefamiliarwithit.I'msureyoucanfindtheDesertIslandDiscspodcastandstuffandfindalloftheinterviewsthatthey'vedoneonit.Sotheconceptofmaroonedwithmymusicisverysimilar.Infact,tobehonest,theconceptisbasicallyexactlythesame,butIthoughtthatIshouldrenameitatleast.

[00:01:30]AndI'verenamedit,maroonedwithmymusic,justsothatit'snotatotallyblatantcopy.SotheconceptisthattheguestontheshowisgoingtobemaroonedonadesertIsland.Okay.Maroonedmeans,youknow,leftthereontheirown.Adesertislandisanislandwheretherearenopeople,usuallyasmallislandsomewherethey'regoingtolivelikeTomHanksinthefilmcastaway.

[00:01:59]It's[00:02:00]justanimaginarything.Ofcourse,nobodyactuallygetssenttoaremotedesertIsland.It'sjustanimaginarything.Buttheguestimaginesthatit'shappeningandtheyaresetatask.TheycanchoosejusteightrecordstorescueandtaketothedesertIsland.Eightyouknow,musicrecordsandIsupposearecordplayerPlustheycanchooseonebookandoneluxuryitemoftheirchoicetobeleftonthedesertIslandwith.

[00:02:28]Okay.Soduringtheinterview,theguestisaskedtoexplaintheirmusicalchoiceswhilealsoassessingtheirlifeuptothatpointbeforewavingfarewelltoeveryoneandlivingtherestoftheirdaysonadesertisland.It'squiteanoddconcept,butthethingisitworks.DesertIslandDiscsisprettymuchanationalBritishinstitution,andtherearemany,manyepisodesintheBBCarchives.SobeingabletodoyourownDesertIslandDiscsisagreatprivilege,andso[00:03:00]it'sveryniceofOlivertosuggestit.SoOliveristheguestinterviewer,andIamtheintervieweeinthiscase.Ihopeyouenjoylisteningtome,talkaboutmylifeandsomeofmyfavoritepiecesofmusicandthatyoudon'tfindthisalltooself-indulgentoranything.

[00:03:16]Sowe'regoingtostartinjustasecond.Duringthiscall,OliverwasinCaliforniawherehelivesandIwasinParis.Forhim,itwastheendofthedayandhewasabouttogo

tobed.Butforme,itwasthebeginningofthedayandIjustgotupandIwastalkingtoOliverbeforeeveryoneelsehadgotup.

[00:03:33]Soitwaslikesix30inthemorningforme.Butanyway,let'sjustimaginenowthatI'mgoingtobepluckedfrommynormallifeandputonadesertisland.Butbeforethathappens,I'mgoingtohaveonelastinterviewtotalkaboutmylifeasawhole.Ihopeyouconsideritworthyofyourattention.

[00:03:51]Solet'sbeginMaroonedWithMyMusic.

[00:04:28][00:04:00]OliverThompson:[00:04:28]WelcometoMaroonedwithmyMusic.I'mveryhonoredtobeaguesthostonthisweek'spodcast.Imean,eventhoughI'maThompson,I'mobviouslyapoorstand-inforLuke,butit'sforagoodreasonbecauseLuketodayistheguestonhisownpodcastforhissevenhundredthepisode,Ibelieve.

[00:04:46]So,LukeThompson.He'samanofmanytalents,manyinterests,manycultures,amusician,ateacher,apodcaster,acomedian,averygoodimpressionist,ahusbandandafather,andofcourse,acousin[00:05:00]importantlytome,andI'mveryhonoredtofindoutmoreaboutLuke'slifethroughthemusicthatismostprecioustohimtoday.SowelcomeLuke,toyour

[00:05:09]LukeThompson:[00:05:09]ownpodcast.

[00:05:10]Thankyou.Thisisveryodd.Firstofall,beinginterviewedonmyownpodcast,butalsohavingtochooseeightsongsinthisepisodeofmaroonedwithmymusic.Imeanit'skindofaculturalmilestone,isn'tit?Isthattherightphrasethis,thisradioshowformatandhavingtochooseeightsongsisextremelydifficult,frustratinglyso.Whereyourealisethatyou're,you'renarrowingthingsdowntoonlyeightsongs,somehowitfeelslikeI'velostmostofthegoodstuff.AndI'vehadtohackitalldowntoonlyeightthings,butstill,it'salwaysimpossibletochooseonlyeightsongs,isn'tit?Especiallyifyoulovemusic.

[00:05:51]OliverThompson:[00:05:51]Howdidyouapproachthetask?

[00:05:54]LukeThompson:[00:05:54]SoIdecidedthatIwouldtrytopicksongsthatrepresentperiodsof[00:06:00]mylife,butIhaven'treallydonethatverysuccessfullybecausewhilealsodoingthat,IwantedtopicksongsthatIjustloveandthataremeaningfultomeinsomeway.Sosomethingsrelatetodifferentperiodsofmylife,butthenotherotherthingsarejustbitsofmusicIlove.

[00:06:17]AndI'mgoingtohavetotryandshoehornthemintomylifestoryinsomeway.Idon'tknowifIcandothat,butanyway.

[00:06:24]OliverThompson:[00:06:24]Thegreat,sortofcharacterson,DesertIslandDiscsthatserieshavehavemorethanoneappearance.Somaybeyoucangetanotherchancetofollowup.

[00:06:34]LukeThompson:[00:06:34]Isupposeso.It'smypodcast.IcandowhatIwant.

[00:06:36]OliverThompson:[00:06:36]Yeah,exactly.Okay.Well,listen,let's,let'stalkaboutwhereyouarenowinyourlife.Soyou'relivinginParis,withyourwifeanddaughter.That'sright.You'reuprecordingaverypopularaward-winningpodcastandyou'respendingyourtime.You'restilldoingcomedywhen,whenglobalpandemicsallow,buttellme,areyouina,areyouinagoodplaceinyour[00:07:00]life?Areyouarrivedatsomewherethatyou'recontent?

[00:07:02]LukeThompson:[00:07:02]Yeah.Absolutely.Imean,there's,therearetimesinyourlifeandyou,maybeyouwillsharethis,thisfeeling,especiallywhenyouareinyourtwentiesorsomethinglikethat,whereyouaretryingtoimaginewhatyourlifeisgoingtobe.You'retryingtopicturewhatyou'regoingtodowithyourself.

[00:07:20]You'retryingtoworkoutwhatkindofpersonyou'llbewhenyou'reinyour,youknow,you'reapproachingyourmidforties.Adulthood,properadulthoodissortofathingthatyoudon'treallyknowhowtodo.Youdon'tknowwhatit'sgoingtobelike,youdon'tknowwhatshapeitwillbeorhowyou'regoingtogetthere.

[00:07:35]ButifIwas,ifIwas20somethingagain,andIlookedatmyselfnow,IthinkI'dactuallybeprettychuffed.It'sobviouslylivinginParisis,iskindofextraordinary.Ineverreallyexpectedthistogoouttogetmylunchortogotothepostofficeandwow.I'minParisandlook,there'stheEiffeltower.

[00:07:52]There'stheoperahouse.Andthere'slike,thisisbizarreonadailybasis.I'vebeenhereforgosh,isitnineyearsnow?[00:08:00]Somethinglikethatnearlynineyears.Andit'sstilleveryday.Itfeelsweird.WhatamIdoing?LivinginParis,butthat'scool.That'sareallygoodfeeling.Also,yeah,soI'mmarriedandI'vegotachild,whichisalso,howdidthathappen?

[00:08:14]Howdid,who,who,whoagreestobewithmeandtoletthathappen?SoIfeelsortofveryluckythatinasense,I'vemadeittothispositionandit,anditeverything'skindofgoingokay.Idon'tknowhowIdidit.Idon'tknowwhathappenedmaybeoverthelast10or15years.Butthingsseemtosortofslotintoplace,alsodoing,doingapodcast,whichiskindofthemainthingIdonowisatotaldreamcometrue.

[00:08:40]Imean,it'sextraordinary.ThankGodfortheinternetbecauseI'm,sowhenIwasateenager,whenIwasleavingschoolordoingmyalevelsorgoingtouniversity,IhadnoideathatthiscouldhavebeenapossibilityandyetitisadreamcometruebecauseIalwaysimaginedorhopedordreamedabouthavingmyownradioshow.

[00:09:00][00:09:00]It'salwaysbeena,kindofa,alittlefantasyofmineeversinceJames,mybrotherand,andIusedtoplayaroundwithcassetterecorders.Youknow,thoseoldcassetterecordersfromtheeighties.You'dhavearadioandtherewasatapeplayerwitharecordbutton.Youcouldrecordsongsofftheradio,butoftenthey'dhavealittlein-builtmicrophoneinthem.

[00:09:22]Youcouldselectthemicrophoneandthenyoucouldrecordyourself.Soweusedtorecordourownlittleradioshowsandadvertsandthingslikethat.Anditwasalwayslotsoffun,butyeah,somehowImanagedtogetintobroadcastingsortofthroughthebackdoor

insomewaywhereIjustkindofdiditmyself.SothankGodforpodcasting.I'mveryhappywiththatdevelopmentintheworld.Thatpodcastsareathingbecauseittotallygavemeanoptioninmylife,whichisperfect.

[00:09:53]OliverThompson:[00:09:53]Idothinkallthethingsthatyoudidkindofledtothisplaceofstandup[00:10:00]comedy,teaching,playinginbands,youknow,thethingsyoudidwhenyouwereakidanditisliketheperfectmediumforallthethingsthatyouliketodo,and...

[00:10:08]LukeThompson:[00:10:08]studyingmedia,studyingcultureatuniversity.Ididactually,IsaidthatIdidn'tdoalotofworkexperience.Ididdoquiteafewworkexperienceplacementsinproductioncompanies.

[00:10:18]Ispentaweekataweather,alittlecompanythatproducedweatherreportsforregionalTVstations.SotheyhadjustlikethewaythattheydoweatherreportsonTV,theyhadlikealittlestudioandthepresenterswoulddescribethe,whatwasgoingononthemap.Andtheyhadamonitor,sotheywouldjustbasically,theywouldmakeweatherreports.They'ddesignthegraphicstoshowtheweather,youknow,givingsummariesoftheweatherreportsandthere'dbeapersoninthestudio,youknow,givingdirectionsandstuff.AndsoIspentaweekthereandtheyevenlikegotmetodoaweatherreport.Offline.Imean,Iwasn'tonTV,buttheykindof[00:11:00]diditandtheyfilmeditandstuff.

[00:11:01]AndsoIdidafewofthosethings.Soitwas,Iwas,wasalwayskindofsomehowthinkingI'mgoingtogetintobroadcasting,butthekindof,whatwasitthatstoppedme?Idon't,I'mnotsure,really.Ifeltliketheworldwasabitintimidating,thekindofjobmarket.Andatthetime,Iwasn'tsureofmyselfatall.

[00:11:17]Ididn'tknowwhatIwantedtodoorwhoIwas.Iwasn'tconfident.AndsoIwasn'tabletocapitalizeonthoseworkexperienceplacements,plusthefactthatmydadmadehiscareerinbroadcastingandworkingfortheBBC.Yeah.IfeltabitlikeIwasinhisshadow.Andlike,youknow,hehelpedmegetworkexperienceplacements.

[00:11:38]SoeverytimeIwalkedintosomecompany,they'relike,Ohyeah,weknowyourdad.SoIalwayswantedtodomyownthingandyetIstillwantedtodobroadcasting.SoIsortofendedupdoingitlikethis.

[00:11:51]OliverThompson:[00:11:51]Itwaswaterflowsinonedirection.Itwasjust,itwasdestiny.

[00:11:55]LukeThompson:[00:11:55]Itwasmeanttohappen.

[00:11:57]OliverThompson:[00:11:57]Itwassolisten.Weweregoingtocometoyourfirst[00:12:00]discnow.

[00:12:01]What'syourfirstmusicalselectionforus?

[00:12:04]LukeThompson:[00:12:04]Myfirstmusicalchoice.SoIwantedsomethingtosortofsummarisemyearlychildhood,youknow,my,mychildhooddays,whichwerespentplaying,messingaround,makinghomemaderadioshowswithmybrother,watchinglotsof

classicfilmsthatwehadonVHS,likeStarWars,playingwithtoys,playingwithStarWarsfigures,andgenerallyhavingaprettywonderfultime.Imean,wegrewupintheeightiesandIwasthinkingthatmaybethebesttimeinallofhumanhistory,certainlyifyoulivein,ifyoulivedinEngland,itwasoneofthebesttimesinallofhumanhistorytogrowupbecausewehadsometechnology.Itwasprettybasicstuff,butwehadthingslikevideosandsomebasiccomputergamesandthings,butthetechnologywasn'toverwhelming.

[00:12:56]Itwasn'tliketheinternetwhereitdominateseverythinginyourlife.Sowelivedavery[00:13:00]simple,innocentsortofexistence,butwithlotsofcoolstuff,likegoodtoys,games,films,andthings,andinarelativelysafe,stablesituation.It'snotliketheenvironmentwasallgoingwrong,oratleastwedidn'tknowaboutit.

[00:13:14]Noissueswith,with,youknow,allthetroublethatcomeswiththeinternetandkidsthesedays.AndIjustfeellikeitwasprettyamazing.SothesongthatI'vechosenis,isbyMadness,whichis,Ithinkthebandthat.It'slikemyfamily'sband.WealllovetheBeatles,butsomehowMadnessseemstosumuporrepresentthespiritof,ofbeinginmyfamily,certainlyintheeighties.

[00:13:40]AndthesongiscalledTheReturnoftheLosPalmasSeven,whichisaninstrumentaltrack,butIjustlovethesong.It'sjustgotustimelessnesstoitandit'sfun,andit'sfunnyaswell.It'skindofcomedic,especiallyifyouwatchthevideo.Soitmakesmethinkofthevideo,whichisa,sortoflike[00:14:00]amontageofsomanyclipsofdifferentthings.

[00:14:03]There'slikelittleclipsfromstarWarsinthevideo.Idon'tknowhowtheygotawaywiththatandvariousotherlittleimagesandgenerally.It'sjustagreattuneanditjustrepresentsthesortofinnocenceandfunofmychildhooddays.Andthiswillalwaysremindmeofthatfeeling,listeningtothis.

[00:14:23]PlusIlovethebassline.Iknowmydadlovesthis.Sothat'sthefirstsongMadness-TheReturnoftheLosPalmasSeven.

[00:14:31]OliverThompson:[00:14:31]Let'shavea[00:15:00]listen.ThatwasReturnoftheLosPalmasSevenbyMadness.Yourfirstchoice.Solet'sgobacknow.You,youtalkedaboutyourchildhoodintheeighties,thesortofthethebestperiodtobeakidinrecenthistory,asyousay,butwhatwasit,howwouldyoudescribeyourhomelifethen?

[00:15:38]Whatwasit?Whatwasitlike?Therewasyouyouryou'retheyoungestoftwo.Soitwasyou,yourbrother.Wasitloud,wasitraucous?Wasitcalm?

[00:15:49]LukeThompson:[00:15:49]Imean,I,Irememberitbeingfairlycalm.Idon't,itdidn'tseemthatchaotichavingthreekidsinthefamily,likeforyou,youknow,youhadtwosisters,Iexpectthatwasalotmore[00:16:00]chaoticandloudandpeopletryingtogettheirvoiceheardandstufflikethat.Inmyfamilyyeah.Therewasprobablyloudnesswhenthetwoofusplayedtogether,butgenerallyeverythingwasprettycalm.Mymumlikestokeepacalmhouse.Mydadtoo.Imean,he,he,hewasworkingquitealot.Hewould,hewastheforeignnewseditorattheBBCforawhileduringthatperiod.Sohewouldkindofsometimesdisappeartotodifferentcountriesandcomebackbearingah,interestinggifts.YouwenttoHongKongandhecamebackwiththesetwolittlecomputergamethings.My

brothergotlikeabigplastic,yellowspace,invaderstypegame,andIgotoneofthoseNintendogameandwatchthings.Doyourememberthosegameandwatch?Itwaslikealittle,itwassupposedtobesortofanalarmclock.

[00:16:48]Youcouldputitnexttothebed,butyoucouldpickitupandplayagameonit.Itwasthevery,very,veryearlyversionofaGameBoy,butitwasonlyone,therewasonlyonegameinit.[00:17:00]AndsoIhadthegame,agameandwatchthatmydadgotbutyeah,homelifewas,itwassortoflike,youknow,lookingbackonit,itwaskindofidyllic.

[00:17:08]Idon'tremembermuchdramaortroublenomorethannormalinyouknow,forchildren.Itwasjustgreat.Itwasjustareallygood,comfortablelovingenvironment.Icouldn'treallyaskformore.Ithinkitwasawonderfultimetobealive.

[00:17:27]OliverThompson:[00:17:27]Whatkindofinfluencedidyour,didyourparentshaveonyou?

[00:17:29]Obviouslythey,yourparentsfundamentally,theykindofshapeyou,butarethereparticularthingsyoufeellikeyoulearnfromthemorthat...Iseealotofsimilaritiesbetweenyouandyourdadobviously.Youthinkso?Yeah,Ithinkso.Notnecessarilycharacter-wisebutinyourinterestsandyou'vebeendrawntosimilarprofessions.

[00:17:51]LukeThompson:[00:17:51]IthinkwhenIwas,whenIwasgrowingup,sobeforeIgottoabout15or16yearsold,Iwasmainlyintosport.Thatwaslike[00:18:00]themainthingIwasinto.Ithinkprobablymydadhadalottodowiththatbecausehewasalsoverysportywhenhewasyoungerandhe'sverytalented.Hecankindofplayallthedifferenttypesofsport.

[00:18:11]AndsoIthinkhewasquiteenthusiasticaboutplayingsportsandstuffwithus.Somemaybemorethanmybrotherwhogotintothingslikeskateboarding,whichyouknow,isnotsomethingmydadknewabout,butIwouldplayfootballlike24hoursadayifI,ifIhadthechanceatthatperiod.Andmydadwouldbealwaysupforplayingwithmeandweusedtowatchfootballtogether.

[00:18:34]Idon'tknow,it'sveryhardtotell.It'sveryhardtotellkindof,Ithinkthere'sjusttheirinterestsprobablyinfluencedmesomuchlikethe,the,youknow,thingslikefootballwithmydad,butmaybewithmymum.Idon'tknow.Idon'tknow.Really.It'shardtoexplain.

[00:18:53]OliverThompson:[00:18:53]Yeah.Youdon'tknow.Ijustguessyou're,it'sakindofcreative,it'sacreativefamily.Andyouknow,Icouldseethat[00:19:00]your,yourmum'saverycreativepersonaswell,andyourbrother.SoIcanseebornoutofthatenvironmentthatyougrewupin.Iguessitwasalotofsortofcreativeplayandratherthancompetitivetypeactivity.

[00:19:14]LukeThompson:[00:19:14]Yeah.MybrotherwasalwaysverycreativeandIrememberlotsoftimesspentbasicallyjustsortofhoveringoverhisshoulder.

[00:19:23]SohewouldbesittingathisdeskandI'djustbewatchingwhathewasdoing.Thisisnormallyhowitwentandhewouldbedoingsomethinglikemakingamodelairplane.Makingamodelairplaneathisdesk.So,youknow,there'soldAirfixmodels,plasticmodelsofaSpitfireorwhatever.Sohewouldhave

[00:19:43]OliverThompson:[00:19:43]...ontheceiling,asIremember.

[00:19:45]LukeThompson:[00:19:45]That'sright.Yeah.Heusedtomakethemanditwasquitefunjustwatchinghimmakethem.ButIwouldliterallyjustbetherestandingnexttohim,watchinghim,whateverhewasdoinganditwasalwayssomecreativethingandyeah,he'dmakealltheseairplanesandthenhepinnedthemtotheceiling.Sotheywere[00:20:00]liketheseairplaneshangingdownfromhisceilingandstuff.

[00:20:03]Iusedtowatchyouknow,Ispentalotoftime,Ithink,watchingandlisteningasthe,astheyoungestofessentiallythreeboysinthehouse,mydad,mybrotherandmeIwascertainlykindoflike,and,andmydadandmybrotherhaveverytalkative.They'requitesortof,theycankindof,theytendtodominateaconversation.

[00:20:23]AndsoIwouldspendalotoftimelisteningtoeveryoneelseandnotdoingthatmuchtalkinginfact,IwasneveraconfidentspeakeruntilmanyyearslaterIthinkfamouslynotthatfamous,buttheysayinmyfamilythatforanumberofyears,whenanyoneasksmesomething,Iwouldjustsay,"Jamessayit".

[00:20:47]Ijustexpect,youknow,IgotshyandI'dletJamesdoallthetalking.SoIdon'tknow,lotsoflistening.Mymum,it'shardtoexplainhowsheinfluencedme.Idon'tknow,specifically,maybeasortof,sortof,sortof[00:21:00]thoughtfulnessofsomekind.She'saverythoughtfulpersonandobservant,maybethat.Idon'tknowreally.

[00:21:07]OliverThompson:[00:21:07]No,Ithinkthat'sagood,that'sagood,gooddescription.Irememberyouasbeingdefinitelybeingsortofanobserverand,youknow,youwereobviouslyabsorbingandtakingallthisstuffinthatlaterinlifehassortofflowedout.

[00:21:21]LukeThompson:[00:21:21]Yeah.Maybe,maybethat'swhathappened.Iwasn'tveryconfident.Iwasneververyconfidentasakid.AndsoIwasmoreinterestedindoingthingslikeplayingsportandplayingmusicratherthan,Idon'tknow.Didn'treallyknowwhoIwas.Ittakesagestoworkoutwhoyouare,doesn'tit?

[00:21:40]OliverThompson:[00:21:40]Yeah,itdoes.Yeah.Idon'tthinkanyonedoesreallyuntilkindofquitelateinlifeoften.

[00:21:45]LukeThompson:[00:21:45]Maybenoteventhensometimes,

[00:21:48]OliverThompson:[00:21:48]Buttellme,lookwe'rereadyforanothertune.Sowhat'snextup?

[00:21:52]LukeThompson:[00:21:52]Okay.SothenexttrackIwantedsomething,soagain,thisis,thisisasongfrommychildhood,butit'salsoasongthatI[00:22:00]stilllistentoandenjoytothisday.Infact,it'sprobablyoneofmyfavoriteall-timesongsofalltime.

[00:22:07]AndsothisisCheeseandOnionsbytheRutleswrittenbyNeilInnes,ofcourse.AndsothereasonI'vechosenCheeseandOnions,well,I'mahugefanoftheBeatles,butImaybeevenaabiggerfanoftheRutlesifthat'spossible,butIlovethemsomuch.SotheRutlesyes,wasafilmthatwasmadebysomeofthemembersofMontyPython'sFlyingCircus.

[00:22:32]It'sbasicallyliketheBeatlesmeetsMontyPython,andit'saparodyfilmoftheBeatles.Butthethingisit'saparodydoneinthemostaffectionatewayandinaveryrespectfulwayintermsofitsaccuracy,evendowntothefactthatNeilInneswasasked,inaboutatwoweekperiodtowrite10or20songsforthefilm.

[00:22:55]Andhewasaskedtowrite10or20sortofBeatletypesongs.Andhewent[00:23:00]away.HeconsciouslydecidednottolistentoanyoftheBeatlesmusicsothatitwouldn'tinfluencehimtoodirectly,buthewroteanalbum'sworthofmaterialthatisjust.It'sit'sintheBeatlesmodeinthesensethatit'skindoflikemeanttosoundliketheBeatles,butbecauseNeilInnesissoclever,thesongsstandupontheirownandIfindthemnotonlyaretheynotonlyaretheykindofpartoftheBeatlesworldandGeorgeHarrisonsaidthathimself,hesaidthattheRuttlesisallpartofthesoup.Thatthey'reallpartofthatkindofworldoftheBeatles.Soformethatit'sliketheBeatlesinanalternateuniverse,butyes,Ifindthemusicfunnyandthere'salotoflikelevityinthe,in,inthat.

[00:23:42]AndwhenIlistentoRutlemusic,itmakesmesmile.ButalsoIfindthesongsquiteprofound,notprofoundpoignant.Ifindthesongsverypoignantaswell.Andthisoneinparticularisverypoignant.It'swritteninakindofJohnLennonstyle.So[00:24:00]withthesortofpianoandvocals,nasalsoundingvocalsandstuff,andit'sessentially,he'sbasicallysingingaboutcheeseandonioncrisps,andyetsomehowithasapoignancytoitthatit'shardtoexplaininthemidstofthekindoftongue-in-cheekparodyandthecomedyandthepoignancyofthefeeling.

[00:24:25]There'sjustliketheperfectmixof,of,ofthatsortofthing.I,I,Ilikecomedy.Ilikecomedymusicaswell.AndIlikethefactthatsometimescomedymusiccanbeactuallyverymeaningful,notserious,isn'ttheword,butpoignant.Soanyway,thisisasongthatagainremindsmeofmychildhood,butit'sonethatIenjoypersonally,on,onmanydifferentlevels.Ilikethat,Ilikethingsthatworkonanumberofdifferentlevels.

[00:24:54]OliverThompson:[00:24:54]Likealift.

[00:24:56]LukeThompson:[00:24:56]Likea[00:25:00]lift.

[00:26:12][00:26:00]OliverThompson:[00:26:12]SothatwasCheeseandOnionsbytheRutlesasyourseconddisc.Let'smoveonnowtothesortofnextphaseinyourlife,whenyouwere,tellmehowoldwereyou?YougrewupinEalinginLondonandbutyoumovedtoSolihull,Warwickshirewhenyouwere10.

[00:26:30]LukeThompson:[00:26:30]Iwasnineyearsoldwhenwemoved.

[00:26:32]Sowemovedfromaprettyurbanplace.Imean,EalingissortofasuburbofLondon,butit'skindofjustLondonaswell.Really.Sodefinitelyanurbanplacejustonthe

edgeofLondon.Andwemovedtoessentiallythatitwasprettymuchthemiddleofnowhere.SoakindoflittlevillagebetweentwotownsintheWarwickshireorSolihullcountryside.Thelittlevillagethatwemovedtohadvirtuallynothing[00:27:00]init.

[00:27:00]Therewasaaparkwithafootballpitchandsomeswings.Therewasapubandtherewasapostofficewithalittleshopattachedtoit.Andthatwasit.Andlotsoffields,lotsoffields,lotsofnothing.It,it,youhavetowalkfor30minutestoanhourtogettothenearesttrainstation.Thebuseswouldstopathalfpastthreeintheafternoon.

[00:27:22]Sothelastbuswouldbetheonebringingthekidshomefromschool,andthenthebuseswouldstopsovery,itwouldbeveryeasytobestrandedoutthere.Anditwasavery,verymuchacountrysidesortofexistenceandquiteremote,quiteacontrasttolivingjustoutsideLondon

[00:27:43]OliverThompson:[00:27:43]Inthatphaseofyourlife.Irememberalotof,Imean,as,aswithallkids,that'slikethecrucialphasewhenyoushapeyourinterestsandyoustarttogetintothethingsthatprobablystaywithyouforlife.Butinthatperiodofyoukindoftookupthedrumsandgotintomusic.

[00:27:59]LukeThompson:[00:27:59]So,[00:28:00]soyeah,yeah,yeah.Likeabout11yearsold.

[00:28:03]IdecidedIwantedtostartplayingthepianobecauseIhadalittlekeyboardandI'dlearnedtoplaysometunesonit.AndIdecidedthatIwanttoplaythe,wantedtoplaythepiano.Somyparentsweredelightedwiththat.Andtheypaidformetotakepianolessonswithalocalteacher,whichwasgreat.

[00:28:19]AndsoIhadfivereallygoodyearsofbeinglikeagreatpianoplayer,makingprogress,doingmyexams,Igottogradefive.AndsoIdid,youknow,Iwasabletoconcentrateandpracticeandstuff,andIgotquitegood.Idon'tthinkintermsofmusic,Idon't,Idon't,it'shardtosaywhat,howI'mgoodatmusic.Idon'tknowifit'sthatI'vegotparticulartalentintermsofbeingabletotechnicallybegood,butinsteadIthinkI'vejustgotacertainfeelthatIcanputintothemusicthatIplay.Andsothatwasnice.Thatcameout.Butanyway,yeah,whenIgotto15or16yearsold,you[00:29:00]know,IstartedtogrowupabitandIsuddenlydiscoveredthatitwasIhadlotsofotherbetterthingstodothantopracticeplayingthepianoforanhoureverydayandplayclassicalmusicandstuff.AndIstarteddiscoveringothertypesofmusicandsuddenlywasfascinatedandinterestedbylotsofotherthings.Imean,IrememberwhenIwasabout16,Ifeltlikesortofmybrainswitchedoninaway.

[00:29:27]AndIwasn'tjustlike,Oh,I'mgoingtogoandplayfootball.Youknow,itwasn't,asbasicasthat,IsuddenlystartedthinkingforthefirsttimeandbecameawarethatIwasactuallythinkingaboutthingsandIbecamekindofdeepmanandthingslikethat.AndsoIstartedbecominglessinterestedinplayingthepiano,butluckilyforus.

[00:29:47]Ourparents,mybrotherandI,ourparentshadboughtusadrumkit.IthinktheyboughtitpartiallyforJamesbecauseIhadthepiano.AndsotheywantedtoencourageJamestodosomething.Sotheyboughtthedrumkit.Officiallyitwasforbothof[00:30:00]

us,butIthinklargelyitwastoencourageJamestodosomething,butIstartedplayingitandIgotreallyintothat.

[00:30:06]Plusatthesametime,Igotacheapbassguitarandstartedplayingwiththosethings.Soitbecameaboutplayingthedrumsandplayingthebassandabitofguitar.ButYeah.Ijustsuddenlystartedgettingintomusic.TheotherthingwasthatIguess,livinginthishouse,whichfeltabitlikethemiddleofnowhere,youendedupsortofbecomingquiteinward.

[00:30:25]Sotherewasquitealotoftimespentinmybedroom.JustworkingwithlikeplayingwithmyCDs,myCDcollection,andmakingalotofmixtapesforpeople.Soagain,thisiswhylikechoosingonlyeightsongsisalmostimpossiblebecauseifyou'remakingamixtapeonaona90minutecassette,you'vegotabout16songsto,toplaywithatleastsoonlyeight.

[00:30:51]Imean,it'salmostimpossible.AlsoIstartedexploringmyparents'recordcollectionanddiscoveredlotsofclassicstuffinthere.[00:31:00]Andthatwasreallygood.SoIdon'tknow,Idon'tknow.

[00:31:03]OliverThompson:[00:31:03]Ithinkduringduringthatperiodaswell,becauseyou,forme,fromtheoutside,Isawyougettinginto,justallitjustallsortsofdifferenttypesofmedia,whetheritwas,youwerereallyintomusic,itwasupcomedy.

[00:31:18]YouweredeeplyintofilmandyouobviouslyhaveaStarWarsobsession,whichI'msureallyourlistenersareawareofallsortsofdifferentfilms,butitwasjustsortofpopcultureingeneral,youwerejustsortofabsorbingallofthisbecamequiteencyclopedicaboutyourknowledgeandIjustfeelthatthatwasthatperiodofyourlife.Itfeelslikethatwillstarttosortofbubbleupand...

[00:31:39]LukeThompson:[00:31:39]Yeah,Ijustsortofbecamereallyfascinatedandreallyinterestedineverything,especiallypopculture.Asyousay,musicandfilms,itjustbecameendlesslyinterestingandfascinating.Interesting.Iguessjustgrowingup,yougettoapointwheresomesortofintelligencekicksinandyoustarttobeinspired.

[00:32:01][00:32:00]Youknow,andsoIjustgotreallyintomusicandfilms.Myparents'recordcollectionhelped,butitwasjustlikethissensethatmusiccouldbereallyexciting.AndIdiscoveredsomenewformsofmusicthatIhadn'treallydiscoveredbefore,likethingslikejazz,stuffthathadbeenaroundforagesanyway,butjustthatwhenIlistenedtoit,itjustfeltlike,wow,thisis,thisisamazing.

[00:32:24]Thisisthemusicforme.IrememberbeingintroducedtodifferentkindsofmusicbeyondjustthepopmusicthatmyparentshadsortofplayedinthecarandtheclassicalmusicalI'dplayedonthepiano,especiallyjazzandjazzfunkandthoseothermoreobscureformsofmusic.ButIremembermyintroductiontothatwaslikelisteningtoDudleyMooreTheDudleyMooreTrio,whichwasarecordmydadhad.DudleyMoorewas,listenerswasacomedianfromthesixties.HewaslikeasatiricalcomedianandthenhebecamemoreofasortofridiculouscomedianwithPeterCook.ButHealso[00:33:00]playedpiano.Sothat

wasamazinglisteningtohim.ButthenIgotintotheproperstuff,youknow,likeArtBlakeyand,andMilesDavisandthingslikethat.

[00:33:09]OliverThompson:[00:33:09]Isthatamomenttopauseforyournexttrack?

[00:33:12]LukeThompson:[00:33:12]Yeah.This,thisdoesleadustothenext,mynextsongchoice.Thisisjustasapieceofmusicthatagaincomesfrommydad'smusiccollection.AndIrememberhimplayingittoJamesandmeonce,playingthewholealbumandjust,itjustsoundedlikethecoolestthingever.

[00:33:30]Anditstilldoes.Idon'tknowhowit'spossible,butevenwanttolistentothismusicnowit'sstillasexcitingandbrilliantasever.AndthisisjustapieceofmusicIcanjustswitchon.It'sonlyabouttwoandahalfminuteslong,butIcanjustgetcompletelylostinit.Ilovethemusicianship.

[00:33:47]Itsoundsliketheyjustrecordeditliveinonetake.SothisisBookerTandtheMGsandthesongiscalledWe'veGotJohnnyWells,whichisfromthesoundtracktoafilmcalledUpTight.[00:34:00]Andit'sanotherinstrumentalone.Butit'skindof,Idon'tknowhowtodescribethemusic.It'skindoflikefunkmusic,buttheguysweresessionplayers.

[00:34:10]TheyplayedonalloftheStax,soulmusicstuff,butontheirown,theyjust,Idon'tknow,justbrilliant.Andalsothefactthatyoucanclearlyheartheinstruments.There'sabass,there'saguitarasdrumsandthere'saHammondorganjustfourinstrumentsandthey'reincrediblytightandit'sjustajoyto,tojustlistentoit.

[00:34:30]Sothisjustrepresentstheexcitementofdiscoveringotherformsofmusic,evenstuffthatbeenaroundfordecades,butwasexcitingandnewtome.

[00:34:45]OliverThompson:[00:34:45]Okay,let'sput[00:35:00]iton.

[00:35:53]Thatwas,We'veGotJohnnyWellsbyBookerTandthe[00:36:00]MGs.Sowe'rejusttalkingaboutyourtimein,inSollyholeandyoursortofteenageyearswhenyouwhenyouhadabitofanawakeningtoallthedifferentthingsandsortofartandmusic,andyou'reinterestedin...

[00:36:14]LukeThompson:[00:36:14]Andgirlsaswellofcourse.

[00:36:17]Girls.

[00:36:17]OliverThompson:[00:36:17]Ofcoursewell

[00:36:20]LukeThompson:[00:36:20]becameanimportantfactor.That,thatincludedthingslikeclothesandthewayyoubehavedandthewayyoutrytokindof,youknow,presentyourselftotheworld.

[00:36:32]SuddenlyIwas,itwasimportantwhatgirlsthoughtofmeandIlikedshowingoff.

[00:36:39]OliverThompson:[00:36:39]Isthatright?Isthat,isthatsomethingthatsortof...

[00:36:41]LukeThompson:[00:36:41]Abityeah,therewas,therewereacoupleofyearswhereIdecided,Oh,I,IthinkI'm,I'm,IthinkImustbeattractivetowomennowbecauseyouknow,youstartedtogetinterestfromgirlsandthatinturnaffectsyourconfidenceandyouroutgoingness.

[00:36:56]SowhenIwasatschool,Iwasgenerallyquitesortof,[00:37:00]adullfigure,Ithinkin,in,onthescene,youknow,Iwouldgenerallytryandsortofblendinwiththefurniture.Ijustdidn'twantanytrouble,youknow,becauseatschool,schoolcanbe,it'snotatough,notlikeforsomepeople,buttoanextentitcanbeabittoughwhenyougetkids.

[00:37:18]There'salotofcompetitiveness,alotofbullyingandpeoplepickingoneachother.Andforme,schoolwasjustanex...itwasjustacaseoftryingtojustsortofblendinandgetthrough.

[00:37:28]OliverThompson:[00:37:28]Keepyourheaddown.

[00:37:30]LukeThompson:[00:37:30]Yeah.Keepyourheaddown.Exactly.Andjustgetthroughit.AndthenwhenIleftschool,Iwenttosixthformcollege.

[00:37:36]Alotofkidsjuststayonattheschoolthatthey'rethey'reatandtheydotheirAlevelsatschool,whichisessentiallystilllikebeingatschool,butyoudon'twearauniform.ButIwenttoasixthformcollege,whichwasatotallydifferentplace.Anditwasfullofpeoplewhowere16,17,18yearsold,sonolittlekidsoranything,andnooneworeuniforms.

[00:37:55]Soinaway,henIstartedcollege,itwaskindoflikeanew[00:38:00]beginning,anewbeginning,anewstartandno,nooneknewme.AndsoIstarteddressingdifferentlyandIsuddenlykindofgainedallthisconfidencefromlikeleavingtheannoyingtwatsthatIusedtogotoschoolwith,likekindofleavingallthosepeoplebehindandgoingtosixthformwasjustbrilliant.

[00:38:18]Becausethen,youknow,Igotintobandswithfriendsofmine.Istartedexperimentedwithwearingdifferentclothes.Iusedtogotothe,tothesecondhandclothingmarkets,thevintageclothingmarketsandbuythingslikeoldseventiesclothesandthingslikethat.So,thatwascool.Itwasacoolperiod.

[00:38:39]Yeah.Anditwascooltokindofflirtwithgirlsandthatsortofthing.Maybethat'soneofthereasonswhyIwasn'tabletofocusonplayingpianoforanhoureveryday.Myprioritieshadshifted.

[00:38:55]OliverThompson:[00:38:55]Yeah,itgivesyouevenmorerespectfortheseconcertpianists.You'vegotthroughthatdifficultphase

[00:39:00][00:39:00]LukeThompson:[00:39:00]Exactly,youneedalotofdiscipline.

[00:39:03]OliverThompson:[00:39:03]YouwenttoJohn,JohnMoore'sUniversityinLiverpool.Isthatright?

[00:39:07]LukeThompson:[00:39:07]That'sright.

[00:39:08]OliverThompson:[00:39:08]Beauseyoukindof,thebig,thebigshiftwasgoingtocollege.AndIremember,IrememberIrememberfromtheoutsideofthe,Ididn'tseeyouthatoftenatthattimeofmylife,buttherewasa,thatwasareallybigchange.Asyousay,yougainlotsmoreconfidenceandyoustarteddressingdifferentlyandgettingintolotsofdifferentthings.

[00:39:25]Andwhatwasthetransitiontouniversitylikethenforyou?Whatdidyoutakefromthatexperience?

[00:39:30]LukeThompson:[00:39:30]Actuallygoingtouniversitywaslikeatotalshock.Soactually,firstofall,soIspentmaybeacoupleof,ofyearsofjustkindofliving,Idon'tknowhowtodescribeitreally,butjusthavingthewonderfultimeofmylifeatsixthformcollege.

[00:39:46]AndIspentquitealotoftimeintheparknexttothecollege,ratherthanactuallyinthecollege,intheclassroom,focusingonmystudies.SoIdidreasonablywellatGCSElevel.That'swhenyou're16or15[00:40:00]andthencollege.Iwasjust,wasjusthavingsuchagreattimelivingthatIdidn'tfocusonmystudies.

[00:40:07]Andaftertwoyearsincollege,Igotmyexamresults.AndIremembergoingintocollegetopickthemupandIcamebacktothecarparkwheremymumwasandIopenedtheenvelopewithherthere.AndIdon'tknowwhatIwasthinking.IwasjustsortofassumingthatIwasgoingtobeallrightandI'dgettheresultsIwanted,eventhoughmyheadwasinthecloudsprettymuch.

[00:40:30]SoIopenedtheenvelopeandtheresultswerewell,theworstresultsofanyoneI'veeverknown.No.IchallengeanyonetogetworseAlevelofresultsthanIdidfirsttimeround.Istillhaven'tmetanyonewhogotworseresultsthanme.It'sabitofamysteryinaway.Maybeit'snotmystery.

[00:40:48]Maybeit'sjustthatIwrotesuchterribleessaysthatIgottheresults,butIstillthinkthere'ssomemysteriouselementtoit.SoIgot[00:41:00]aDdoyouknow,doyouknowwhatmyresultswere?Everyone'sseems...

[00:41:03]OliverThompson:[00:41:03]Iknowthatitaffectedyouquiteprofoundlythatexperience.

[00:41:06]LukeThompson:[00:41:06]Yeah.So,IgotaDandthenIgottoUs.

[00:41:10]SoaDis,isnotthatbadincomparisontotheothers.

[00:41:13]Imean,it'sstillapassA,B,C,D,andthentheothertwosubjectsIgotUandaU.NowaUisextraordinarybecauseyou'vegotABCDthey'reallpassesEisalsoapassaswell,actually.AndthenFisafailandthenthere'snoGHIJandwhateveritjustgoestoNwhichisnothing,zero,Nmeanszero.

[00:41:36]Butthenevenbelowzero,you'vegotU,whichmeansunclassified.Andthatisessentiallylike,there'snonumberorletter.That'sjustaline.Justalittlehorizontalliner,ahyphenforyourexamresult.That'swhatIgottwice.Igottwo.

[00:41:53]OliverThompson:[00:41:53]CanIask,whatwerethey?Ididn'tknowthisstory.Whatwerethosesubjects?Whatwerethesubjects?

[00:41:58]LukeThompson:[00:41:58]Ichosesomebizarre[00:42:00]subjects.SoItook,Itookphysicaleducationwasoneofthem,whichisnotjustsport.Italsoinvolves,youknow,thingslikephysio-therapyandalotof,youknow,sportspsychologyandstufflikethat.IgotaDforthat.Andthentheothersubject.Sooneofthemwassocialbiology.

[00:42:20]NowwhatIwantedtodowassociology,buttheydidn'toffersociology.Sothenextbestthingwassocialbiology.

[00:42:27]OliverThompson:[00:42:27]Ihavenoideawhatthatis.

[00:42:30]LukeThompson:[00:42:30]It'sbasicallybiology,buttheyfocusedoncertainsocialthings.So,sotheyfocusedonthingslikematernityandtherewaslikeabitofsociology.Itwasbasicallyabout90%biology,which,youknow,involvedunderstandinghowplantsdrinkwater.

[00:42:51]Howdoeswatermovefromonecellofaplanttoanothercellofaplant?

[00:42:55]OliverThompson:[00:42:55]Verysortofit'squiteWell,it'sascience,isn'tit?Buttherewererightandwronganswersinthat,which

[00:42:59]LukeThompson:[00:42:59]Yeahit's[00:43:00]justscience.

[00:43:01]OliverThompson:[00:43:01]andlearnthefacts.And...

[00:43:03]LukeThompson:[00:43:03]It'sgreat.Scienceisgreat,butImean,Iwasjust,my17yearoldheadthatwasintojazzfunkmusicand,andMartinScorsesefilmsjustwasn'tintherightplacetoreallykindof,itdidn'thavethedisciplinetostudyscienceproperly.SoIgotaUforthat,whichactuallyIsortofunderstandevenaUthough,causeIdidhandworkin,Ithinkthatwhathappenedisthatintheexam,I,youknow,Ifyourememberformyexams,youhadtoactuallydocertainthings,rightfortheexaminertoactuallymarktheexam.Soyouhadtowritealittlecodeinalittlebox,doyouremember?Youhadtowritethenumberofthequestionthatyouwereanswering,youhadtodocertainlittleadministrativethingsinorderfortheexamtobeaccepted.SoIwonderifmaybeIwrotethewrongnumberinthewrongbox.

[00:43:59]Andsothe[00:44:00]examinerwaslike,well,Ican'tmarkthisbecauseadministrativelyit'sbeendonewrong.AndthisiswhatI'vetoldmyselfthathowelsecouldIgetaU?BeauseIrememberinoneoftheexams,IthoughtI'dwrittenafairlyreasonableessay.Soanyway,thethirdsubjectIdidwasreligiousstudiesandphilosophy.

[00:44:20]Soforthatone,Iwantedtodophilosophy,buttheydidn'tdojustphilosophy.Sotheydidreligiousstudiesandphilosophyandreligiousstudiesinvolved,youknow,thestudystudyingreligionsinsomeway.SooneofthereligionsIstudiedwasIslam.SoIwasstudyingthingslike,youknow,thedevelopmentofIslam.

[00:44:40]Andstufflikethat.AndalsoessaysabouttheexistenceofGod.Sotherewas,therewerethephilosophicalargumentsaroundtheexistenceofGod.AndsoIwroteoneoftheessaysIwroteinmyexamwasaboutevaluatingtheargumentsforandagainsttheexistenceofGod.IthoughtI'ddoneareasonableessayonthatone,butapparentlynot,Unotevenanumber,[00:45:00]notevenaletterjusttojustaline.

[00:45:02]OliverThompson:[00:45:02]Maybeitwassomeonereligiouswhoreallytookissuewithyour

[00:45:07]LukeThompson:[00:45:07]Ididn'twriteanythingcontroversial.

[00:45:08]Idon'tknow.Butanyway,itwasahugeshock.ItwasahugeshockwhenIopenedthatenvelope.MymumsaysthatI,myfacewentgray.Becauseyouknow,twoUsandaDyouknow,you'relookingatyourfutureandespeciallywhenyoujustassumethatyou'regoingtobeallright,butno,I,Igot,itwassuchahugefailure.

[00:45:25]OliverThompson:[00:45:25]Yeah.Ithinkprobablycompoundedbythefactthatyouareaveryintelligentguywho'sfromaverywelleducatedfamilywhomust'vebeenlike,"What?"anditdoeskindoflikeanerrorofsomesort.

[00:45:37]LukeThompson:[00:45:37]Iamaveryintelligentguyfromaveryintelligentfamily,butbut,butyeah,thatpartofitwasthatmydadhaddoneverywellatschoolandhaddoneverywellatuniversity.

[00:45:49]HegotgoodA-levelresults.HewenttoOxforduniversityandgotatleasta2:1,whichisagooddegree.Andsotherewasalotof,sortofalotof[00:46:00]expectation,Ithinkforusto,tofollowinhisfootsteps.ButnotonlydidIfailtofollowinhisfootsteps,IkindofessentiallylikechoppedmyownlegsoffsoIwouldn'tbeabletomakefootstepsforinstance.Butyeah,thatthat'slikeshocking,like,andeveryonealwaysforgets,likeI'llneverforget,buteveryoneelseseemstoforget,like,I'llsaytomybrother,doyouremembermyexamresults?Andhedoesn'treallyremembermydad

[00:46:27]OliverThompson:[00:46:27]Momentsatthatparticularageaswell,whereyouhaveaverysortofprofoundmomenttoyou.

[00:46:34]Thatactuallyeffectsyourwholesortofsenseofyouridentity.

[00:46:38]LukeThompson:[00:46:38]Anditwasahugethingbecause,becausethey,solikeallmyfriendswhoareinthe,myyearalldisappearedtouniversityandIwasleft.Ijustrememberjustspendingalotoftimeonmyown,theyearafterandalotoftimeof,oflikesortofsoulsearching[00:47:00]andknowingthatI'mafailure,youknow,likecarryinglikea,quiteahugeheavyfailureonmyshouldersandwhat,soIthinkalmostwhatitdidtomewasthatbecauseIhadsuchagoodtimethosetwoyearsandI'dbeenquitecarefreeandI'dbeenthinkingabout.

[00:47:19]Musicandotherthings.AndthatdirectlyledtoahugefailurethatthenIbecameverycautiousanditnotsomeconfidenceoutofme.AndIwasn'tquiteasstridentintermsoflikegoingoutandhavingfunandjustdoingthethingsthatpleasedme,thatIsuddenly

wasgiventhissenseoflike,Idon'tknow,guiltorworryorconcernthatIwasgoingtoleadtoit,youknow,thatjustenjoyingmyselfwouldleadultimatelytofailureinmylife.

[00:47:52]AndsoitwasaveryweirdthingwhereIdon'tknow.Yeah.There'salwaysthat[00:48:00]lingeringsensethatIcouldjustscreweverythingupatanytime.Yeah,Iprobablywas.

[00:48:06]OliverThompson:[00:48:06]Itwasaprecariousexistence.

[00:48:08]LukeThompson:[00:48:08]Yeah,that'sright.Imean,youknow,we'reveryprivilegedreally.AndIhave,havenothingtocomplainabout.

[00:48:15]I'vehadavery,veryprivilegedlifeandsomepeoplestrugglewithallsortsofproblems.SofailingyourAlevelsisnotreallyamajordeal,butformeatthetimeitfeltlikeitwas.Everyoneelsehaddisappeared.Ispentalotoftimeonmyowninmybedroom.Andprobablybecamealittlebittoo.Idon'tknow,withdrawnorreclusiveorsomething.

[00:48:38]Yeah.Maybe,orjustinmyownhead,spenttoomuchtimeinmyownhead,probably,butthenwenttotheuniversityandactuallyitwasashockbecauseIwenttoLiverpoolandIkindofgotaplaceatuniversitythroughclearingorsomething.Itwasquitealateprocess,andsotheaccommodationwas[00:49:00]quitehardtofindin,inLiverpool.

[00:49:02]Iendedupstayinginthecheapestaccommodationthat,thatmyuniversityofferedanditwasseveral.1960sstyletowerblocksinoneoftheroughestpartsofLiverpoolandLiverpooloutsidethecentrecanbeaveryrough,toughplace.Andsohere'sthissoftkidfromtheWarwickshirecountryside,likeFrodoBagginstransportedtothistowerblockintheheartofscotland,theScotlandRoadareaofLiverpool.Anditwas,yeah,itwasarealshock.Itwasquitescary.IrememberliketwoweekstwoweeksafterImovedthere,myparentscametovisitme,maybebroughtmesomestuff.Andwhiletheywerevisiting,wewentoutontothebalcony.Sowewereonthe11thfloor.

[00:49:50]Iwas,myapartmentwasonthe11thfloor.So13floorsinthisbuilding,everysinglefloor,identical.So,anditwasallstudentapartments.So[00:50:00]you'dbeinyourapartment.Ifyouvisitedthesameapartment,sevenfloorsdown,it'sidentical.It'sjustthesameapartment.Seven,13times.Anywaymyparentscametovisit.

[00:50:10]Wewereonthebalconyhavingalookattheview,andthendownbelow,thiswasaSaturdayafternoononthestreetbelowonthe,thedualcarriageway,averybusyhighway,suddenlyallthesefootballfanspouredacrosstheroad.AnditwasEvertonfanschasingsomeMiddlesboroughfansandtheycaughttheMiddlesboroughfansinthemiddleofthisbigroad.

[00:50:33]Andallthecarshadstoppedandstuff,andtheyproceededtohaveahugefightinthestreetbelowus.Andmymumanddadwerewatchingandtherewereguyslikegettingtheirheadskicked.Peoplewerethrowingbricksateachother,they'dpulledwoodoutofafenceandtheyweresmackingeachotherwiththis,withthesebitsofwoodandthenthepolicearrivedandeveryonedispersedeveryonedisappearedexceptforoneguywhowaslyinginthegutterof[00:51:00]thishighwayafterhavinghadhisheadstampedon,hewas

justlyingunconsciousinthegutterandthepoliceandambulancearrived.Hewasallrightintheend,butthatwasabitabitofawakeupcalloflike"Bloodyhellyouliveinaroughplace."

[00:51:13]Anditwasrough.Itwasreally,reallyroughandgrim.Andsothatwas,andalso,Iwasn'treallyverywellequippedtolookaftermyself.Idon'tthinkIateorcookedproperly.

[00:51:26]OliverThompson:[00:51:26]Itsoundsfamiliar.

[00:51:27]LukeThompson:[00:51:27]ItwaslikeWithnailandIIultimately,universitylife.Itwas,itwaslikeyeah.Quitealotofmess,noonedoingthewashingup,noteatingandlookingafteryourself,properly,drinkingtoomuchbeer.

[00:51:42]Andinthemidstofitalltryingto,tryingtomakesureIdidn'tscrewitalluplikeIscrewedup,Iscrewedupmylevels.SoImanagedtodothat.UltimatelyIcameoutofitwitha2:1andsothankGodforthat

[00:51:57]OliverThompson:[00:51:57]Sotellus,giveusyournext[00:52:00]tune.What's...

[00:52:01]LukeThompson:[00:52:01]Thenextone.Well,IhadtopickoneBeatlessongbecauseI'msuchabigfan.

[00:52:06]Andyouknow,IwenttoLiverpoolandIthinkpartofthereasonIwenttoLiverpoolwasbecauseIwassuchabigBeatlesfananditwasveryattractiveto,togoandbethere.Butsowhichonethough?Imean,it'salmostimpossibletopickjustonebeatlessong.TherearesomanyIcouldhavepicked.

[00:52:23]Icouldhavepickedsomefrom,fromRubberSoul,becausethatisthesoundtrackof,IfeellikewhenIwastwoyearsold,justkindofcrawlingaroundonthecarpetorsomething.Butanyway,theoneI'vepickediscalledAndYourBirdCanSingandit'sfromRevolver,butthisisnotreallyatypicalBeatlesoundingsongIthink,comparedtoalotoftheirstuff.It'sgotaslightlydifferentsound.It'sgotthatkindofjangly1966sound.Soit'snotexactlythetypicalBeatlessong,butwhy,whyamIchoosingthisone?MusicallyIjustlovetheguitarpart.It'sgotagreat[00:53:00]melodyinit.Normallyit'sthebasslinethatIfindinterestingandBeatlessongs,butthisoneisaguitarpartandit'sGeorgeandPaulplayingthesamethinginharmony.

[00:53:10]Sothat'sjustreallygreat.It'salmostlikekindofclassicalmusiclevelenjoymentofmusicwherethere'sharmonyandthere'smelodyandit'sjustreally,reallygood,butalso,Imean,thisisaJohnsongandit'sjustgotthatkindofconvictiontoit.Thesongis,isjustit'sgotsomuchconvictionandrighteousness,butthegoodkindofrighteousness,there'sasortofrighteousness,whichislikewherepeople,youimagine,peoplebeingself-righteousandbeingarrogantwithitor,orsomethinglikethis,butthisislikeJohnhe'sconvincedhe'sright.

[00:53:49]Andhe's,it'sjustflowingoutofhim.Ithinkthesongisabout.It's,it'snotclearwhatthesongisabout.ButonethingIheardisthatit'saboutFrankSinatra[00:54:00]and

FrankSinatrakindofarrogantlysayingI'veheardallthedifferentsoundsandyouknow,andkindofcriticizing.TheBeatlesgenerationandtheirmusic,becauseatthattimetherewasalotofinnovationandtheBeatlesinparticularwerediscoveringnewsoundsandnewboundariesandthings.

[00:54:18]AndIthinkthatJohnhadheardorreadaninterviewwithFrankSinatraandFrankwaskindofarrogantlymaintaininghis,hissortofdominanceorsomethingintheworldofpopmusicandkindofdismissivelydescribingJohnLennon'sgenerationasnothingspecialandsaying,youknow,Hey,youknow,cat,I'veheardallthesoundsandyou,Hey,yousayyourbirdcansing.

[00:54:41]Well,Icansing.Becausebirdwasaslangwordthat,thatFrankSinatraandhismateswoulduse.AndsonaturallyJohnfoundthis,Johnwhohadatthetime,youknow,takenLSDandithadkindofgivenhimthisburningsensethathewasright,andthathe[00:55:00]sawthetruthintheworld.Andyouimaginethatlike,Johnwouldhavecomeupwiththissongorthelyricsfairlyquicklybeforetheyhoneditinthestudio,butitjusthasthatsenseofjustconviction,whichisjustreallygreattotoget,togetaflavorofit,youknow,everynowandthenyoucanlistentothisanditjustfillsyouupwiththissortofgreatsenseofconviction.Andthenthere'sthemusictoo.Sothat'swhat,that'sthetrackthatI'vechosenbytheBeatlesAndYourBirdCanSing.GreatChoice.

[00:55:39]OliverThompson:[00:55:39]Sothat[00:56:00]wasAndYourBirdCanSingbytheBeatles.Oneofmyfavoritetunestoo.Iwanttomoveonnow.We'veyouyou'vegraduatedfromuniversitywitha2:1,whichwasquiteanachievementunderthecircumstancesofsuchapoordiet,Ishouldimagineingeneral,self-careduringthatperiod

[00:56:43]LukeThompson:[00:56:43]Iatealotofbakedbeansontoast,lotsofcereal,cerealforbreakfast,lunchanddinner.Ohterribletimes.

[00:56:49]OliverThompson:[00:56:49]Thenextmajormilestone,whichIremember,whichwasaveryboldmoveactually,wasyou,youtookajobasanEnglishteacherinJapan.So[00:57:00]from,fromruralcountrysidetourbangrittyLiverpooltothentoJapan.Whatwasyour,whatwasyourexperiencelikearrivinginJapan?becauseIthoughtitwasquiteaverydistinctchapterinyourlifeprobably.

[00:57:15]LukeThompson:[00:57:15]Afteruniversity,Iwashonestly,Iwaslikequitelost.Itwasabadtime.Ididn'tknowwhatIwasdoingwithmyself.Ididn'tknowwhatI,youknow,Icouldn'timaginethatIwouldnowbelivingthelifeI'mlivinginthat.I'vekindof,youknow,thatI'mallright.ButinthosedaysIhadnocluewhattodo.

[00:57:33]Novisionatallformyfuture.AndIjustfeltalittlebitUn...likeIwasn'treallycapableoflivingintheworld,youknow,Ijustdidn'tfeelcapableofreallydoingagreatdeal.Ifeltlikemyuniversitylifehadnotreallysocialisedme.Infact,quitetheopposite.IfeltlikeIwasabitoutofplaceandoutofsortsandsortof[00:58:00]mentallywasn'tingreatshape,Ithinkatthetimeafteruniversity.AndIjustdidn'tknowwhattodoandIdesperatelyneededtofindsomething.AndIrememberspeakingtosomeonewho,again,IwasdoingworkexperienceattheBBCarrangedbymydadanditwasahorribleweek.

[00:58:15]Ijusthatedit.Ijust.It'stoocomplicatedtogointo,butIwasn'tveryhappy.AndIrememberattheend,thewomanwhowasresponsibleforme,shesatmedownandshesaid,sowhatdoyouknow,whatdidyougetoutofthisweek?AndIendedupgoingto,wegotintothefactthatIdidn'tknowwhattodowithmyself.

[00:58:30]Andshesaid,whydon'tyoujusttravel?Justgooutandjusthaveexperiences,justgoandtravel,haveexperiences.You'reyoung,youknow,it'lltakeyouawhiletoworkoutwhatyouwanttodo.SoshetoldmetodoitandIthought,okay,Iwill.AndanotherfriendofminehadtoldmethatafriendofhiswasanEnglishteacherandhepaintedthispictureofhislifeandIthought,thissoundsamazing.Soitwaslike,yeah,heteachesEnglishinthemorning.HelivesinBarcelonaandheteachesEnglishinthemorning.AndthenintheafternoonhegoestothebeachandIwasthinking,thissounds[00:59:00]fantastic.

[00:59:00]Soitdoes,doesn'titinitially,IthoughtI'mgoingtomovetoBarcelonaandI'mgoingtodothat.SoIhadtotakeateachingqualification.IdidateachingcoursecalledaCertificateinEnglishLanguageTeachingtoAdults,whichistheentrylevelqualification.Reallyhard,really,reallyhard.

[00:59:19]You'vegottostudylinguistics,you'vegottostudyEnglish.Andyou'vealsogottodolotsofteachingpractice.SotherewaslotsofstandingupinfrontofgroupsfullofpeopleandtryingtoteachthemEnglish.Andthatwasahugelearningcurvebecauseatthebeginningofthat,Ifeltsoawkwardandsoself-conscious,Ididn'tknowhowtostandupinfrontofaroomfullofpeopleandtalktothem,letaloneteachthem.Ididn'tknowwhattodowithmyhands.Ididn'tknowifIshouldperchontheedgeofthedeskorifIjuststanduporsitonachair,Ididn't,Ididnothavecontrolovermybodyormyself.

[00:59:53]Andsoitwasveryhealthytobreakoutofthatbybeingforcedtobreakoutofit,bybeing,[01:00:00]beingmadetoteachpeopleandstandupinfrontofpeople.Anditkindofbrokemeoutofmyfunksortofthing.Butyes,I,IchosetogotoJapanbecauseIjustthought,well,ifI'mgoingtogoabroadanddothis,Imightaswellgosomewheretotallydifferentandfaraway.

[01:00:18]AndtherewerelotsofjobsavailableinJapan.SooffIwentandontheflightthere,Iimmediatelyregrettedit.Onthewayoverthere,Ihadahugecrisisofconfidenceandthought,thisisahugemistake.WhatamIdoing?IshouldbebackhomeinEngland,focusingonmycareer,tryingtogetsomejobinthemedia.

[01:00:35]WhatonearthamIdoing?Thisisahugemistake.ButwhenIarrived,Isettleddownbecauseit'sthesamething.Imean,it'slike,they'vegotthesamestuffthere.They'vegotgravity,youknow,they'vegotStarbucks.Everything'sprettymuchthesame,butit'snotthesameatall.It'slikesodifferent.BeinginJapan,youswingbetween,thisisnormal,everything'sjustthesameasitisbackhome.Andthenyouswingto,no,thisistotallydifferent.Theythinkinacompletelydifferentway,it'slike[01:01:00]aI'mlivinginanalienplanet.So,butthatwas,itwasawonderfulexperiencegoingtoJapanbecausefirstofall,Iwasteaching,workingsolidlyeightorninehoursadayandteachingteachingteaching.

[01:01:12]Sothatwaskindof,ittookmeoutofmyself,forcedmetobemoreoutgoing,butalsoitwasjustsodifferent.AndIwasawayfrommyfamily,whichwasquitenice.Imean,Ilovemyfamily,butitwasimportanttokindofbreakout,anddomyownthingandbemyownself,havemyownexperiencethatnooneelsewashaving.

[01:01:33]Anditwasahugethingforme.Itwasagreatexperience.IhadmanywonderfulexperiencesthereanditstartedmeasanEnglishteacheranditmademeconfidentandhappy.So,yeah.Thereyougo.SoIcame,youknow,IcamebacktoLondon,camebacktoEnglandandcontinuedteaching.Wasn'tcompletelysureabouttheteachinguntilIjoinedtheLondonSchoolofEnglish,whichisadecentschool.

[01:01:59]AndIkind[01:02:00]of,really,andIdidtheDiplomainEnglishLanguageTeachingtoAdults,whichislikethehigherlevelqualification.Verytoughagain,butitjusttotallysortoffixedmeasateacher.AndsuddenlyIwaslike,right.Iamteacherman.

[01:02:15]Allright.Let'shaveanothertune.

[01:02:17]Givemeasortofsenseofpurposeandprofessionalconfidence.

[01:02:21]Sothe,the,thenextsong,thenextpieceofmusicI'mgoingtochooseissomethingthatmakesmethinkofJapan.Again,almostimpossibletochoosejustonesongfromaperiodinyourlife.ButIthinkI'llchoosethisone.Soit'sCorneliusandthesongisToneTwilightZone,andthisrepresentsacertainkindofpeacefulnessandtranquilitythatyoucangetinJapanthatalthoughit'saverybusy,hecticplaceinoneway,it'salsoaverytranquil,peacefulplace,asortoflevelofpeaceandtranquilityandcalmthatI'dnever,[01:03:00]Ineverpreviouslyknewexistedeveninmydaysoflisteningtoambientmusiconheadphonesinmybedroom.

[01:03:09]Thesortof,Idon'tknow,there'sjustacertainvibeinJapan.Idon'tknowifit'sbecauseoftheirreligion,whichkindofmakesthemZen,butthereis,there'sZenin,youcanfinditinJapan.It'sjusthangingaroundtheplace.YoumightjustbeinsomecaferestaurantonanafternooninaBackstreet.

[01:03:31]Andsuddenlyyourealisethatyou'retunedintoalevelofcalmandZenpeaceandtranquilitythatyou'dneverthoughtexistedbefore.SothispieceofmusicisakindofambienttonepiecebyCornelius,andit's,itjustrepresentsthatsenseofcalm,whichwasawonderfulthingtodiscoverandthenlearntotuneintoagain,later.

[01:03:58]Ilikeambient[01:04:00]music.IlikeBrianEnoandstuff.Ilikestandinginthekitchen,drinkingcup,acupofteaandjustlisteningtosomethingverycalmandrelaxing.It'sveryhealthy.Ithink.Sothat's,that'swhatthisis.Andthat,thatrepresentsthefactthatI'vefoundsomesenseofpeacein,inJapan.

[01:05:36][01:05:00]OliverThompson:[01:05:36]SothatwasToneTwilightZonebyCornelius.Sowe'vecomebackfromJapan.You'reinLondon,London,youweresayingtheLondonschoolofEnglish,andthisisaperiodwhenyou'reyoualreadystartedtogetintoyourcareeraswell,andstartto,Ithink,didyoubeginthepodcastduringthisphaseofyourlife?

[01:05:53]LukeThompson:[01:05:53]Yeah.Soafterteachingforeightornineyears,Istarteddoingthepodcastandyeah,that[01:06:00]waslikealsobecauseIwasworkingattheLondonschoolofEnglish,whichisagoodschoolandtheygavemeaspecialresponsibilitytolookintousingtechnologyinEnglishteaching.AndIdidactuallydoaquickonlinecourseinpodcasting,whichwaspaidforbytheschool.

[01:06:18]Anditwasthebasics,likefiletypesanddifferentplatformsandthiswasaveryearlydays,reallyforpodcasting.Therewasn'talotofinfrastructureforit,butanyway,soIlearnedthebasicsofthat.AndIdidproduceacoupleofepisodesofapodcastfortheLondonSchoolofEnglish,buttheydecidedtheydidn'twantitbecausethestyleIwantedtouseforitwasalotmorerelaxedandpersonalandjustauthenticandnatural,buttheywantedsomethingabitmoreprofessionalsounding,scripted.

[01:06:50]AndIwaslike,nah,nothanks.SoIjustdidmy,Ijustdidmyownthing.Justdiditmyself,usingmyAppleMaclaptopand[01:07:00]justdidn'tstopdoingit.

[01:07:02]OliverThompson:[01:07:02]Lookwhereitended.AndtherewasanotherImean,IknowinthatperiodyoustarteddoingstandupcomedyanditwasyoureallystartedtoIthinkthattheconfidenceyoubroughtbackfromJapan,maybeyoustarttoactuallyenjoythethings.

[01:07:14]LukeThompson:[01:07:14]Englishteachingtotallygavemeconfidencebecauseallday,everydayIwasjustinfrontofpeople.Notperforming,althoughsometimesyoukindofhavetodothingstokeepthingslight,butjustspendingallmytime,essentiallypresentingallthetimethatgavemeconfidence.Andthat'swhatallowedmetostartdoingstandup.

[01:07:38]If,ifI'dnever,ifI'dneverdoneteaching,Iwouldn'thavebeenabletodoit.Imean,alot,Isawalotoftheotherpeopleonthestandupcoursethatweren'treallyevencapableofstanding,doingthestandinguppart.Likeseriously.Likethey,theydidn'tknowhowtostandinfrontofanaudienceofpeople.

[01:07:55]Theydidn'tknowhowtousetheirvoice.Bodylanguagewasnotcomingnaturallyto[01:08:00]them.Andyouseesomepeoplewhentheyareputinfrontofaroomfullofpeople,theirbodystartstodoweirdthingslikepeoplesortofphysicallyclosethemselvesofffromtheroom,justinstinctivelyotherpeopleweird,weirduncontrolledbodylanguagecomesthrough.Irememberoneguyhewouldstandthereandhisheadwouldwobble.Whilehewastalking,hecouldn'tstopdoingit,buthisheadwouldwobbleandhecouldn'tmakeeyecontactwiththeaudience.SowhatwasIsayingthatitwasteachingthatkindoflike,justlikewhenIwentup,Igrabbedthemicrophone,justfeltcomfortable,evenifIwasn'tcomfortableorifIdidn'tknowwhatIwasgoingtosay,youknow,Ididn'treallyhaveanythingtosaysomuch,butIjustfeltlikethe,the,the,the,thevehicleforitwas

[01:08:48]quitewell-made.SoIwasabletostandandfeelquitecomfortablestandingupinfrontofeveryone.AndIwaslike,yeah,thisisgreat.Icandothis.Butthenfindingthecomedywasthe,wasthedifficultthing[01:09:00]Imanagedtodoit.Butanyway,teachingiswhatgavemeconfidencetodothosethings.

[01:09:04]Soyes,itwas,therewasatimeoflikeDoingthings,projectsand,andtryingto,tryingtodosomethingweirdly,likeagain,althoughIwasateacherandI'dbeenonefor10yearsorwhatever,IguessIwasstilltryingtobreakintomediaorbroadcastinginsomeway.AndIendedupdoingitaswe'vesaidonmyowntermsusingthispodcast.

[01:09:28]OliverThompson:[01:09:28]Willgiveusa,let'shaveanothertune.

[01:09:31]LukeThompson:[01:09:31]Okay.Soactually.Itwasareallydifficultoneto,whetherI'dkeepthisoneorchoosesomethingelse.Therearesomanydifferentcandidatesfor,forthislistofeight,butI'vegonewiththisone.Sothisoneisholdon.Ihave,justtomakesurethatI'msayingthisname.

[01:09:48]Yeah.SothisisPatriceRushenandit'scalledToEachHisOwn.Andfor,forages,I'vebeenstrugglingtoworkouthowtodescribewhythis[01:10:00]songissomeaningfultome,butitisI'llputiton.And,andlike,firstofall,it'sjustareallygoodgroove.Ilikethedrumbeat.Andthebasslineandthekeyboards,Ijust,it'sjustareallynicegroovetolistentoandgetinto.

[01:10:16]Butforsomereason,thelyricsalwaysgettome.Idon'tknowwhytheysortofstarttomakemeemotional.They'renotlikeparticularlybrilliantlywrittenlyrics,butit'sjustallabouthowweshouldn'tjudgeeachotherorweshouldn'talljudgeeachothertoomuchandweshouldleteachotherliveourlives.

[01:10:39]AndIdon'tknowwhywheneverItryandputitintowords,whatitmeanstome,itjustendsupsoundingquitebanal.Butessentiallyit'sallaboutjust,Ijustwishthatwewouldrespecteachotherallalotmoreinthisworldand,andjustleteachotherdothethingsthatwewanttodo[01:11:00]withoutimposingexpectationsorjudgmentsorotherthingsonit,thenputtingitintowordsthatdoesn'tdoitjusticeforsome,butit'sjust,Ijustlovethistune.

[01:11:10]Ilovethebassonit.AndsothisisyesToEachHisOwnbyPatriceRushenwhoisnotRussian.Ithinkshe'sEnglish.No,she'sAmerican.

[01:11:24]OliverThompson:[01:11:24]Let'slistento,let'slistentopatriceRushen

[01:11:28]LukeThompson:[01:11:28]Rushenisspelled

[01:11:29]RUSHEN.

[01:11:31]Listeners

[01:11:41]OliverThompson:[01:11:41]Thatwas[01:12:00]ToEachHisOwnby[01:13:00]PatriceRushen.SoIwanttotalkalittlebitaboutyourmovetoParisthen.SothisstartedonValentine'sday.Idon'tknowwhattheyearisyouprobablydo

[01:13:15]LukeThompson:[01:13:15]Thedaybefore.DaybeforeValentine'sDay.13thofFebruary,2010.

[01:13:21]OliverThompson:[01:13:21]2010.Sothisiswhenyoumetyournowwife,isthatright?

[01:13:25]LukeThompson:[01:13:25]That'sright.

[01:13:27]OliverThompson:[01:13:27]Amajor,majorchangeensued.

[01:13:29]Sotellusabitaboutthat,thatperiodwherequitequickly,IthinkyouIdon'tknow,didyou,you,youwereinalongdistancerelationshipforawhilethere?Yeah.SoshewasinLondon,youknow,becauseyouwerethereattherestaurantwhenwemet,infactthatparticularevening,asweknow,wasthe,theeveningbeforeValentine'sday.

[01:13:48]SoValentine'sdaywasgoingtobetheSunday,the14th,anditwasSaturdaythe13th.IwasathomepotentiallyplayingRedDeadRedemptiononmyPlayStation.Ithink,andprobably[01:14:00]justlikehaddecidednowI'llbestayingintonighttodothis.Youcalledmeataboutfiveo'clock.Ithinksomebodylikethatandsaid,Hey,whatareyoudoingthisevening?

[01:14:10]Andyoutoldmethatbasicallyour,yourfriend,ourfriendSteveBorg,otherwiseknownasBorgyalsoknownasKorgythathewasgoingtobehavingdinnerinKnightsbridge,whichisnotfarfromwhereIusedtolive.Andthathis,hisgirlfriendwouldbethereandthatshewasbringingafriendofhersandthatthe,thefriendofherswasalsobringingtwoofherhousemates.

[01:14:35]Soitwasbasicallycomeouttonight.Therewillbegirls.AndIwaslike,Oh,allrightthen.

[01:14:41]Yeah,Ithinktherewasabitofpersuadingneeded.

[01:14:43]LukeThompson:[01:14:43]YoudidhavetopersuademebecauseIwasquitecommittedtospendinganice,comfortableeveningin,infrontofmyPlayStationthreeshootingpeopleinintheWildWest.

[01:14:54]OliverThompson:[01:14:54]AndthenasIremember,I,Iwenthomeearlyandyoustayedoutallnightprettymuch.

[01:14:59]LukeThompson:[01:14:59]Right.[01:15:00]So,soyeah,butImean,you,youhadn'tbeentoowell.Butyeah,sowewentforthedinner.Iendedupsittingnexttomywife,whichwasacoincidence.Shewasn'tmywifeatthetime,obviously.Butyeah,soIendedupsittingnexttoherandwekindofgotonwitheachother.Therewaschemistry.

[01:15:19]Andwewentfromtheretoanotherplace.Imean,it'stestamenttohowkeenIwasonher,thatIwaswillingtogototheplaces,youknow,totheotherplaceswewentto.GoingoutinKnightsbridgeisnotnormal.Imean,I'dnever,evergooutinKnightsbridge.It'soneoftheposhest,mostexpensivepartsofLondon.

[01:15:40]Andthat'swhereyoufindHarrods.Thefamousshopwhereyoucandothingslikebuyamousecoveredindiamondsforabout200,000pounds.That'sthesortofthing.That'sthesortofmarketplacethatwe'retalkingabout.SowewentoutinKnightsbridgeandthen,

soafterthemealtheyweregoingtogotoabaroraclub[01:16:00]andyou,youbailed,you,youwenthomeandIwaslike,I'mgoingto,IthinkI'mgoingtostayoutactually.AndsoIdid,andwewenttothishorrendousclubin,Iguess,SouthKensingtonorsomething,justahorribleplace,justmy,thesortofplaceIwould,Iwouldnevernormallygo.Fullofsortofmillionaire20somethings.Yeah.Trustafariansorpeoplewho'vejustgotwaymoremoneythansense.

[01:16:33]Andlike,togiveyouanexample,aflavoroftheplacewewalkedin,theywereplayingloudmusicofcoursebeauseitwasaclub,butIdon'tknowwhy,buttherewasnobassandthetreblewasturnedallthewayuptothemax.Soit'sjustlikenobass,youknow,normallyyou'dlikenicedeepbasssoundsatanightclub.

[01:16:52]Therewasnobassatall.Andthetreblewassoloud.Itwasalmostlikereallypainfulonyourears.AndIwasthinking,what'sthematterdon'trich[01:17:00]peoplelikebasswhat'sgoingon.Idon'tknow.Butanyway,soIenduredthisplaceandyouknow,becauseIwaskeenon,onmywifeandbasically,she,shewasinLondonafterhavingdoneheruniversity,likepostgraduateuniversitystuff.

[01:17:19]ShewasspendingalittlewhileinLondonandImetherlikejusttwoweeksbeforeshewasduetogobacktoParis.Sowesaweachotherforthosetwoweeks,butthenshewentbacktoParisandwecontinuedourrelationship,butsortoflongdistance,notthatit'sthatfarbecausethere'stheEurostar,butstill,

[01:17:37]OliverThompson:[01:17:37]Well,let'shaveanotherdisc.

[01:17:39]LukeThompson:[01:17:39]Okay.Sothis,thistrack,the,thelasttwosongsonmylistaresortofformywifeorremindsmeof,ofher.SoIguessI'mgoingtoplay,thisisapieceofmusicfromtheBachSelloSuite,numberoneinGmajor.ByYo-YoMaperformedbyYo-YoMa,butit'sthe[01:18:00]BachCelloSuiteandsothisisoneofthepiecesofmusicthatIlistenedtowhenIwaswithmywife,shewasn'tmywifeatthetime.WhenIwaswithmywifeduringthosetwoweeks,infact,Irememberlyingonherbed.Shewasdownstairstalkingtoherflatmates,butIwaslyingonherbedandsheputthisonthestereoandit'swonderful.Imean,Bachispretty,prettyclassicstuff,isn'titliterally,butitwasamazing.

[01:18:29]AndI,Ilikedclassicalmusic,butIhadn'treallyspenttimelisteningtoclassicalmusicsinceIhadplayedpianoallthoseyearsbefore.AndsoIrememberlyingonthebed,justtakinginthismusicandit'sjustamazing.It'ssorichandit'ssojustwonderful.AmazingmusicianshipbyYo-YoMa,butjustthecompositionisamazing.

[01:18:52]Andthisparticularpassagefromthatsuiteisonethatwillalwaysmakeme[01:19:00]thinkofmywife.AndIwon'tsayanymore,butit'sbeautifulmusic.

[01:19:05]OliverThompson:[01:19:05]Let'slistentoit.

[01:21:09][01:21:00][01:20:00]ThatwastheBachCelloSuitenumberone,oneinGmajortrackfive.Wefinally,sowe'reinParis.We'rebacktothepresentdaynow.Andyouarelivingthelife,asyousaidatthebeginning.

[01:21:22]LukeThompson:[01:21:22]That'sright.Yeah.

[01:21:23]OliverThompson:[01:21:23]Youarelivingwithyournowwifewithyourdaughter.Tellusjustalittlebit,beforewecometoyourfinalsong,thisisa,thisisadifferentperiodinyourlife.

[01:21:31]Whathasfatherhood,howhasthataffectedyour,yoursortofworldviewandhowhasthatexperience?

[01:21:38]LukeThompson:[01:21:38]NotasmuchasIhadexpected,Ithoughtitwouldjusttotallyexplodemylife,butI'mstillthesameperson.It'sjustthatI'vegotthislittlechildnowwho,whoI'mresponsiblefor,alongwithmywife.

[01:21:50]SojusttotryandbebriefIthinkit'sGeorgeHarrison,whosaidthathavingakidis,is,isamazingbecausefirstofall,[01:22:00]youlivethelifeofthechildina,inawayyoukindofreliveyourchildhoodbecauseyouseethingsthrough,throughyourchild'seyes,butalsoyou,itgivesyouperspectiveonwhatitwaslikeforyourparents.

[01:22:10]Soitallowsyoutoseetheworldthroughyourfather'seyesaswell,becauseyou'renowthefather.Soit'sweird.Itgivesyousomuchperspectivebecauseyeah.Youseethingsfromthechild'sposition,butyoualsoseethingsfromyourfather'sposition.Soyoualsosortofinthemiddleandyou'vegottheyoungergenerationbelowyouandtheoldergenerationaboveyou,andyouseemtogetinsightsoftheexperienceofbothofthosepeopleaswell.

[01:22:35]Soit'saveryoddandwonderfulthingthatyousuddenlygettheperspectivesofthreepeopleratherthanone.

[01:22:45]OliverThompson:[01:22:45]Sotrue.Exactly,wellitisamagicalperiodandshe'sshe'sstillveryyoung.Andyouhavetosavourthis,savourthistimeanddoingwhatyoudoissuchagreatwayofbalancingIthink.

[01:23:00][01:23:00]LukeThompson:[01:23:00]Yeah,Igettospendalotoftimeathome.Igettospendlotsoftimewithmydaughter.It'sfantastic.

[01:23:05]OliverThompson:[01:23:05]You'reverylucky.Okay.Solet'shaveyourfinalchoice.Whathaveyougonewith?

[01:23:09]LukeThompson:[01:23:09]Sothefinalchoiceisanotheroneformywifeandit'sit'sjustasongthatwe'velistenedtotogethermanytimesandasongthatisjustatouchstoneforthetwoofus.

[01:23:18]Andit'sjust,Ican'tsaymuchmore.Thelyricsaremeaningful,butinslightlydifferentwaysforthetwoofus.Butinanycase,it'sjustasongthatjustmakesmethinkofher.Andit'ssomethingthatweusedtolistento.Andit's,it'scalledRuleMyWorldbyKingsofConvenienceandKingsofConveniencewereagroupIwas,IgotintoaroundthetimeImetmywifeandIintroducedthemtoherandshereallylikedthemtoo.Andbeautifulharmonies.They'reextraordinary,actually.Ilovethewaytheyplayguitarsandharmonizetogether.SothisisRuleMyWorldbyKingsof

[01:24:00][01:23:56]Music:[01:23:56]Convenience.

[01:25:03][01:25:00]Well,that

[01:25:15]OliverThompson:[01:25:15]wasRuleMyWorld,byKingsofConvenience.SoI'mgoingtocastyouawayonthis,I'mgoingtomaroonyouonthisdesertisland.Andwhatareyoulikeinyourowncompany?Doyouthink?You'll

[01:25:26]LukeThompson:[01:25:26]I'mallright.Yeah.I'mokay.IthinkI'llbeokayonmyown.I'vespentlotsoftimeonmyown.

[01:25:30]I'mallright.Inmyowncompany.IthinkI'llbeallright,eventhoughI'llmisseveryoneandIwon'tbeabletoseeitandImightstarvetodeath.

[01:25:38]OliverThompson:[01:25:38]Savejustoneofthesediscs

[01:25:41]LukeThompson:[01:25:41]Impossibletosavejustone,I'mgoingtosavetheBachCelloSuitejustbecauseIfeelit'sunexplored.Ihaven'tfullyexploreditandthere'salotofdepthinthere.

[01:25:52]Ithinkit'slikealltypesofmusicandthere'sjustsomuchcomplexityanddepthtodiscover.SoIthinkit'ssomethingthatIcanlistentoagainandagain,andofcourse,[01:26:00]it'sgoingtomakemethinkofmywife.

[01:26:02]OliverThompson:[01:26:02]Perfect.Goodchoice.It'scertainlylastedlongerthananyofyourotherchoices.It'sstoodalongertestoftime.

[01:26:08]LukeThompson:[01:26:08]Yes,that'strue.Itistheoldestpieceofmusicinthe,inthelist.

[01:26:12]OliverThompson:[01:26:12]Soyou'vegottwootherthingsyouneedtodecideupon.Oneisyou'vegotthe,theEnglishOxforddictionary,isthatright?Ratherthanthebible.

[01:26:19]LukeThompson:[01:26:19]Yeah,I'vegivenpeoplethedictionaryratherthantheBible.ButI,Imean,I,Igavepeoplethatchoice,butactuallyalotofpeoplewouldratherchoosetheBiblethan,thanthedictionary,becausethedictionaryisnotexactlyanentertainingread.

[01:26:30]Isitpageone,Aaardvark,youknow,Ican,atleasttheBibleisfullofstories.So.Yeah,maybeI'llgofortheBible.AndIwouldchoosetheLordoftheRingsasmybook.Imean,that'snotthemostexcitingorinterestingororiginalchoice.Butnevertheless,it'sabookthatbringsmejoywheneverIreadit.

[01:26:49]AndIliketoreaditalotbyeverycoupleofyearsI'llrereadit.I'lljuststart,Istartreadingitandtheygetgluedandhookedintoit.It'sjustveryentertaining.It'slong.Sothere'splenty[01:27:00]toenjoy.AndIjustlikegettinglostintheworldof,ofMiddleEarth.Andit's,it'sbroughtit,youknow,I,Ifeelthatthere'salotofstufftolearnfromittoo.

[01:27:08]Alotofcharacterbasedstuffaboutthechallengesthatthecharactersgothrough.Ifounditparticularlyinspiring.Sothat'sthebookthatIwouldchoose.Verybeautiful.PlusitwouldremindmeofthecountrysideinWarwickshirewhereTolkingrewuporspenttimeasa,asachild.Yes.AndI'vegotaluxuryitem,don'tI?

[01:27:28]OliverThompson:[01:27:28]Andyourluxuryitem

[01:27:30]LukeThompson:[01:27:30]Somyluxuryitem,I'vethoughtI'vethoughtaboutthis,andthisiseasy.It'sa,it'sadrumkit.Sothe,it,Iwouldwant,youknow,likea,atleastaone,two,three,fourorfivepiecedrumkit,please.SomethinglikeaStuartCopeland,Tamakit,maybelikeasignaturekitbyStuartCopelandorsomething.

[01:27:50]AndIwouldputuptheI'dsetupthedrumsonaclifftoporonthe,ontheseafront,onmydesertisland.AndIwouldjustplay,I'djust[01:28:00]beattherhythmoftheuniverse.Justbeabletojustplayandplaydrumstothesea,tothewhales,tothe,tothestarsatnight,asthesungoesdown,asthesuncomesup,Icouldjustbebeatingoutmyrhythms.

[01:28:13]AndIthink,Ican'tthinkofmuchelseI'dratherbedoingthanthat.

[01:28:19]OliverThompson:[01:28:19]Itdoessoundlikealotoffun.Well,thankyou.That'syourlist.We'regoingtocastyouawaynow.Andyoushouldhaveaskedforapodcastkitsoyourlistenerscouldcontinueto...

[01:28:29]LukeThompson:[01:28:29]isthatallowed.NahI'llgowithadrumkit.Ijustwanttojust,justplaytheuniversallanguageofmusic.

[01:28:36]OliverThompson:[01:28:36]Well,it'sbeenapleasurehostingandhearingaboutyourlifeandnexttimeyou'llbebackinthedrivingseat.

[01:28:44]LukeThompson:[01:28:44]That'sright.Thankyouforguesthostingthisepisode,it'sbeenallright.Iwas,IthoughtthatdoingMaroonedwithmyMusicaswe'recallingit.Ijustthoughtthatwasgoingtobeself-indulgentanduninteresting.

[01:28:59]Butit'shelpfulto[01:29:00]havesomeoneguidingyouthrough.

[01:29:02]Ijustthinkpeoplewillbefascinated.I'msure.

[01:29:44]ThanksforlisteningtoLuke'sEnglishpodcast.Formoreinformation,visitteacherluke.co.uk.[01:30:00]