The Final Countdown

Barely hours before I set foot on a plane, I'm ready for the off. Packing a mobile pharmacy and very few clothes (I haven't any space left), the beginning of an adventure awaits. Whether it'll shake me by the hand or just shake me? Well, that remains to be seen.

Depsite what I said to John (Juan), I have decided that I couldn't go cold turkey on the music front. I need my 6-a-day. Five portions of fruit and veg and one giant slice of mineral: Rock! In addition to the excellent 'Flames' by VAST and Achtung Baby - which I've always felt to be a very international album - I've narrowed the 6th-a-day down to 10 tracks:

1. Achilles Last Stand, Led Zeppelin - because it is the finest rock song ever written.

2. Night Train (live), Guns n Roses - so I can squawk 'Night Bus' at the top of my lungs.

3. Got Love to Kill, Juliet and the Licks - a fine, fine example of Disco Rock.

4. The Ghost of Tom Joad, Rage Against the Machine (yes, I know its a cover) - for those times when you think you're not making any headway.

5. Brother in the Wind, High on Fire - for those times when you really feel like you're not making any headway and need to feel like a God once more.

6. Rusty Cage, Soundgarden - shirt open, nipples out and thrust where appropriate! What more of a justification do you need??

7. Out of Exile, Audioslave - the only true song to warrant a conjoining of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden (well, Chris Cornell at any rate).

8. The Bitter End, Placebo - because of its pace.

9. Slither, Velvet Revolver - the song from the 'Guitar Hero' advert, with a proper classic Slash solo. Plus its called Slither, which reminds me of a snake. And we all know what that equates to in a rock context.

10. Love Reign O'er Me, Pearl Jam (cover) - for the times I feel the need to cleanse myself in Eddie Vedder's perfectly weighted screaming sonic shower.

I think that should suffice.