MY SIX BEST ALBUMS

BRIAN McFADDEN, 38, was in boy band Westlife until 2004. Their hits include Flying Without Wings and Queen Of My Heart, and he had solo success with single Real To Me and album Irish Son. He plays a series of gigs at the Boisdale Canary Wharf, London on November 6-9 and his new album Otis is out in January.

MICHAEL JACKSON: Bad (Sony) This was the first time I was addicted to music and I would run home from school to put the tape in the machine.

I remember dancing to Dirty Diana and showing off the turns, wearing my dad’s golf glove on my left hand.

NIRVANA: Nevermind (Polydor) This was when I got into my rebellious stage. I grew my hair long and started not showering. It’s what got me into wanting to be a rock star and to play guitar.

One of the worst days of my life was when I was due to see them in Dublin and I heard that Kurt Cobain had died. I cried for two days.

ALANIS MORISSETTE: Jagged Little Pill (Rhino) Something about her melodies caught me. Her guitar-based pop/ folk/rock sound was new and her lyrics were sensational. They told a story almost like a country album.

It’s one of the best produced albums.

THE BEACH BOYS: Greatest Hits (Capitol/EMI) This helped me with songwriting and harmonies. It made me want to do the music I ended up doing. Whenever I hear a Beach Boys harmony I get goosebumps. It’s the most magical thing.

JOHNNY CASH: American IV: The Man Comes Around (Mercury) I love Johnny’s early stuff but one of the greatest is this last record, the most beautiful piece of music. It’s so simple but you can hear the hurt and passion in his voice – everything he has gone through in life. Haunting and moving.

WESTLIFE: Westlife (Sony) Our first album. The release of this, with five number one singles, changed my life for ever. I think we knew something special was going to happen but we never expected what was to come. It was like a hurricane.

Flying Without Wings is my favourite Westlife song. It separated us from other groups in the charts.