The greatest influences on you

[Snave]

May have been a thread like this already, but this is just my view.

Which famous people have had the greatest influence on you, on your life, on the way you think and the way you see the world?

It may be a journalist that opened your eyes to something, a film maker that introduced you to a whole new style of film and visual art, an explorer that showed you anything was possible, thinker that completely changed your ideas on the world, a musician who touched you deeply, or practically anyone.

Do a top 10 or a top 5 or just name a couple, you can say your family if you want, but please mention why.

Here are mine:

My family - I know this sounds soppy and childish, but I could have sucseeded in doing half the things ive done without the guidance of my family.

Plato - the more of Plato's work that I read, the more I find myself agreeing with him. It's helped me put my jumbled up thoughts on politics and on life into a coherant image in my mind.

Quentin Tarantino - showed me that anyone can make a great film aslong as they have an idea and the determination to carry it out. His films seem to play totally to my views, showing that violence can be depicted as comic, that dialogues dont have to push the plot on all the time, etc.

Andy Warhol - art always seemed to me to be something boring and uninteresting until I came across Warhol. I feel he has singlehandedly given me the ability to interpret art in away above the superficial and to appreciate it for what it is. While I have gone on to discover Beuys and Giacammetti, who I actually prefer, Warhol will always be the man who got me interested in art.

P.J. O'Rourke - O'Rourke not only was the first man to give me a proper idea of what was actually out there in the non publicised world, but also showed me that not everything is as cut and dry as I though. I found my previously firmrooted opinions unable to stand up against some of his arguments, and things which I never thought there was no possible justification for have been superbly justified. He remains to this day the only person who has ever given me a reason why the right to bear arms is an essentiality.


Spike Milligan - the man who I consider to be the most important pioneer in comedy history is pretty much singlehandedly responsible for developing my sense of humour into what it
is. There are countless comedians whom I know I would not appreciate were it not for my constant diet of Milligan from a young age.

[Mittwoch]

When asked this, the first thing that springs to mind is the album 'Demon Days' by Gorillaz. Yeah, a popular band changed my life. But really Gorillaz is a lot more than a band.
For those not in the know, Gorillaz isn't actually made of real people. Damn Albarn is the mastermind behind them - he had the idea for a 'virtual band' and took it all the way. There are four characters - 2D, Murdoc, Russel and Noodle. Every one of them is like a real person and has a long backstory which slots together with the other band members' histories.
Their second album, Demon Days, was what brought on my love for them and I could even go so far as to say that it changed my life. The way it skipped effortlessly between genres and combined upbeat tunes with occasionally fairly emotional lyrics amazed me. There's a song by them to suit every mood and situation, and I think that nearly every single person will enjoy at least one of their tracks. Their music also inspired my current music taste, which ranges from metal to classical.

[allfalldown]

Terry Pratchett. His books have taught me to see things as they really are.

[McFrenzy]

Hmmm a few people have but three stand out more than any;

Ridley Scott, Jean-Pierre Melville and Terry Gilliam thier work, thier visionaries in thier own right and I feel most influenced by them both as a film fan and film maker :)

[junior]

Salvador Dali - taught me that you can achieve great things whilst thinking outside of the box.

[RobW]

John Peel - I love his music taste and him in general. He even liked Mongolian throat choirs, our music tastes are uncannily similar.

Kurt Cobain - He made rather non commercial music very popular, so much stuff is shit because of him, like bands like Nickleback, and kids liking only him and GreenDay and considering themselves punck rokckers. But he never made a bad song.

Ian McKaye - Leader of the straight edge scene after his best friend died of heroin. He did a lot for music and people's opinions on thingys.

Jhonen Vasquez - Thanks to him my avatar wouldn't be possible. He's hilarious, has made up great words that have no meanings and is a very inspirational artist. He's motivated me a lot to draw things.



I may have more but that's it for now.

[moovok]

My Mum for being a support but also giving me a dream that I went on to do (getting a book published)

Ridley Scott for his uniqueness and inspiring me to write and hopefully direct something.

Danny Elfman, most of his music has had great influences in both my writing and my life.

My friends influence my life a lot, guiding me and also supporting me from mistakes I usually often make in my life, but don't we all? :D

[Bappel]

1. My father and mother - By showing me the way and making me strong in myself.
2. Nicklas Bohman(and maybe some other friends) - Becouse you have always been there!
3. Olle Zandén(Teacher) - Gave me alot of information about how you should behave, get more selfconfidence and just being the best teacher in the world!
4. Uno Eiving(Rockabilly bassist) - Thanks for opening my eyes to this wonderfull instrument! LONG LIVE DOUBLEBASS!
5. Sasu (Antoni something) - For opening my eyes to Capoeira and made me a happier person.

plus lots more, but I'm too lazy to write more!

Edit: Heres a few names.
Tim Burton
Clifford Lee Burton
Danny Elfman
Mike Patton
John Zorn
SpongeBob Squarepants
Sebastian Dubé
Martin Odalgård
Jan Gustavsson
Mats Dimming Lindberg
Donatello
Maria Johansson
Magnus Enorsson
Markus Enorsson
Trey Parker
Matt Stone
Kevin Eastman
Peter Laird
My family
Stefan
Nikos Dimitriou
Patrik Jansson
(wow long list, think I'll stop there)

[Liz]

my friends influenced me when i was younger, but otherwise, i cant think of a single other influence now. I do my own thing, i'm independant. Im not saying you shouldnt be influenced, but there is nothing that guides me other than myself.

[Bappel]

Liz:
Wasnt this thread about what people influenced you to the person you are today? Maybe I'm wrong, I usually am.

[carpefula]

My mother... for teaching me how NOT to live my life.

My brother for helping me not be so highly strung all the time.

Johnathan Ames..for showing me that it's ok to be neurotic, and that not everyone has an easy time when they hit puberty.

Charles Bukowski. I'm glad there are other people who have also cottoned onto the fact that this world in an awful souless place.

My best friend Frag... for showing me that not every one is awful and souless.

EDIT: Is there an 'e' in aweful?

EDIT: Nope...lol thanks sheep

[Soapie]

Hayao Miyazaki for making beautiful movies.

Gorillaz for sending my music tastes into huge diversity (as well as other bands along the way, but Gorillaz started it).

Mahatma Ghandi for being the change that he wished to see in this world.

[Al]

Terry Pratchett. His books have taught me to see things as they really are.
Yes indeed. He taught me my cynicism.

Also Jim Carrey. Ace Ventura taught me to stop acting so introvert around people. He was someone fun to emulate even just a little bit, which ultimately made me much less shy and awkward at parties and that.

[BlueberryMuffin]

My greatest influence as yet would be my sister, who taught me a less, let's say conservative way of thinking to the one I was brought up with, resulting in me being a much nicer person.

[Liz]

Liz:
Wasnt this thread about what people influenced you to the person you are today? Maybe I'm wrong, I usually am.
Maybe, i've just tried to re read the first post, but i'm too tired to understand it properly, and my eyes are blurry, so i cant see what you said.

maybe i was influenced by alcohol alot?

one thing is for sure, i was never influenced by my mum, she is great, but i never took any notice of her!

[gruff]

Ian Dury:
I know it sounds cliched, but he overcame so much to be able to write and perform good music. He lived with and battled Polio, a crippling disease, and always put on a front, never revealing the pain.

Johnny Cash:
His music was written from the soul and heart, 'Hurt' (a NIN cover) sounds like an old man repenting all of his sins, which basically is what it was.

My family: The usual reasons...

[bionic sheep]

Johnny Cash:
His music was written from the soul and heart, 'Hurt' (a NIN cover) sounds like an old man rip off my head and vomit down my sorry assed necking all of his sins, which basically is what it was.
roflmayo word filters.

Although you're quite right; it's an absolutely brilliant cover.

[Midget]

A weird one but probably my year 11 RE teacher.

She was the teacher who managed to motivate me and actually want to pass my GCSEs.

If she hadn't nagged me constantly I probably would have failed every one of them, not just the one I actually did fail.

[dude in a box]

Um influences...dunno, i lived my own life, I dont really have any influences

[Cerberus]

Sid Wilson: He has taught so many things that are important to me.

[Angel@heart]

*Taps microphone*
Testing 1, 2, 3
I'd like to thank books,films and music. You are the biggest things that inspire me. They are what i have to thank for my wild imagination. My friendss i also have to thank as they have made me see my good points and bad points and how i can make other people happy just by being myself :-)
Thank you Thank you
*Bows*
*Curtains Close*

[Soma]

Famous people? - well much of the music i listen to is what I feel makes me who I am
I actually get easily influenced by people I'm around, I adopt the attitudes of some of my friends quite easily, probably not a good thing though.

[faragher]

I had a primary school teacher (Mr Howe, if you're still aout there!) who taught me that I could do pretty much anything with enough effort.

And like RobW - John Peel. When he died, one of my lifes ambitions was thwarted - to get a record played on his show.

And my Wife. Just in case she reads this.