Ever since the introduction of the Walkman for your cassette tapes, technology has given people the ability to walk the streets listening to their favorite tunes. After the Walkman, we saw the introduction of the portable CD player, the mini-disc player, the mp3 flash player, and finally the iPod.  What's the point in talking about the history of music devices, you ask? Well, aside from the fact that countless skaters around the world love skating with a portable music player, I didn't know how else to segue into the music interview I recently did with Mike Vince. In order to find out what role music has in Mike's life, and how it impacts his skating, I decided to ask him about his favorite tunes and what they meant to him. Check it out.

Lots of people out there prefer to skate with their iPod so they can "focus" and "get in the zone" while they are skating. Any comments on this?

I am definitely guilty of ruining a session with my iPod. They can be a social deterrent, which is good and bad... I wouldn't say I listen to it because I need to focus or anything, though.

How important would you say music in your day-to-day life?

Pretty crucial from when I awake to when I fall asleep. I'm usually listening to something.

What type of music do you listen to? Does it differ depending on what you're doing, like skating, chilling, partying?

I don't limit myself to one genre. It does depend on what I am doing, though.

Nollie nosegrind, nollie out

When was the last time you bought a CD? What was it?

Probably Nirvana's Nevermind when I was a pre-teen. I'm an internet pirate now-a-days.

OK, here are a few short answer questions: What are your top three groups of all time?

The Stone Roses, Elliott Smith, and the Wu-Tang Clan.

What are your top five songs of all time?

GZA: "Liquid Swords"

Elliott Smith: "Between the Bars"    

Cymande: "Crawshay"          

Fleetwood Mac: "Landslide"

Shyheim: "All Out On My Own"

What's the best song that's been used in a skate video?

That's easy: David Bowie's "Rock and Roll Suicide"

Wallride nollie.

If you could make the ultimate 10-song playlist to skate too, what songs would be on it?

The Stone Roses: "Sugar Spun Sister"

Happy Mondays: "Kinky Afro"

Sebastien Tellier: "Roche"

Brian Jonestown Massacre: "Open Heart Surgery"

Gerry Rafferty: "Baker Street"

Natasja: "Real Sponsor"

Shyhiem: "All Out On My Own"

Tha Alkaholiks: "The Next Level"

Birdman & Lil' Wayne: "Don't Die"

Grim: "Reefah!"

Mike's Top Five Songs: 

And, according to Mike, the best song ever used in a skate video: