John Bradley plays Samwell Tarly in Game Of Thrones. And he knows his Manc music.
While the Manchester-born actor can be seen right now scene-stealing in the epic eighth, and final, season of the ground-breaking series, it’s the music of his favourite bands that has power over him.
Bradley hails from Wythenshawe in Manchester, just round the corner from the birthplaces of the likes of Oasis and The Smiths. He's talented drummer himself.
“One thing that lends itself to all of these albums and to Manchester music in general, is the characters that you meet in the street," sayd Bradley. "You get people who live a very hard life, and they want to have as good a time as possible when they can have a good time. The combination of being rooted in reality, but having this escapism to believe there's a good time out there - Manchester music is very uplifting but also painful and romantic.”
While billions of fans would argue the same of Game Of Thrones, Bradley explains that for him music has an unrivalled emotional pull.
“I think there's something really spiritual and mystical about it," he says. "Like, a guitar or a piano is only wood and metal. But when somebody puts their fingers on just the right part of it, it can make you feel a certain way. Music can bring up memories that you've forgotten that you have, and make you feel things like nothing else.”
Here, Bradley reveals his Shortlist of his five favourite albums by Manchester bands. The North remembers (its pop icons).
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Game Of Thrones Season 8 airs on Sky Atlantic on Mondays, simulcast with the US at 2am and later at 9pm. Watch it now with a 7 day free trial from NOW TV.
Game of Thrones star's top Manchester albums
