I started a blog I couldn't finish... Beards, music, film, chilli.

I GOT accosted by two drunks the other day. They wanted me to name the five coolest men of all time. Pretty tough when you’re put on the spot. I asked them theirs. I forget their full list but it included Brad Pitt and Barack Obama. I cut the conversation short soon after. If you name Pitt then you might as well throw Robson and Jerome, Jim Davidson and Robbie Williams into the mix. Positively sub-zero… Okay, so ‘cool’ is an subjective term but there have to be ground rules in place. Cool is going against the grain, doing stuff you wish you would do but know you won’t. Pitt’s a good actor but it’s just not the same. Barack Obama, too, doesn’t fit the bill. He’s someone you can get behind, sure, but would you really want to be like him? So who is cool? Here’s a start… (This list isn’t exhaustive and will be subject to revisions.) Bill Murray: In the past decade Murray has become one of the smoothest dudes on the silver screen. Word has it he walks the streets of New York, tapping strangers on the back and saying “Guess who?” When they turn around he says: “No-one will ever believe you.” Charles Bukowski/Hunter S. Thompson/Jack Kerouac: Any one of those hedonistic authors who managed to stumble through life making art from bleak situations in a way most people could not. Kiefer Sutherland: His role as TV’s Jack Bauer is cool, but the man himself is even cooler. Kiefer knows how to party hard but you know he’s got a heart of gold. Matt Pryor: You may not know him, but Pryor fronts world revered indie acts The Get Up Kids and The New Amsterdams. So why cool? The New Ams also play to school children under the Terrible Twos moniker. They have released songs about simple addition and eating your greens. And that is awesome. Chris Morris: The creator of TV and film satires Brass Eye and Four Lions. Morris’ humour is close to the edge (sometimes uncomfortably so) but is always insightful. I haven’t begun on the cool female list, which I was also asked to compile. It was hard enough assembling this one. Any thoughts, let me know.