When you see the name Mark ‘Chopper Read’ no doubt your mind is drawn to his brief but illustrious hip-hop career, which saw the Pentridge inmate turned novelist release not one, but two rap tunes back in 2006. As it transpires Chopper’s love for music extends beyond sick rhymes and heavy beats to the likes of Elvis Presley, Cold Chisel and even Kenny Rogers.

Ahead of his new spoken word tour ‘The Final Chapters’ Chopper shares his softer side with FL – revealing his top ten favourite songs of all time.

Chopper Read’s Playlist

Ed Rush and George Cromarty – Plastic Jesus (as sung by Paul Newman)

“Get yourself a sweet Madonna dressed in rhinestones sittin’ on a pedestal of abalone shell. Goin’ 90, I ain’t scar-ied ‘cause I got the Virgin Mary assurin’ me that I won’t go to Hell.” Chopper Read’s got Mary on his side… oh yes he does wooo!

Kenny Rogers – The Gambler

You’ve got to know when to hold em’ know when to fold em,’never count your money while you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.

Cole Porter & Robert Fletcher – Don’t Fence Me In

I would hazard to say that this comes as a by-product from being locked up for an inordinate amount of time…

Theme Song to The Sopranos

We are not similar in any way, you know why? Because Chopper Read is real… this is bloody fiction… but an interesting show nevertheless.

Elvis Presley – Love Me Tender

I’m a sensitive man; I’m a sensitive bloke.

Lynard Skynard – Sweet Home Alabama

Where the skies are so blue… woo!

Kris Kristofferson – He’s A Pilgrim

He’s a poet, he’s a picker, he’s a prophet, he’s a pusher
He a pilgrim and a preacher and a problem when he’s stoned
He’s a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction on his lonley way back home

Cold Chisel – Khe Sahn

You’d be bloody un-Australian not to have it here.

Jimmy Barnes – Driving Wheels

Because it’s a good song and I like it….

Elvis Presley – Little Egypt

There can only be one king… Elvis Presley. Just like there can only be one Chopper Read… Mark Brandon “Chopper” Read.

And for good measure here is one of Chopper’s own classics:

Chopper Read embarks on his ‘The Final Chapters’ tour this week:
Friday July 20th – Palace Hotel, Woody Point
Saturday July 21st– Saltbar, Kingscliff
Wednesday July 25th– Tempo Hotel, Brisbane
Thursday July 26th– Park Ridge Tavern
Friday July 27th– The Arts Centre, Gold Coast
Saturday July 28th– Glades, Tavern Ipswich