A Taste:

Santogold, MIA, Cut Copy

Even though Tiësto remains at the top of electronic music, he grew up a metal head! With a smile he laughs, “As a kid, I was a big Iron Maiden fan!”

What was it about hard rock that appealed to the electronica pioneer? Well, believe it or not, it was actually the intelligence and intricacy behind the genre’s more, dare I say, bookish bands.

“I loved the guitar riffs that Iron Maiden used, and their lyrics were always smart,” continues Tiësto. “The songs were like crazy fairy tales. Bruce Dickinson wasn’t just singing, ‘I love you!’ I got to see them at Monsters of Rock with Van Halen, Dio, Whitesnake, Michael Schenker Group and all of my heroes at the time. It was funny because I was into only heavy metal like old Metallica back then. Dickinson has an amazing voice, but I couldn’t imagine putting his voice on a dance record. The guitar melodies, maybe [Laughs].”

Tiësto shared his current playlist with us below. Check it out, and if you’re in Northern California this weekend, be sure to see Tiësto at Sacramento Conventions Center on Saturday May 30th. It’s his first-ever Sacramento show, and it’ll run from 8pm until 1am (18+). For more info on the show click here.

Tiësto ’s Playlist:

1. Sigur Ros

I like Sigur Ros a lot. They really make beautiful music.

2. Santigold

3. Cut Copy

4. MGMT

I love the indie electronic music with a little rock in it.

5. MIA

—Rick Florino
05.28.09

Photo: Stephanie Pistel