With adolescence, Birkin discovered poetry, in particular Walt Whitman, Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Rimbaud, T. S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, and, latterly, Kenneth Patchen. He was also heavily influenced by the Zen philosopher Alan Watts as well as Joseph Campbell. His musical taste began with Guns N Roses, quickly moving on to Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, then into Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Sonic Youth, Fugazi and The Jesus Lizard. He began learning the guitar at 12, and was soon composing his own songs, as well as writing poetry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anno_Birkin