Who would you be if you could swap places for a day?

Sean Penn. I was watching Mystic River last night. Everything he's ever done is incredible.

Who was your childhood hero?

At primary school I was a massive Arsenal fan - so it would have been Michael Thomas, for the moment he scored the last-minute goal that won the league at Anfield in 1989.

What's the first thing you do in the morning?

Have a shower.

What's the last thing you think about at night?

Why I can't sleep.

How often do you brush your teeth?

It should be twice a day, but I have to admit that, being on tour, it's not easy to keep that up. So once a day at the moment.

Would you ever have cosmetic surgery?

No, I'll grow old gracefully.

Which designer labels do you own?

I don't think I own any.

Not "designer" designer labels, anyway. We've done photoshoots in the past and we've been given clothes for them, but we don't get to keep them. I like clothes that fit and are nice, but I wouldn't want to wear something just because it's got a certain label in it. If it fits me well and I like it, it doesn't matter if it's Dior or C&A, to be honest.

Who are your favourite writers?

My favourite lyricists would be Michael Stipe from REM, Guy Garvey from Elbow or Thom Yorke from Radiohead.

It's about using words as imagery rather than telling stories. That's what I like about Michael Stipe in particular, and that's what I try to do myself in my songs.

What is your favourite building?

We've been spending a bit of time in Cologne recently, and the cathedral in the centre is absolutely stunning. It looks like something out of Batman.

You can go up the tower:

it's quite a dizzying experience.

Who did you last text?

My friend Richard. He was asking how the tour with Franz Ferdinand was going, and I said very well. I also told him that the other day we had a day off and went to Parc Asterix. It was amazing:

it's got the longest, tallest rollercoaster in Europe, I think. A lot of fun.

City or country?

City. It's got to be, given the age I am, which is 24. I like the country as well - I grew up in Gloucestershire - but I'm attracted to the romantic image of cities, especially at night, and I try to let that rub off on me when I'm writing.

Skinhead or mullet?

Skinhead for me. Not totally skinhead - maybe about a grade three or four. I don't want to look like someone from Romper Stomper.

Pyjamas or au naturel?

Au naturel, definitely.

Love is . . .

Er, it's worth getting up in the early morning for it.

What do you believe in?

Getting up early in the morning for love.

What colour are your pants?

A light grey, today.

What have you loved and lost?

I had a rabbit, and a fox ate it. It was called Pip.

The fox ate Pip, and I loved Pip as a kid. All that was left was a little fluff of fur in the garden.

What makes you blush?

Anything too personal, and people I don't want to speak to.

What would be the soundtrack to your life?

Have you seen the film Requiem for a Dream?

The soundtrack to that film is absolutely incredible, so I would steal that and apply it to my life. It's so dramatic.

What brings out the devil in you?

Gin and tonic.

Sum yourself up in five words.

Gangly. Happier than people think.

Editors play the AECC, Aberdeen, on November 21, and the SECC, Glasgow, on November 22 and 23.