Entertainment For Lively Minds
Difficult Musicians
Mark Ellen's interview with Ginger Baker had me laughing out out loud at times: "READ THE BOOK etc", very funny indeed; it seems as though Baker is quite a difficult old character at times. It made me wonder who are the other most "difficult" musicians in the business and have you ever encountered a "difficult" moment with one.
Many moons ago, on a less glamorous level, I interviewed Marillion's bassist Pete Trewavas; the interview became very frosty when I asked him about the future of the band and what he would do "if" they split up. Although a perfectly reasonable question it went down like the Titanic as did my following question stating the poor performace of their single Beautiful at the time and its lack of airplay.Silence and tumbleweed all round. Not quite the level of Mr Ellen's interview with Baker I admit, but I was glad when it was over. I left Leeds T & C Club at 123 mph hour and didn't look back.
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A tubby and mystical Northern Irishman with tangy gobirons...
springs to mind. Somehow 'difficult' doesn't seem to do him justice...
I have a Van Morrison tale not often told. Some years ago I worked in a record shop called Out On The Floor in Camden Town in London. I popped in there one day and the boss Mick told me that Mr Magoo had been in there the day before. He came in, went through the vinyl records and then started reorganizing them, putting several albums in different sections when he got the hump about the way they'd been categorized. I pray that he didn't notice that the Van Morrison records were split between 'singer songwriters' and his own section. Anyway, this went on for some time, the only sound emanating from him being the occasional grunt of dissatisfaction. After half an hour or so he left, without saying a word and without buying anything...
Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Interesting tale re Van and is this picture the eight wonder of the world? Mr Morrison smiling! I wonder how many other famous musicians go into record stores to check on their own albums?
I once served George Michaels...
(can't help but adopt the Bill Hicks way of calling him) in the Hampstead branch of Our Price in 1988. Mr Michaels, resplendent in 'Faith'-style leather jacket and shades, brought a copy of... 'Faith' by George Michaels up to the counter. When I cheekily asked him why he was buying a copy of his own album, he replied "because I can". Huh?!
Des
My mate served Des O Conner breakfast at a hotel in Scarborough. Apparently he was very nice indeed-At least until he started singing whilst the scrambled egg was served up.
Non-difficult musicians...
stand up, Fast Eddie Clarke. I served him too, in another job when I was working at a branch of Oddbins in London, 20 years ago. He came into the shop at about 10am and selected the largest bottle of vodka we had on sale. "Having a party then, Fast Eddie?" I pried. "Nah, I'm thirsty!" replied the grinning ex-Motörhead axeslinger. He was about to pay when he said "Ah shit, nearly forgot!" and went and got the smallest bottle of Schweppes tonic we had on sale. "Almost forgot the tonic!" he exclaimed. What a nice guy...
They can all be difficult interviews
For the simple reason that an interview is a fairly false way to interact with someone, particularly a musician. This is something Elvis Costello is very interesting on in the new issue of the magazine. He's suddenly found himself on the other side of the microphone and realise how questions designed to elicit certain answers so rarely do.
But anyway....the answer is Bob Dylan.
Talking of difficult interviews with Dylan...
David, presumably you remember the Omnibus interview from 1986 or thereabouts when Dylan insisted on drawing the interviewer as he went along? Do you know the name of the man who asked the questions? I've never known who it was, poor fellow...
Sykes ???
Wasn't the one by Christopher Sykes was it ?
If so, see http://www.sykes.easynet.co.uk/Dylan.jpg (a great freeze frame)
and scroll down through
http://www.sykes.easynet.co.uk/
Shame really if Mr D took that line, Syke's interview with Feynman was immensely important to me and quite a few others, and spawned a superb book-oh well, can't win em 'all ...
Yes! That must be him...
thanks for that. Yes, it was a difficult interview for poor old Christopher, but a very interesting one.
Feynman
Glad was of use-I realised on rereading that Sykes interviewed Feynman twice, the book is based more on 2nd one iirc. The first interview is a true gem, and was printed in part in The Listener at the time-a truly inspirational document for an aspiring scientist. The second was illuminated by the fact that Feynman by then knew he probably didn't have too much longer to live.
So I guess, re Dylan, that Sykes, like his Murphy's, isn't bitter ...
Dylan
No, I'm not bitter! I thought Dylan was great, and more than generous with his time. I'm glad you enjoyed the Feynman stuff.
Why design a question to elicit a specific answer?
Why not just ask a question that you don't know the answer to? And be openminded when the answer isn't what you were expecting?
When I read interviews that contain friction it often seems to me that the journalist has already made up their mind about the interviewee beforehand and if they don't get the answers they wanted/expected they seem to think they are being lied to.
Friction ... and hot topics
Was fascinated the other day to see how calmly Phil Collins dealt with the questions about his divorce from Mark Lawson. Was this a) a stitch-up or b) an indicator of maturity or c) ... ???
Always the quiet ones
Never even knew Phil Collins and Mark Lawson had been married. What a shame it ended in divorce.
THEY WERE MARRIED...
that edition of Hello Magazine passed me by...
*edit* curse your nimble fingers, Mr Lowe...
Eats shoots and leaves
OK, OK, must learn to punctuate one day ... But seriously folks, I stayed to the end of this interview in part because of the rare co-existence on modern "rock TV" of an interested interviewer and a willing, dry and (to me anyway) seemingly interested interviewee.
Not quite as hypnotic as ML's Le Carre interview I admit, but ...
Phil Collins...
...gives good interview frequently, I find.
Yeah right. And when you do...
Read the book. Read the book. Read the book.
The tape from that interview (or does he do shorthand? Nah!) should be a podcast on its own, for us all to hear.
....the answer is Bob Dylan
Is there any truth that this was the slogan rejected by CBS in favour of "The revolutionaries are on CBS ..." ?
I though that the content of
any Lou Reed interview has, by law, to be at least 40% anecdote about how difficult he is to interview, and how frosty he'd been at a previous encounter.
Sometimes it's 80%
For example, here.
While searching for that gem I was reminded of a quote that sends the cringe-o-meter soaring beyond even Steve Harley's toecurltabulous "We wrote the book!" In a keynote address at a Texas university, Lou Reed was asked how qualified he really was to write about life on the street. His response: "I have a B.A. in dope, but a Ph.D in soul."
Can that ever be beaten as the worst quote in the history of the rock interview?
Ouch!
Send in Mark Ellen to sort out Mr Grumpy.
SFX - the magazine on a cassette - did an interview with Lou. I should try and find it to see if he was that bad.
Obviously overqualified
Anyway, wasn't it Lowell George who had two degrees in bebop, a PhD in swing, and a Master of Rhythm ... (I think that completes the requirements for a rock and roll doctorate) ...
Somehow I can't imagine him playing Twister...
with the GLW on a Saturday afternoon. He really does elevate "being an utter pillock" to an art form.
dylan v reed
dylan ,from my reading answers intelligently and eloquently if the question is not rote predictable and mundance, doesn't pry into private life and doesn't ask him to interpret his songs oer opine on political matters of the day
now lou lou he just has the shits with jopurnalists 98% of the time. He usually puts them dowen aggressivel and is only nice if they praise his poetry even if the interview has been booked due to an mminent tour or album.
nasty bit of work
speaking of which mark e smith ...
tony
Been Told elsewhere
I told my speaking on the Phone to Lou story on here a while back. To sum up he was incredibly difficult and refused to compromise until legal action was mentioned.Why i had to deal with him directly i'll never know.
Don't rock stars have "People " who do this for them ?
When he came to do the gig he was no trouble. Getting him and Laurie to the gig was the hard part.
Nice to see Barbara Ellen
in yesterdays Observer, commenting on how some internet sites are now discussing the veracity and curiosity of the smiling Ulsterman.....
It's the way he tells 'em
"There's this transvistate walkin' dine Saypress Avenyee in hay-heeled sheez...."
Reading that phonetically made me...
...laugh out loud! Which would be no bad thing was I not sitting in an hotel bar by myself :-)
Brit Pop Brats
Damon Albarn and Liam Gallagher both have their difficult moments on the film Live Forever. Jarvis Cocker on the other hand,is a delight to watch and listen too.
Damon Albarn
was rude, arrogant and condescending when I worked for his label back in the day, and from what I've seen and read since not much has changed.
Interesting to watch Damon in that film
He is both feeling awkward and being awkward.
Must be extrememly off putting to an interviwer if your subject is strumming along on a small banjo whilst you're in mid question.
Mind games from Mr Albarn in this case me thinks.
Paul Weller is the master of this style of interview.
Or a relatively smart way to assess
... whether the interviewer gives a flying jackhammer about music? Whatsoever.
Not as glamorous as Bob and Van
But I once interviewed Huey from Fun Lovin' Criminals for the local rag on the phone and the conversation ended with him swearing profusely,threatening to 'knock me in the cheek' and slamming the phone down.
If you wish to witness the car crash in slightly slower motion then here it is.
I bet...
you were still on the guest list for the gig. Correct?
And smooting around Niks' site I've just discovered that - hold onto your surgical supports, Massive - he's interviewed RT!
Coincidentally
I interviewed him again just yesterday. And I can report he's still a fascinating bloke. Had a chat with him about Sufi music from Moorish Andalucia and it's influence on flemenco.
Hugh Cornwell
was a tricky customer.
'Are you just gonna talk about the Stranglers days', moaned the old clitoris surfer, 'because if you are we might as well put a stop to it right now. I HAVE got a NEW album out you know'.
And he did. A live album peppered with covers of old Stranglers songs. Berk.
almost all musicians are utterly charming
they are, in my experience, of a type. however, Richard from Death In Vegas and Beta Band (esp Steve Mason) were complete twots when i interviewed them (many years ago). I'm thrilled to say both bands gave up due to lack of interest.
I interviewed
Steve Mason a couple of years ago and got on with him very well. A working knowledge of scooters & ultra rare addidas carpet slippers may have helped though.
Johnny Cigs
I've got an old NME live awards CD-ROM somewhere and a member of the Beta Band (may have been Steve Mason) has a go at the very drunk NME writer Johnny Cigarettes. Apparently Ashcroft had a go at him once too. Wonder what happened to cigarettes. Guess he just lost his spark.
Or did he join the Melody Maker
as David Stubbs?
Cigarettes. Stubbs.
Sigh. I'm going to bed, there's f*ck all on the telly.
Vanishing Writers
I don't believe he did join Melody Maker. On the subject of the late MM, I wonder what happened to its editor Mark Sutherland. He used to host the Music Week on 6music, but has disappeared from that too. Sadly now, work calls, on my Birthday as well!
I used to see him regualarly...
in the Good Mixer pub in Camden Town, usually enjoying a few sherbets. Always wore a good suit...
Not a popstar but
Jack Dee was a nightmare to interview back in the mists of time. Totally touchy and up himself.Eddie Izzard on the other hand was a joy. Could have listened to him all day.
Worst musician - Speedo from Rocket From The Crypt, claimed never to have heard of The Clash.
Had we known you were looking for us...
we would have responded sooner, eh? - theDifficultMusicians ( :-)
http://youtu.be/12yzs03X23I
"Difficult"?
Must be a frustrating occupation being "interviewed' by a never ending string of dumbbells. Who's only interest is to construct some amusing article out of the encounter, using whatever means occur to them. "Now how can I make this article about an aging drummer actually interesting to read?"
When you actually think it through, you realise it's more likely 'worried' rather than difficult. A paranoid personality is liable to think he's got nothing left to lose. A certain amount of vitriol is understandable if you ask me.