mega shite joy division film ’control’

i just saw the film 'control' based on the life of ian curtis of joy division.  i must say, that i didnt like joy division much before i saw the film, after seeing the film i think they are both irrelivent and shite and the film is even shiter... hey, it got great reviews - what the fu*k do i know.....i know that is an incredably untrendy thing to say...but, it/they are shite.....it's late...i must go to bed...nite xx

8:54 PM - 16 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

THE DIARY (ESSAY) OF THE MAGICAL JUSTIN CURRIE TOUR
Category: Music

Ok, the Diary (essay) of the Magical Justin Currie Tour –

There wasn’t much sex, nor much chucking of TV’s out of hotel windows nor was I made aware of any sniffing of coke from the thighs of Brazilian prostitutes, but man it was fun….

CLOTHES & SUITCASES

Firstly, I must say everyone commented/took the piss out of my tour bag. I had a  f***king big bag, a family sized suit case, it’s true –but it was full of ’necessities’ for a 6 day tour around the country - 3 pairs of jeans, 3 tops, 6 dresses, 2 shirts, a kinda  1940’s house coat thing I wore on stage one night, PJ’s, 1 cardigan, 1 jacket, 1 coat  & a scarf. 4 pairs of boots (ok, maybe that was overdoing it), make up & wash bags, towel, guitar stand, camera, 6 pairs of sox 3 pairs of tights, large bottle of perfume & 10 changes of underwear…come on, what could I have possibly left out (maybe 2 out of the 3 pairs of jeans – that’s all!)…I had 2 guitarists on the tour (not in the bag!) - 1 for the 1^st 4 days & a different 1 for the 2^nd 2 days…my first guitarist, Dan, took 4 pairs of sox, 4 pairs of pants, a toothbrush & a clean gig shirt – now that’s admirable packing. My 2^nd  , normally clothes obsessed guitarist, Paul, had been in hospital looking after his son leading up to the gigs so couldn’t even get home to get ANY gig clothes & had to borrow a clean t-shirt from me….!

TRAVELLED THE COUNTRY BY TRAIN

I spent the 1^st 4 dates with guitarist no 1 Dan. We spent hours travelling the country on trains. I took a great book along to read ’the history of prostitution’ but ended up reading just 6 pages & instead doing masses of chatting.  Dan & I discussed, Gurdjieff & Ouspensky & Colin Wilson, meditation,  The Reformation, Socialism, Stalinism, Lads mags, pornography, the greed of our generation (us included), the bollox of the notion of a global fucking village, how to right the worlds wrongs, the difference between the hills of Sussex and the hills of Scotland & we talked music…travelling was tiring but really interesting …

PLACES WE STAYED

Dan & I even ended up sleeping together 1 night & we ain’t even a couple! Well, not quite but we did share a double bed one night.  1^st night in Manchester we were put up in a beautiful rather large & posh house & treated exceptionally well – we stayed with a rockabilly  dude called Oliver & I shaved his head for him in the morning as a thank you for our stay! 2^nd night, my mate Xan put us up…she lives near Stirling, surrounded by hills & fields with pheasants wondering about…she picked us up from the gig in a rock n roll van (like something the A team would be happy in), stacked with organic cider & whisky (we had real fun – Xan used to be Courtney Loves PA so we heard all the hair raising stories)…we were taken out for a Indian meal by our hosts in Birmingham & again treated like kings…but the man who put us up had thought Dan & I were a couple & so he gave us a large double bed to share! T’was funny in the morning as we woke quite early & couldn’t go make tea etc as our hosts were asleep in the living room, so we spent the morning under the duvet chit chatting to each other – It just felt totally out of place lying in bed chatting to Dan, but it was sweet & rather funny (& anyway, he had been warned not to touch me or fart!!). A brilliant artist mate of mine, Tom, put us up in Cardiff & we had fun there too. Each night of the tour I got no more than 3 hours sleep (even ~Thatcher got by on 4 – the f*****)…I am now a middle aged (well, that’s not quite true) plump mum of two, boy its tuff trying to pretend I’m still a hard core rock  n roll raver, knocking back the tequila when I’m far better on tea watching coronation street really…I was looking & feeling rough by day 6, but hey, it was fun…

GUITARIST NO 2 & MY SCHOOLGIRL FANTASTY

I was very flattered that Justin asked me to open up all his UK shows as when I was a teenager I was a big Del Amitri fan, had posters all over my wall.  But, I was also a huge MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG fan & equally had them plastered on my wall too…so again I felt very honoured to have THE MEN’S main songwriter & lead guitarist come & play guitar & do backing vocals for me on this tour…I explained it on stage as being a fantasy sandwich for me, supporting JC & having Paul by my side!

HIGHLIGHTS AND JUSTIN CURRIE HIMSELF

Of course the gigs themselves- playing to appreciative audiences were the real highlights along with singing ’nothing Ever Happens’ on the last night (though I only learnt the harmony an hour before we went on & did it, so it was a slightly tense experience!) but, the quirky personal Highlight for me was when I told the crowd at one of the gigs a story about why I thought Justin had given me the opening slot on this tour cos he thought id written a song called the Sheffield Apprentice.  A few months ago, after he heard a demo of the Sheffield Apprentice he raved &he had told me he thought it was the best song id ever written & if I got myself another 11 like it I would have myself one hell of a début album…id had to go back to Justin & tell him I didn’t write it & that it was a ye olde British folk song…I thought maybe he’d felt a tad embarrassed so he’d given me the tour as a consolation! He walked into the hall just as I was telling the audience the story & he shouted from the back, ’no, that’s not why I gave you the tour. I gave you the tour cos you are bloody good’.

I know (just from his songs) that Justin is probably a bit of a mean fu**er!! but the Justin I hung out with was a total gem on every level, he was completely unpretentious, un precious, very welcoming & inclusive. Considering each show was back to back & I always had to rush off to party with my hosts there wasn’t masses of time for after show conversation but he was always engaging & up for a chat. He happily shared his dressing room, always offered us a share in the delights of his rider (that aint how you spell it is it?) etc etc.  He is also a bit of an inspirational perfectionist (something im totally not). His crew were cool & helpful, & Peter Adams (accordion/keyboard/harmonies) was a cool sweet dude too- a great musician who was a pleasure to watch.

We-one or tother geetarist & myself,- watched the main show every night…I’ve been on a few tours over the years & watched the main bands night after night so had thought it may get a little tiresome…but it was anything but, Justin’s performance (vocal/musical performance & equally his jokes & stage banter), was as fresh each night as it had been the night before. He was simply, utterly  brilliant.

OTHER BITS

All audiences were attentive & great & I was given lovely (awesome even) feedback (even gifts).I met many lovely people who were there to see Justin of course, but really gave me the time of day which was nice... It was also nice to log on from time to time at mates houses & fun to read blogs on tour written from Justin’s fans. I read one about how aesthetically pleasing I was & how my looks were equal to my voice (obviously people in the back seats)…this person went on to debate about whether or not the edge of my bra was deliberately showing over the top of my dress or not (yes it was- I’m a hardcore hussy!)…it made me giggle…

-Oh yeah, i had a cool aftershow party at mine on the last night...will stick the photos up in the next few weeks - (dont know how to get them off the camera!)-

After the shows & via myspaces messages, many of you  have told me how much you’d enjoyed hearing us do ’nothing ever happens’…how ’special’ it was etc & how you’d love Justin & I to do a tune together (we have said if the right song came about, it would be good to give it a go)…I hope all of you who think that & told me that are also telling him this cos its prob far more likely to happen if you tell him than me!...im already sat in the studio waiting for him to arrive…hurrey up Justin…its getting dull sucking on this pack of fishermans friends on me own…

6:15 AM - 16 Comments - 18 Kudos - Add Comment

Poor mans Madonna/White Opra Winfry

I was gonna take down all my photos (a manager told me i should just have a couple up) and i do feel slightly embarrased having so so so so so many photos up...like people may think I just LOVE myself...i  really dont,-well, only in a healthy way- and ,at least, not any more than any anyone else does, but the photos are like a diary of  large chunks  of  my life and people often mail me and leave comments about them ...which i kinda like....people seem to enjoy that there are so many there...so for the moment i will keep em up (hey mr manager, i looked at courtney loves site..she’s got fu**in millions too!)...

The Architect Mies Van Der Rhoe coined the phrase  ’less is more’ and the minimalists are all up for that but in response to Mies the archietect Robert Venturi stated  ’less is a bore’ and I am so with Robert...

My space is really a musicians ’me fest’...a little feel good place...My photos  show me to be a poor mans madonna with the many changes of image and hair colour over the years and i feel like a poor mans white opra winfry with the many changes in size both skinny and plump...hey,these days im happy to be a poor mans anything.....

11:00 PM - 11 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment

NEW SONG FEBRUARY UP FOR A SHORT WHILE

'february' new home demo up for a short while....wrote it on the 29th feb and recorded it first day or two of march...you know me...i dont let the song settle, though i know i really should...i have NO patience....

let me know what ya reckon to it....

peace y'all...

 nx

p.s yeah....i guess ya could call it a murder ballad...its a song about being murdered anyways...!

10:17 AM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment