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Post Info TOPIC: Russell delays!


Cocaine Socialist

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Oh hang on, I'm an idiot. It's there. Heroin?! Jesus.

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Legendary

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I'm scared to read this book. I don't want to face the shame if turns out how much of a lousy judge of character I am.

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Different Class

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More Russell here peeps: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037tm0s

He was on that Rony Sheffield programme again but with Rony this time. Skip to 2 hours 9 mins and 40 something seconds



-- Edited by Jean on Monday 30th of November 2015 07:06:55 PM

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The Only Way is Down

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New stuff? Words or musicky things...?

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Different Class

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I'll edit that, Stephen, before anyone thinks it refers to music. No, just personal stuff he was talking about that I never knew about him!



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Ooh...I'll have a listen tomorrow. Thanks, Jean! You've certainly ly been getting your fill of Russell lately!

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The Only Way is Down

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Good spot Jean.
Is anyone recording these radio appearances? 6 Music have finally bitten, he's on Liz Kershaws programme this Saturday from 1pm.

I mentioned that I'd spoken to John Robb at Russell's talk at the Louder Than Words festival recently. Well John asked me to write something for his site, Louder Than Words, and seeing as there doesn't seem to be any reviews of the book anywhere apart from Amazon and AcrylicAfternoons I thought I'd oblige.

It fits into the unsubbed, fan-trying-to-be-a-writer style that permeates much of the site's content (and among other things Ive mis-quoted from the book, left out an important word from the Alex James quote, used an opening sentence that seems detached from the rest of the review, repeated adjectives and used overly long sentences - though you lot will be used to that) but anyway, here it is:

http://louderthanwar.com/freak-out-the-squares-book-review-of-russell-seniors-account-of-his-days-in-pulp/



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Different Class

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Ha! Saw that review, Eamonn, but thought I'd leave it to the author to mention here Being unemployed, I am a very sad woman who Googles Russell's name and puts it into Twitter Search every other day since the book came out to see what's new. I saved the interview he did with that Phil Williams but I couldn't save the others for some reason.

Maybe I should post my comment over on the actual Louder than War website but just want to say you're a bloody good writer as is Russell. I also wondered about his potential to write lyrics but then I guess a book is very different. It's like Moz was a decent lyricist in his day but he just doesn't seem to do books well. I remember Bowie writing some terrible diary entries too before. He didn't seem to suit that form. Russell kind of alludes to this a bit when he's talking about how Jarvis polished up his version of 'Maureen' and, as you say, it would always have been hard to match Jarvis. In terms of writing a book though Russell did a brilliant job and deserves a lot more credit and attention for it being so well written and really funny at points - the part about getting dragged along the stage in what might have appeared a choreographed routine had me in stitches.

I absolutely agree about feeling inferior to Russell's energy, effort and thoughtfulness. From what I'd read over the years I always thought he was a stern and serious person because that's how the others (and writers) painted him but actually he just seems organised and driven. And he is funny and thoughtful too.I too am curious about the seeming disconnect with him and the others on the 2011 reunion. It's a pity none of the others joined him on the Russ bus for the odd date on that tour.

Finally, I now know why he appeared on stage at Electric Picnic in that clobber! I remember at the time being distraught and saying to my brother "Russell's not there!" and he said "No, he is - he's wearing a coat and hat". I had thought 'no way could that be Russell in the hat and coat. He's too stylish to wear that get up!'. He had a cold. And he even cracked a smile after 'Bar Italia'



-- Edited by Jean on Wednesday 2nd of December 2015 12:23:35 PM

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Really enjoyed the interview with 'Rony'. Can't believe he asked things like "How much money did you make, though?"

Highlights: "Have a stern Christmas" from his daughter and "Have an efficient Christmas and a productive New Year" from him.
His next book is to be about Edwin of Northumbria.
He had more trouble as a kid than Jarvis! Enforced long hair, green tights, two turned in feet and a speech impediment.

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The Only Way is Down

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Rony is quite adept at asking questions that most wouldn't get away with. He asked Nick a similar question a few years ago on his show. ''I've done alright, but I still don't have a Lear jet'' was the Pottery guru's response, or similar.

I did like the way Russell put it though ''For about two or three years I earned money similar to a dentist'' but that was as good as it got!

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Other Russell updates:

Nice article with him about Pulp fashion: http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/28671/1/how-to-dress-exactly-like-pulp-did-in-the-90s

Also, he was on Liz Kershaw's programme on 6 Music last Saturday. It didn't bode well when she played She's A Lady from the 1992 BBC Session (I can't believe I'd never heard this before), introducing and extroducing(?) it as ''She's On'' and saying that we'd be hearing from ''Richard Senior'' later...

Her Manc schtick does grate a bit, the best part was definitely getting him to take on his role as antique glass dealer and give a judgement on her granny's bit of glass. Here if you wanna listen: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06r4tm3

Edit: Actually, just listening again and it was actually a decent interview. I'm always overly-harsh the first time!



-- Edited by Eamonn on Wednesday 9th of December 2015 07:39:52 PM

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The Only Way is Down

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Dammit, Eamonn! Having just read yr Louder Than War review, I'm going to seriously have to up my standard with my article. That's some good, clever writing in yours. Nice one.

Btw yes I assumed it was Steve M and Alex J's other half. I think I've heard the story before and it made me dislike Alex even more as, by his own admittance, hr was regularly screwing other people night after night anyway.



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Different Class

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More Russell today: http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/14137130._quot_I_d_run_out_of_juice_and_judging_by_the_album_sales_the_rest_had_too_after_I_left__quot__Russell_Senior_on_life_in_and_out_of_Pulp/?ref=rss

 

Very well worth a read. Btw has anyone paid to watch Beat is the Law online. I was finally going to get around to buying the DVD only to find it's only available as pay per view online now. Just a bit concerned about whether the website is safe. Anyone else used it?

 



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Street Operator

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weej wrote:

That review is simply jaw-dropping. Wonder who wrote it - surely there aren't more than 20 or 30 people around with that much insider info - maybe it could be narrowed down to less than ten.

Can't wait for someone to send the book over to China. (probably a parent)


 Sorry to bump...

Just read it now. Fucking hell.



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The Only Way is Down

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Hold on, you've got to wait for the best....

No, you don't. That and the book are as good as it gets. Hopefully Nick will have some interesting anecdotes in his memoir later this year.

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The Only Way is Down

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It got edited a few times after it was first written. Never did work out who wrote it. Russell genuinely seemed to have no idea when I interviewed him (which is what I imagine has led you to it!)

 

Although I dont believe anyone has really pounced on that review for reasons of it being particularly untrue.



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The Only Way is Down

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There's at least one factual clanger in there. Which doesn't mean the rest is wrong, of course.



-- Edited by Sturdy on Saturday 3rd of June 2023 12:06:51 AM

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The Only Way is Down

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I realised that I hadn't that 'that review' since preparing for the interview back in 2015. What an odd review it is. A lot does hold true. Curious as to what the definite inaccuracy is.

As to what Russell thought of it, my memory of his response from 8 years ago was absolutely bemusement and curiosity. I genuinely think he didn't know who the review was.

He also had significant issues with their criticism of the book.

And I'm *extremely* happy to say that you'll all be able to read that full detail 'soon'.

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Street Operator

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Stephen wrote:

I realised that I hadn't that 'that review' since preparing for the interview back in 2015. What an odd review it is. A lot does hold true. Curious as to what the definite inaccuracy is.

As to what Russell thought of it, my memory of his response from 8 years ago was absolutely bemusement and curiosity. I genuinely think he didn't know who the review was.

He also had significant issues with their criticism of the book.

And I'm *extremely* happy to say that you'll all be able to read that full detail 'soon'.


 I think the stone-cold inaccuracy is that Jarvis was trying to impress Russell's girlfriend when he fell from the ledge. That isn't true, Russell says as much in the interview... (he also uses the phrase "all the facts are wrong" a couple of times, so there may be more that isn't true too).



-- Edited by lipglossed on Saturday 3rd of June 2023 11:42:07 PM

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The Only Way is Down

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Yes that was the one. Hang in there Jarvis, love Adrienne x

(Steven Havenhand's girlfriend, incidentally)

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The heroin stuff... I'm heavily of the opinion that if this were true, then one of the very well-informed people on here would also have an inkling of it. I mean, that's pretty huge, isn't it? Whether one Amazon review of slightly sketchy provenance is enough indication...

Whether it's whole-truth, part-truth, or none-at-all-truth, it's also worth noting that there isn't really a need to invent a new departure story for Russell: the official one, from the man himself, is understandable enough I think.

I remember reading in Russell's book that if he knew the internal acrimony that would accompany the rehearsals for the reunion, he wouldn't have agreed to it. Clearly some old interpersonal tensions. I also remember Steve saying that he had the most musical disagreement with Russell... but also that he enjoyed being on tour with him the most. And then Russell doesn't mention Steve much in the book at all, but I didn't necessarily interpret that as a withering silence, moreso that Russell just didn't really have much to say about him either way. It's an odd one and my view of it (especially as a younger member of Pulp, who wasn't around during the Glory Days and has maybe the least insight of anyone here) isn't particularly clear.

I suppose, I tend to think of Candida as closer to Russell, Steve as closer to Jarvis, and then Nick being sort-of the glue of the group - and Mark the general dogsbody who was co-opted into full membership when his musical accomplishment became impossible to ignore. And it makes sense that Russell might think, "ooh so Jarvis upped and left after I'd dragged this band through the 80s, now he's met this guy in London and it's all go again" and that might rightfully peeve someone off. I actually think a lot of Pulp's best music comes from the tension between Russell and Steve - not to project anything onto it from this conversation, of course, it's a musical tension. That fusion of Steve's disco/dance persuasions, that propulsion on the low end, and then Russell's violin screeches and emotive pop jangles. To me, it's the thing that makes 'His 'n' Hers' such a unique album, so addictive to listen to. Different Class doesn't quite have that; it has monster pop-tunes, some of which have huge emotional power ('Disco 2000') and momentum ('Common People'), but it feels like a different project altogether. It's funny that Russell's favourite track on it is 'F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.OV.E.', because while it's the biggest musical departure on the album, it also perhaps comes closest to that 'HnH' template, that sense of dramatic flair undercut by a thick and fizzing low end. Sorry, I'm rambling here, but still.

At the end of the day, they were all, I think I'm OK in saying, fine musicians and fine people, and sadly Steve wouldn't be in a position to refute any of the (quite serious) fingers being pointed at him (and they clearly mean him) by that Amazon reviewer. Although I think I can take down the accusation that he wasn't visually striking!

Soon, you'll be able to read Russell's thoughts on Pulp's later musical direction too :)



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Ok, I'm going to throw my 2 pennyworth in here. I might get in trouble for this but if they are going to hang me for a lamb, I'll steal the flock.

To fill you in on a bit of background, Heroin abuse is kind of personal to me, as I had a close relation, whose life was seriously affected, and tragically died, as a direct result of heroin use. 

A lot of people know me as Mark's No.1 superfan, and I will go out of my way to stick up for him, but reading about this heroin issue, both in that review, and the Select magazine article that came out around the time of This is Hardcore has always been concerning.  Even I wouldn't go so far as to beatify him,  but neither am I going to say that the only near exposure he had to Class A substances was through his record collection.

In the accompanying photographs (and the artwork for Help the Aged) he is noticeably thinner and more haggard looking than he was at the Mercury Music awards in 1996 - though could be due to stress over his "year in hell". That said, when I met him for the first time at the ICA in March 1998, he seemed pretty healthy.

I used to have to take the night bus home from Little Stabs at Happiness, and in doing so made an acquaintance of another person who partially traveled the same route as me, It turns out that this person, who was a music agent, was quite close to Mark's ex, (the one whose breakup had caused him so much grief in 1997). As the months passed we got friendly, and I plucked up the courage to ask him about the heroin question. 

He told me he'd seen Mark do a bit of weed now and again but really nothing more than that.

Timeline wise, it doesn't seem logical that Mark would have been into heavy narcotics. He was trying to buy a house, he had plans to marry his girlfriend (which ended heartbreakingly for him) and also when not touring, or songwriting, he was getting his side hustle as a film curator up and running, and planning for and organizing such events - not just at the ICA, but at the Barbican as well, would eat into his off-stage time. 

It does not speak to me of the actions of a man in the thralls of an opioid addiction.   



-- Edited by SarahAWilson on Monday 5th of June 2023 01:04:43 AM

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Different Class

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Stephen, I am the madser who transcribed that interview and I definitely remember Russell being very surprised about the Amazon Review and the gist of it was it wasn't true and he didn't know who wrote it. What an autobiography that was. I need to reread that. He was always my favourite, Russell, and I was over the moon to see him again in 2011. I was so hoping he'd be on this tour.



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Street Operator

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Funny how Separations, not just an album about breakups and stuff, also has a very clear musical divide.

One side has Russell's dominant influence, the other has Steve's.

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The Only Way is Down

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Very true. Although we now know that Russell (and specifically the tape jammed in his aunty's car stereo circa 1986) had a key part in inadvertently seeding the Barry White influence!

On the other topic - I'm 100% not stirring the rumour mill here. I don't know any more than anyone else here. But I will say that while any mention of the H word is shocking and beyond the pale to us (and rightly so), it was probably less so to members of well known Britpop bands mixing in certain circles in London circa 96/97.

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