Haha! That's a good one! Quite a few bits made me chuckle and Russell really has a great laugh when he gets going. It's funny the transformation from him thinking you're a regular journalist to realising you're a full blown Pulp geek!I can't wait to see the final articles cos this is the first interview by a real dedicated Pulp fan!

Again, maximum respect for holding it together - when I try to transport myself into that situation...well, Stephen, I don't know if I could have got a word out of my choked throat! I am stoked for the resulting articles.

No worries - even if the odd word is incomprehensible to me I still can't get enough of that Yorkshire accent so it was a pleasure and if you need any more transcribed just pop us an email.

"It's funny the transformation from him thinking you're a regular journalist to realising you're a full blown Pulp geek!I can't wait to see the final articles cos this is the first interview by a real dedicated Pulp fan!"

I haven't braved listening to that transformation yet. He never seemed to register panic when I jumped from 2011 tour to an interview I'd done with Ian from.the Bath Bankers.

Btw I must correct you on your second point or Mark Sturdy may give me dead arm next time I see him.

"Again, maximum respect for holding it together - when I try to transport myself into that situation...well, Stephen, I don't know if I could have got a word out of my choked throat! I am stoked for the resulting articles."

Thanks! As I think I've said, I was absolutely terrified before I knocked on the door, but then once I'd done so the trepidation left as I knew there was no turning back! He popped his head round the door "Stephen Bray, I presume?" "And you must be Russell Senior...well...obviously, because...." I trailed off into Hugh Grantisms as he went to offer me tea.

"no worries - even if the odd word is incomprehensible to me I still can't get enough of that Yorkshire accent so it was a pleasure and if you need any more transcribed just pop us an email."

You have too much time on your hands! Enjoy. You get the "quickfire round questions".

Speaking of which, here's a question for you all. What did Russell say was his favourite Pulp album?

What would you describe the process wherein you asked him questions for your book and he gave you answers/tales? Sorry if that sounds pedantic, but I always presumed it had been a bit like an interview?

Stephen wrote:

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What would you describe the process wherein you asked him questions for your book and he gave you answers/tales? Sorry if that sounds pedantic, but I always presumed it had been a bit like an interview?

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He was very clear about not wanting to do a proper sit-down-and-talk-through-everything interview as Jarvis wasn't going to do one and he didn't think it would be fair. So the quotes from him in the book are from 2 sources:

1) A few years of occasionally chatting with him on the phone, ostensibly on Venini business, and occasionally managing to turn the conversation round to Pulp matters of the "oh by the way, I've just got this tape..." type. And then hastily scribbling down any pearls of wisdom. I did clear all these quotes with him before they went in the book!

2) Towards the end of the whole process, I asked him if I could send him a list of questions about specifically factual things, where there wasn't likely to be anything contentious. This resulted in a lovely long email back from him which pleased me greatly.

 

I've actually just remembered that he told me in early 2001 that he was thinking of doing a book of his own at some point.

Is answer 'Freaks'?

It.

PS Jean isn't allowed to answer the question. Although there can't be that many options left now, anyway!

Intro! (He always rated Pulp live more than the lp's, right ?).

I don't think he actually said in any of the files I transcribed or maybe he did. Must go back and have a look/listen

 

Well, someone's got to tap it into the empty net... Masters of the Universe?

Party Clowns.

Yes Ian, you got it. That's what he told me.

I think Miner's Strike is an ok piece of music, but it just jars with me a lot for various reasons. I think it's trying to be a bit political...yet Jarvis (and others) discuss how little J was involved with - or seemed to actually understand - the Miner's Strike. It just feels like a series of platitudes and an attempt to write something about an area that they should, perhaps, feel something more.

I do wonder if Russell - the flying picket of the strikes, and veteran of the Battle of Orgreave shouting "This is England!" at the ranks of armed police bullies ready to beat the miners into submission thought of "Some joker in a headband was still getting chicks for free, And Big Brother was still watching you, back in the days of '83"